Thalassa Greek Restaurant

August 19, 2011

I was lucky enough to win a lunch for two at Thalassa and since I have a friend who lives a few miles from Southgate arranged to meet her there today.

Now, the last time I went to a Greek restaurant was over twenty years ago…in Greece. I spent a summer holiday there and the food was truly memorable. I can remember wonderful deeply flavoured tomatoes, the freshest fish and, surprisingly good pizza which we bought and ate on the beach. And, a constant supply of home cooked Greek dishes from my boyfriend’s relatives who seemed very concerned that we might not be eating properly! Thalassa was going to have a tough job living up to those memories.

We were greeted by a charming host in a stylish but unpretentious restaurant and seated next door to a large fish tank with some very suspicious looking fish who continued to eye us up throughout the meal. I DON’T think the fish were heading for the menu, but Sophia told me that the lobsters over the other side of the restaurant WERE. And, we watched one lunch diner eating through a splendid looking beast!

The meal started with a shared starter for us. A trio of taramasalata, hummus and tzasiki with fingers of feta topped with what I think was a quince jam and some very freshly charcoal grilled pita. Perfect lunch stuff, simple but very very fresh. The menu had a mix of greek food and a wide range of other fish dishes and a tidy but limited set of meat options. I did want to sample something that I thought would show the Greek origin of Thalassa to its best. My choice really didn’t disappoint. The Royal Seafood Medley was a rich tomato casserole with king prawns, scallops, mussels, clams and langoustine with grilled pitta filled with halloumi. Splendid, very filling and very fresh. My friend lunched on a yellow tuna in a sesame seeds with couscous, avocado and marscapone. It looked stunning and she was suitably impressed!

We had no room for dessert, but the lovely Sophia showed us a selection of pretty looking options.

This was fresh, honest food well cooked and tasty. The prices were reasonable, with starters around £5-£6 and the main courses mostly between £10 and £15. Although we didn’t try the lobster, it is sold by weight, depending on what you choose from the tank and served in a variety of ways.

Now I just wish I lived a little closer so I could eat there more often. My friend is planning her return already but I suspect some of the residents will have changed by then!