Zizzi

Personally I am a massive fan of Zizzi’s. The interior design of the restaurant is outstanding. The smart interior is mirrored by the smart pizzas that the restaurant make. A Zizzi’s special– the rustica is my favourite. The rustica is a very unusual shaped pizza but it hits the spot months less. The service is great and very welcoming. I recommend this restaurant to any pizza lovers out there.

I have never had a bad meal here before, the food is always fresh and delicious! However my friends and I have not visited this establishment as much due to the almost comical waiting times for service and food. I’m talking 40minutes– 1 hour for food. It is such a shame because the place always has skeletal staff and you can tell that they are struggling to adhere to all tables needs at once! However it does not take away from the fact that you get into a right grump when you’re ignored or waiting for your food for ages. If waiting time happened to change I think I would give this place 5 stars, love the food, love the décor/​atmosphere. But service and food time is a bit farcical.

Zizzi, s, west end, despite being a chain, ticks a lot of boxes. I remember it in a past life, as a café /​eatery. Zizi, s have made good use of the space, which otherwise could be quite cavernous, to effect a pleasant eating space .
The wood fire oven takes centre stage in the middle of the restaurant with much of the seating on a raised deck.
The menus focuses on pizzas however there is meat and fish as well as pasta dishes to boot .
There are also a selection of salads, and I must say, I have enjoyed the superfood salad a few times.
Today we took advantage of a voucher and I had the salmon as a mains, which was tasty and not over facing. My companions had the pizza rusticas which were beautifully presented and flavoursome .
Sadly we were too full for deserts and finished our meal with coffees .
Service was good and I definitely would pop back for a unplanned meal .
They also have a good kids menu, and offer colouring pencils and paper to amuse them whilst waiting for food

So I’m a fan of zizzi. I like the style of the restaurants, especially the new ones, love the food, especially as they seem to keep the menu fresh through new standard items each season, as well as some specials and I think they have a good range of reasonably priced wines. I’ve also been really pleased for some time that you can book online and that the web page is super easy to use, so you can complete the booking process in a matter of minutes.
However, it seems that last night wasn’t going to be one of my best experiences. Apparently I’d booked too late in the day, so even though the website had accepted my booking, the waiting team didn’t have my booking on their ‘print out’ (is it beyond the wit of man to perhaps skip the need for paper with an online booking system??). Anyway as a result, we were apparently second class diners, who didn’t deserve menus straight away and rude staff who then ignored us.
As ever, the saving grace was the quality of the food and wine, so we still all enjoyed our evening. Its sad that it could have been spoiled by staff (to be honest we’re really only talking about one member) who was either having a bad day, or was just very busy and decided that she would take it out on us. I’ll still be back, but hopefully next time we can return to the regularly scheduled programmes!

Loved the rustica pizza here. i got the piccante. tasted pretty and looked pretty. the Rocket (Arugala) added some nice color contrast.
crust was thin and crispy
pizzas on their menu were not excessively greasy.
i could taste each individual topping, it wasnt a mass of saltiness and oil.
i love the fact that they have the chilli oil for people who want to give it some kick
this location has a reclaimed warehouse feel with bright with sky lights.
staff was slightly overwhelm tho, and dropped glasses.

It is located few minutes walk from University of Glasgow~ in a very lovely and silent lane~
The decoration here is elaborately! Sitting beside the window, you can see some lovely paintings embedded in the wall, and there are lots of beautiful books either.
Thin Crust Pizza here is my best favorite~ reminding me of Pita I have had in Cappadocia, Turkey~
The Rice with chicken and sea food here is also very tasty~!
You can also use Taste Card here to enjoy a 2for1 deal, how ever you should ask the waitress first.
Anyway, it is a great place on Byres Road!

Was there on a Saturday night, it was very busy and it looked like they were struggling to cope: people were waiting a while to get seated and the food took a long time. There seemed to be a number of large parties, but you’d think a restaurant like this would be able to deal with that?
Anyways, the food was fine. Maybe it was my fault for ordering it, but there probably didn’t need to be THAT much potato on a pizza.

Would always recommend this place. We are located across the lane from them and they never fail to deliver gorgeous pasta or pizza. My fave is the Rustica primavera without artichokes but adding mushrooms and chilli
Also try the pastas out. They will make anything you request!

