Pizza Express, Sheffield

Location: Pizza Express, Sheffield City Centre
Time: 12.30approx
Score (out of 5): ****


There's always going to be one place you've never eaten. For me this was Pizza Express at the top of Division Street. It wasn't that I had been actively avoiding eating there, I'd just never managed to get round to it.

From the outside the restaurant looks inviting and pleasant. On entering my first thought was that there was a lot of tables for the relatively small space and they all seemed quite close together. J argued that I was just fussy but it's all in the details right?! Pizza Express doesn't play music but I actually found this nice, it allowed us to talk and enjoy the atmosphere created by a room filled with happy customers. The bar area is a dedicated corner which creates an open and inviting atmosphere when wanting a member of staff's attention and the staff never seem to be loitering or doing nothing in particular.
The tables were all set for the lunch service and whilst there were plenty of tables I noticed that a majority for group of four with a couple of larger table and only a couple set for two. As it was, the two of us ended up being seated by a member of the waiting team who was obviously a novice - he didn't do anything particularly wrong but his service certainly has room to improve! With three members of floor staff and one additional floor walker who seemed to be a member of the management team I can say we were well looked after. Service was quick and relaxed but suitably professional.
Rachel ordered the Pollo de Astra and I had the Etna (possibly the largest Pizza I've ever seen a man single handedly demolish! - Rachel). The food arrived quickly, was fresh and most importantly of all was delightful. I soon demolished my beautifully presented, giant, pizza whilst Rachel gradually worked her way through as much of hers as I could manage (3/4 of it - a new personal best for her). They were served fresh from the oven on plate sthe same size as them - I would have appreciated a larger plate but hey-ho! Although once we had finished our plates were cleared promptly and we never saw the last quarter of Rachel's pizza despite expecting for it to be returned in a little take-away box. Never fear after such a tasty meal I won't hesitate to visit again!
Best of all we weren't harassed by staff, although we were offered the dessert menu twice (a little mis/non-communication I think).

The establishment was tidy (despite feeling cramped to me) and mostly clean - a little left over confetti on the floor from a previous celebration and a dusty cross bar on one of the higher, bench style table but I can forgive them that. The atmosphere was pleasant and the staff well mannered and polite. One of my favourite elements of the service has to be that just as Rachel was finishing her glass of water one of the staff members brought over another - a great touch that showed that even during a service where there was a couple of larger groups the individual customers, of smaller groups, were still payed a high level of attention discretely.

All in all a great first experience of this food chain, great company, food and service lead me to give this branch a score of 4/5. This may seem high, and I will be returning to ensure that the great service wasn't a fluke, but I feel they are well worthy of it.

Jamie&Rachel

R

The beginning

Always an appropriate place from which to start. To produce clarity all from the start I shall provide a few details:

• I am a 21 year old woman.
• The contents of this blog are entirely based on my personal experiences and opinion and those of my dining companion
• I do not eat alone in any of these establishments
• Only the name and city in which the restaurant/branch in based will be mentionned
• I have not been in any way coerced to provide particular reviews
• I love carbs and I love meat - I'm not going to deny it but I will still explore both vegetarian and vegan offerings
• I love to cook as much as I love to eat so stay tuned for recipe reviews and the like

I love food - lets be honest, most people enjoy a good meal! I'm willing to try anything once (ostrich burger? sure! Sushi? For sure!) ...actually no, those weird pickled things you get in Fish and Chip shops...I won't eat those or testicles from any animal.
I am starting this blog as a store of food memories and experiences - good and bad. Also, maybe I'll inform Joe/Jane Doe from somewhere else, who knows?! My love of food coupled with my love of good company and a great atmosphere has fed an obsession with exploring eateries and take aways looking for the perfect foodie hit. With my job taking me to a number of cities and my passion for exploring somewhere new this could lead to an extremely varied content with the reviews ranging from tea rooms in Yorkshire to restaurant in London even moving to far flung foreign climbs. There will also be the odd recipe review chucked in for good measure

So if you like food, and you don't mind the ramblings of a (some might say young) lady stay tuned for foodie thoughts and the odd random moment.