A good example of what a chain restaurant should be – reliable atmosphere, consistently good pizzas and a well known restaurant in the local area. This Pizza Express ticks all those boxes.

The Venue
On Croydon’s main street of restaurants, which is packed with chain after chain restaurant and a few random offerings as well, lies Pizza Express. The blue sign conjures memories of chefs spinning pizza bases up in the air and the salivary suspense of waiting for a pizza. Through the large glass windows you can see all of these things from the street, and you’ll soon be tempted inside. The decor is modern and clean, with granite floors, marble tables and wooden chairs – it may seem cold and uninviting, but the soft lighting makes up for the lack of warmth. There are rather annoying plastic looking flowers on each table and though they add colour, they seem tacky and unnecessary.

The Atmosphere
The atmosphere builds up quite nicely on evenings and weekends, as the cold walls bounce off the chatter to literally create a buzz around the room, but if it’s too packed, the room can feel almost too loud. The tables are well spaced making the environment comfortable and airy, and the staff are speedy and smiley to make the experience all the more pleasant. This place is very popular with families, due to the well known fact that children tend to love pizza, and it goes down well with their parents too, but there are also plenty of couples and friends looking to have a tasty meal as well, so the atmosphere is friendly and fun.

The Food
The reason Pizza Express has lasted so long is that it produces good pizzas time and time again. And this chain is no exception. The dough balls are the only way to start the meal, as the soft fluffy bread spread with the addictive garlic butter is a heavenly combination, but make sure you’re friends have it too otherwise it’ll be just you with the smelly breath. The garlic bread is also a popular favourite, with a deep garlic flavour that is enriched within the butter and brushed onto crispy thin bread.

For mains, though there are quite a few pastas and salads to choose from, go for a pizza. From about £6 - £9, you get a thin crispy pizza that will definitely fill you up. There is a lot to choose from, such as classic American for those who love their pepperoni, and Margarita, a simple but timeless classic. For something with a bit of a kick, try Pollo ad Astra, that has succulent spicy chicken teamed with piquant red peppers that have a warming kick that balances the sweet tomato sauce and rich cheese well. The Fiorentina is a great choice for veggies as the simple combination of a runny yolk from the egg with salty spinach and sharp olives is always delicious. For dessert, if you have room, the chocolate fudge glory is a sweet tooth’s delight. Creamy vanilla ice cream is the base, with rich sweet chocolate fudge cake pieces crumbled over, and lashings of chocolate sauce. Sweet and simply lovely.

The Drink
Soft drinks are usually the most refreshing beverage for a pizza, but the wine list, focusing on Italian wines give a decent selection of affordable ones with prices from £14 - £30 and their whites compliment most of the pizzas particularly well. Everything else is as you’d expect, with coffees, juices and beers all covered.

The Last Word
Nothing spectacular, but if you want a good pizza in Croydon guaranteed, then Pizza Express is the place to go.

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