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Where are these Indy Pizzeria ? I can’t recall the last time in a town i saw anything other than a chain.
We're just a small northern town but we have at least four indy pizza/pasta places in the town centre, as well as a Pizza Hut, Pizza Express and Bella Italia.
* http://www.stablehearth.com/
* https://www.unomomentorestaurant.co.uk/
* https://al-forno.co.uk/
* http://www.salvoscucinaitaliana.com/
All way better than Pizza Express.
Lunge, Ronnies deliver. (Don’t know why they seem to be kissing the arse of some bloke who owns a Ferrari on FB 🙄 )
Lunge, Ronnies deliver.
They also do pick-up which means I can have a pint whilst I wait! I will pretty much always go there if I'm in Stourbridge, but in towns I don't know Pizza Express is a solid option.
From what I can see there's none in Didcot and 2 possible options in Newbury, their average prices are £13 for the pizzas. £5 for a beer. £5 for milkshake etc.
Yup independent is far better.
Lunchtime specials at 2 of my local for 3 courses £12 each for adults plus those drinks, kids 2 courses £6.95 with free drinks no where near £100.
Free kids pizza Friday and Saturdays at aforementioned Ronnies too (realise this is no help to OP)
But have eaten at, and do like PE, their vegan options taste pretty good
Just because somewhere is a chain, doesn't mean it's bad. Just because somewhere's not a chain doesn't mean it's good.
I've been to faaaar to many absolutely shit indies to care much for gambling for a hard-earned family treat.
The pizza place on my street is astoundingly good - a main road in Edinburgh City Centre, so not traditionally "cheap". Great selection of pizzas at around £6-9 each, £4 for a pint of lager or £10 for a bottle of (rather nice) house wine. It's nice inside and always busy.
Meh, been to the Skipton one a few times with the kids armed with Tesco vouchers and it's okay. Much prefer to go to one of the independent restaurants especially at kids eat free or for £1 time.
Also PE have published carb scored menu, a bonus if you have a diabetic in the group. But I digress, as have a few other judgemental types on here.
Give me £100 and I'll go indie, give me load of vouchers earned from buying deisel and I'll go to Pizza Express... But not the Newport one on the Isle of Wight, that was comically bad. As is my local indie as it happens.
I’ve been to faaaar to many absolutely shit indies to care much for gambling for a hard-earned family treat.
Which is why searching for a place on that internet thing or Facebook is handy as not only can you check where they are, prices but can even find discount codes sometimes.
Pizza Express is very average at best and I’d rather not spend a hard-earned family treat there
We don't spend hard earned, we spend Tesco vouchers.
I love Pizza Express, one of my favourite restaurants.
Would be gutted if it folded.
See, now, the one I really don't get is Bella Pasta. They are absolutely shite, how are they still in business?
See, now, the one I really don’t get is Bella Pasta. They are absolutely shite, how are they still in business?
As why would spend £100 going somewhere else? I’ve no idea as never heard a good word about them.
We don’t spend hard earned, we spend Tesco vouchers.
NHS Discount cards. Boooya!
See, now, the one I really don’t get is Bella Pasta. They are absolutely shite, how are they still in business?
Probably because they offer hefty discounts via various sources. Only ever go to the one at Centre Parcs and think it's okay, just like PE. Wouldn't go out of my way to eat at either but also wouldn't avoid them.
@Weeksy: Pizza Express and Ask in Abingdon...
@Weeksy: Pizza Express and Ask in Abingdon
They're not indy, they're chain. Plus Abingdon is 13 miles, it's not really 'local' then even if it were indy.
I get what people are saying, but we don't all live in or near a town as such. It also means 1 person has to drive.
I'm sticking with local pub.
Went for the all you can eat lunch once. The best thing was the ranch dressing. Everything else was filler.
Also PE have published carb scored menu, a bonus if you have a diabetic in the group.
And they tend to be absolutely bob on. That, and the fact they are lighter on the oils and fats, means no late post meal spike … unlike eating pizza just about anywhere else (except making your own at home).
Oh, tastier pizzas elsewhere though, of course.
Pizza Fella in Leeds is probably my current favourite.
Just a word to the ‘they’re shit, go somewhere else’ lot - you do realise people have different taste to you? WHAT REEALY.??! Some people even prefer the taste of MacDonalds burgers to real, homemade ones! I KNOW! Amazing world where people have different tastes!
decent pizza near us is either at the Catherine Wheel - mostly in the summer though
or more especially Sole Luna. In the carpark every Wednesday, and various other locations!
http://www.pizzasoleluna.com/. They're lovely.
Both a bit pricier than others though
Also PE have published carb scored menu, a bonus if you have a diabetic in the group
They also do gluten free and vegan options.
And if you don't have a decent independent?
Paesano in Glasgow student land do the nicest pizzas I've eaten outside of Italy. Favorita in Leith a bit disappointing really.
Utter shit.
