If you feel the need to escape from London but don't have the time or money to actually leave, close your eyes and have someone lead you into Bar Tozino. When you open them, you can convince yourself you're in Madrid.
Spanish music poured out of the speakers (except at one point when the bartender accidentally played the first few bars of AC/DC's Back in Black), hams hung everywhere and people stood around with small glasses that they filled either from small pitchers of beer or bottles of wine.
I split a plate of ham, expertly sliced from the back of the room, and washed it down with a glass of Verdejo. Three pieces of pan con tomate were on the plate as well and when I bit into one of them I remarked that it was so much better than the onces I've had recently in London. I then realized that those weren't even Bar Tozio's best version of the simple dish, they were just standard accompaniments that are served with the ham. When ordered from the menu, you are presented with a wooden plate on which sits a clove of garlic, a small bottle of olive oil, a bowl of pureed tomatos and some toast. You then put everything together and pat yourself on the back for creating such an amazing snack. We also had the chipirones, which were bathed in a fresh sherry and garlic sauce, but a little too fishy for me.
And dessert! Oh, dessert... I am a cheese plate kind of girl without much of a sweet tooth, but my husband ordered the Manzanilla and melon sorbet with crispy Teruel ham and I couldn't stop eating it. He thought the ham was a bit too salty which was perfect because I didn't feel bad about eating much more than half. Unfortunately I think it may have been a special for World Sherry Day (which funnily spans an entire week), but I am hoping it will be printed on the meny again and again.
The staff was friendly and helpful, the sherries were sublime and the food was wonderful. I'm already planning my return. read more