Pizza Express - Portsmouth

Emma (6 February 2009)

Following our previous visit to Pizza Express, we were invited to return to celebrate the birthday once again with the compliments of Pizza Express. This followed a phone call from the manager who was most apologetic about the evening we had had previously. Our return visit was most successful from start to finish. The restaurant was packed but it was good to see a much larger number of staff than on the previous occasion. We enjoyed attentive, pleasant service, excellent food and had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Every other table looked to be having an equally enjoyable night. Following this good visit, we would return.

Emma (19 January 2009)

We ate there last week for a colleague's 39th birthday. What can I say? - It was simply appalling. We were a small group, five in total, and had booked a table. I arrived and then waited 25 minutes and not a single member of staff approached the table to ask what I would like to drink. I finally went to find a member of staff. Pizza Express is currently running an offer which is 'buy a main course, get one free.' This offer is obviously popular, however on the evening we visited, there appeared to be only one chef and four waiting staff. We waited one hour for our starters and then a following hour for our main courses, only after one of our party went twice to speak to the manager. The manager was now working in the kitchen helping the chef, leaving only three waiting staff and a packed restaurant. Twice we had to send back a main course as it was cold. It was a ruined birthday party and we will never return when there are so many other restaurants at Gunwharf Quays that we could have gone to. We eat out at least twice a week and this was the worst service I have ever experienced in my life.