I cant thank this warm, welcoming restaurant enough after our recent and excellent evening spent celebrating a family birthday. After initially booking for our party, the size of the party then doubled and without any fuss the staff catered for every change thereafter. Wonderful friendly and attentive service from Maria and co through out our entire evening. Food excellent and just as advertised, all I needed to do was ask, and then staff raised to any challenge be it allergies or just about anything else the party needed ! Cant wait to return.
krose55
Had the best dinner here especially since it was for a family of 15. The staff took our orders efficiently and we all received our drinks and meals out together which was great seeings it was such a large group. I rang a couple of times to book and reconfirm the booking and spoke to a lovely member of staff Kinga who served us that night too. She really made it easy to book and enjoy our meal and her team did a great job too. Would highly recommend it, lovely food and attentive staff.
Bernadette H
Impromptu visit to Ask, good service and good food. Kinga was our waitress, very friendly and attentive. Charlie also served us and he was also very professional. Definitely recommend a visit.
hutchingsc
Awful over cooked pasta, had to send back. Pizza tasted fake. Chips were nice and service was quick. Wouldn’t go back.
Hutchings C
Awful over cooked pasta, had to send back. Pizza tasted fake. Chips were nice and service was quick. Wouldn’t go back.
LisaChambers01
Monday asked for a table at 8.30pm. Half the restaurant being used but refused a table for 2 as they were apparently booked up for the whole night! On a Monday?? Rubbish. So many probs getting a table there at all times. Won’t bother again
Megan S
Me and my partner come here very often, the staff are always friendly and accommodating. The restaurant itself has great decorations to look at whilst waiting for your food, the food is always amazing, I've tried many dishes and they are all great, the deserts are equally as good. We will always come back here as me and my partner think it is amazing!
Jakob H
I haven’t been to Ask Southend for a while, and I’m glad to say that I loved it once again! Lovely service from the waitresses and as always the food was delicious!! The chefs and kitchen staff should be very proud of themselves, im never disappointed with their work. All in all, I’ll carry on recommending this restaurant to my friends and family. When and if you go, understand that they work their hardest to make your experience lovely. Can’t wait to eat there again!?????
J566JMmaureenh
??? Oh dear, my opinion was shattered. I had 2 great meals here, but with both, they were very salty & a lack of garnish. Plain tomato soup, no thin swirl or spot of sour cream etc or lush parsely. I asked for some, it was quickly brought. Same with risotto, plain mushy peas look! I put cream & parsely on that too, it was tasty & all other meals looked spectacular... But & this is quite incredible, I went to the loo, put my bag on the shelf top & in doing so, shouted out in pain, the towel warmer was SCALDING HOT! It actually burnt my hand... Thinking this had only just malfunctioned, I told the waiter, but was asked, why had I put my hand on it!!! ?? Crazy, I gather it's always like that & until child burns their hand on it, they just laugh! Health & Safety be Aware... Won't be back there..
Helen F
Wonderful place to eat, fantastic food and attentive staff, definitely worth a visit. Always clean and the atmosphere is very nice too!
ARRIVED AT APPROX 5 o/c WITH NO BOOKING, AND ALTHOUGH RESTAURANT VIRTUALLY EMPTY ! TOOK A WHILE TO "FIND A TABLE!" WE WERE EVENTUALLY LOCATED A REAR OF RESTAURANT ON A TABLE IN BUSY AISLE WITH STAFF CONSTANTLY PASSING BY, NOT A GOOD AMBIENCE FOR RELAXING AND ENJOYING A MEAL. OUR PASTA DISHES WERE SERVED PROMPTLY (micro waved?) ONE BEING A TASTY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM AND THE OTHER BEING THE "PULLED BRISKET" THE LATTER BEING LOTS OF PASTA WITH VERY FEW STRANDS OF MEAT! A GREAT SHAME THAT THE ONE ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN THIS AREA WITH INDIVIDUAL QUIET AREAS CLOSED, THIS "NORMAL FORMAT" OF OPEN AREA DINING IS SO NOISY AND NOT ONE TO LINGER AFTER EATING, AND YES I RATHER GATHER THAT IS THE WHOLE IDEA, "GET THEM IN ,GET THEM FED, AND GET THEM OUT!"
