Review of Tozi in Victoria

Long before the first plate lands on the table, TOZI gives you a pretty good idea of what it's all about. Its name comes from a Venetian slang term for a close-knit group of friends, and that's exactly the atmosphere waiting inside. More than a decade after opening in Victoria, it's still

the sort of venue where sharing plates is encouraged, conversations linger, and nobody seems in much of a hurry to leave.

Unlike many London restaurants that have changed hands or reinvented themselves several times over, TOZI has stayed remarkably true to its roots. The original team is still steering the ship, with Chef Maurilio Molteni joined by Senior Restaurant and Bar Manager Stefano Meloni,

Restaurant Manager Carlo Consoli and Sous Chef Francesco Vacca. That continuity comes through in every detail, from the warm, unforced hospitality to the confidence of a kitchen that understands exactly what it's doing.

Their effort hasn't gone unnoticed either. In March 2025, TOZI was awarded Authentic Italian Restaurant Quality Approved status by the Italian Chamber of Commerce, an accolade reserved for restaurants that champion genuine Italian cuisine, quality ingredients and authentic hospitality. It's a well-deserved pat on the back, although one visit is all it takes to see that TOZI has never needed a certificate to convince its diners.

Whether you're popping in for a quick pre-show supper or settling in for a leisurely feast with friends, TOZI's menu lineup makes it dangerously easy to justify another visit. The restaurant's signature à la carte menu celebrates Venetian-style cicchetti, with small plates generally ranging from £6 to £22, encouraging plenty of mixing and matching. If decision-

making isn't your strong point, the generous Cicchetti Feast menus (£55 or £65 per person) take care of the hard work, serving a carefully chosen procession of the kitchen's favourites.

Diners short on time can make the most of the excellent pre-theatre menu at £23.95, while the set lunch menu offers exceptional value from £22.95, or a more indulgent £38 option for those with a little longer to linger. TOZI's menus capture the relaxed spirit of Italian dining, where sharing is practically compulsory and ordering "just one more plate" feels less like overindulgence and more like good manners.

A good meal starts with a drink, and TOZI gets off to a flying start. I ordered the Lady Simplicity, a beautifully balanced mix of floral notes and gentle bitterness, finished with a crisp freshness that made it disappear far quicker than expected. Across the table, the Mojito

Italiano delivered exactly what its name promised, cool mint, bright citrus and the sort of refreshing finish that leaves you eyeing up a second before the starters have even arrived. Sharing is the name of the game here, so we did exactly as instructed and filled the table with cicchetti. First up were the calamari fritti, a crisp, golden batter that crunched with every bite before giving way to perfectly tender squid. They disappeared in record time. The avocado, Parmesan, radish and baby gem salad kept things fresh, bringing plenty of crunch and a peppery bite from the radish, while the Parmesan added just enough savoury richness without weighing it down.

Then came the dish that completely stole the show. The buffalo ricotta ravioli with black truffle was outrageously good. Delicate parcels of pasta, generously filled with silky ricotta and finished with fragrant black truffle, somehow managed to be rich without feeling heavy. It was one of those dishes that brings conversation to a halt because everyone is too busy enjoying the next mouthful. We'd happily make the journey back to Victoria just for another plate (or three).

Comfort arrived in the form of the maccheroni with rabbit ragù, a deeply satisfying bowl of pasta packed with slow-cooked flavour, as if it had come straight from an Italian family kitchen. The baby chicken with roasted potatoes and chilli continued the theme. There were no unnecessary flourishes, just beautifully cooked chicken, crisp potatoes and quality

ingredients doing exactly what they should. The chargrilled wild seabass with salsa verde was an absolute delight. The fish was beautifully moist, the skin lightly crisped, while the salsa verde brought just enough brightness to lift every bite. It looked effortless on the plate, but dishes like this only happen when the kitchen really knows its art.

Despite declaring ourselves completely full, dessert somehow found room. The pistachio tiramisu was a brilliant twist on the Italian classic, with creamy mascarpone, nutty pistachio and just enough sweetness to keep you grabbing for another spoonful. The Chocolate Delice with crème anglaise was every bit as indulgent as it sounds, delivering rich chocolate, silky custard, and a welcome crunch that kept it from becoming overly rich.

Every dish felt carefully considered without becoming fussy, allowing excellent ingredients and confident cooking to take centre stage. We arrived, looking forward to Lunch and left plotting what we'd order on our next visit, which is probably the biggest compliment any restaurant can hope for.

You can usually tell within a few minutes whether a restaurant has its service nailed, and TOZI didn't need long to make an impression. Carlo welcomed us with friendliness, talked us through the menu and was more than happy to share his favourites, making the whole experience feel relaxed from the outset. His passion for the food was catching, and an easy-going charm ran through the entire team. The restaurant hummed with energy, yet nothing ever felt rushed or flustered. The kitchen and dining room worked in perfect sync, and the whole place carried the unmistakable feel of a proper Italian trattoria, lively, welcoming and

full of people who genuinely care about giving guests a great experience.

Even the trip to the loo came with a pleasant surprise. Rather than the usual background music, the speakers were busy dishing out an Italian vocabulary lesson. I emerged knowing a few words, making it quite possibly the most educational bathroom break I've ever taken.

TOZI captures everything people love about eating in Italy: generous food, relaxed conversation and the feeling that there's nowhere else you'd rather be. If that sounds like your kind of eating, it's probably time to make a reservation, to book click here.

Address: 8 gilligham Street, London, SW1V 1HJ

Written by Stacey Reeves

Imagery Courtesy Of TOZI