Classic charm and cuisine – with a delicious revamp
Text Jessica White
Following two months of renovations, Marbella old town favourite ZoZoi has re-opened its doors with a fresh new layout including an open kitchen and a glass roof with heating in the enchanting courtyard terrace – so the space can be utilised all year round. Owner Maryse and her friendly staff warmly greet customers while chef Benoit produces culinary delights to tempt the taste buds.
Apart from the restaurant revamp, the menu has also been refreshed to include several lighter options, a list of superb daily specials and some fabulous sharing dishes, ideal for friends starting a night out in the charming restaurant before heading to a bar in the old town. We did exactly that, as three of us dined at the restaurant, and we were just dying to try some of the delicious new dishes.
Some of the classics are still on the menu – including the ZoZoi tartare and the roast rack of lamb with honey and rosemary crust – which have people returning again and again, but now there is also a good selection of new dishes such as the Asian salad with crispy duck and a gourmet pizza and risotto selection.
The new bread selection including pizza bread and a choice of different foccacia – garlic, tomato and chilli – which we sampled enlivened our appetites for the rest of the meal. We decided on a starter to share which included Thai crab fish cakes, caramelised ribs, tempura prawns, arancinis, stuffed mushrooms, hummus, olives and the ZoZoi tartare, which we loved as it included many of our favourite starters as a small portion plus some tantalising new additions.
For our mains we thought it best to pick three different dishes so we could share a varied selection. While my companions chose monkfish and prawn spedini accompanied by risotto with tomato and rosemary, and parmesan crusted chicken Milanese served with ratatouille lasagne, I decided to try one of the new pizzas. They are, however, no ordinary Italian-style pizzas as chef Benoit has taken influences from his travels around the globe to bring a unique pizza experience to diners, taking what would normally be deemed as comfort food into a culinary gourmet treat with a twist. With this in mind I chose the chicken chermoula, feta, red peppers and rocket pizza out of the wide selection and it really was a fabulous treat indeed.
After some delicious savoury dishes we ended with a sumptuous lemon polenta cake and the traditional banoffe pie to share, sweetening the evening off superbly.
The restaurant has always offered something for every palette and now it also offers a great selection for larger tables wanting a lighter bite with a selection of fine wines. As always the service was impeccable and the staff attentive, while the atmosphere was relaxed and vibrant – despite the obvious changes to the restaurant, it still retains its previous charm and warmth.