Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Ask, Mayfair

There was a 2 for 1 deal going at Ask and a little strapped for cash, three of us decided to do that and split the bill threeways.  That is the only real reason I would go to this restaurant, as I have always found it to be a fairly middle of the road pizza chain, inferior to Pizza Express and certainly to Strada.

Anyway, we arrived without booking but it was only a Wednesday night and there were plenty of tables.
We waited by the door for about five minutes without any acknowledgment from staff that we were there.  Eventually I weaved through the tables and asked a waitress who was standing by the till, if we could have a table.  She didn't answer but turned to another more senior waiter and he gestured for us to follow him.  We made our way towards the table but it then became apparent that they were still clearing it, and so we had to hover in the middle of the restaurant.  Then, yet another waiter came over to us and very rudely said "Can you wait by the door to be seated please?  You're in everyone's way!".  We began to return that way when the second waiter called us back...  A dreadful start, and no apology.

We ordered soft drinks and pizzas, which arrived in a reasonable amount of time and were reasonable themselves. My Pollo Piccante had a good amount of chicken and some nice lightly roasted red peppers, Penne del Giardino looked good with lots of veg and Spaghetti e Polpette was a triumph of meatballs for my friend, who enjoyed it very much.

The atmosphere in there was buzzy but fairly bland.  The whole experience was quite meh, especially when it took an absolute age to get, and then pay for, the bill.

One course and a soft drink: £12 per head (without offer)

Value: 7/10

Service: 4/10

Atmosphere: 6/10

Food: 7/10

SCORE: 24/40

Ask, 56-60 Wigmore Street, London, W1U 2RZ.  Tel: 020 72243484.

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