My first visit to this Zizzi’s, surprisingly, but as good as I would have expected from having sampled a couple of their other branches.
I was momentarily disappointed that the menu didn’t include the seafood linguine with squid ink that I fell in love with at the Inverness branch last year, but I was soon won over by the seafood risotto, which was just perfection — the right degree of stickiness in the rice, tender calamari, prawns and almost molten mussels — seafood heaven!
Herself had the sea bream with Tuscan potatoes and a delicious peperonata sauce, which got a big thumbs up on all counts, and our meat-​eating friend loved the pollo al prosciutto, which looked very tender.
A wee fritto misto starter shared between two of us was just right to whet the appetite, and to finish we even managed to squeeze in a dessert each, which is rare for Herself, so that tells you how yummy it was. Or maybe the two bottles of Zinfandel had something to do with it!!!
I wasn’t too convinced that some of the artistic renderings on the walls were enhancing the décor much, which otherwise has a bright and airy feel, somewhere between conservatory and warehouse; but there is certainly a vibrancy about the place, and the staff were efficient and friendly without being ‘in your face’ all the time. It was a Sunday evening so it was fairly quiet, and I imagine it could get pretty noisy when it’s full, but it’s a fantastic space to have a restaurant in and on a rainy day it would be a perfect refuge for lunch.
Price-​wise it’s perhaps a little on the pricey side, but the food is good enough to justify that. I’ll certainly be returning in future.

I’ve popped in here a couple of times and never had a bad meal or experience. There may be better Italian restaurants but there is something I like about this one.
The staff are friendly and efficient without being overwhelmingly present (I prefer a light touch when it comes to customer service), the menu is good with plenty of variation — it also has ⁵⁰⁰⁄₆₀₀ calorie meals marked for those on the 5:2 fasting régime! — and it’s always tasty!
We decided to share a small fondue pot to start, the cheese was excellent and the only criticism was we could’ve done with a little bit more bread to scoop it up with!
The Strozzapreti Pesto Rosso was my choice of main, succulent chicken, perfectly cooked pasta in a delicious red pesto and crème fraîche sauce, with a little chilli for a subtle kick. My partner opted for the goats cheese ravioli which didn’t look all that appetising (green pasta rarely does to me!) but was delicious as they avoided the danger of putting too much goats cheese in them (which would’ve overpowered the other flavours of basil).
Is it overpriced? Possibly but I wouldn’t quibble on that topic, at most they could possibly shave a pound or two here and there but then I could equally just go grab a bag of chips somewhere else!
When I first visited (a couple of years ago), I wasn’t actually aware it was part of a chain so that tells me they are doing something right with their décor/​atmosphere.
Want a reliably good Italian meal that is maybe a little different from other «chains», try Zizzis!

Having walked past this place many a time and thought ‘I rather like the look of you’ I finally made it a couple of weeks ago for some lunch.
The best thing about the place is how bright it is. On a rainy day in Glasgow it’s the nearest you’ll get to feeling like you’re dining outdoors whilst remaining warm and dry.
The staff were suitably courteous, the atmosphere on a week day lunch time was suitably alive and it was good watching the pizzas being made. My only gripe is that I wish I’d got one of those pizzas. As it was kangaroo baby’s lunch time too I thought a salad would be easier to eat one handed. That it was but the salad wasn’t overly impressive.
Next time I’m definitely opting for pizza.

I am definitely a fan of Zizzi West End.
I was walking down Byres Road just before it opened, and some of the staff were handing out free slices of pizza to sample to spread the word about it opening.
Well, it worked… Ever since I have been a regular visitor to Zizzi West End; whether with family with young children, with friends, or on a romantic night out with the husband.
I love the feel of this place — it is bright and airy with views into the open kitchen.
I have to admit I usually end up having the same options from the menu.
The Strozzapreti Pesto Rosso is delicious — slightly creamy from the crème fraîche without being too sickly, as it is lifted by a hint of chilli and fresh spring onion.
The Tiramisu is the nicest I have tasted in a restaurant — I am usually disappointed by Tiramisu when I am out as it never lives up to my own, but Zizzi has it just right. The perfect balance of coffee and chocolate with clouds of light, airy mascarpone cream… a winner every time!
The staff are always really lovely too — I have never been disappointed by this place, so next time you’re in the West End… try it out!

