Suzi Tros

Suzi Tros is a laid-back bistro from the team behind Notting Hill’s long-serving Mazi, which is its next-door neighbour. The interiors are cool and calm, with tiled flooring, low-hanging pedant lights and accents of dusky blue making you feel like you could almost, almost be on holiday. Our cocktails maintained the illusion – fruity serves that combined either gin and watermelon or coconut and pineapple were refreshing and potent in equal measure.

Sharing-style plates come as and when they’re ready, with a searing hot grill giving squid, fish and prawns an additional lick of flavour. Things got off to a good start with soft and pillowy bread, grilled on the outside and liberally sprinkled with oil and the crunch of sea salt. A traditional dip of tarama was silky smooth and satisfyingly savoury with that signature smoked fish flavour which paired perfectly with the slices of warm toast.

Elsewhere, the menu delivered addictive, paper-thin courgette crisp circles, lightly dusted and deep fried, that were served with a rich cream cheese and truffle dip, a whole skinned aubergine that was topped with a crunchy layer of tahini and honey bubbling from the grill, and a sea bass carpaccio that came delicately dressed with fennel shavings and a yuzu dressing.

The star of the show, though, was the pudding. Somewhere along the lines of a parfait, the armenovil was rich and creamy, packed with shards of meringue and sugar-sweet hazelnut praline so that every bite felt different, and there was quite literally enough chocolate sauce poured over the whole thing to drown the plate. Our kind of ratio.

Much like the restaurant itself, service was friendly and bustling, while on our visit the dining room was chatty and tightly filled with people. London isn’t well-served for Greek restaurants, but thanks to the Mazi team, Notting Hill now has two of the best in town.

This Greek-inspired bistro and cocktail bar comes from the team behind Mazi, which can be found just a few doors down.  Named after a character from 1960s Greek film I Parisiana, Suzi Tros translates as “Suzi, you eat”. That’s what guests can do here, feasting on a selection of Greek-inspired small plates.

Spread across two floors, Suzi Tros features an upstairs dining room which boasts a 10-seat kitchen counter alongside regular tables, while downstairs guests can relax in the intimate cocktail bar with drinks and bar snacks. The relaxed interiors recreate the coastal atmosphere of Greece, with plenty of natural light, patterned tiles and a turquoise tiled bar.

On the menu, you can expect a seasonally changing selection of small plates and grilled dishes, with diners sitting at the counter able to enjoy some kitchen theatre via the open charcoal grill. Dishes you might find include a selection of raw plates such as crayfish tartare and sea urchin, as well as hot dishes of grilled calamari, grilled and smoked aubergine and ‘Grandmama’s Meatballs’. If you’re looking for something a little lighter, opt for one of Suzi Tros’ salads, such as stuffed peppers with rice or chickpea and octopus.

No surprises that the wine list is exclusively Greek, and it’s served along with a selection of Greek beers. If you’re only visiting the bar, you can sample cocktails which make use of lesser-known Greek spirits such as Mastika and Tsipouro. Note that Suzi Tros does not take reservations.

Images: Jade Nina Sarkhel Food Photographer