Restaurat Opening: Zizzi Ristorante Spinningfields

One of the last times I visited a chain restaurant was a bit of a disaster. It coincided with a production of Madame Butterfly at the Lowry and resulted in me missing the (spoiler alert) suicide scene because I had to head off to be very ill (and disturb a chap at the end of the row having a nap on the way, much to his wife’s embarrassment).

I have to admit I’ve allowed this to colour my judgement in a very general manner. And this makes me disappointed in myself. Suffice to say I won’t mention the original chain, except to say that I still haven’t been back – to any of them.

But as with Red Hot Buffet earlier this year, I’ve opened my eyes a bit and when Zizzi in Spinningfields reopened and Keeley invited me along, I was happy have my blinkers taken off.

 

 

Zizzi is at the far side of Spinningfields and it’s too easy to get distracted by the bars and restaurants near the front. But it’s worth those few extra steps,  because down a little tree-lined space is a warm welcome.

So warm in fact, we forgot the rain outside and were noseying admiring the venue. As Keeley was unwell, the lovely Lisa stepped in to keep me company. I think she was rather glad she did.

 

 

The selection of starters was another antidote to the weather. Cured meats with big fat green olives and spicy little black ones, two types of pizza and battered calamari.

The pesto atop the pizzas was perfect. So good you could eat it with a spoon. Strong, but nutty, rich textured, it took a very good pizza and lifted it to delicious heights.

 

The squid too was bang on –  crisp batter, tender flesh, this was delicious. The Gavi di Gavi from their selection making a very good match.

 

 

Onto mains and Lisa did the healthy thing, and opted for skinny pizza with chicken and chilli and salad.

 

Of course, I did the polar opposite and went for the spinach and goats cheese ravioli.

The pizza was gorgeous. Crisp base, good tickle of chilli and the chicken was full flavoured. You wouldn’t have been able to tell it was ‘skinny’ at all.

 

 

The pesto and the tomato on the pasta was a gorgeous combination – with a plain flat bread, I’d have mopped it all up happily, the tiny plum tomatoes that went with it were warmed and burst in your mouth, flooding it with juice. It was an effort not to lick the plate (without anyone looking).

 

 

Feeling rather happy and full, we took a little rest before dessert. And given the beauties on offer, we were glad we did.

Treated to a trio of sweets, we barely knew where to start. Normally we’d both leap for the lemon tart, as we find chocolatey desserts quite heavy and this was no exception (though to be fair, Keeley would have demolished it with fervour).

 

 

But the winner was actually the tiramisu. Light and yet full of coffee and alcohol, it lived up to it’s ‘pick me up’ title, encouraging Lisa and myself to head out for cocktails afterwards.

All in all? We’ll be back. The selection we tried was but a dip in the ocean and there are so many other great things on the menu.

Maybe chains aren’t so bad after all….

 

 

This was written following an invitation to dine from Zizzi Ristorante Spinningfields. We did not pay for our food, though we did pay for our wine. Of course, an invitation does not automatically mean a glowing review.