TOZI Victoria

Hotel restaurants don’t often have a good reputation, but we defy you not to be charmed by this light and airy cicchetti restaurant in Victoria. TOZI is part of the Park Plaza Hotel, but thanks to a separate entrance and its self-assured identity, you’d easily forget that you just have to head up the stairs for a quick nap.

Popular with Victoria’s throngs of suits and pre-theatre diners (the restaurant is only a short walk away from both the Apollo and Victoria Palace theatres), TOZI is a bright and modern space, featuring whitewashed walls and high ceilings, while smart finishing touches see marble streaked tables and mustard yellow banquettes.

The interiors might be a tick-box exercise of modern trends, but the food menu is entirely traditional, and it’s all the better for it. Naturally, all meals here kick off with a selection of breads, including pillowy soft chunks of focaccia with a balsamic dip. Next up, move between small plates and a few larger sharing dishes – think tempura-battered spears of asparagus served with a delectable blob of truffle aioli, or a doughy pizzetta with charred edges, topped with tomato, baby spinach, dollops of fresh goat cheese and a smattering of pine nuts.

The pasta selection at Tozi is short, but well considered. On our visit, we were most impressed by a plate of three supremely buttery ravioli dumplings, filled with sweet buffalo ricotta and flecked with earthy black truffle shavings.

The all-Italian wine selection is a punchy prospect, but fun cocktails offer a cheaper way in to the drinks list. Desserts stick to the classics too, seeing an Amalfi lemon tart paired with an equally as mouth-puckering scoop of raspberry sorbet, while a sfogliata is essentially a mini Jenga tower of snappy pastry, warm chocolate sauce and fresh strawberries. Come to think of it, we might need that nap after all.

TOZI is a much-loved Italian local in London's Victoria, perfect for both relaxed, long lunches with friends and yet glamorous enough for special occasions, too. The restaurant is open from Tuesday to Saturday for all day dining, serving up a selection of menus devised by Chef Maurilio, inspired by traditional Venetian fare. Of course, its location is ideal, whether you're coming from central London or further afield, thanks to its position right next to the underground and train station. 

Venetian cuisine is famous for its cicchetti dishes which are typically served with drinks before a meal in bite-sized portions. TOZI re-interprets this idea by offering cicchetti-style plates across its menu, meaning you can try even more of the menu's flavour combinations. 

Smaller dishes include seared beef carpaccio and grilled artichokes, as well as zucchini fritti and Tuscan bean soup with spelt and rosemary oil. There's also a selection of options from the deli and salad bar; get stuck into octopus with chickpea purée, alongside burrata, roasted aubergine and dry tomatoes, and Umbrian wild boar salsiccia. 

If main dishes are more your thing, we like the sound of the slow cooked pork shoulder with cannellini beans and cavolo nero, as well as roasted cod with Castelluccio lentils and chard. For a special occasion, enjoy an impressive sharing dish like lobster linguine and 500g of 31 day aged beef rib with rosemary and garlic. For dessert, it has to be a traditional Italian sweet like pistachio tiramisù, pear and yoghurt semifreddo, toffee and hazelnut crumble, and the Tozi affogato. 

In terms of the space, expect calming, minimalist decor that ticks all of the aesthetic boxes. Neutral tones are paired with natural materials for effortless chic, while mid century chairs sit next to sinkable booths, perfect for both intimate dinners for two and socialising spaces for larger groups.