Pizza Express customers raging over huge menu change as ‘iconic’ item axed
PIZZA Express fans have demanded the restaurant chain bring back their favourite meal after it suddenly disappeared from the menu before Christmas.
The Calabrese - a hot and spicy sausage pizza - had been an “iconic” and “legendary” menu choice since it launched in 2010.
However, it has lately been withdrawn in favour of new options.
Blasting the decision on X.com, one angry customer wrote: “How and why on earth have you ditched the calabrese? Is this a sick joke? 2025 ruined…”
Another added: “So… the Calabrese is your and my favourite pizza ever.
“So, why on earth did you remove it from your menu?
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“Bring it back!!!”
A third fumed: “Sincerely, you need to bring back the Calabrese. It’s the only reason I came to Pizza Express, my favourite pizza from anywhere.
"Sad day when you stopped it. Could you reconsider?”
Meanwhile another customer said after Christmas: “Haven’t been in for a few months, booked a table for tonight but it seems that the Calabrese is no longer on the menu?
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"What madness is this?”
The Calabrese was created by Michelin-starred chef Francesco Mazzei in 2010 to highlight the cuisine of Calabria, a region in southern Italy.
Pizza Express explained it regularly comes up with new menu ideas, which means old ones need to make way.
It said: “We’re famous for our iconic menu items, from cult favourite – the American - to our delicious Padana.
“While we appreciate the Calabrese had a strong fanbase, we are always innovating and offering new flavours and dishes for our customers to fall in love with.
“That means we have said goodbye to our Calabrese for now, but you never know what may appear (or reappear!) in the future.”
The chain said it had some new items on the menu this month, such as the Quattro Carne and Quattro Formaggi pizzas.
Pizza Express runs 360 pizzerias in the UK, and also sells a range of items across supermarkets.
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The chain also operates in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, as well as franchise stores in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
In February 2022, the chain launched its first loyalty scheme, with two million customers now using it.
History of Pizza Express
PIZZA Express opened its first UK restaurant in Wardour Street, London in 1965.
A second followed shortly after, opening on Coptic Street next to the British Museum, in 1967.
The chain now runs 370 pizzerias across the UK and Republic of Ireland.