With chic, classic decor and a hearty Italian menu, Prezzo is by far my favourite chain restaurant around. Although I absolutely love independent restaurants for their flair and individuality, sometimes (especially if you’re in a new city and keen to find something you love) it’s reassuring to head to your favourite chain – and for me, this is definitely Prezzo. I previously visited at Christmas to trial their festive selection (which you can read about here), however with lighter, more summer-inspired options on the re-vamped menu – we headed back for another sample.
Since I last visited, I’ve had a bit of a diet overhaul (more info on this coming soon), cutting out all dairy and lowering my wheat in-take. It’s been difficult to say the least, especially as I’ve given up my beloved cheese – so I was interested to see whether an Italian restaurant (which are notoriously difficult to dine in when you have intolerances – as they’re very carb and dairy based) could cater for my requirements.
With an extensive menu to suit all taste-buds (families and couples alike tend to dine here) we opted for the ciabatta bread and olives while we finalised our starters and mains. I was really pleased to see that the pizza and pasta options could all be made gluten-free (accredited by Coeliac UK) while extensive allergy information was available via their website in a clear and informative manner. Staff were friendly and didn’t seem irritated in the slightest by my requests to remove and add in a few items on my choices – and they were more than happy to triple check with the chefs that my intolerances wouldn’t be aggravated.
Eventually, we decided on the pulled pork flatbread (for Sion) and the pesto bruschetta (for me). They were every bit as delicious as they look on screen…
My main (Chicken Calabrese) wasn’t quite as photogenic but it was honestly the most incredible dish I’ve tasted since starting my diet overhaul a month ago. Beneath that bed of roasted peppers, spinach and tomatoes lay a succulent piece of grilled chicken, marinated in the tomato and red pepper sauce – every mouthful was amazing! I even had a spare bit left over at the end to dip my chips into.
Sion opted for the spiciest pasta on the menu (with sausage, sweet chilli and chicken) which he devoured in between handfuls of chips.
Dessert options can often be a bit limited to those who don’t eat dairy, however luckily Prezzo has a rather lovely range of exciting sorbets – which are a little more guilt free and come in 1, 2 or 3 scoop options. I loved the sound of the Pimms & Lemonade sorbet, with fresh strawberries, lemons, limes and cucumber.
For those who do eat dairy, there is a rather extensive (and mouth watering) selection, ranging from chocolate hazelnut fudge cakes to honeycomb smash cheesecakes. Sion chose an option from the new spring menu – the Salted Caramel Arctic slice, gooey salted caramel layers teamed with sponge cake and vanilla ice cream. It was gone before I even had the chance to look (which was rather lucky really).
If you are a big fan of Italian – then I’d definitely recommend a trip to your nearest Prezzo this summer. There are plenty of healthy options on the menu – teamed with the cheesiest, most delicious pizzas and pastas I’ve ever seen – so whatever you fancy, expectations will most definitely be met here.
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