Brilliant service, lovely young girls with good customer service. All had a smile on their face, the one young girl serving me seemed upset however managed to still do a brilliant job. Although, chef seemed rude and agitated with staff, and on top of that, witnessed her taking off her hair net multiple times whilst cooking the food which led to me finding a hair in my pizza.
R7121UGanthonyg
Burnt garlic mushrooms, cold and under cooked pizza and couldn’t even make a coffee. Someone definitely put the motorway services experience into pizza express, not the other way around.
Hullman13
Arrived at this restaurant at 9pm on a Friday after a long drive from Yorkshire. As we were staying at the Ramada we decided to hold off stopping for the usual takeaway fare on the journey down and have a proper sit down meal with our elderly parents and enjoy a bottle of wine. When we walked in we were told that they were closing and that we could order takeaway. For a restaurant on a service area 9pm felt very early to be closing. We asked if it was OK to take the pizzas back to the bar next door so at least we could enjoy a sociable drink with our meal. The server said yes she knew we could do that. We ordered the pizzas and returned to the bar. As we were in the process of ordering drinks I happened to mention to the bar woman that we had ordered pizzas and she said we couldn’t eat them in the bar. This was now becoming a farce. We had to then go to the service area canteen were there were no drinks available apart from fizzy pop. When the pizzas arrived they were a total disappointment. The garlic bread was not cooked, smothered in about 2 inches of cheese and seemed the size of one slice. The others two pizzas were OK, not very big and again far too much cheese. The price for this was £35 to basically sit in a service area, with no drinks. Why weren’t we offered a discount off the bill for takeaway? We paid full restaurant prices for a poor quality takeaway. Staff need to stop giving out false information.
IanPLancashire
I visited this restaurant years ago whilst stopping at the Ramada and decided to try it again to see if it had improved. Sadly not. The customer experience here is shocking. I entered and was left stood at the reception desk for probably ten minutes even though they saw me come in. Finally a young chap came over and got me seated and left me with a menu. A full 20 minutes passed before he came back over even though there was probably only a dozen people untie restaurant. The pizza was pretty good when it finally arrived but no large bottles of beer and the service was shockingly slow. I had to go upto the till to pay as I was tired of being seated and ignored.
383nikkitap
Wow. What an experience. We were really looking forward to a meal out and we’re staying in the hotel next door. We entered and it took around 5 minutes for someone to seat us despite it being quiet with lots of members of staff on. We waited a relatively long time for someone to take our order but we were fine with the wait. However, 30 minutes passed and we were still waiting. Our starters then arrived, calamari with no dip or garnish so we asked for some dressing. The garlic bread starter was noticeably burnt and we were still waiting for a dough balls. The dough balls arrived around 10 minutes later and were completely cold. I politely went to the counter with the burnt garlic bread and cold dough balls and asked if they could be redone. I was told to wait a minute. I then returned to the table and when a (this time undercooked) garlic bread arrived I asked for the manager as our drinks still hadn’t arrived. The manager came over and I explained why I was unhappy. The manager didn’t apologise, she simply said ‘what do you want me to do?’ to which I was quite honestly shocked. The manager then walks off claiming she was checking what time we ordered our drinks. She returned to the table with quite honestly an attitude and said ‘I have taken the drinks and starters off your bill, do you want your mains?’. Still no apology. I calmly said to the manager ‘do you even care about my complaint’ to which she responded ‘I am 8 months pregnant and you have scared me, I’m so intimidated and feel threatened by you swearing and shouting at me, I am shaking’ - to which I simply did not do. My partner asked if she needed an ambulance - quite rightly not needed but with the lack of respect we had been shown, we were clearly upset and I personally was extremely hurt and upset by her accusing of threatening behaviour which simply didn’t happen. The manager then snatched my drink from my hand and told me aggressively to ‘get out’. I am so devastated by my experience, I have personally recently had issues conceiving and was truly hurt by the ‘playing the victim’ card with the 8 months pregnant comment. Aside from this I would never ever threaten or intimidate anyone and I am so upset by the experience. We travel to London a lot for work and we would be a regular at the restaurant but I will never return to a pizza express again. I will be taking this further.
