A little slice of Italy which left me feeling Zizzi

Review by Paul Nelson

AS A bachelor who dines out most evenings it becomes essential that you find the places that are inexpensive. With a young lady in tow, the nightly quest becomes a knightly quest, as you do not want to let her down. Take her to Zizzi. I have been there twice, and on each occasion, the restaurant left nothing to be desired.

To begin with, it is ultra smart, blond furniture and polished floors, with toilet facilities you would be hard pressed to find in the West End. It is naturally, an Italian restaurant, and pizzas play an important role on its menu.

However, you can forget Pizza Express and Pizza Hut. These are made in a hot charcoal oven, you can see them swing the dough at the counter, and they are amazingly attractive and delicious. Taste buds will pop as soon as you see the one at the next table. For my second visit I opted for a pasta, penne, which had chicken, broccoli, red pepper, goat's cheese and ricotta, in a cream sauce, the whole washed down with a Valpolicella so good it made your eyes sparkle.

With more than attentive waiters, my guest easily became my conquest, metaphorically speaking.

One last reason for going there is that the most expensive item on the menu costs £7.50 (Rucola e Parma; Parma ham, rocket, parmesan, mozzarella and tomato). Two of you can wine and dine for under £40.

This in Battersea? Now not so much off the beaten track nowadays but still not the centre of the universe. I gather there are branches in Chiswick and Paddington Street. I can only vouch for the Battersea Rise place which so far as I can tell is, as yet, undiscovered.

Address: Zizzi, 35/37 Battersea Rise, London, SW11. Restaurant Tel: 020 7924 7311