Zoilo, W1U 3EG
- 020 7486 9699
- 9 Duke Street, W1U 3EG (streetmap) (osm) (gmap) (bingmap) (streetview)
- zoilo.co.uk
- noon-3pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm Mon-Sat; closed Sun
Cracking little Argentinian restaurant near the Wallace Collection in Marylebone. The emphasis is on sharing plates (though larger dishes are available), and the wine list is fully Argentinian (but no less comprehensive for it). It can get a little cramped getting past the stools placed along the bar, but once sat down it's a very comfortable environment to spend your lunch hour.
Kat greatly enjoyed her visit (booked via email) in May 2014. As we were waiting for some of our party to arrive, we ordered bread, olives and aperitifs which were brought promptly. It's very easy to order additional plates while you're waiting and we did just that — pig's head croquettes (3 for £6) were flavourful and came with a lovely spicy, fruity dip. Empanadas (£3.50 each) were also delicious, especially the spinach and goat cheese filling.
The crab toast (£8) was fine but nothing particularly memorable, while the octopus with peas was salty, earthy and had a good texture. We also opted for an 'asado' (flank) steak with provenzal chips. The latter were extremely garlicky (which suited Kat just fine) and the steak was simple but carefully cooked, and pre-cut into three chunks for easy sharing. It went very well with a carafe of Malbec (£15).
Service was attentive and helpful, but we never felt rushed. Our carafe of tap water was replenished throughout the meal without asking. The bill came to £160 for three people, including service and rather a lot of alcohol — if you were sticking a more modest booze consumption then I'd expect you'd spend closer to £35 a head.
Kat's verdict: I loved pretty much everything I tried and would definitely come back, especially for the empanadas. I liked the relaxed atmosphere, and the food was interesting and of good quality.
Accessibility: there's an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Additional toilets are down a flight of wide stairs with a handrail on both sides.
See also:
- Guardian review (Marina O'Loughlin)
- Time Out review