Pizza Express

Welcome to the cheap seats!
We got our Tesco reward vouchers which we duly quadrupled on line to Pizza Express redeemable vouchers.
So with these in our hot little hands we made our way to Xscape on a Saturday afternoon.
Why this one? Well Livingston is over subscribed later on a Saturday especially if Livvy are playing at home and there was some sort of demonstration scheduled for Glasgow centre.
And the new motorway extension makes Xscape a scoosh to get to. Aaand I can drool at the £5K+ bling at Evans cycles so jobs a good un.
Problem-can’t get parked in the vast car park so had to drive round for 10 minutes and pounce on someone walking to their car.
Xscape is massively busy on Saturday afternoons with parents eager to keep the sprogs occupied.
Getting a table in Pizza Express wasn’t a problem, less than half full.
Planked our self down and a table of 12 weans trooped in right next to us so its now musical tables time.
Moved over to the far side which doesn’t make much difference to not hearing the excited bunch of kids as the restaurant is minimalist and very echoey.
Now we are right next to one of the speakers playing some random modern jazz racket and a station where the staff throw their cutlery into.
…But I ain’t moving again so on with the show ‘cos I am hungry.
Started with 2 types of Bruschetta, one normal and one with Richito peppers which had a good amount of heat to them. So far so good.
Then we shared a Rustichella pizza on a thin base which had rather a lot of rocket and not much penceta and tomatoes. The Cesar dressing was particularly sharp as well.
For dessert we opted for Dolcetti which is a half portion sweet/​coffee combo. I got figs, mascapone and cinnamon syrup and wifey got gelato. The machiato coffee was passable, not great.
The food prep area is open plan with the chefs in stripey tops which is supposed to make them look continental but we thought they looked like convicts.
Service was organised and efficient.
I like the Livingston one better as the décor is nice and classy. Xscape is reminiscent of a factory canteen.
Pizza Express work hard for their corporate branding on their menu and website and bring some big name chefs into the mix. And also try to use authentic produce and recipes– I like this approach.