Hannah M
We have been to the pizza express several times at South Mimms and been really impressed with the service. I am gluten free and lactose intolerant and the staff are always so careful to check everything with me. The service is efficient and the staff are lovely! Thank you!
stevelI777BB
Monday 7PM, waited six minutes to even be acknowledged by staff, even though frequent glances at the queue by the door. Told eventually a 40 min wait for food even with five staff and nly 15 covers on the go. Looks like the staff just don't wish to work any more. I'm a frequent traveller but this would have been my first time in this new Pizza Express. Will they complain in January when they can't pay the bills? You bet they will. AVOID.
stephencH3833SA
I had to wait approximately 10 minutes after I had decided what I wanted to get served then when the pizza arrived, I'll be honest it was an anorexia pizza, the amount of ingredients were at least disappointing. I'm not a big pizza eater now I remember why. I have included a picture, do you agree? Up to you obviously but very disappointed.
phil6828
Arrived at 18:50 tonight and didn't leave until gone 20:30. No idea what the hell's happened with the service here, but it's seriously gone downhill! No one from head or management has taken our previous complaint seriously and turned things around since staff ignored us on the night of our valentine's earlier this year. It's a real shame, as our cloest other branch is Hertford. We were welcomed and told some items weren't available on the menu, then seated and left for 20 minutes without waiter service. Starters took over half an hour to arrive without cutlery, then over 20 minutes for mains. One couple was trying to get attention for the bill, another group behind us got so impatient they resorted to take out, and one poor chap was left for well over 50 minutes without food and walked out. It was at 1/3 capacity on a Monday evening...!?
gurpalsc
Service was very poor, no one seemed to care. Two of their staff were eating and then serving without washing their hands when more customers arrived. Waited 45 minutes for starters to be served, wings arrived broken, cold and were very hard to eat. Then, after another 30 minute wait we had the privilege of being served our stone baked and stone cold pizzas. Overall, worst customer service I’ve seen, and food not worth even a quarter of what we paid.
I would love to be able to review this restaurant but you need to have food there to be able to do it. The place wasn't very busy when we arrived and a nice young girl showed us to our table. After about 5 minuets the same girl gave us some menus and said someone would be along to take our order. 10 mins later and after frantic waves to the server, we were ignored, so we just got up and left.
MarkPDowd
Dreadful service. Waited 10 minutes to order and only one person allowed to take orders. She didn’t even look when I was waiving both arms in the air. A young colleague had to go and nudge her.
393pollyc
Decided to stop here to break up the journey. Big mistake! Rude indifferent staff who are more interested in gossiping at the bar and treat their customers with contempt
Gonow1147
Waited 10 minutes at door After 20 minutes at table asking to order was told “look we’re busy” Watching two staff have a good long chat at the till Walked out Go somewhere where customers matter is ny advice
L4544GKdanielg
Just visited and was stood at the door for 5 minutes without the courtesy of even been acknowledged. Fist both waitresses seeing me stood there. Walked out in the end. Clearly customer service is not taught at this place. Don’t waste your time with a visit
Brilliant service, lovely young girls with good customer service. All had a smile on their face, the one young girl serving me seemed upset however managed to still do a brilliant job. Although, chef seemed rude and agitated with staff, and on top of that, witnessed her taking off her hair net multiple times whilst cooking the food which led to me finding a hair in my pizza.
Burnt garlic mushrooms, cold and under cooked pizza and couldn’t even make a coffee. Someone definitely put the motorway services experience into pizza express, not the other way around.
Arrived at this restaurant at 9pm on a Friday after a long drive from Yorkshire. As we were staying at the Ramada we decided to hold off stopping for the usual takeaway fare on the journey down and have a proper sit down meal with our elderly parents and enjoy a bottle of wine. When we walked in we were told that they were closing and that we could order takeaway. For a restaurant on a service area 9pm felt very early to be closing. We asked if it was OK to take the pizzas back to the bar next door so at least we could enjoy a sociable drink with our meal. The server said yes she knew we could do that. We ordered the pizzas and returned to the bar. As we were in the process of ordering drinks I happened to mention to the bar woman that we had ordered pizzas and she said we couldn’t eat them in the bar. This was now becoming a farce. We had to then go to the service area canteen were there were no drinks available apart from fizzy pop. When the pizzas arrived they were a total disappointment. The garlic bread was not cooked, smothered in about 2 inches of cheese and seemed the size of one slice. The others two pizzas were OK, not very big and again far too much cheese. The price for this was £35 to basically sit in a service area, with no drinks. Why weren’t we offered a discount off the bill for takeaway? We paid full restaurant prices for a poor quality takeaway. Staff need to stop giving out false information.
I visited this restaurant years ago whilst stopping at the Ramada and decided to try it again to see if it had improved. Sadly not. The customer experience here is shocking. I entered and was left stood at the reception desk for probably ten minutes even though they saw me come in. Finally a young chap came over and got me seated and left me with a menu. A full 20 minutes passed before he came back over even though there was probably only a dozen people untie restaurant. The pizza was pretty good when it finally arrived but no large bottles of beer and the service was shockingly slow. I had to go upto the till to pay as I was tired of being seated and ignored.