Guy D
Top class service and super food (vegan Lentil Rag) our waitress Kinga was lovely, very attentive my friends food was equally tasty
Evelyn E
Food was very good staff were friendly and service was good restaurant was clean and tidy good experience
Julie M
Amazing little place, looks like a little restaurant in Italy and the food is delicious. Last minute dinner plans on Sunday, we were very impressed from the moment we walked in, staff very polite and attentive but friendly at the same time. We loved the food and atmosphere very much, delicious cocktails were recommended to us and we were pleasantly surprised by the gin from the local distillery, great to see a big company involved with local community. Thank you to the lady who looked after us (I think she was the manager).
Victoria C
Whilst we had planned to go out and eat this Sunday just gone, we hadn’t booked anywhere. Rather last minute I called ask Southend and they were able to facilitate a table for 5, which was pleasing. On the phone they told me, however, that it’s card payment only. Disappointing as I would not like to see us become a cashless society. We shared some starters amongst our table; a mixed anti pasta platter which comprised of 3 pieces of Milano salami, a couple of bits of coppa ham, a small pot of nocellera olives, smoked chilli jam, olive tapenade, a ball of mozzarella and plenty of bread. With some rocket for decoration. We also had a burrata caprese which was disappointingly a bit watery. And a large calamari, which was pleasing and a generous size. On to mains, our son is pizza mad. He went for the calzone carne picante, which he requested without chillis. They happily facilitated this. The appearance made me laugh however, it looked like a giant Cornish pasty! My husband had the manzo picante- a short rigatoni dish of beef and red wine ragu, beef meatballs, chillis, peppers and mozzarella. He found this pleasing. Especially the added side of some tender stem broccoli we added. My mother and father in law both had the same dish; the pollo Milanese- breaded chicken, with roasted baby potatoes, broccoli and the mushroom sauce. They were pleased. My dish was last to come out. The Luganica sausage and n’duja frilly tagliatelle. As the Parmesan was shaved over my dish the waiter dropped the whole block in my dish. Splash!! He took it away, with some of the meat from my dinner too! Very disappointing! (Although the dish was nice, minus a bit of meat!) I was further disappointed when the dessert of mine and my mother in laws choosing was not available. It is generally good practice to advice customers when handing out menus of anything that wasn’t available. I don’t know if there were any specials- we weren’t told. Overall it was an average meal- the standard I would expect from a high street chain. The only photo I took was my sons ‘Cornish pasty’ as it made me laugh!
I cant thank this warm, welcoming restaurant enough after our recent and excellent evening spent celebrating a family birthday. After initially booking for our party, the size of the party then doubled and without any fuss the staff catered for every change thereafter. Wonderful friendly and attentive service from Maria and co through out our entire evening. Food excellent and just as advertised, all I needed to do was ask, and then staff raised to any challenge be it allergies or just about anything else the party needed ! Cant wait to return.
Had the best dinner here especially since it was for a family of 15. The staff took our orders efficiently and we all received our drinks and meals out together which was great seeings it was such a large group. I rang a couple of times to book and reconfirm the booking and spoke to a lovely member of staff Kinga who served us that night too. She really made it easy to book and enjoy our meal and her team did a great job too. Would highly recommend it, lovely food and attentive staff.
Impromptu visit to Ask, good service and good food. Kinga was our waitress, very friendly and attentive. Charlie also served us and he was also very professional. Definitely recommend a visit.
Awful over cooked pasta, had to send back. Pizza tasted fake. Chips were nice and service was quick. Wouldn’t go back.
Awful over cooked pasta, had to send back. Pizza tasted fake. Chips were nice and service was quick. Wouldn’t go back.
Monday asked for a table at 8.30pm. Half the restaurant being used but refused a table for 2 as they were apparently booked up for the whole night! On a Monday?? Rubbish. So many probs getting a table there at all times. Won’t bother again
Me and my partner come here very often, the staff are always friendly and accommodating. The restaurant itself has great decorations to look at whilst waiting for your food, the food is always amazing, I've tried many dishes and they are all great, the deserts are equally as good. We will always come back here as me and my partner think it is amazing!
I haven’t been to Ask Southend for a while, and I’m glad to say that I loved it once again! Lovely service from the waitresses and as always the food was delicious!! The chefs and kitchen staff should be very proud of themselves, im never disappointed with their work. All in all, I’ll carry on recommending this restaurant to my friends and family. When and if you go, understand that they work their hardest to make your experience lovely. Can’t wait to eat there again!?????
