Review: Prezzo

In the midst of contemporary buildings, studios, lights and offices at MediaCity UK (Salford Quays), the pristine, Italian restaurant - Prezzo, grabs your attention and welcomes you into a world of class and elegance.

Stone Baked Pizza

On arrival, the friendly waitresses invite
you in, helping you remove any coats and bags, before leading you to a table of your choice. The atmosphere and look of this restaurant is pure beauty, the seating area enclosed by the windows,  for a view of the spectacular MediaCity, candle lit tables, modern, printed glass panels and the best part for me, the wood burning/stone bake pizza oven, accompanied by a selection of drinks and desserts.

Garlic Bread (left) and Mozzarella Carrozza (right)

Whilst sipping my coke and lemon in an ice cold glass, I ordered my starters, which arrived within minutes. The garlic bread wasn't your typical crusty slice of baguette sunken in the middle with oil. Instead, this was a fluffy pillow of air and dough cooked to perfection with garlic butter, melting in the mouth. It gets better, with the Mozzarella Carrozza - slices of mozzarella cheese fried in breadcrumbs served with a crunchy leafy salad and flavoursome tomato based sauce. This one dish makes you experience wonders of textures, as I cut through the golden layer of crisp breadcrumbs, into a melted mozzarella centre, showcasing its elasticated goodness.

Freshly Grated Parmesan over Pasta

Goat's Cheese, Pasta Al Forno

The speedy delivery of the food was impressive, as the mains couldn't have been served at a better time, unlike other restaurants where the wait is so long, that one loses their appetite. Although, I have to say the starters were the best part of the meal. The stone baked pizzas are simple and plain, the base being almost cardboard like at times. The tomato, goat's cheese and basil Al Forno, (Pasta Bake) had a pungent taste from the cheese, but I suppose it was balanced with the mild flavour of the Fungi Pizza.

Dessert: a Milk Chocolate Fudge Cake lying on chocolate sauce, besides a perfectly rounded scoop of chocolate ice cream and sprig of vibrant green mint for my friend. A lighter dessert for me . . . Hazelnut Bombe - A ball of Ice Cream rolled in toasted pieces of hazelnut with a sweet, frozen meringue centre. The meringue was too frozen, so I was unable to dig my spoon into it, I ate the ice cream, but wasn't fond of the meringue. The presentation was outstanding though.

Now this standard of food perhaps makes you hesitant to even glance at the bill, not at all. The full course meal including drinks was a total of £12.37 each, for I was accompanied by two others.

As part of the new addition to MediaCity's BBC, ITV and University of Salford, Prezzo has just opened this year. I'd say it's more posh and modern food and not really something of your liking if you want a very satisfying feast, so I rate it at 7.5/10. Although, if that's what you're looking for, then Prezzo is great, particularly for a romantic night out!

Prezzo (MediaCity)                                                                    

Unit 1, Orange                                                                                   http://www.prezzorestaurants.co.uk/

Media City UK
Salford, Manchester
M50 2HF