Review: Tozi Restaurant and Bar London

A five-minute walk away from London Victoria Station, Tozi Restaurant and Bar radiates warmth as it invites you to enjoy traditional Italian flavours and indulge in luxury food and wine.  In authentic Venetian style, Tozi is much loved for serving classic cicchetti-style small sharing plates for a true Italian dining experience.

In celebration of its ten-year milestone, Bar Team Leader Marco Bullegas has created an extensive new cocktail menu ranging from rum blends to sweet spritzes. New spring dishes introduced this season for the anniversary include starters such as Paccheril with succulent baby octopus, tender squid and buttery Taggiasca olives.

Upon being seated, our knowledgeable servers were quick to talk our party through the menu and recommend drinks. Deciding to test out their offerings we opted for their special cocktail of the day: a bubbly sweet mix of Aperol, prosecco and watermelon. A drink that can be summed up as probably the best spritz I’ve ever had, a fresh fruity flavour paired with a bitter kick for a tipple I happily could have spent the night sipping away at.

With the cicchetti plates, it is recommended to select two or three per person for sharing. For starters, I opted for the new Sicilian red prawn carpaccio with creamy burrata and zesty lemon oil, while my guest went for the seared beef carpaccio paired with pickled mushrooms and parmesan shavings. For lovers of fresh seafood, the red prawn carpaccio is the perfect balance of sweet and creamy with a little salty prawn kick. The beef carpaccio dish was a dream for fans of pickled flavours. The pickled mushrooms offered a strong vinegary touch which paired well with the savoury beef slices. Our party also split a helping of burrata and heritage tomatoes topped with basil pesto, a soft and creamy light starter with the perfect balance of traditional flavours.

Moving on to the mains, it was time to try some of Tozi’s signature dishes. Who could say no to the much-loved buffalo ricotta ravioli with black truffle? In classic Italian fashion, the pasta was perfectly al dente with the right amount of chew while the ricotta melted away in your mouth leaving a buttery truffle taste. We then opted for the new seasonal Rustichelle with Welsh lamb ragout and aromatic rosemary. This marked my favourite dish of the evening, tender lamb pieces with a tomato, onion garlic sauce topped with Parmesan cheese for an authentic and flavourful pasta dish. Lastly for mains, we had the baby chicken with gravy, mini roasted potatoes and chilli. A small helping of a traditional hot meal we found it added weight to the dining and left you feeling contently full when paired with the selection of other plates. The roasted potatoes were crunchy while the chicken was soft and slipped off the bone with ease. The gravy and sweet chilli accompanied the dish for an ultimate burst of flavour.

Deciding to treat ourselves to the dessert menu, I opted for the pistachio tiramisù while my guest went for the apple and almond tart with vanilla ice cream. The desserts were a dream, the tart was deliciously crumbly and sweet with a chew from the apple and almonds while the tiramisu was chocolatey and balanced well with the nuts for a delightful take on the classic pudding.

We decided to stay and have a drink in the buzzing friendly atmosphere. I treated myself to the Papa Sunset, a fruity and bitter cocktail reminiscent of the classic complex profile of sherry, it combines rum with bitters, raspberry liqueurs and maple syrup. My guest opted for the very sweet and aromatic Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, a blend of rhubarb vodka, triple sec, lime juice, cranberry juice and rhubarb bitters. While a black-and-white movie was projected over the main wall, we sipped on our cocktails and revelled in the bliss of peace in the heart of the city.

Tozi Restaurant and Bar

https://www.tozirestaurant.co.uk/london

8 Gillingham Street, Pimlico, SW1V 1HJ