If you’re a big fan of dining out, and Italian food floats your boat, then you will no doubt be well acquainted with Mauro’s.
Port Elizabeth’s loss is St Francis Bay’s gain as Mauro Nettl, that flamboyant and talented chef of Austro-Italian descent, has for some years now been delighting villagers and visitors alike in this picturesque part of the world with his authentic Italian cuisine.
Having been based in PE for many years, Mauro’s is now situated in Port St Francis at the same premises where Chez Patrick used to be.
The restaurant in Triton Avenue provides a superb view of the port and its snazzy holiday apartments, but then you’re not just here for the view. The food is quite legendary in the greater St Francis area, with the pizzas a particular favourite.
My husband, Salvelio, and I were in the area for a weekend getaway recently and Mauro’s was our first port of call. On this occasion we skipped the pizza and opted for pasta mains. But first a little trip down memory lane: the signature starter at Mauro’s is the crevettes: six plump prawns cooked under the grill in an absolutely magical, oozy cheese sauce. Though on the pricey side (we decided to share), it’s still among our favourite local starters of all time. I would kill for the recipe!
Mains, too, were a flavourful feast – linguine scampi for me and pasta filletto for Salvelio. Again prices are fairly steep, but the food is so good you’d pay up with a happy heart. Half portions are also an option if you’re not a big eater.
We ended the meal with a hearty scoop of creamy Italian ice cream. Delizioso!
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Words: Louise Liebenberg | Images: Salvelio Meyer
