Prezzo, Mayfair

In something of a hurry, Mr Oil and Mr Vinegar decide upon a quick pizza at Prezzo in Mayfair.


MrO: Looks like there’s quite a few tables available. That’s lucky.
MrV: Good God, the heat in here is appalling. It’s hardly surprising the place is half empty. Is there nothing that can be done about it?
MrO: The windows don’t appear to open. Prezzo likes to base itself in quaint old buildings. I guess this means that the windows don’t work.
MrV: Well I’m not sure I’ll last.
MrO: It may not be all bad. There’s a magazine called Olive, owned by the BBC, which named Prezzo pizza chain of the year.
MrV: Never read it, never even heard of it. Another stupid BBC venture at our expense, I expect.
MrO: Gosh, it is quite warm in here. Perhaps this wine will cool us down.
MrV: What’s this Merlot IGT? No other identifying marks? I suppose at £14.95 a bottle it’s wise not to ask.
MrO: IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica. It’s the modern Italian wine designation that the purists hate.
MrV: You are the most terrible bore. And this is the hottest wine I’ve ever had without cloves and cinnamon in it. It’s undrinkable.
MrO: We can pop it in an ice bucket for a few minutes to bring it back to an acceptable temperature.
MrV: Look where the idiots keep it. As if it isn’t hellishly hot enough in here, they store the wine on racks under lights behind the bar.
MrO: At least the pizzas are delivered fairly quickly. My Vesuvio looks quite good. It has pepperoni and red chilli with extra chilli oil on the side. Not bad for £8.75.
MrV: My Proscciutto e Funghi’s supposed to have field mushrooms in it. Look, the menu distinctly says field mushrooms but these look very like button mushrooms. And I asked for garlic and onions to be added but I can’t see any sign of them.
MrO: The website says: “We use the finest seasonal products available, many of which are imported directly from Italy.”
MrV: I can’t believe anyone would import these button mushrooms all the way from Italy. What would be the point when you can get them in any Morrisons or Tesco in this country.
MrO: We can’t take it up with the manageress because she’s been on the phone for the past 15 minutes. The waitress says it’s something to do with the credit card machine.
MrV: That’s none of my concern. I can’t bear this any longer. I don’t want any more of these mushrooms and so far I’ve found two specs of onion and one of garlic. Let’s leave.

(The manageress arrives and argues that it is not her fault the credit card machine is on the blink, says she has no idea about the mushrooms and adds that she does not necessarily approve of the menu’s claims.)

MrO: This is all very unusual, I must say.
MrV: I’m not paying for that pizza. And not leaving a tip either.

Mr Oil and Mr Vinegar consumed one and a half pizzas and a bottle of wine but withheld elements of the bill, paying about £23 in total.
www.loveprezzo.co.uk/bookonline/html
17 Hertford Street, Mayfair, London W1J 7RS


http://www.eatoutmagazine.co.uk/online_article/Prezzo-named-UK_s-best-pizza-chain/8317
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/hey-prezzo-pizza-family-aim-to-make-second-fortune-731910.html
http://www.easier.com/view/Lifestyle/Food_and_Drink/Restaurants/article-265309.html
http://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews100733.html
http://www.qype.co.uk/place/248889-Prezzo-London
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/6222717/High-street-pizzas-contain-75pc-of-womens-saturated-fat-allowance.html
http://www.fdaonline.co.uk/news-item/prezzo-named-uks-best-pizza-chain/8317
http://www.which.co.uk/about-which/press/product-press-releases/which-magazine/2009/09/some-high-street-chains-taking-the-pizza-.jsp
http://www.ciao.co.uk/Prezzo_Italian_Restaurants__5628060
http://www.restaurant-guide.com/prezzo-mayfair.htm
http://www.london-eating.co.uk/5936.htm
http://www.timeout.com/london/restaurants/reviews/9582.html
http://www.tipped.co.uk/listings/18213/prezzo
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/restaurants/prezzo-userreview-7623.html