ASK Italian brings new menu and flair to Preston city centre

The restaurant welcomed its first diners on Monday, April 7, with a vibrant spring menu and a warm, relaxed setting that blends Italian flair with nods to local heritage. It marks ASK’s 67th restaurant across the UK and the first in Preston – seating over 160 guests with both indoor and outdoor dining.

The space features colourful murals by North West artist Jazz Stan, fun neon signs, and a welcoming feel that’s already drawing crowds. My visit on a sunny afternoon gave me a perfect excuse to enjoy a refreshing complimentary homemade raspberry lemonade in one of their comfy booth seats.

On to the food, we were intrigued by the new king prawn al forno, and it did not disappoint. It was a strong, strong starter. The prawns were juicy and full of flavour, not overdone or rubbery, and paired well with soft, buttery garlic bread. 

The pesto and cheese bites were the star of the show for me. Crispy outside, soft inside, and perfectly matched with a creamy pesto mayo. They really know what they’re doing with that sauce, I’d bottle it up and take it home with me if I could.

I tried the tomato dip, which was offered as the vegan alternative, which didn’t hit quite the same note, but it didn’t take away from the dish.

The pesto & cheese dough bites, king prawn al forno, and strawberry sparkle mocktail. (Image: Safiyyah Tayyeb) For mains, the Margherita pizza was solid – baked just right, with a light brown crisp on the base and a good cheese-to-sauce ratio and distribution. The portion size was extremely generous too, it was big enough to feed a tiny village!

The spaghetti al pomodoro was cooked perfectly al-dente with a smoky tomato flavour from the flambéed sauce and was topped with fresh mozzarella. Simple, satisfying, and not too heavy.

The margherita pizza (not a large!) (Image: Safiyyah Tayyeb) Desserts were mixed.

The white chocolate lemon looked impressive but needed a touch more balance as it felt quite biscuit heavy. It would be better if they constructed the whole dessert inside the white choc lemon shell.

However, the tiramisu was gone in seconds– rich and creamy without being too bitter, paired with toffee gelato to balance the sweetness. True to its name, it was the perfect pick me up.

ASK Italian’s local partnerships are also worth noting.

They’ve teamed up with Lancashire’s Fairham Gin to feature the spirit in several cocktails, and are supporting Preston-based charity LuvPreston through microdonations at the restaurant.

“To be approached and selected by a high-profile restaurant chain such as ASK Italian is something for us to celebrate,” said Ellis McKeown, co-founder of Fairham Gin. “It’s refreshing to see.”

Jack and Sue McVicar of LuvPreston added: “We picked up immediately that ASK had a heart for our community. Their success is our success, so we wish them all the very best.”

ASK Italian has also been inclusive in its offerings. The menu features vegan and gluten-free options, and the mocktails felt far from an afterthought. The staff was happy to make substitutions for dietary requirements, including removing alcohol from the tiramisu for a halal-friendly version.

The interior of ASK Italian, Preston (Image: Liv Horne) Marketing director Corinne Prior said, “We’re beyond excited to open our doors in Preston. We want to be known as everyone’s favourite local restaurant.”

And we can attest to that; it is by far the best Italian chain restaurant we’ve tried, and we can’t wait to go again. 

From the food to the service, it's clear ASK Italian is off to a strong start. Whether you're there for a casual bite or a special night out , it’s a welcome addition to the city’s growing food scene.