Having not set foot in a Pizza Express in at least four years, I was keen to find out what changes had been made to the menu for the summer months. The result was not disappointing- with a full range of pizzas, salads, cocktails and cool desserts- they have pulled out all the stops when it comes to keeping up with the fine weather.
The Stockton Heath branch was a first for me; situated on the crossroads it’s easy to find as you approach the town and parking is easy to locate along any of the side streets nearby.
With large floor to ceiling windows you can see all the action that goes on in this small but very poplar part of Warrington, even on a Thursday night. With people revving up for the weekend, you are surrounded by an optimism that only the anticipation of the night before a Friday can bring.
The restaurant itself is all hard wood flooring, with granitite tables and the walls are adorned with red and terracotta pictures with patterns that mimic the look of a lava lamp which encapsulates the mood of the evening; relaxed, flowing and at your own pace. The kitchen is also open plan so you can see the food being prepared.
We took full advantage of the summer menu starting off with a Hugo cocktail which is Prosecco, elderflower, mint and lemon over ice- the perfect palate cleanser before diving into your starter. I am not a huge fan of these flavors individually however when combined- they make for a glorious summer beverage.
To begin with we enjoyed some garlic bread- it had to be done in an Italian restaurant- the bread was individual rather than a great wheel between two of us- so just enough to tempt us before our main course.
The Pizza Express Legerra Summer Salad consists of chicken, goats, cheese, strawberries, mint and seasonal mixed leaves with a light house dressing (320 calories). Perfect for those calorie counters who want to keep trim during the sunshine months. I had never had a salad that combined both sweet and savory before so this was a pleasant change to the norm. The tanginess of the fruit was the perfect accompaniment to the creamy cheese and dressing and the popping of the blueberries provided a surprising texture to the meal.
My partner had the American Hot Pizza which is not for the faint of heart- with pepperoni, mozzarella, tomato and hot green roquito or jalapeno peppers- be prepared for a kick!
For dessert we each had one of the summer options- Leggera Lemon and Blueberry Glory- lemon curd sorbet with blueberries, coulis and a chocolate straw (235 calories) and Strawberry and Cream Glory- Gelato with fresh strawberries, double cream fresh mint and a sugar curl. Both were equally refreshing being laced with fresh fruit. Again you can have a treat or a more calorific option depending on your dietary preferences. Summer doesn’t have to be extravagant if you don’t want it to be- so diners need not be afraid that all Pizza Express serve is pizza. They are also considerate when it comes to food intolerances- my friend swears by Pizza Express when eating out for pizza. She suffers from Gluten intolerance and she praises the chain for its no fuss approach when it comes to ordering something that’s gluten free.
We were served by Iwona who was friendly and very attentive; she made sure our food was brought to us promptly and that we had enough drinks throughout the meal.
I regret not dining in a Pizza Express in so long and will definitely be making an effort to go more often.
Overall, I was very impressed by the Stockton Heath branch of Pizza Express- Iwona is an asset to the team- thanks to Iwona and the other staff who made our meal so enjoyable!