You would not expect the title of one of Arctic Monkeys’ biggest hits to appear boldly in fluorescent neon on the wall of a Zizzi restaurant, that is unless you happen to be in Sheffield which is home to one of the first re-designed Zizzi restaurants in the country. The restaurant has been given a whole new look.
Zizzi’s new design
‘I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ proclaimed the sign, never mind that I thought – I was more interested in what might look good on the plate in front of me!
The Sheffield band have probably never been in the restaurant on Leopold Square. Somehow, I could never imagine Alex Turner, the Arctic’s main singer and songwriter walking through the restaurant doors to dine.
The connection though is as good as any unless you thought that they might have been better choosing a song title from another Sheffield band – perhaps Do You Remember The First Time? (Pulp), Being Boiled (Human League) or how about Pour Some Sugar On Me (Def Leppard)? Maybe not.
The new design has been done sympathetically with hues of orange and other shades of autumn throughout the restaurant. A lone autumnal sycamore tree catches your eye upon entering the restaurant. I asked one of the staff if the tree changed throughout the seasons “No, it will always stay as autumn”, he replied. Forever autumn it is then.
With outdoor seating, a raised inside terrace along with a general eating area with an open kitchen all created a convivial atmosphere to dine in. It felt just on the right side of functional if you catch my drift.
Great new menu
I have never had a bad meal at any Zizzi restaurant I have been to – and the Sheffield restaurant was no exception.
The starter of vegan meatless meatballs (£6.95) served with a cheesy sauce tasted like the real thing, I am no vegetarian but when the starter tasted as good as this I could be persuaded.
The new Calabrian sausage and potatoes rustic pizza (£15.50) was enough for two to share but since the Artic Monkey’s main man was not going to turn up, I decided to finish off the pizza on my own. Tasty, succulent and well, just a damn good pizza. Yes, I enjoyed it immensely.
Sticky toffee cheesecake served with chunks of toffee cake and toffee sauce (£6.75) all added up to a very guilty pleasure. It really needed a dollop of vanilla ice cream on the side to make the dessert extra special which I was very happy to add.
The menu is a copious one where you will discover that it is not just pizza that is on offer- other options include calzone, pasta and risotto. There are some interesting titles too, such as the ‘Casareccia pollo piccante’ – a dish that consists of spicy harissa chicken with tomatoes and baby spinach in a creamy sauce (£13.95) or perhaps the ‘meat sofia’ might tempt you with the delights of a triple threat of harissa chicken, pepperoni, torn pork and garlic meatballs, topped off with mozzarella, spicy roquito chillies and rosemary (£15.25).
Vegetarians are well catered for with the ‘veggie Vs veggie pizza’ – a pizza of two halves: one, sliced rosemary potatoes, roasted red onion, pea shoots and riserva cheese on a white base; the other, roasted peppers, spicy roquito chillies, mushrooms and rocket on a tomato base (£13.95).
Other suggestions to whet your appetite include the ‘Pinoli classic pizza’ which is made up of goat’s cheese, mozzarella, caramelised balsamic onions, tomatoes, pine nuts and riserva cheese (£11.75) or perhaps the vegan rainbow lasagne (£13.25) might appeal?
The drinks menu includes a generous wine list along with a beer and cider selection along with offerings of prosecco which seems to be a very popular drink at the moment.
Good value, good food
If you are watching the pennies, the three-course menu at £23.95 available lunchtime and evenings is exceptional good value.
Even on a dreary Monday evening the restaurant was practically full so they must be doing something right, either that or they are just curious to see what the new design is like. My fellow diners seemed very diverse ranging from families, friends meeting up to theatre goers enjoying a pre-meal visit, whilst I dined on my own, I never felt out of place in the warm and welcoming atmosphere. It all felt like an event in itself and one which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I bade my farewells and ventured out into the autumnal night – in the words of another Artic Monkey’s songs I would definitely give this particular Zizzi ‘Four out of Five’. Zizzi, 8, Leopold Square, Sheffield S1 2JG
