ASK Italian is the Bournemouth branch of the established national chain, set within the BH2 leisure complex in the middle of the town centre. It's a reliable, affordable option for stone-baked pizza and fresh pasta, and it suits a family lunch, a bite before the cinema or a relaxed catch-up over a glass of wine equally well.
The menu
The menu sticks to the familiar ASK Italian formula: stone-baked pizzas and fresh pasta at the centre, with antipasti, salads and sharing plates around them. Sharing dough bites with dips such as 'nduja and pesto are an easy opener, and desserts include tiramisu. Set menus offer good value, and a dedicated children's menu makes it simple to keep a mixed table content. Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes run throughout the menu, so it's a sensible choice for groups with differing tastes and dietary needs. Menus, seasonal specials and offers change, so check the current menu on ASK Italian's website rather than relying on a specific dish being there. Prices sit in the everyday, affordable range rather than special-occasion territory.
Inside and out
The Bournemouth branch goes for a bright, informal look, with a hand-painted mural and a pergola hung with lights and greenery, and a sociable atmosphere that suits families in the daytime and a livelier crowd in the evening. For many the main attraction is the outdoor terrace, ideal on warm days for pizza in the open air and a bit of people-watching. It's a relaxed, come-as-you-are place rather than a hushed fine-dining room, and it copes just as well with quiet lunches as with busy weekend services.
Location
ASK Italian is inside BH2, the modern leisure complex on Exeter Crescent (BH2 5DD), a couple of minutes from Bournemouth Square. That places it right in the middle of the town centre, with the cinema, bars and shops around it and the Lower Gardens and the seafront a short walk downhill. It's easy to build into a day out: a wander through the gardens, a film, or an afternoon on the beach finished with an early dinner. For more places to eat nearby, see our food & drink guide and our wider restaurants round-up.
Practical details
Families are well catered for, with a children's menu, baby-changing facilities and step-free access including accessible toilets. Dogs are usually welcome in the outdoor seating area. Book ahead for weekends, evenings and school holidays, or if you want a table on the terrace; reservations can be made through the ASK Italian website or app, and walk-ins often work at quieter times. There's no restaurant car park, but town-centre car parks serve the BH2 complex close by. Opening hours, menus and offers can all change, so confirm the latest details with ASK Italian directly before you go.