My first Scotland Unilocal review!
After a LONG day and a half of traveling from the US to Glasgow, Scotland, we finally made it to our hotel in the West End area. Tired, jet-​lagged and hungry, I was happy to learn that Unilocalers were active in the city. After a Unilocal search of the area, we found ourselves at Zizzi.
Our meal started with one of the daily specials, a Proscuitto Honey Fig «Bruschetta». It wasn’t bruschetta in the traditional sense, it was more like a small pizza, tasty and delicious. It was topped with mozzarella, Proscuitto, arugula, honey and figs. The saltiness of the Proscuitto blended well with the honey and figs. I know this is meant to be an appetizer, but this would be great as a full sized pizza. If they have this on the menu, I highly recommend.
For the main entrée, we split the Rustica Piccante pizza. It was more than enough for two people. The dough was a thin crust with a nice char from the fire in the oven. This is a somewhat spicy pizza. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but something to consider if you try it. I liked it. If spicy is not your thing, I bet the other pizza offerings would be worth trying.
I’m glad we gave Zizzi a try. It was a good spot to begin our holiday in the area.

Chain Reaction: That Zizzi opened a branch in the West End where buzzy independent eateries rule the roost was a brave move. Striking urban art painted directly on the dining-​room walls by local art school students drew me in. The warm welcome, great service and accomplished food gave me a reason to return.
Zizzi in Cresswell Lane has a bright cheerful vibe, a well balanced menu and plenty of options for vegetarians. Pizzas & pastas are the main staple of the menu. My pizza was superb! They also had some of the best olives I’ve ever eaten. I always feel comforted when a restaurant has an open kitchen and the nosey woman in me enjoyed watching other people’s food being prepared. I can confirm it all looked very appetising.
When pondering where to eat in the West End, don’t forget Zizzi. Its a bit hidden away, but when everywhere else on the Byres Road is mobbed (when is it not) the chances are you might be able to bag a table at this large and lively restaurant.
Zizzi West End is proof positive that not all chains offer an identikit experience and I don’t regret for one minute that I suspended my judgement and gave them a chance.
Recommended.

Absolutely love this place. Service used to be terrible, but has completely changed since I wrote that tip.
I have tried many things from the menu now over quite a few visits. Almost everything has been excellent: pizzas, pasta, risotto, desserts, antipasti, drinks.
The interior is what I really love about this place, and the glass roof really opens the place up — you feel like you’re almost eating outside when it’s sunny. I love the white/​grey/​yellow theme and the birches, and that they keep it consistent. Seeing the pizza oven and most of the kitchen also keeps it interesting. I enjoy just watching as they prepare the meals, and it makes lulls in conversation barely noticeable.
The staff are very attentive most of the time (some individual variation as ever), and I found that they struck a good balance between frequent checks and letting you enjoy your meal. They’re friendly but not overly chatty, so you have time to have fun with whoever you’re with.
I can’t really recommend this place enough. I love it.

I forgot about this place despite being a regular visitor to the Byres Road area and I do tend to stay clear of chain restaurants but I was persuaded to try this by a fellow « Unilocaler «and the final push was the 2 for 1 mains course voucher. !!
I was really impressed, Wednesday early evening (7pm) the restaurant was reasonably busy, we were met at the door as soon as we entered and were allowed to choose where we wanted to sit. We selected a table for 4 at the window despite there only being 2 of us. Menus placed in front of us and we were asked if we would like the music turned down as we had a speaker above our head, a nice touch I thought. Attentive waitress back within a few minutes Drinks order placed and antipasti and meals ordered. Antipasti was a delicious «Garlic Bread with cheese » A reasonable time later meals arrive, my Calzon Pizza well-​presented and looked scrummy, however 2^nd meal Ravioli served instead of linguine. Attentive waitress straight over and apologises and takes my pizza away to keep it warm whilst correct meal is cooked. Both meals swiftly delivered and a second round of drinks ordered. Total Bill £30, pretty good I think. 2^nd round of drinks not charged without me even mentioning the mistake (Not that I would have) Waitress was pleasant despite being busy .
I will be back to Zizzi deal or no deal.

