Thalassa Restaurant & Bar Review

Best for: Fish and seafood.

Great: Feeling like you are on holiday: observing piranhas.

“Right,” I said, “Let’s tick off the list.”

Map of how to get there: check. Phrase book, in case we need to ask for directions in Southgate slang: check. Compass, to navigate back to the central London: check. Supplies, for the long tube journey: check.

“Anna, I’m nervous, what if we don’t make it back?” said my cousin Camille, who had bravely offered to accompany me to Zone 4.

I smiled bravely back at her. “Camille, if there is one thing I have learnt in my 24 years on this earth, it is this: you have to take a little risk to get the greatest reward, and we are looking for the greatest reward of all; good seafood.”

Thus we journeyed forth to Thalassa, a Mediterranean seafood restaurant in Southgate, north London (Zone 4).

“Anna”, said Camille, “I don’t know what you were nervous about. Southgate is exactly the same as where you live and this restaurant could have could be anywhere in London. Gosh, some people are so parochial!”

As the elder, I swallowed this dig and looked around: not too cluttered, minimalist decor; calming colours of silver and blue offering a feeling of near-the-sea; and a clientele of sweet local couples, old and young, romancing each other over sea bass (apparently it gets very busy on a Friday night, when they have live Greek music). A nice waiter placed a glass of white wine near my hand.

“Yes, this would do,” I thought.

“But it was a long journey, so I think I will need to eat an awful lot, to keep my strength up,” Camille continued.

“I agree,” I agreed, “let us partake in enough fishy cuisine to make it difficult to walk”.

And so we ate.

The starters of the day were a heap of tasty Gravlax with a subtle sweetness and a bowl of mussels in garlic, wine and cream. The mussels were huge and delicious but I have a feeling that anything covered in garlic, wine and cream would taste pretty amazing.

Then came the mixed fish grill, which meant there was no need to choose between favourites. I could have it all: swordfish, barramundi, prawns and more. I do love it when greed is catered for. The huge portion meant I could ignore the fries and completely fill up on scrumptious fish and seafood, perfectly cooked. Camille had lobster with scallops and felt incredibly decadent, until she walked past the lobster tank on the way to the bathroom and was glared at by a lobster, who KNEW WHAT SHE HAD DONE.

As we slowly ate desserts, in a seafood coma, the waiters came over for a chat and pointed to the fish tank next to our table.

“Know what they are?” one asked.

“No,” I admitted, never having got far as a fish spotter.

“Piranhas.”

“But they’re so little.”

“They are new ones, the old ones ate each other.”

With that, he wondered off.

“You know,” said Camille, “maybe we were right before, this is a dangerous place, maybe they are fattening us up to turn us into fish supper.”

“You mean, they’re feeding us fish, to feed us to the fish? What a twisted idea, let us leave immediately.”

We rose unsteadily to our feet - it was hard to balance with the increase in body mass - and stumbled out.

We collapsed on the tube. “That was a great adventure: danger, fish, the great unknown, DEFINITELY worth the journey, I want to do it again, but maybe once I’ve finished digesting,” said Camille, and then fell asleep....read more

Anna Robin 30 Apr 2012

Thalassa Restaurant & Bar Description

Thalassa Seafood Restaurant & Bar: This North London seafood restaurant and bar, located in Southgate Chaseside, does a lively trade amongst local young professionals who enjoy its fresh fish and chi-chi champagne bar.

Customer Reviews for Thalassa Restaurant & Bar

Average (based on 9 votes): 9 Atmosphere: Value: Quality:

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.

“The restaurant's menu has an extensive list of options, every way you could think of cooking a fish, they've got it. The lobster is amazing and reasonable priced. It has a calming decor complete with fish tanks and white walls. The staff are extra friendly and happy to tell you all about how the numbers in the piranha are on the decline. hint: they're not leaving of their accord.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
Camille Crick, Kilburn (1 years 13 days ago)

“we had a fabulous time at thalassa the food was spectacularily fresh, the service fantastic and the atmosphere relaxed i will definitely go back”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
dee, Greenwich (1 years 2 months 8 days ago)

“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.”
Atmosphere: Value: Quality:
rita, lingfield (2 years 11 months 2 days ago)

Show all user reviews for Thalassa Restaurant & Bar

Thalassa Restaurant & Bar Opening Hours

Additional Information

• Cuisine Type: Seafood
• Average Price: £30
• Dress Code: smart casual
• Website: Visit the Thalassa Restaurant & Bar website
• Group: (Independent/Freehouse)