Walk into Tozi and you’ll know immediately that this is the trendy, go-to place any week night. The brainchild of two ex-Soho House chefs, Head Chef Maurilio Molteni and Daniele Pampagnin, it has a swinging cocktail bar that is packed, while its restaurant offers a Venetian-Italian cicchetti style option. And what style!
Immediately upon entering the restaurant area, you are confronted with a large screen above where all the magic happens – the kitchen (which is on full display) – which plays romantic black and white Italian films such as La Dolce Vita. A nice touch, providing an atmosphere of relaxment juxtaposed against the buzzy vibe of Tozi.
The restaurant has a fantastic and extensive wine list of classic Italian wines. If that is what you’re looking for – some luscious Italian chianti or otherwise – then look no further!
We started with a plethora of salads: Avocado, Parmesan, radish and baby gem salad, Roast fennel, carrots, beans & spelt salad and pickled mushroom, endive, quail eggs & black truffle salad. The salads were just so. Lightly seasoned and tasteful, each one was filling and the perfect healthy option and entree to the other dishes.
These salads were followed by the mouth-watering tuna tartare, chilli, lime and rocket, and gratinated scallops, Venetian style. The tartare, in small cubes, was melt-in-your-mouth delicious with subtle citrus hints and the scallops were delicately cooked to perfection – one of the best we’ve had in London.
The piece de resistance, though, was the crab ravioli, tomato and basil. It may sound a little….different, and that it was! The tender ravioli gave way to the delicate crab meat and, sprinkled with basil amid a bed of tomato sauce was just heaven. This is a must try (order two)!
For dessert we sampled the irresistible hazelnut & chocolate tart with fior di latte ice cream – the other winner of the meal. The tart was so good that we have to finish it to the last morcel. Rich – but not overly so or sweet for that matter – the tart was nutty and had a firm consistency. This is a serious contender to all the patisseries out there!
Tozi is many things – a trendy bar, a delicious eatery, a quirky venue. If it is one thing though, it is the place to try when next in London!
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