Pizza Express: Baker Street, London

The Baker Street Pizza Express is located in an old bank and as a result has huge windows letting in plenty of natural daylight along with an old fashioned mosaic floor. Both give the place a more relaxed and traditional feel than some of the more modern Pizza Express design.

Sat looking out through the windows you get a great view of the impressive building above Baker Street station. Though the station was opened in 1863, the building dates from 1912 and save for a few aerials on the roof it is only at the ground level that is has obvious signs of modernisation. Round the side of the building is Transport for London’s Lost Property Office, which last year celebrated its 75th anniversary. During that time it has seen a range of bizarre items lost by the travelling public. My favourite is the lawnmower. In 2008-9 36,852 books passed through its doors too, making it busy than many a public library.

My attention was taken away from the view by the case of the invisible diner.

Two of us had gone to the Pizza Express. We’d asked for a table for two. We’d ordered two drinks, two starters and two main courses. And then the waiter stared expectantly. Pause. More expectant staring. More pause, before he said, “Is that it? You don’t want to order any more food?”. Followed promptly by him placing a third seat at the table, as if there was an invisible extra diner who, if they weren’t going to have any food ordered should at least get a place to sit.

Anyway, that’s 11 down and 117 to go (though eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that I’m resolutely refusing to believe that the number of Pizza Expresses in London may be changing; after all if the total were going up quicker than I’m going round…).