??? Oh dear, my opinion was shattered. I had 2 great meals here, but with both, they were very salty & a lack of garnish. Plain tomato soup, no thin swirl or spot of sour cream etc or lush parsely. I asked for some, it was quickly brought. Same with risotto, plain mushy peas look! I put cream & parsely on that too, it was tasty & all other meals looked spectacular... But & this is quite incredible, I went to the loo, put my bag on the shelf top & in doing so, shouted out in pain, the towel warmer was SCALDING HOT! It actually burnt my hand... Thinking this had only just malfunctioned, I told the waiter, but was asked, why had I put my hand on it!!! ?? Crazy, I gather it's always like that & until child burns their hand on it, they just laugh! Health & Safety be Aware... Won't be back there..
Wonderful place to eat, fantastic food and attentive staff, definitely worth a visit. Always clean and the atmosphere is very nice too!
Restaurantji Recommends
ARRIVED AT APPROX 5 o/c WITH NO BOOKING, AND ALTHOUGH RESTAURANT VIRTUALLY EMPTY ! TOOK A WHILE TO "FIND A TABLE!" WE WERE EVENTUALLY LOCATED A REAR OF RESTAURANT ON A TABLE IN BUSY AISLE WITH STAFF CONSTANTLY PASSING BY, NOT A GOOD AMBIENCE FOR RELAXING AND ENJOYING A MEAL. OUR PASTA DISHES WERE SERVED PROMPTLY (micro waved?) ONE BEING A TASTY CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM AND THE OTHER BEING THE "PULLED BRISKET" THE LATTER BEING LOTS OF PASTA WITH VERY FEW STRANDS OF MEAT! A GREAT SHAME THAT THE ONE ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN THIS AREA WITH INDIVIDUAL QUIET AREAS CLOSED, THIS "NORMAL FORMAT" OF OPEN AREA DINING IS SO NOISY AND NOT ONE TO LINGER AFTER EATING, AND YES I RATHER GATHER THAT IS THE WHOLE IDEA, "GET THEM IN ,GET THEM FED, AND GET THEM OUT!"
Top class service and super food (vegan Lentil Rag) our waitress Kinga was lovely, very attentive my friends food was equally tasty
Food was very good staff were friendly and service was good restaurant was clean and tidy good experience
Amazing little place, looks like a little restaurant in Italy and the food is delicious. Last minute dinner plans on Sunday, we were very impressed from the moment we walked in, staff very polite and attentive but friendly at the same time. We loved the food and atmosphere very much, delicious cocktails were recommended to us and we were pleasantly surprised by the gin from the local distillery, great to see a big company involved with local community. Thank you to the lady who looked after us (I think she was the manager).
Whilst we had planned to go out and eat this Sunday just gone, we hadn’t booked anywhere. Rather last minute I called ask Southend and they were able to facilitate a table for 5, which was pleasing. On the phone they told me, however, that it’s card payment only. Disappointing as I would not like to see us become a cashless society. We shared some starters amongst our table; a mixed anti pasta platter which comprised of 3 pieces of Milano salami, a couple of bits of coppa ham, a small pot of nocellera olives, smoked chilli jam, olive tapenade, a ball of mozzarella and plenty of bread. With some rocket for decoration. We also had a burrata caprese which was disappointingly a bit watery. And a large calamari, which was pleasing and a generous size. On to mains, our son is pizza mad. He went for the calzone carne picante, which he requested without chillis. They happily facilitated this. The appearance made me laugh however, it looked like a giant Cornish pasty! My husband had the manzo picante- a short rigatoni dish of beef and red wine ragu, beef meatballs, chillis, peppers and mozzarella. He found this pleasing. Especially the added side of some tender stem broccoli we added. My mother and father in law both had the same dish; the pollo Milanese- breaded chicken, with roasted baby potatoes, broccoli and the mushroom sauce. They were pleased. My dish was last to come out. The Luganica sausage and n’duja frilly tagliatelle. As the Parmesan was shaved over my dish the waiter dropped the whole block in my dish. Splash!! He took it away, with some of the meat from my dinner too! Very disappointing! (Although the dish was nice, minus a bit of meat!) I was further disappointed when the dessert of mine and my mother in laws choosing was not available. It is generally good practice to advice customers when handing out menus of anything that wasn’t available. I don’t know if there were any specials- we weren’t told. Overall it was an average meal- the standard I would expect from a high street chain. The only photo I took was my sons ‘Cornish pasty’ as it made me laugh!