Retsina

Name: Retsina
Telephone: 020 7431 5855
Price range: £30 - £49
Rating: 8

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Greek·

££££

Bronze Award

12 Reviews

London, NW3 5AR ·Website ·Call020 7431 5855

1/3

Overview
Location
Reviews

SquareMeal Review of Retsina

Bronze Award

The traditional whitewashed taverna gets an upmarket twist at Retsina, a polished Greek restaurant that’s “a cut above the rest”, according to one fan. “Friendly and warm service” is a trump card much appreciated by its smartly attired regulars, but the menu is also “brilliant value” and the kitchen always delivers. Among the “reliably excellent” starters, you might find grilled aubergine salad, lounza (smoked pork fillet), dolmades and baby squid as well as the usual dips and flatbreads, while mains range from char-grilled meat and fish in various forms to slow-cooked stews and peasant dishes such as lamb knuckle or beef stifado with rice to soak up the juices. It’s also worth giving 24-hours’ notice for the leg of milk-fed lamb, suckling pig or casseroled game. Retsina’s £19.50 mixed mezze (for two) is a low-cost way to navigate the menu.

Good to know

Average Price

££££ - £30 - £49

Cuisines

Greek

Ambience

Lively

Food Hygiene Rating

Retsina is featured in

Best restaurants in Belsize Park

Location for Retsina

48-50 Belsize Lane, London, NW3 5AR

020 7431 5855

Website

Opening Times

Tues-Sun 12N-3pm Mon-Sun 6-11pm

Reviews of Retsina

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12 Reviews

Food/Drink

Service

Atmosphere

Value

Anon

Fabulous food and wine

10 October 2021 - Verified Diner

Shared the set meze meal with two friends, everything was delicious, plenty of food, waiter recommended a bottle of greek white wine which was superb. Staff lovely and friendly, very pretty area.

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Danny F

Super Meal

02 October 2020

Great meal in this Family run restaurant in lovely Belsize Village.

Very fresh and great service

Cant wait time go back soon

recommended.

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Michael G

Best Greek London

18 July 2020

Stunning Greek food from this long established restaurant with a new makeover,

Post lockdown meals served also on Belsize Terrace make you feel your on holiday on a sunny day.

Try the grilled whole seabass or the lamb Kleftiko , super tasty .

highly recommend

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Meonetwo

Lovely Greek

04 February 2020

Absolutely delicious as always.

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Guilherme B

09 June 2016

Belsize Park and Hampstead really do lack good restaurants - possibly because it's hard to park! But Retsina is a family-owned restaurant that has been going for many years and survived the sad loss of Dinos who was front of house. The menu remains good, honest Levantine food, well-executed, generous and incredibly enjoyable. The actual restaurant is uncluttered and fresh, the kitchen visible but not obstrusive. The service is friendly and the turnover of staff seems to be zero - which must be a good sign. All the food is freshly made and the sea bass cooked over an open fire is just wonderful and amazing value. Perfect place for a casual, chatty evening as a coupe or with friends!

Nancy E

“A cut above the rest”

09 May 2015

Been looking for a fantastic Greek restaurant to dine at for a long time, Finally found it. Lovely fresh food, Good service, Relaxed modern neutral decor, Definitely a cut above the rest of London's greek establishments. Highly recommended, I know I'll be visiting again.

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Chris H

28 February 2012

A nice local restaurant serving good quality Greek food. The owners are always friendly and they always try to accommodate people even when they are busy. I tend to order lamb souvla which is always tender and tasty. Although they have certainly gotten busier following their Channel 4 adventure, they still have not forgotten the basics.

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Andy F

08 November 2010

Hi We went for a birthday celebration at the weekend. It was amazing. The service was superb, but the food, WOW. It is without doubt the best Greek food I have ever eaten. all the starter (and they never seem to stop coming we simply made, but full of flavour. The calamari was the freshest, and best I have ever tasted, anywhere in the World. The mains were massive, and again so tasty. The staff were great, very helpful and attentive. It was a real delight. I will be back for sure, and cant wait to take some Greek friends and show off about the place. Well done. Brilliant Franksy

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Michael R

12 July 2010

Its the first time I have had those artificial crab sticks included in a mezze starter along with tinned tuna and a load of beetroot!! absolutely crap. The mousaka was rubbish as was my partners calamari. We saw the women but there was no way she was doing the cooking and you get a bill plus 10% which should be optional. All in all a complete dining disaster from start to finish.

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Nicola C

11 June 2010

We love Retsina although some people we know seem simply not to ‘get it’. They clearly have no taste. I must confess that as we're well known here, we always get a big, hearty welcome and as my husband's father always used to say … 'the best restaurants are the restaurants where they know you best" . Run by the Minos family, it's very much a family affair with Mum Zita in charge of the kitchen and son Menos at front of house although from time to time, they swap roles. Until it did so well (coming third) in Channel 4's The F Word last year, tables were easy to come by. Since that well deserved success, it's wise to book ahead as these days the place tends to be packed out particularly over the weekend. The food is always beautifully cooked and the portions bounteous. This is simple, unpretentious fayre at very reasonable prices. The whole grilled seabass and large grilled prawns are some of the best I've eaten in England whilst the souvla (of whatever variety) and generous mixed grill are my husband's favourites. Typical Greek-Cypriot starters are all home-made and delicious, ranging from the ubiquitous taramasalata to more ambitious spanagopita, falafel, dolmathes and lots more. The wine list is limited but there are a few French options if Greek wines aren't your bag. My husband (the wine connnoisseur) happens to love Retsina – the wine. I think it's evocative for him – there's really no accounting for taste. If there's any room for improvement, I feel the desserts could be a little more adventurous but then that suits me because I could without the calories.

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