^^^Yep sums it up. Expensive but only middle of the road quality and a bit bland. How the **** it lasted so long I don't know. Went in the Manchester one years ago and that was enough for me to know I'd never go again.
I vote Frankie and Benny's next! Again bland as **** corporate toss baggery.
I love it when these corporate arseclowns go bust! They treat customers like idiots, their staff like camels and think they can charge top money, whilst only aiming for mediocrity and just about getting away with it.
It's like when you see "New Recipe" on supermarket food. You know it's been cost reduced, ingredients swapped, sizes/amounts smaller/lowered and watered down by a team of arseholes, who assume they can blag the thick as **** plebs. I reward them by never buying it again and so far it's worked, I've seen plenty go bust ****-em!
Just because somewhere is a chain, doesn’t mean it’s bad.
If you've ever worked in the catering industry you'll know that this is generally not true. There are many reasons most chains are bad, and the primary one is that the need for standardisation has a hugely detrimental impact on the quality of the food and the care taken when preparing it.
Most (but not all) chains are basically 'heat it up' places. There are exceptions, of course, but this is the general rule.
JP
Frankie and Benny’s are already closing branches aren’t they?
Yes DezB everyone has different tastes. Some people think Pizza Express actually nice for example.
You don't need starters or desserts at Rudy's.
One of the pizzas is enough unless you're a proper greedy piggy.
And yes, it's definitely the best pizza I've had in the UK, better than a lot of what I've had in Italy.
Luckily my new office is a couple of minutes walk from one.
🙂
Frankie and Benny’s are already closing branches aren’t they?
Nice one hope the commercial landlords get scalped, end up with letting voids and have to redevelop the sites at mucho costo.
Wow, I had no idea that a thread about a failing restaurant chain would flush out so many.
Damnit, that's my lads new NUS card discounts ruined!
Will have to try Rudy’s next time I’m in Manchester.
To those saying “we don’t have an independent”, well, if PE closes your local restaurant (I personally hope they don’t have to) then that might open up your town to an independent starting up.
Margherita for £6.50
Best pizza in the Uk.
https://www.rudyspizza.co.uk/menus/
I agree with this. Only disappointment is that I live in London, so nowhere near it.
Whilst we're here though, my London favourites would be Bravi Ragazzi in Streatham, Bellillo in Fulham or Sodo in Walthamstow
Some people think Pizza Express actually nice for example.
Glad you understood my point. Sometimes I don’t make myself as clear as I’d like.
From what I can see there’s none in Didcot and 2 possible options in Newbury,
Two independent Italians in Thatcham!
Always enjoyed PE. Had some lovely meals with the kids. Particularly at the ones where they encourage the children up at the front to help assemble. Yes it’s a standard fayre, but I always think it’s top third and as mentioned above, when away from home with work, you want a known quality. Nothing like Santa Maria in West Ealing, run by my cyclist mate. And when we lived in Oxfordshire itvEAS local. The dough is made in a factory in Witney 🙂
ebygomm
Member
They also do gluten free and vegan options.
Pretty shit hot gluten free, too- and not just the pizza but also starters, deserts, and beer. I know a couple of good independents that'll do me a very good gf pizza but not many that can do all the trimmings.
This,
How did we get to the point when big business tells us that their crap excuse for food is the real deal.
It’s mad, this generation thinks a smackdonalds is a true ‘burger’ .
That said I’ve recently been to a gaff in ormskirk that charged me £10+ for a greasy POS that they described as ‘the beast’,,,,,, thing was smaller than a big smack.🤔
More fool me,,, the mrs had to restrain my meldrew type rant.
Frankie and Benny’s are already closing branches aren’t they?
They must be spinning in their grave. Or at least they would be if Frankie and Bennie had ever been real people. 🙂
If you’re in a strange town and want something good and reliable then Pizza Express is bang on. The food is pretty good, it’s not mega expensive and does the job consistently. It’s easy to be snobbish about these places but I think it’s a chain that’ll be missed if it does go.
I agree. It's average quality at an average price, and child friendly.
Pizza Express is a shit tonne better than the Pizza Hut’s and Dominoes of the world. That said, it’s mostly average and a bit overpriced, particularly drinks. Their whole marketing budget is based around the voucher schemes but that means punters won’t ever visit without a deal. It’s the Groupon mentality. We have a few amazing independents in Milton Keynes area but the restaurants are similarly priced. Easy parking etc., is helpful plus the kids love it. Be a shame if they closed, particularly for the workforce and suppliers.
Also in MK and I agree the non chain restaurants round here can be very good, but not cheap by any means
Always thought pizza express were OK, myself, last time we went was for a birthday party for my MIL, we went there because someone got a voucher that made it very good vfm for a big group, especially compared to similar located independents.
Staff were super helpful too, crap times for them, so.hopefully something will be worked out.
I feel sorry for the staff that need the jobs, as exploitative, dead end and soul destroying as they may be.
I have mixed feelings about the social media sycophants and corporate cheerleaders though. It's a cross between pity and a feeling examples need to be made of them, so future useful idiots think twice about it.