By Nicola Moyne
IF you like stylish venues and love Italian cuisine, Zizzi Chelmsford offers the perfect night out with loved-ones.
Situated in the original Gray Family Brewery building – which dates back to 1828 in Springfield Road - the newest Zizzi restaurant offers character, charm, and an abundance of good food.
I headed to the eatery shortly after it opened last month and was immediately impressed with its thoughtful design, and al fresco dining entrance.
Inspired by radio and in particular the Marconi Brothers (who are responsible for Chelmsford being hailed the birthplace of Radio), the two-storey restaurant combines retro furniture with quirky photography and wall art.
Boutique chandeliers hang from the ceiling while booth style seating is mixed with more contemporary set-ups to ensure large parties are catered for. The result is a stylish and chic interior that emphasises its eclectic appeal with rich mahogany’s set against vibrant accessories.
And there are trees. Eight in fact, which line one of the walls in the restaurant from floor-to-ceiling. It’s retro-glamour at its finest.
Of course, if you’re more interested in the culinary delights, you won’t be disappointed.
Authentic Italian pizzas, including their own signature Pizza Rustica range, sit alongside seabass and duck dishes, as well as pasta and steak specials. After a long perusal of the menu and several ‘I just don’t know what to have’ discussions with my friend, I plumped for the Bruschetta A Al Pomodoro (£4.45) to start and Penne Della Casa (£8.95) for mains. Both dishes oozed rich flavour and the fresh ingredients certainly shone through.
The santos tomatoes and toasted garlic ciabatta whetted my appetite for mains, and the baked al forno dish was a creamy delight.
My friend meanwhile, enjoyed tucking into a starter of cheesy garlic bread (£4.65) - which was delicious (the portion was so generous I thought it would be rude not to help out) - and a dish called Rigantoni Con Pollo E Funghi (£8.75), which included ridged pasta tubes, pan-roasted chicken, glazed onions, mushrooms and rosemary simmered in a tomato sauce. It was heaven and we found ourselves sharing both our mains because they looked so good!
For dessert we managed to share the restaurant’s signature dessert, Torta Zizzi (£4.85) which is a delicious warm plum tart peppered with almond, fig and pistachio and served with creamy vanilla ice cream.
It was washed down with a glass of house red (very nice) and a smile, and I have to commend not only the chefs, but also the waiting staff, interior designer and anyone else who has been involved in Zizzi Chelmsford because it’s not only the food and design that makes this place special – it’s the family spirit. And that’s something money can’t buy.
For further information, visit www.zizzi.co.uk or, to book a table, call the restaurant on 01245 268089.