Zizzi Ristarante

If you want Italian food go to a real Italian restaurant. This place is so typical of the pseudo Italian chains like, Prezzo, Pizza Express etc you can guess the menu before you walk in.
In fact the menu seems closer to the sort of stuff you woudl find in an american restaurant e.g. ’ a bucket of fried calamari rings’ or ’ chicken and meatballs’
It is lively though so if you just want a night out, OK food and a bit of atmosphere then it is a change from going to a pub.
Never take an Italian there.

Of all the Zizzi’s I’ve been to, the Hayward Heath branch has to be the most atmospheric. Situated in an old church that’s been sensitively restored, it’s a big restaurant with a conservatory that flows out onto a patio. Naturally, these seats are the most desired in the summertime despite the ongoing stream of cars zipping by.
The staff are friendly and accomodating, the décor is subtle and modern and the menu offers a tantalizing array of classic pasta, pizza, salad and meat dishes. My better half is a big fan of the vegetarian calzone and the mushroom risotto with rosemary roasted chicken breast. For me though, it’s all about the pizza cooked to perfection in the wood fired oven. My current favourite is the paper thin Fiorentina with buffalo ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, garlic oil, grana padano cheese and a baked egg in the midde.

The Haywards Heath Zizzi occupies the site on an old converted church and this setting really creates a great ambiance. There is also a very nice outdoor mezzanine for a summer’s lunch.
The décor is stylish and modern and the whole place has a general fresh feel. Seeing as the building is actually quite old, the balance between the old and new has been well thought out. As you walk in you can see the stone bake oven at the far end of the restaurant and an expanse of tables are dotted over a split level eating area.
I have dined here a number of times and found the food and service to be good on all occasions. Being part of a chain, they also have frequent voucher deals and you can pick up two main course for £10 on offers on two courses. They quality of the food is good and they have a wide ranging menu that goes beyond the standard pizza or pasta dishes that a lot of Italian eateries will stick with.
The hand stretched pizza come on rustic boards and you could easily share between two if you ordered a side dish. I would also recommend the calamari starter that is battered on site and retains the delicacy of squid.
The staff are also very accommodating and even when the restaurant is busy you don’t feel like you are being rushed or neglected. They also have a good Italian wine selection and offer a very nice Pinot.
The one draw back is that the outside area is next to a busy road and whilst you are raised and have a wall between yourself and the street, it can impact on your dining experience. If you decide to eat outside, it may be worth doing so on a Sunday.
A nice restaurant with good food at reasonable prices, all served up in a great setting.

If you like Italian food, this is the place to go to. The food is lovely and the menu is varied from pasta, pizza, risotto etc. I love the garlic bread with rosemary as a starter as it just gets your taste buds ready for your main course. The price of the food is reasonable. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and the staff are friendly.
The restaurant does get busy so I would recommend you book first. Unfortunately there is no car parking facilities but if you go there after 6pm, you can normally find a car parking space on the high street which is directly by the restaurant.
So if you like italian food, I would give this place a try!