IT'S DORCHESTER, but not as we know it.

Sitting in the sparkling new Zizzi Italian restaurant looking out over the fountains of Brewery Square it was hard to remember I was in the county town I know so well.

The transformation of the site has been dramatic and the host of restaurants and other establishments opening lately have created a new modern hub in this historic town.

Zizzi may not be the most heralded of the new arrivals but it could become one of the most popular, especially if first impressions are anything to go by. You cannot fail to be taken in by the stunning interior, which perfectly fuses modern design with the old brewery features in a microcosm of the whole development.

Original copper piping hangs over the open kitchen with its giant roaring pizza oven that forms the centrepiece of this wonderful setting.

Now it’s time to talk about the food. To start with we went for the Cicchetti Misti sharing platter, which was a hot platter of mushroom, arancini risotto balls, chicken and pepper skewers, king prawn skewers, mini calzone with spicy sausage, and a tomato and buffalo mozzarella salad with a chunky pepperonata dip.

It was very much enjoyed by three of us and unlike many sharing platters in other restaurants, it wasn’t too stodgy or filling. The risotto balls were the favourite for all three of us.

For the main course one of my friends chose the creamy and delicious Calzone Pollo Spinaci – roast chicken, spinach, mushroom and thyme in a creamy mozzarella and bechamel sauce, topped with crispy coppa ham.

This was a real winning choice, with the creamy sauce encased in the delicious bread. We all found it entertaining watching it being prepared and cooked by the chef in the open plan kitchen.

Unfortunately, for my other friend and I, we were left unsatisfied with our choice of salads. My salad was the Insalata bistecca e funghi.

It was a mixed salad with slices of steak, mushrooms, red onion and baby plum tomatoes, dressed in white balsamic, topped with grana padano cheese. The description was incredible, the appearance stunning, but the actual taste was incredibly bland and felt like it needed seasoning and an accompanying sauce.

My friend’s salad was the Super salad, which was made of butternut squash and goat’s cheese and had the same problem. It was not a terrible meal, but we both finished wishing we had chosen differently.

I had my 15-month old son with us and I was extremely impressed by the attentive staff, the colouring pencils and balloons and the children’s menu was reasonable.

For £6.50 he had three courses, starting with breadsticks, a marguerite pizza, a drink and then ice cream. A new evening culture is emerging in this up and coming development and Zizzi looks set to play a prominent role in its future.

 

My Zizzi bill:

1x Cicchetti Misti £14.95
1x Super salad £9.75
1x Bistecca salad £11.95
1x Calzone pollo £10.95
3x Elderflower pressé £8.10
1x lemonade £2.35
1x baby menu £6.50

TOTAL: £64.55