Zizzi

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Zizzi's three Edinburgh restaurants are located in busy areas of the city, and seem to have been placed to make the most of passing trade from tired shoppers and hungry cinema-goers. As branches of a UK-wide chain of almost 100 restaurants (and counting), all three appear to have been assembled from the same restaurant-in-a-box kit, but it’s a good-quality kit at least. All three restaurants share the same menu, and all three provide consistently reliable and affordable food and slick service. A new menu was introduced in March 2009, adding a meat and fish section and larger, crispy ‘rustica’ style pizzas, which are also available to take away. The new menu has been shaped by customer demand and contains a full selection of popular, tried-and-tested breads and antipasti, pasta and risotto, pizza and calzone and insalate. With 18 wines by the glass, drinkers are also spoiled for choice. Whatever you do, make sure you leave room for a dessert, such as the plum, fig, almond and pistachio tart or bread and butter pudding made with soft, sweet Italian panettone. As chain restaurants go, Zizzi is as good as it gets.

• High point: Stylish chain restaurants with reliably good, affordable food and service
• Low point: Slight identi-kit feel to all three venues