Zoilo is barely a week old and it’s already got quite the reputation – during our visit people without bookings were turned away at the door due to a full house. Sister to popular Argentine style restaurant Casa Malevo, Zoilo serves the same style of “Cocina Argentina” only in smaller sharing dishes AKA tapas. It’s all about the tapas isn’t it? Everyone’s at it, the Italians, Peruvians and now the Argentineans.
There are two eating areas, upstairs which has a long bar with stools and tables along one wall and downstairs where you eat overlooking the kitchen – not only can you see all of the action you can literally smell the dishes, in fact the only way to get any closer would be to don a white coat and pick up a knife.
Like all Argentine restaurants Zoilo has a cracking wine list with a good selection of reds available by the glass. Food wise the menu doesn’t offer a massive selection but what it does it, does bloody good. The chicken, grilled peppers and cumin Empanadas were small, generously filled pasties. The Beetroot, goat’s curd and garrapinada was an absolute pleasure to eat, our only grumble was we could have eaten it over and over and over again.
Other highlights include the Morcilla & Criolla on toast which was super soft, tasty black pudding and the Ojo de bife & Chimichurry, a tender rib eye steak which comes in two sizes. The portions can be quite small so don’t be afraid of ordering 6-7 dishes but do save some room for desserts.
Chocolate cake, berries & yogurt sorbet was delightful whilst the Dulce de leche crème Brule and banana split ice cream was heaven in a ramekin. Zoilo definitely gets the thumbs up from us, try it you will like it.
Zoilo, 9 Duke Street, W1U
www.zoilo.co.uk