Inspired by the favourite moment of Greek cinema and dedicated to all foodies, Suzi Tros brings the philosophy of gastro-tavernas to England.
Walking down London's Hillgate Street, a Greek blue frame stands out. It encloses a small restaurant with Mediterranean tiles, Greek smells and chairs reminiscent of an island cafe.
Looking up at the white sign, the words “Suzi Tros” stands out.
The answer is given by Christina Mouratoglou, the restaurant's co-owner and the successful chain of stores Mazi, which they created and managed together with her husband and partner Adrien Carre.
The phrase has been stuck in her mind for years since she used it to tease her mother when she was having stomach upsets. The nostalgia accompanying the phrase became capable 2019 of creating a store, "an ode to foodies", as she told New Money.
Suzi Tros, of course, was a follow-up to the success of the duo's first restaurant, London's Mazi, which opened in 2012 and whose vision was to show the rest of the world how innovative, delicious and refined Greek food can be.
What has been happening at Suzi Tros for a year and a half?
Ingenuity, humour and a love for Greek flavours are the factors that make the restaurant stand out on the London culinary scene - with quite discerning Londoners in attendance.
Inspiration and, simultaneously, an element of differentiation from Mazi - the shop next door, you don't need to go further - is Thessaloniki. The beloved city of gourmets, hearty tables and secret ingredients is transformed into a more sophisticated and minimalist at Suzi Tros.
This gastro-taverna - a high-end tavern with relaxed vibes and a creative approach to Greek cuisine - with its bistro aesthetic, has managed for four years to approach customers as gourmets and to introduce them, regardless of nationality to the Greek philosophy, from the aesthetics and the warm, Cycladic-minimal atmosphere of the shop, to the music selections that contain Maraveyas and other similar Greek pieces and ending of course with the food and drink menu that praises the homeland of the owner.
The chefs Sofoklis Maragoudakis -executive chef- and Nikos Polizos -sous chef contribute to this. The two built a new menu that combines the store's signature dishes, seasonal sweets and unique creations faithful to Greek philosophy.
Taramas, fresh bread with leeks made daily in the shop; pastitsada with rooster and mizithra, the beloved, classic Greek salad, roasted peppers, and olives from Halkidiki, welcome us with humility. With a lot of audacity but also authenticity, the chicken souvlaki with black truffle and porcini mayonnaise, the octopus carpaccio and the smoked courgettes with soy and red pepper cream remind us that Suzi Tros combine tradition and innovation.
However, a favourite dish of the "difficult" Londoners is lamb shank with chickpeas, Christina explains. The shop follows the path of sustainability, using materials of their time, since, as Christina says, remembering the old days, "everything in its time".
The future shows the restaurant a direction in the already possible customer experience, but also the expansion of both Mazi and perhaps the opening of a Suzi Tros in Athens. Whatever happens, one thing is sure: Christina and Adrien love Greece so profoundly that they manage to become the favourite hosts and representatives of its cuisine abroad.
In the end, wherever they travel, they will always bring Greece, its smells and their love for the people with them. This is also the most important and delicious ingredient of their success.
18 Hillgate St., London, United Kingdom
www.suzitros.com / @suzitros/Instagram
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