Chain Gangs : Pizza Express, Hemel Hempstead

Chain Restaurants are not all bad, particularly for a vegan and particularly if you're going out with a group. Their main claim to fame is that food is consistent in whichever branch you go to. For many this is also what makes them charmless but they have their place. For a vegan, they offer a chance to know exactly what's on the menu as the companies helpfully publish them on their websites and it's possible to order something without having to cross-examine the chef. That can be a bonus if you're out with a lot of different people.

Because they are so similar, I'll only look at one of each on this page...

Pizza Express: Hemel Hempstead 

Pizza Express dough is vegan. So any pizza can easily be made  vegan.

For starters, the Bruschetta is vegan, as are the dough balls, olives, tomatoes and almonds.

The Giardiniera without pesto and Veneziana Pizzas, as with others, are vegan if made without cheese. The Giardinera is full of vegetables; artichoke and asparagus and is really surprisingly pleasant. I prefer this over the Veneziana as it's bulky and filling and doesn't have that empty feel that some pizzas can have without cheese.

For desert, 'Caffe Reale' or baby figs in syrup without mascarpone is pleasant enough.

All in all, a surprisingly edible meal and made easy by the staff who seem completely unfazed by tailoring an order to individual needs. They even have a 'NO CHEESE' button on the till and the chefs make a particular point of making that pizza separately to the others, presumably in case of allergies.

Hemel Hempstead isn't a particularly notable branch or interesting building but then it wouldn't be, as it's built in the modern shopping precinct. It's clean and the staff are attentive. Classic Pizza Express.

Vegan Food: Pizza Bases and dough all vegan. A little customisation means there will be plenty to eat.
Ambiance: Not especially elegant but perfect when you are yourself not feeling especially elegant.
Customer Service: Staff not all sure what is or isn't vegan but went to find out.