A few weeks ago, I had an email drop into my inbox asking if I (plus a friend) would like to visit the Pizza Express in White Cloth Hall, Leeds to try the new summer menu and be a part of their Summer Tour. Being a fan of Pizza Express, and not having an opportunity to eat at one of their restaurants in quite some time, I happily accepted the kind offer. Not only did me and Martin enjoy some delicious food, we were also kept thoroughly entertained throughout our time there. Curious? Then read on...





I have been to a Pizza Express in Leeds before, but had never previously visited this particular restaurant, despite walking past it a countless number of times. Me and Martin are even familiar with the BrewDog bar next door, visiting it frequently. What we love about the BrewDog bar is it's unique set-up in a beautiful old building - and I was happy to discover that this restaurant carries much of the same flair. It was much bigger than I was expecting, with two floors (I believe you could reserve the second floor for parties and the such like) and a large open kitchen where you can see the chefs at work. I will have to say, however, that it did feel a bit cramped - whether that was because they had squeezed in more chairs and tables for the Summer Tour, or whether it is always that way, I don't know. I did feel like we were crammed into a corner, against a wall but in the end it didn't impact on our visit at all.




After being seated by our lovely waitress, Melinda, we were shown the new items on the summer menu and left to decide what we wanted - quite a mammoth task, I can assure you! To start, I went for the classic Dough Balls "PizzaExpress", which I knew I liked, served with garlic butter. As for Martin, he went slightly out of his comfort zone and chose the Bruschetta Originale "PizzaExpress", which was garnished with tomatoes, red onions, garlic, fresh basil and pesto. We both enjoyed the starters, as we expected we would, however Martin felt that there were too many tomatoes and onions - I think he was expecting them to be cooked and it was a bit too much in the raw form. However, it was light and just the right size, so swings and roundabouts. The dough balls for me were as lovely as they always have been; soft, fluffy and with the generous helping of garlic butter they were quickly demolished.




Whilst we were eating our food, as mentioned previously we were entertained throughout the evening. The entertainment came in the form of a band called The Dough Ballers, who played between 8-9pm. Now, I've eaten in a handful of restaurants in the past where there has been some live music playing, and to say I've been less than impressed doesn't quite cover it. Usually, the act is ropey, too loud and too much try-hard. On this occasion though, I was paying more attention to the band than I was to my food! Playing everything from "Your're The One That I Want" from Grease to "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, we were both in agreement that we wanted them to play at our wedding if we were ever to get married! They were so much fun, boasting tonnes of character and I was actually quite sad to see them go at the end of their set. However, their departure was swiftly followed by our main courses arriving...





We were able to choose whatever main we wanted from the vast menu, but we both wanted to give their new summer offerings a try - so that's exactly what we did. As soon as I spotted the Emilia pizza on the menu, I had my heart set on it right from the get go. Served on a thin and crispy Romana base, it was full to the brim with "chestnut and closed cup mushrooms on a goat's cheese, garlic oil and mozzarella base finished with rocket, Gran Moravia cheese, fresh lemon juice and black truffle oil". I love mushroom dishes, and seeing a generous amount spread across the entire pizza made me very happy indeed. Martin went for the other summer special pizza, the Pollo Forza, also served on a Romana base and not scrimping on the toppings. This one was right up his street, boasting "chicken marinated in smoky chilli powder, garlic and dried chilli flakes with chargrilled red and yellow peppers, roquito peppers, mozzarella and tomato, finished with Gran Moravia cheese, parsley and chilli oil". Basically, lots of chilli and spice! Both of our pizzas went down an absolute treat; I just about managed to finish mine as the portion was so generous and I don't think Martin was far behind. If we had paid for our mains then we certainly would have got excellent value for money, both with the sizes and the quality of the pizzas. The base was as thin and as crispy as promised, and the toppings were all full of flavour. Nothing on my pizza overpowered anything else and it was a good balance of complementing flavours, with the black truffle oil surprisingly noticeable. Martin, liking his food as spicy as possible, was suitably impressed with the fiery kick that this pizza delivered and even enjoyed the peppers - something he's not usually a fan of. Alongside our mains, we also ordered a side of Polenta chips and Coleslaw. In hindsight, we would have been absolutely fine without them, but the Polenta chips in particular are well worth having - soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and garnished with a generous sprinkling of parmesan cheese; what's not to like?




Last but not least were the desserts. Despite initially thinking that I couldn't possibly squeeze anything else in, that soon changed when I saw the summer specials that were available. If I was going to be having anything, I wanted something light and refreshing, no stodgy cakes in sight. The healthier option from the menu met those requirements perfectly; the Leggera Lemon & Blueberry Glory, which clocks in at under 235 calories. Comprising of "Lemon curd sorbet with blueberries, coulis and a chocolate straw", it was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and not overfill me all in one go (We've all been there, when we've eaten too much and felt as sick as a dog afterwards). It was tangy but not too sharp, with the sweetness of the blueberries and coulis really bringing it all together. It reminded me of something that I would have eaten on holiday abroad a few years ago - perfect for a warm summer's evening. Martin was feeling pretty full, and didn't want a full sized dessert like mine but also fancied something sweet - well, Pizza Express had him covered, He opted for a Dolcetti Lemon Leggera Sorbet, to enjoy with a Macchiato on the side. The lemon curd sorbet was the same as mine, but instead of several scoops it was just the one, garnished with mint and a miniature chocolate straw. How cute! Instead of forcing it down, this small dessert meant that he could enjoy it and again, not feel overfilled afterwards. A perfect end to a very satisfying meal!

We had a wonderful evening joining in with the Summer Tour at Pizza Express, and I feel a little chastened in the fact that amongst all of the restaurants that have been popping up all over the city, I had forgotten about Pizza Express. As of yet, I have not had a bad experience whilst eating in one of their restaurants and no matter where you are, the food is something that is consistent and reliable in quality. Special mention must go to our waitress, Melinda, who was warm, bubbly and chatty without being overbearing or pushy in the slightest. Her service definitely added to the experience, as well as the performance by The Dough Ballers. If we had paid for the entirety of our meal it would have come to £61.50 excluding tip, which for a three course meal for two, including sides and drinks, in the city centre is very reasonable. I actually ended up being invited again to Pizza Express, this time at the River House restaurant in York, to try the summer menu again - so, how do the two compare? Is the reliable, consistent quality that I mentioned above actually in practice? Watch this space...