Mazi, along with its neighbour and sister restaurant Suzi Tros, pins Greek cooking on the map of London. It is Greek to the core; from the images decorating the walls of the restaurant to the quotes from Socrates and Plato printed on bathroom walls, Mazi is thoroughly Greek. The menu and wine list, even in their contemporary form, scream Greek. Mazi is a perfect spot to go to when a flight to Athens is too much of a hassle and you'd like to enjoy the food of the Gods with someone special.
Unbeknownst to many, it's one of the best restaurants in London, Michelin guide approved and all.
Tucked away on Hillgate Street, Kensington, a quiet cobblestoned street with a soft and elegant air, is Mazi. With its navy blue awning, warm lights and dim interior, Mazi melds gently with the rest of the street. It is a restaurant on the Michelin guide upon quick research, and I'm not surprised it is.
The service, food, and wines all deserve nods of approval if not an immediate round of applause.
It's the restaurant that comes to mind if you are looking for a special evening with someone or a small group of friends.
The food
Mazi has a five part menu and works on the concept of sharing. It starts with a few sharing jars of their best dips. I highly recommend their tzatziki and smoked aubergine jars with a side order of their charred leek bread (leftmost/first of the three pictured).
It is from the beginning of your meal that the innovative mindset of Mazi shines through.
Traditional as these dips may sound, Mazi plays with textures and flavours against those that are familiar. Take the tzatziki for example: fresh mint juice goes through spherification and tops the garlicky yoghurt-cucumber mix, adding texture, volume, and pops of freshness to every dip-filled bite of bread. The smoked aubergine dip also has a woody scent and almost a burnt aroma which is balanced by the thyme honey. A great, punchy start I would say.
From their raw section, we had their sea bass tartare with cucumber, green apple and jalapeño which was clean and refreshing (middle of pictured trio). The soft tartare, with a zing from the tart apple and a slight kick from the chillies, was the perfect palate cleanser for the hot dishes and signatures that followed.
From the hot dishes, we ordered (rightmost/last of the pictured trio) the tiger prawn risotto with lobster head bisque, and gosh was it a powerful and creamy dish. The flavour concentration of the bisque was well matched by the creaminess of the risotto. The herby emulsion brought a nice zing to the dish that cut through the buttery flavours of the dish. The tiger prawns were cooked perfectly and soft.
For those who like seafood, the tiger prawn risotto is definitely something you'd have to order.
If the lobster bisque risotto is a bit too powerful for your tastes, I recommend their grilled leek with avgolemono (a creamy lemony Greek sauce), black truffle and hazelnuts. It is a dish of mellow comfort. The leeks slide into the cream sauce that has a lift from the earthy aromas of the truffle and nuts. It's a lovely dish for cozy winter evenings.
Finally, we move on to Mazi's signature dishes and there are two I'd like to highlight. First, we have the black truffle chicken hunkar begendi. The chicken breast was so tender I almost mistook it for a thigh. The mushrooms have an umami-like saltiness to it, as if it's sautéed with seaweed flakes. Served with two quenelles of what I assume to be truffled eggplant purée - given that 'hunkar begendi' (a Turkish eggplant and meat dish) is included in the name - the dish is beautifully earthly and truffle-y. This is definitely the dish for anyone who loves this fragrant fungus. Get yourself a nice light-medium bodied glass of red and you're set.
For those who enjoy seafood a little more, there is the monkfish with charred cabbage. As a fish with ameaty texture, Mazi makes it taste even meatier with their precise searing and panfry. Paired with the charred vegetables, the dish tastes almost like a meaty barbecue. Flavour is definitely not something Mazi is missing in its dishes.
Mazi promises great food, great wine, and even better times.
After that gastronomical half-marathon, we finally arrive at dessert. If you have space in your stomach, I do recommend getting their chocolate mousse cake with hazelnuts and Greek coffee ice cream. The buttery biscuit base gives a nice crunch to the dark chocolate mousse. The light coloured coffee ice cream has a serious kick of coffee which sends this dessert to another level of lush. Having been to Mazi a few times now, I have learnt to save space for this dessert, even when other plates on their menu call to me ever so tantalisingly.
Whilst I've only focused on Mazi's food, I have to at least mention their wine list which is seriously Greek and seriously good. Order your plates with your server and ask them for recommendations. You will discover new Greek grapes and producers you've never heard of, and always be assured of a good time wining and dining.
Tips
I love going to Mazi all year round but one of my favourite times to visit is in the summer. When daylight hours in London last past 9pm, Mazi is the perfect place to go to since their intimate courtyard will be open! Enjoy al fresco dining in the corner of Notting Hill Gate - the epitome of lush summer dinning. Reach out to Mazi via phone or email and treat yourself!
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