Zizzi (Bow St)

Very disappointing restaurant. Although wary of chain restaurants, I took two friends who were visiting from overseas to Zizzi's not expecting a meal to write home about, but certainly something that could pass off as edible! We ordered 2 pasta dishes and a pizza. The Pappardelle in a "cream and marsala sauce" resembled japanese udon noodles steeped in soy sauce (no hint of cream to be seen) and terrible tasting. The pasta bake that I had was tasteless and I had to perform an excavation to find any chicken in it! Furthermore, the cheese had absolutely no flavour. The pizza was again, not impressive and topping was on the stingy side. My friends were first-time visitors to London and what a bad impression of London dining this has left. Some vast improvements need to be made. I too will stick to what I know best.
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Overall rating
Food 2 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 1
Tuesday, November 20, 2007

I've never been compelled to write a review, good or bad, about a restaurant before. However, after having gone to Zizzi's on Bow Street today to celebrate my birthday and being thoroughly disappointed I feel I have to.

First off, my girlfriend and I arrived a bit early for a 7pm reservation to be told they had no knowledge of our reservation despite it being made 4 days in advance and verified one day prior to the actual event.

They then hastily put together two mismatched, wobbly tables right next to the door, which was open the entire time on a rather miserable cold, wet day.

After ordering some very overpriced and low quality champagne we went on to order the starters. As far as I'm concerned you can't really mess garlic bread up, yet Zizzi still managed to do so. The bread was oily, bland, stale and had almost no taste of garlic whatsoever.

Continuing with the main course, a mixture of pastas and pizzas around the table. The pastas were bland both in taste and appearance. The pizzas could only be described as eating very dry, hard cardboard and Zizzi is also very stingy with the ingredients. They don't offer steak knives, which some better places do, to allow you to more easily cut your pizza into slices. Instead we had to contend with blunt knives sawing furiously through the hardened base of the pizza. The whole time being especially careful so as not to elbow the person sitting next to you.

We had also brought a birthday cake with us, and had asked during the booking if this was ok. They had agreed that it would be no problem and that they could keep the cake refrigerated. However when they brought the cake out it was half melted and looked like it had been dropped or at least bashed about. It clearly had not been near a fridge.

To be completely honest there are so many very good Italian restaurants that there really is no excuse for the sheer lack of quality available here.

I for one will not be returning to Zizzi again but will much rather stick with my local Italian restaurant Pappagone, or La Porchetta, or if I must visit a large chain I'll go with Strada.
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John - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 3
Monday, July 23, 2007

Probably my favourite restaurant in Covent Garden - the food is always wonderful and the ambience is lovely - perfect if you're with friends or if you want a romantic dinner for two. There's also a great view of the Opera House so you can really take advantage of the location. The service is very relaxed but as soon as you need anything there is generally someone to be found. I have been going every month for 3 years, lunches and dinners, and have always been happy.
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Cecilly
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, February 07, 2006

I had only previously been to Zizzi's on the Strand and had expected the Bow Street branch to be similar. But the experience from begining to end could not have been more different. The staff were unfriendly to the point that they were hostile and in a very quick meal we had 3 different waiters serving us, and this was only if we actually asked someone for something specific. When we asked for 6 side plates to share our garlic bread starters we were told that they did not have 6 plates but the waitress then came back with 4 side plates and 2 pasta dishes. The ladies bathroom also had no loo roll. I told the manager and he said he would take care of it. One of our party was celebrating her birthday so I asked if they could put a sparkler in her pudding. Although he agreed this was obviously too much trouble as they did not follow through. It was rather embarrasing as we had overseas visitors with us and I had suggested Zizzi's. But never again.
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Overall rating
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 5
Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Must agree with previous report, this is an excellent and very reasonable italian, right in theatre land, food was great as was the ambiance. would return.
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Mick Cannon
Sunday, November 06, 2005