Just can’t get enough of this place.
Been in several times now and every time the quality and service has been spot on.
4 of us popped in again last night with a cheeky wee ½ price voucher which had been sent out. What a bargain! 4 pizzas, 4 sweets and 2 bottles of wine… bill was only £16 each!!!
The Calzon’ Pizza is to die for! This one is my favourite by far, part pizza, part calzone with Hot n’Duja sausage and mascarpone on the pizza. Cotto ham, pesto and rocket in the pocket… Mmmmmm!!! I’m dribbling just thinking about it… TAXI FOR ZIZZI’s PLEEAAASE!!!

After reading mixed reviews, I was worried about Zizzi. Completely unwarranted. I went with my dad, who is visiting the city for the first time, and we both cleaned our plates and commented on the décor and the service.
Well done, Zizzi.

I had always been curious about this place since it had opened. I liked the oven. I LOVED the oven. There is nothing like a beautiful stone oven to bake fresh bread in. So having seen the oven I had a feeling that the pizzas would be pretty good, cause a good oven really makes a pizza if you know what I mean.
When we first arrived I gravitated towards the oven (yes, I am aware of the fact that I am mildly obsessed with the oven.) It was cold out and I wanted to be near it, unfortunately because we had the baby in the pram we were sat quite far from it.
The menu itself is quite overwhelming. There is a bit much on it and I was hungry so deciding was difficult. I ended up trying the «tapa’s style» 3 plate deal. I had the polenta sticks with a garlic mayo alioli, the caprese salad and the two wee calzones.
The polenta sticks were yummy but a bit too greasy and stodgy. The caprese salad didn’t have any basil and the mozzarella ball wasn’t that great, it wasn’t horrible… but I didn’t love it. It was after all just a ball sitting there on my plate with a few cherry tomatoes and lets not forget about the dough sticks which came with the salad. They were good, but I was sure that anything coming out of that oven would be amazing. Lastly the calzones were good, but I would have liked to be able to actually choose the fillings. I also ordered the garlic cheese bread which had little to no cheese on it at all! Still the bread was nice and the balsamic onion drizzle on it was okay… I didn’t love it, i liked it enough though.
My partner had the wholemeal pizza which was interesting. but we both agreed that the white flour pizza would be better. The wholemeal gives it a certain unique taste which I found a bit overpowering and I guess I am a bit of a purist when it comes to pizza.
Overall I liked the food. I would go back and I am eager to try the other things on the menu. I do wish the prices were a bit lower but the quality of the food itself is quite good so paying didn’t hurt THAT much.

That’s more like it…
…were the words tottering around in my head after our first visit to the recently opened west end branch of Zizzi. Taking over the space left by Bar Buddha, this place has taken on a real dramatic refurbishment, with the owners going to great lengths to drag a dark, dingy cave like premises, into something truly inviting, fresh, bright and… well, funky!
From the get go this joint just screams ‘mon in and have a wee look’ with its bright lights, whitewashed walls and tall ceilings. Splashes of art on the wall, both canvas and indeed ‘straight to wall’ artwork, complement endearing design flourishes (couple o’ wee trees in the floor dude!!) that all add to the ‘arty’ feel of the restaurant and in doing so, keep in theme with the arty area itself.
Right…the grub. Well, no complaints here either. Price wise it’s reasonable and really what you’d expect from an Italian restaurant (about £8−10 on average per dish). Quality wise, i’d say its fairly decent… is it the best, well, to be fair, inn terms of Italian joints in Glasgow, Zizzi has a good bit of competition… was i disappointed at all? Not a chance!
Other things worthy of mention:
— Service… in both locations the service has been kick ass, with the servers showing an actual interest in ensuring all is well… me like.
— Rustica Pizza… aye the menu is pretty extensive, but i’d have to say, these bad boys are pretty damn good
— Mentioned it before but… the space itself… it really is an inviting area, i can imagine coming in here on a cold winters night just for the light level itself!
Zizzi is good. Aye its a chain, but this location certainly feels like its area specific, thus has a more’ independent’ vibe than its city centre alternative. Service, so far, has been great, as has the food itself.
Go! You will not be disappointed!