影片
更多
2014-08-28
1415 浏览
Admittedly, I'm not a fan of pizza but I have had good experiences at Pizza Express, which is why I opted to go there last Monday.The service was very friendly and attentive but could only apologize for the place being cold as a fridge rather than turning down the air-conditioning that was blowing into my ear, making me feel very unconfortable.With it being so bitter cold, I decided to order a red wine to lift my spirits. Opting for the affordable "Montepulciano" (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Tor de
The service was very friendly and attentive but could only apologize for the place being cold as a fridge rather than turning down the air-conditioning that was blowing into my ear, making me feel very unconfortable.
With it being so bitter cold, I decided to order a red wine to lift my spirits. Opting for the affordable "Montepulciano" (Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Tor del Colle, Abruzzo, Italy) seemed like the obvious choice because I usually like it at other restaurants. I boldly ordered a whole carafe but regretted that decision later. The waiter was kind enough to let me try the wine first (his idea not mine; I usually trust that wine...) and to my own big surprise the wine tasted unusually acidic and sharp and quite vinegary, as if it had been stored in the wrong place or been open for too long. I couldn't even hide my grimace and after humble apologies, the waiter returned with another bottle. I didn't want to upset him as this was after all one of their cheapest wine, but oh dear, that second bottle tasted just as foul. I decided to let it go... that it might be just "me". (Later found a piece of cork in the glass so perhaps the wine wasn't at it's best after all.)
The food took a while and I did my best to try and like the wine... I didn't mind waiting as it showed that the food is freshly made and I know they usually do make a nice thin crust dough. I had opted for the "Margherita Prima", which is the larger but thinner (Romano) style; the only pizza I like. It looked and smelled very nice and the fresh basil leaves on top added fresh colour to the aroma. The waiter brought a pepper mill (Brownie points for that!) and there was plenty of Mozzarella cheese on the pizza and the San Marzano tomato sauce looked and smelled yummy. Man, after that vinegary taste in my mouth from the wine I was so ready for this! And yes, it was fairly good (if somewhat soggy at the centre), but the delight was very short-lived... There was such a fierce cold wind (from the air-conditioning) blowing in the dining hall that the pizza went stone cold even before I had the third piece. (I am a fast eater but I wanted to "enjoy" it and not wolf it down. After all, I had a whole carafe of vinegar to go through yet...) The taste of the pizza wasn't bad at all, but when cold even the best pizza tastes bland and rather uninspiring. I didn't want to complain because it was late and the place was nearly empty and I was tired and didn't want to be mean. I could see the staff wanted to go home just as much as I did.... It was a simple case of wrong place - wrong time. I know I have only myself to blame for not complaining, because the staff was eager to please and probably would've tried to make up for it, but the anticipated "comfort combo" of red wine and pizza wasn't going to happen anyway so I left without drinking my wine and sorely disappointed.
I do want to emphasize that the staff was friendly and possibly quite unaware of my misery. This was not the staff's fault I reckon. The wine, well... maybe it was me, maybe they bought bad stock. I don't know. But all that wouldn't have mattered, had I felt more "comfortable" sitting there. I've had many a lousy meal in great atmosphere and enjoyed it. This food wasn't all that bad but I felt so uncomfortable there. The venue could be so amazing with the high ceiling and the urban loft-like shabby factory chic, if they didn't ruin it by blasting ice cold air at people long after the sun is down and when the place is empty (now I know why; nobody wanted to hang around...) Oh and, sorry guys but the music was seriously pulling at my ragged nerves - so hysterical and aggressive. It might be ok when the place is full to the brim with noisy happy folk chatting over the music but when it's just a dark empty place with two people crying into their wine, that sort of music just makes you want to walk back out again. (It certainly didn't help pacify me that evening...LOL...) Anyway, I have had good experiences at ther other outlet in Ship Street so I may give them another chance one day when I'm in a group (definitely not alone!). But I first need a few positive experiences in other restaurants again before I dare another experiment at this Pizza Express.
题外话/补充资料：
Bring a down jacket; it's cold in there!
(以上食记乃用户个人意见 , 并不代表OpenRice之观点。)
张贴