Zizzi

I didn’t rate it. I know it is somewhat naïve to expect wonders at a chain restaurant, but even with that in mind this was definitely a sub par experience.
I kicked off with some cheesy garlic bread. You can’t go wrong with garlic bread right? Turns out you can at Zizzi’s Windsor. Bread? Check. Cheese? Check. Garlic? Hey, you didn’t really want garlic did you? Oh you did?! C’mon, give us a break here. Have some red onion instead, you won’t even notice the difference. Onion breath, garlic breath, it’s all the same yeah?
Moving swiftly on, next up was pizza. I have nothing meaningful to say about this course. It was adequate and unremarkable, satisfactory yet instantly forgettable. It was the Vauxhall Astra of pizzas.
Next up was dessert. No-​one wanted dessert. However, we were there for a birthday meal. Upon entry I had done the obligatory surreptitious handover of birthday cake and candles to our waiting staff, safe in the assumption they would understand their role in the supposedly often played out scene of dining out theatre for which this prop was a necessity. Sadly I was mistaken…
My clandestine attempts to indicate we were ready for the cake went unnoticed or unheeded and eventually I was left with no option but to outright ask for them to bring the cake. The waitress looked at me with a shocked expression and exclaimed «But now it isn’t a surprise!» before disappearing to get it. If only she had been able to foster this profound sense of perception several minutes earlier we could at least have all engaged in the charade that it was a surprise.
There are a plethora of other places to eat in Windsor, go try a different one.

Best meal in the UK yet.
The Garlic Bread with cheese was great. Had cartelized onions with balsamic reduction. Definitely worth a try.

You know how sometimes you except and await something for so long that when you finally get it, you’re left a bit … unsatisfied? Well… the anticipation of eating at Zizzi’s was quite the opposite. After a business trip brought me back to Windsor, Zizzi’s was at the top of the list of what I look forward to most (the 3-​hour European dinner spectacle). Granted we were in and out pretty quickly by Euro standards… servers actually seat you and check up on you!
We had to try as many things on the menu as possible so of course we started with the Cichetti: risotto balls (pretty good), mushroom bruschetta (amazing!), and Ravioli Croccanti (ok).
Spaghetti Chitarra alla Pescatora– yummy seafood and hearty marinara
Zucca e Pancetta — lots of flavor, rich dish
Penne della Casa — also rich and homey flavor.
The Chianti — perfect complement to the meal.
The Dessert — but of course! (Torta Cioccolata… chocolate was a bit too hard but hazelnut mousse was so fluffy and vanilla mascarpone mm mmmm mmmmm)
So sad when it’s all over … until the next trip!

My coworkers & I were here on a business trip in August & had stayed in Windsor. There were a VARIETY of places to eat at & Zizzi was one that we all eyed on. Every time we passed by this hot spot there was always a long wait. So finally on our 3^rd try we were convinced by the cute server to stay & wait for a table that was almost done ONLY cuz they don’t do take away on salads! This was on a Thursday night after 7pm & we got seated after waiting about 15 min. Any longer I would’ve opted for Mickey D’s next door!
I had the following –
**Bruschetta Al Pomodoro: Toasted garlic ciabatta heaped w/​fresh tomato, basil & red onion w/​a drizzle of olive oil. This was a simple & tasty appetizer.
**Insalata Cacciatore: Juicy confit duck & crispy pancetta crown a salad of mixed leaves, lentils & spring onion w/​Grana Padano cheese & balsamic vinegar. Ohhhh myyy, absolute DELISH! One of the best salads I’ve had yet during my stay here!
Great ambiance, clean spot & friendly servers. Only thing that bothered us is that everything was slow. Maybe it’s within the European culture that they take their time in everything they do & enjoy it as it is, unlike us «fast-​paced» Americans?! =P Anyhooo, we were looking for a quick dinner but it ended up to be 2 hours long. Regardless, it was a pretty good dinner & with great company!