Jazz @ Pizza Express Friday Brunch, JLT

Pizza express may not instantly spring to mind as an automatic choice for diners wanting their brunch served with a slice of Ronnie Scotts (the famous London Jazz emporium), but Jazz @ Pizza Express aims to throw that notion out of the window with a glorious crash, bang, whallop of toe tapping & head swinging that will transport you to the shores of Italy and the Streets of New Orleans all at the same time.   THE FOOD   Having negotiated the spiral staircase down to the moodily lit venue, we were greeted by an army of Pizzaiolos (Pizza Chefs) in their inimitable black and white stripy shirts, tossing fresh dough high into the air inside the open kitchen. A brief scan of the room confirmed that there was no buffet in site and the "tossing" had a purpose as well as providing a spectacular show. Fresh dishes were to be the order of the day and we hastily took to our seats to nibble on a selection of breads and dips in eager anticipation of the fresh dough.   Starters were not too long in coming, and a small sharing plate scattered with Beef Bresaola, Wild Rocket & Parmesan, Garlic Bread with Mozzarella, Smoked Salmon Carpaccio with Capers and some Mini Fungotta (Mushrooms stuffed with Goats Cheese and Mozarella). We rolled the Rocket inside the Beef like a spring roll as we found the salad leaves on their own to be slightly brittle and in desperate need of additional dressing. Luckily this came in the form of some much needed olive oil and balsamic vinegar which we would have expected to be commonplace across all of the tables in an Italian restaurant, but one of the obliging waiters was quick to assist, and the plate was made ever sweeter by the accompanying Garlic Bread dough balls were exceptional. Following the starters came 2 salads, which if we were honest did not fill us with a huge level of excitement if the aridity of the earlier leaves were anything to go by. The Classic Grand Chicken Caesar and the Bosco, featuring Warm Garlic Mushrooms, Avocado, Mozzarella, Roasted Tomatoes, Balsamic Syrup, Honey and Mustard Dressing were anything but uninteresting though, and as salads go, were packed full in terms of both flavour and contents.         Next came the pasta course, and a small block of Beef Bolognese Lasagna which was accompanied by an unfortunate black char on it's summit, having spent a little too longunder the grill, and a spicy Penne Picante which was perfectly al dente and devoured in seconds in lieu of the forelorn lasagna which remained largely untouched. The message clearly hadn't been sent through to the kitchen who were obviously rushed off their feet on what was a very busy Friday, and the Pizza that arrived next had been through the same treatment as the burnt Lasagna. Of the 4 pizzas available, the half of the American (Pepperoni, Passata, Mozarella ) we could eat was perfectly palatable, although we do prefer our dough with more softness and less singe. (Others available included The Padana, Bianca Funghi and the Apollo.)         The dessert platter was a trio of cakes which were a fitting finale to what was a pretty straightforward menu. Burnt dishes aside, we couldn't help but feel left with a sense of yearning, the absence of a nice piece of meat or fish left a hole, the size of which our stomachs are not usually accustom. Perhaps we are spoilt, and this type of meal may be the stuff of dreams for some, but for us…the carb-fest was all just a bit much.   THE DRINK   An uncomplicated yet surprisingly all-encompassing range of beverages to suit every tipple. With 2 varieties of Red (Cabernet & Montepulciano by Zonin ) and 2 Varieties of White Wine (Soave & Chardonnay by Zonin). The Beer drinkers are catered for with a single bottled variety of Birra Moretti, while Scavi & Wray Prosecco & Emotivo Pinot Grigio Blush Rose await the more enterprising of wine connoisseurs. Also available are 3 classic cocktails (Mojito, Seabreeze and Tom Collins) as well as top shelf house spirits, all of which are available to order from the army of waiters who scurry furiously non-stop between the tables and the bar throughout the 4 hour jazz jubilee.   THE OTHER STUFF   The atmosphere on the day is vibrant, bursting with laughter, loud conversation and even louder appreciation which rises to a euphoric crescendo at the end of each tune belted out by the band, Jules & The Resistance. The mixture of live electric guitar, keys, saxophone and vocals are performed with a sassy edge that encapsulates the crowd and ensure a raucous time is had by all. This one is certainly not for the faint of heart! The entertainment alone make the price of AED 229 that much more of a bargain, even with a few of the frailties we experienced with the food.   Overall, we would be more than happy to return and give the oven another chance, and next time we will remember to pack our dancing shoes!         To Book Call 04 4416342 Every Friday from 12pm - 4pm AED 65 - Kids aged between 6-12 years AED 129 - unlimited food and soft beverages AED 229 - Unlimited Food, House Beverages and Prosecco