Wow. What an experience. We were really looking forward to a meal out and we’re staying in the hotel next door. We entered and it took around 5 minutes for someone to seat us despite it being quiet with lots of members of staff on. We waited a relatively long time for someone to take our order but we were fine with the wait. However, 30 minutes passed and we were still waiting. Our starters then arrived, calamari with no dip or garnish so we asked for some dressing. The garlic bread starter was noticeably burnt and we were still waiting for a dough balls. The dough balls arrived around 10 minutes later and were completely cold. I politely went to the counter with the burnt garlic bread and cold dough balls and asked if they could be redone. I was told to wait a minute. I then returned to the table and when a (this time undercooked) garlic bread arrived I asked for the manager as our drinks still hadn’t arrived. The manager came over and I explained why I was unhappy. The manager didn’t apologise, she simply said ‘what do you want me to do?’ to which I was quite honestly shocked. The manager then walks off claiming she was checking what time we ordered our drinks. She returned to the table with quite honestly an attitude and said ‘I have taken the drinks and starters off your bill, do you want your mains?’. Still no apology. I calmly said to the manager ‘do you even care about my complaint’ to which she responded ‘I am 8 months pregnant and you have scared me, I’m so intimidated and feel threatened by you swearing and shouting at me, I am shaking’ - to which I simply did not do. My partner asked if she needed an ambulance - quite rightly not needed but with the lack of respect we had been shown, we were clearly upset and I personally was extremely hurt and upset by her accusing of threatening behaviour which simply didn’t happen. The manager then snatched my drink from my hand and told me aggressively to ‘get out’. I am so devastated by my experience, I have personally recently had issues conceiving and was truly hurt by the ‘playing the victim’ card with the 8 months pregnant comment. Aside from this I would never ever threaten or intimidate anyone and I am so upset by the experience. We travel to London a lot for work and we would be a regular at the restaurant but I will never return to a pizza express again. I will be taking this further.
We have been to the pizza express several times at South Mimms and been really impressed with the service. I am gluten free and lactose intolerant and the staff are always so careful to check everything with me. The service is efficient and the staff are lovely! Thank you!
Monday 7PM, waited six minutes to even be acknowledged by staff, even though frequent glances at the queue by the door. Told eventually a 40 min wait for food even with five staff and nly 15 covers on the go. Looks like the staff just don't wish to work any more. I'm a frequent traveller but this would have been my first time in this new Pizza Express. Will they complain in January when they can't pay the bills? You bet they will. AVOID.
I had to wait approximately 10 minutes after I had decided what I wanted to get served then when the pizza arrived, I'll be honest it was an anorexia pizza, the amount of ingredients were at least disappointing. I'm not a big pizza eater now I remember why. I have included a picture, do you agree? Up to you obviously but very disappointed.
Arrived at 18:50 tonight and didn't leave until gone 20:30. No idea what the hell's happened with the service here, but it's seriously gone downhill! No one from head or management has taken our previous complaint seriously and turned things around since staff ignored us on the night of our valentine's earlier this year. It's a real shame, as our cloest other branch is Hertford. We were welcomed and told some items weren't available on the menu, then seated and left for 20 minutes without waiter service. Starters took over half an hour to arrive without cutlery, then over 20 minutes for mains. One couple was trying to get attention for the bill, another group behind us got so impatient they resorted to take out, and one poor chap was left for well over 50 minutes without food and walked out. It was at 1/3 capacity on a Monday evening...!?
Service was very poor, no one seemed to care. Two of their staff were eating and then serving without washing their hands when more customers arrived. Waited 45 minutes for starters to be served, wings arrived broken, cold and were very hard to eat. Then, after another 30 minute wait we had the privilege of being served our stone baked and stone cold pizzas. Overall, worst customer service I’ve seen, and food not worth even a quarter of what we paid.
Restaurantji Recommends
I would love to be able to review this restaurant but you need to have food there to be able to do it. The place wasn't very busy when we arrived and a nice young girl showed us to our table. After about 5 minuets the same girl gave us some menus and said someone would be along to take our order. 10 mins later and after frantic waves to the server, we were ignored, so we just got up and left.
Dreadful service. Waited 10 minutes to order and only one person allowed to take orders. She didn’t even look when I was waiving both arms in the air. A young colleague had to go and nudge her.
Decided to stop here to break up the journey. Big mistake! Rude indifferent staff who are more interested in gossiping at the bar and treat their customers with contempt
Waited 10 minutes at door After 20 minutes at table asking to order was told “look we’re busy” Watching two staff have a good long chat at the till Walked out Go somewhere where customers matter is ny advice
Just visited and was stood at the door for 5 minutes without the courtesy of even been acknowledged. Fist both waitresses seeing me stood there. Walked out in the end. Clearly customer service is not taught at this place. Don’t waste your time with a visit