George IV Bridge branch
Despite the other half of Edinburgh Spotlight dining at Pizza Express West End branch last week, I had lunch the other day with a friend here. Unfortunately I had to look up to Ondine this time rather than pay it a visit. I also used a 2 for 1 voucher that they periodically do to keep my spending to a minimum.
I enjoy Pizza Express – you know what you’re going to get as they have identical menus at all their branches in Edinburgh and nationwide. My favourite branch in town is the Stockbridge one which is set in a beautiful building by the Water of Leith. If good weather allows in the summer months, you can dine at one of the outside tables.
I arrived for a late lunch (1.45pm) having arranged to meet my dining partner there and waited for a few minutes before a harrassed waitress asked if I wanted a table for one. I replied it was two and was about to ask her for a specific table but she was off ahead of me leaving me to talk to myself. I was shown a table in the middle of full tables seating two people, despite many others being available. I wasn’t happy with my selection considering how empty the place was and asked if I could sit at the back of the restaurant to have a more peaceful lunch.
This was to enable my dining partner, who has mobility problems to sit more comfortably (and not cause the other diners to move their seats) and I would have explained this had I been given the chance. She replied abruptly “no, that section is closed”, again not giving me a chance to explain why I wanted specific seats.
I was given the menu whilst standing up and it was then I asked her to seat me somewhere else because of my dining partner who was on her way. More huffing and puffing ensued before she finally gave me a table allocated for four, right beside the door. This, despite being in the draft from outside as people came and went, was more suitable than my initial table.
I asked for a cup of tea whilst waiting on my friend and the waitress said “is that all? anything to eat ?” I replied that I would order when my friend arrived.
The cup of tea came, consituting a cup of hot water with a saucer on the top and tea bag on the side. It seems you have to make your own tea here, but I do like the fact I got somewhere to put the tea bag once I had made my brew.
My friend arrived wondered why I had accepted a table beside the door in January and managed to sit down without disturbing other diners before I filled her in with what had happened.
It was at THIS stage that the waitress informed me that the pizza would be about 40 minutes as they “only had one chef on that day because the other one phoned in sick”. Spare me the details, you could have told me this on arrival and before I had ordered a cup of tea.
We both ordered one of their new lower calorie leggera pizzas which is basically a ring of pizza with a salad in the middle. Perfect combination for me, I love their salad, but welcome the warmth of pizza on such a cold day.
Vitabella leggera
I had the contadina at £8.95 which was torn chicken breast, spinach and peppers and my dining partner had the vitabella at £8.75. This is one of two vegetarian leggera pizza options that comes with asparagus spears, vegetables and peppers. It did take a while for them to come, but we had been forewarned of the chef situation and had chosen to stay.
The leggera pizzas are served on a plastic slate tray, complete with pizza slice to cut it yourself. Looked great, but in reality, the tray slid over the table too much. The pizza was delicious though and salad tossed in their lovely house dressing.
Not the best of experiences for our main course, so this time, we elected to have coffee and dessert elsewhere.
You know what you’re going to get with the food at Pizza Express, but the service this time let the whole experience down. It won’t put me off eating with them again, but perhaps I will phone in advance next time, explain my seating requirements and check to see how many chefs are on duty!
Suitable for disabled ? Yes, you access the restaurant on one level and they have fully accessible toilets.
Map of this location
Tags: Edinburgh, pizza, Pizza Express, review
