Prezzo Italian: Enough to Make You Sing

………….and sing is what you’ll need to do for a free lasagne: see below !

With close to one hundred restaurants positively spreadeagled across the UK, Prezzo Italian has been
something of a household name amongst Brits since the chain first said “Ciao!” to London back in 2000.

There is little doubt as to why. The franchise offers a host of comforting family favourites, diet-damaging desserts, and ever-reliable spritzes that transport you (almost) to a sun-drenched terrace overlooking the Basilica…aah.

And what has this to do with Leeds specifically, I hear you ask?

The singing part:

In an endearingly cheesy move, and as a hats off to the widely anticipated UK Oasis tour, Prezzo are
offering fans a chance to live out the lyrics to the legendary track Digsy’s Dinner, which is all about –
fittingly – scoffing lasagne for tea.

This summer, the first two tables through the door at any Prezzo branch will be rewarded with a free
lasagne dish. The price? Why, only mild to moderate public humiliation, of course, depending on your pain
tolerance.

For the courageous souls among you daring enough to belt out a verse of the Oasis tune to your server,
you will be rewarded with an oozingly cheesy lasagne, just the way nonna used to make – é gratis! That
is, completely on the house.

We ventured down to the Prezzo at Leeds The Light to taste test the offering on your behalf (you’re very
welcome; don’t mention it) and chat to the folks behind this bizarre new scheme to ensure it was legit.
After all, we wouldn’t want you all humiliating yourselves with no free food to show for it – sacrilege.

This particular Prezzo opened its doors back in 2013, boldly and knowingly joining a small army of already existing Italian restaurants within the cosmopolitan structure. But with its fail-safe honest to goodness comfort foods and premium Italian wines and draughts, it has earned its place at the core of the Leeds The Light dining scene.

We arrive for a late dinner on Sunday evening and so predictably there are a modest few customers dining alongside us. Despite this, the atmosphere is comfortable and convivial, and the restaurant is smart yet low-key. Moreover, the sweet, gentle aroma of San Marzano tomatoes mingled with baking dough has our mouths watering expectantly…

We opted for the Mozzarella and Tomato Arancini as a light starter option to share as we both found
ourselves in the mood for a carby pizza feast. Crispy and golden as the description promised, the arancini were essentially cuddles of deep fried risotto served alongside a generous helping of house-made “pestonnaise” and fresh greens, finished with a dusting of parmesan cheese which married perfectly with the punchy tomatoes. The starter options are an ideal size for a nibble with a cold glass of something delicious at lunchtime and surprisingly filling for the size.

On the topic of tipples, between us we enjoyed a selection of Spritzes, the house prosecco and a draught
pint of (arguably) Italy’s finest lager – Birrificio Angelo Poretti, brewed in Valganna. The beer itself was the
perfect pairing with the arancini and the Italian Prosecco Brut (of Veneta) was served ice cold – it was
surprisingly fruity without being too sweet and very refreshing in the uncharacteristic heat of Leeds. Of
the spritzes, the favourite was the Lemon Drop Martini. Not for the faint-hearted, it is a very heady mix of
Isolabella limoncello mixed with Malfy Lemon gin and Sicilian lemon – and for that reason, perhaps a great post-work option.

The main menu somehow manages to be both concise and generously varied, and the pastas, pizzas and dishes “from the oven” are clearly marked. For the mains, we chose two Prezzo signatures – the Classic Pepperoni and the Tuscan BBQ Chicken, which was served on a calabrese tomato base and topped with sausage crumb and a drizzle of honey for a sweet and smoky finish.

The pizzas were unpretentious but extremely satisfying (just try not to pay too much attention to the calorie values staring at you aggressively underneath each option. The less said about that the better.) Pizza portions were large and good value for the size (not to mention city centre location) at an average of around £15. I will readily admit that we were somewhat tempted by the lure of the “Go Grande” option available on any pizza for an additional £3 but were, in hindsight, pleased we played it more conservatively. It meant that we had room (just about) for a dessert.

My friend very quickly spotted the Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake, whilst I settled on the Affogato with an
additional shot of amaretto (I for one am a sucker for a boozy dessert and think Italians tend to execute
these splendidly).

The cheesecake, although at first it seemed a lighter option when compared to the “Quadruple Chocolate Cookie Dough”, “Tiramisu for Two” and “Rich Warm Hot Chocolate Fudge Cake”, could have reasonably fed us both. It was sweet and comforting and served with fresh sliced banana, whilst the Affogato consisted of a scoop of Hackney’s vanilla gelato and a shot of Italian coffee. It needed the amaretto as an extra lift, I thought, but it is served without as a standard and they also offer Baileys if you fancy something slightly creamier. Affogato is one of my favourite puddings and the Prezzo version was pretty faultless – the combination of italian coffee, good Italian gelato and Disaronno will bring a smile to even the grumpiest of faces.

Prezzo is located at Leeds The Light, The Headrow, LS1 8TL and the complimentary lasagne offer is
available now and until 28th September 2025. So do a bit of gargling, warm up those vocal chords, and
make sure your best mate has their phone at the ready. They might want you to relive the moment at the
pub long after you’ve digested your food………………

Hours: 

Phone: 0113 887 9460

Menu: prezzo.co.uk

Photography by Amy Mortin.