Thalassa Restaurant & Bar London Review
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It took a while until the contradiction sunk in. My date and I were united in sending all of our positive survivalist energy into the fish tank next to our table where tiny translucent prawns dodged the ever-waiting Jaws of Fishy Death. They clamoured through the water and under rocks by scurrying their little legs in cartoon-like vigour while everything else in their aquatic environment tried to eat them. “I quite fancy the idea of fresh rock oysters in a bloody mary dressing,” I mused out loud while a particularly aggressive angel fish chased a diminutive scuttler across the length of the tank. “I was thinking of the king scallops wrapped in parma ham and pan fried in a garlic and white cream sauce,” responded my partner while we looked sympathetically at the tragic remains of one wriggler that almost got away.
Before we could delve any further into our discussion on the cruelty of nature and how frightening it must be to live in the ocean, a round of starters, elegantly laid out and swiftly delivered, landed on our table: mussels, razor clams and shell clams in a lemon, garlic and white wine sauce; not-at-all-rubbery calamari on a bed of seaweed and roast peppers; King scallops; best of all - rock oysters the size of cricket balls, which fortunately taste nothing at all like cricket balls. The frosty bed of ice glistened while I tried to decide which of the five different dressings tasted best with these exquisite slimy delights. A feast of worthy of Poseidon!
It’s an unusual experience to wave hello (and goodbye) to your food before you eat it. It’s even more unusual to have it wave back! Each day a consignment of local and fresh, or indeed alive, seafood is arrives at Thalassa, this north London Mediterranean seafood restaurant. If you wander across the restaurant to the fully stocked and ultra-slick bar you can meet and greet the primary ingredients before you even read the menu. Live lobsters and angry-looking, giant crabs survey you frostily from the chilled display cabinet. This may or may not float your boat. I’m (very hypocritically) undecided. At least you know the food is fresh! You can also take a peak into the open kitchen and watch the genuinely Mediterranean chefs throw your gastro-spoils together. And spoilt we were! Grilled lobster (sorry chap) and swordfish steak in a bon jou Thai sauce constituted our mains.
Thalassa is located on Chase Side Road near to the Southgate tube station. It’s open for lunch and dinner everyday except Mondays but go on the weekends. There’s a live pianist who keeps the mood upbeat and the vibe trendy. Plus it’s a little quiet at the start of the week. If you’re up for a real oriental-Mediterranean fusion experience marinated in chilli, lime, ginger and soy-sauce then this one’s for you (albeit a fair distance out of central London).
I risk sounding like the PR agent for this elegant spot by stating that everything we ate was delectable; by telling you that the service was outstanding; and most importantly, that almost all of the cute little prawns managed to get away from the sinister swimmers. But what can I say? I loved it! The whole experience helps one appreciate how stupendous life is at the top of the food-chain.
Jade Jacobsohn (05 11 2009)
Thalassa Restaurant & Bar London Description
Because Thalassa source the best quality food from around the UK and Europe, their innovative menu combines local produce and Mediterranean cuisine in an exciting fusion of flavours and variety.
So book now and sample their delicious menu, or simply choose your fish from the fresh seafood bar and have it cooked your way.
Customer Reviews for Thalassa Restaurant & Bar
The following customer reviews are not endorsed by Fluid London and are simply those of users who wish to publish their independent experiences of Thalassa Restaurant & Bar.
“My daughter's hen night and WOW!! 18 of us from all over the country and not one complaint! Even those that don't usually like fish thoroughly enjoyed the fish meze. We all tried things we had never eaten before and quite a few have now been converted to eating fish! The atmosphere was just amazing, -if we lived nearer we would eat here every week. We ALL said we would try to re-visit. Thanks to all the staff for a very memorable evening! We could not have dined anywhere better.”
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rita, lingfield (2 months 13 days ago)
“My first visit of thalassa saw a bad service as the staff were too young and undertrained, but it was clear by my latest visit things had improved dramatically. Mature and well mannered staff greeted me and my partner upon our arrival which enabled us to settle down well and prepare for our order. From the starters in which we both ordered spaghetti seafood to the main course in which i tested the wild boar (splendid), all the food was excellent in taste and importantly its image. My partner and i were too full for desert so we settled with an expresso each and parted ways for home. Thank you thalassa we will be back soon”
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alejandro@mac.com, essex (3 months ago)
“Extremely disappointing!! Would never recommend, and especially not for groups.
Positive: it looks lovely and clean...thats it.
Negative(s): we arrived @ 8.30 and finally got our main course in dribs and drabs at 11pm. Staff poorly trained, (some looked too young to serve alcohol) didn't have a clue, got the orders wrong spectacularly! And we were not the only ones they messed up on.
We prebooked for 16 but when we arrived they only had a table for ten and said we could shuffle in. Not an issue if the table was big enough but we were on each others laps as it was. When the food arrived some cold side dishes were missing and most of the food was bland. We had to keep asking for drinks orders and the were out of stock of almost everything on the menu. When we complained at the end the staff said these things happen!! Needless to say, my 1 and only visit was made there. Ruined the whole night for us.”
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[ Unknown ], cambridge (7 months 2 days ago)
“Great fresh food, well presented and generous in portion. The fish soup is mouthwatering and the fish meze is worthy of Poseidon. I have been here for lunch and for dinner with hubby, children and with friends. I have yet to be disappointed. The barman makes a cool mojito and their cocktails are really worth trying. Whats even greater is that although the interior makes you feel that you are in a swanky part of town, the final bill doesn't ! Will go back again and again and again !”
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Mel, London (7 months 21 days ago)
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Thalassa Restaurant & Bar Opening Hours
| Monday: |
Closed |
Friday: |
11:00am - 11:00pm |
| Tuesday: |
12:00pm - 11:00pm |
Saturday: |
11:00am - 11:00pm |
| Wednesday: |
12:00pm - 11:00pm |
Sunday: |
1:00pm - 9:00pm |
| Thursday: |
11:00am - 11:00pm |
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Additional Information
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