2017 is officially the year of Veganuary. Come the 5th of Jan it seemed like every chain restaurant had released a vegan menu, and the internet overjoyed. Until we actually scanned them.
Oh, I think I'll have a trio of olives to start, a bread basket for main and just some water for dessert, please.

As a self-confessed foodie who wants to get her money's worth, this was frickin' annoying. So, as well as chatting to you guys about a restaurant's vegan options, I also wanted to do a series specifically about their vegan menus. If they want to brag about it, let's see if it's worth the hype. For this reason, I thought Zizzi's would be the perfect place to start. Typically found in university towns, Zizzi's is an inexpensive Italian chain restaurant, most well known for being even cheaper with their cyclic use of discount vouchers. 

Lucy and I visited the branch in Exeter on Gandy Street on a Sunday for a late lunch; it was bustling, yet quiet so the service was quick and accommodating. At first glance, the vegan menu was actually pretty impressive. There were two starters available: bruschetta and garlic bread, and a number of pizza and pasta main options — and one salad. 

Both Lucy and I decided on the bruschetta to start (one vegan, one standard), and then the split a Rustica Margherita Pizza and Green Goddess Salad between us for the main. The bruschetta was genuinely delicious; a medley of cherry tomatoes, red onion and olive oil on top of a toasted ciabatta. The vegan version came with a dollop of vegan pesto whereas the standard version came with pesto and a ball of mozzarella.

I can't really say much about the Super Duper salad. A crispy bed of lettuce and mixed leaves, sun dried tomatoes and tender broccoli — 'twas lovely.

 The star of the show, the award-winning pizza was with basil, and tomatoes on a thin, crispy, roman style base and the 'mozzarella' was made from coconut oil. The 'cheese' resembled bechamel sauce more than it did mozzarella which lead to a slightly sloppier pizza compared to their Italian counterparts.

 Think of the classic 90's cartoons like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Scooby Doo. 

 Thankfully we decided to share the pizza as it was absolutely massive! When paired with the salad the meal felt really light and fresh, although the weight of food snuck up on us. 5 minutes after finishing, we had to walk it off we were so full.

The second time I tried Zizzi's menu, I was in Cardiff after a Bianca Del Rio gig and my sister and I hit up the St Davids branch. This time I knew exactly what I wanted to try: the vegan garlic bread and the lentil ragu. I had literally no idea what a ragu was, but it was under the pasta section. 

(I suspected a ruse and ordered in hopes of pizza. When it arrived, I was disappointed to discover a double ruse; it was indeed pasta.). 

   The lentils were a welcome addition, improving both the texture and 'heartiness' of the meal. That being said, the flavours were a little dull; it would have been improved by having the garlic bread as a side rather than the starter. I asked the waiter to add some green chilis to the dish which added this really lovely high-pitched zing to the dish (or something else equally as pretentious). 

 Still had room for pudding obviously. Apart from sorbet, there is only one vegan option for dessert; the Dessert Calzone which is said to be 'warm sugared dough filled with banana, caramelised pecans, and blueberries. Served with coconut and chocolate ripple gelato — Meh.

    The dough had a ratio of 2:1 compared to it's filling, and much too savoury. Let's fix this dessert; I would have added another sliced banana and a layer blueberry compote within the pastry. Half the amount of dough, drizzle some vegan chocolate sauce and finish off with a sprinkle of pecans — Boom. The coconut and chocolate ripple ice cream, however, was beautiful.

In all, I was really impressed by Zizzi's vegan menu. The starters are worth their bragging rights, and it was great to try new Italian food from a chain restaurant. I'll be back for the carbs — although might head elsewhere for dessert.



Exeter:
21 GANDY STREET, 
EX4 3LS
01392 274737

Cardiff St Davids:
BRIDGE STREET ARCADE, 
ST DAVID’S SHOPPING CENTRE, 
CF10 2EF
02920 227733