rainy night dinners out 6/27

Are you picking up a motif here?

Drip, drip, drip. It shouldn't be this cold and wet at the end of June. But it is, and it's depressing. And I just didn't feel like cooking tonight. Something about the constant deluge of rain made me want to run for shelter and have dinner served to me.

Unfortunately, the nearest shelter was Ask, the chainy Italian. The food wasn't bad (MUCH better than Pizza Express), but the staff at the Warren Street Ask were abrupt and sometimes rude. One couple were even so put off they left before ordering.

Despite that, we ate well. I had the insalate - baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, avocado, parmesan and croutons. Definitely a good healthy option at a place like this.

I must confess, my main course was not quite so healthy - quattro formaggi pizza. But I do love it - it's a guilty pleasure. Five years ago on a trip to Rome, I had the quattro formaggi so many times I lost count. Ask's version wasn't quite as enticing, but nonetheless the mixture of salty gorgonzola with creamy mascarpone, a crumbly taleggio and the classic grana padano was enough for me. I did pour glugs of chilli oil on top for an added zing.

All in all, not worth the money. Better chain Italians - Prezzo and Zizzi. Zizzi is my favourite - their crayfish, mascarpone and lemon oil pizza is divine.