Zizzi - Manchester Reviews

Dropping in for dinner after a days shopping we were looking forward to our meal with gusto. However, an hour before our garlic bread arrived then a further 1/2 hour for our main meal led us to the realisation that this restaurant really does need organising. The food was lovely when it arrived even though we were observed by the hungry children on the adjoining table. When the bill arrived we were given an apology and assured that this was a one off. Discussing the evening with my daughter who visited 3 weeks ago the same experience befell her. Come on Zizzi, the custom lost on Saturday must make your toes curl.

I had heard a good review of Zizzi from my brother, but he obviously went on a good day. The food was lovely, but the service was appalling. We had to ask for every course to be brought out, which was not good with two hungry toddlers. We had to remind them about everything we had ordered, and we even had to clear our own plates away. Five tables of families got up and walked out because the service was so slow, and I don't blame them. There was only one waitress for the whole restaurant, which before people started walking out, was really busy. I appreciate that staff can call in sick at the last minute, but surely there are contingency plans? I would be reluctant to go back there.

I think this is possibly the worst restaurant in Manchester. The food took a long time to come, and when it did, it was bland and flavourless. My smoked salmon calzone was virtually hollow, containing only a couple of blobs of mascarpone cheese, a single leaf of spinach, and a few chunks of salmon, but not smoked as the menu specified. This is a place to avoid unless the one thing you look for in a restaurant are comfortable chairs.

I was expecting good things from Zizzi but our dinner there was really quite disappointing. Firstly, the waitress couldn't understand English very easily, making it impossible to make a query as to whether something was vegetarian. When she finally did understand, she responded with ‘I don't know’ meaning that I had to ask her to go and find out. The menus aren't marked as to whether the dishes are veggie or contain nuts, which made life tough. Secondly, my partner ordered the spicy chicken pasta - there was no real spice and the chicken tasted off. The layout of the restaurant was lovely but the service was disappointing and the ambience was lacking; the chef yelling ‘service’ every few minutes didn't help.

I enjoyed the atmosphere in Zizzi. It's not always about the food you eat but whats around you. The earthy smell of wood made the atmosphere romantic.

I am a chef myself and if an oppurtunity comes up I would love to work in Zizzi. The food was brilliant and so was the service - boost your efforts.