This slice of the Caribbean transports you straight to the beach however cold it is outside, and the exceptional seafood and a la carte menu is top notch.

The Venue
Located on the London Road in Norbury, this South London restaurant is a bit of a trek at 10 or 15 minutes walk from Norbury or Thornton Heath rail stations, but you’ll be glad of the bright signs and warm welcome once you spot Mauritius. Inside, you’ll walk through the bar area into a cosy, intimate restaurant, dominated by a vast golden beach and turquoise sea mural painted onto the wall. The feel is authentically Caribbean, and during the summer there are also outdoor tables to help you bask in the sun. Don’t expect it to be as tropical in Norbury as it is in Mauritius though!

The Atmosphere
Anxious to please, polite and very attentive, the staff fosters a friendly atmosphere amongst their customers and know many of the regular clientele by name, and will stop to ask about their day and their family. Several times a month, things get lively with Elvis nights, Mauritian sega dances and soca singers, and there is entertainment on weekend nights to accompany your meal too. Most of the clientele here are well-informed locals, and it’s wise to book here at busier times as it gets packed at weekends. Weekdays are quieter, and finding a table will be less of an issue – of course, this is because there is no entertainment so if you’re looking for the full experience, you’d do well to ring ahead and find out when they’re holding the next theme night.

The Food
The a la carte menu is lengthy, offering appetisers, starters, main courses, house specials, Mauritian curries and sizzlers (spicy meat kebabs), and is complimented by blackboard specials that change each day. While you’re busy choosing, the staff will bring you appetisers to try such as freshly-baked bread with homemade chicken liver pate that’s so creamy and delicious you won’t be able to stop going back for more.

The starters menu is long with a seafood focus, though there are chicken brochettes or vegetarian fritters among other things to try. A must-try is the calamari, fried in a crispy light batter that’s delicate and gently spiced and served with salty fried seaweed and sweet chilli sauce, piled deceptively high in a square white china dish. Even better is the huge chargrilled tuna steak served with olive oil, chilli and garlic – the flavours are light enough to enhance the perfectly-cooked tuna and give them a spicy kick.

Even harder to choose from is the long list of main courses – the award-winning Mauritian curries are hard to resist, as is the long list of fresh seafood, which includes a few different lobster dishes to choose from. Just as tasty is the lamb creole, a large lamb shank with spicy gravy and meat so tender it falls off the bone. Just like the starters, the spicing is delicate enough to maintain the sweetness of the meat and not overpower the flavours. Exceptional, and only for those with the biggest of appetites, is the whole sea bass, stuffed with lemon and lime and seasoned simply with sea salt and parsley. The soft white fish is fresh, salty and tasty, and is perfectly accompanied by the special Mauritian mash potatoes, which are served with chillis, onions and garlic for a bit of a kick.

You may struggle to find room, but the desserts are worth a try. As well as ice creams and fruit, the French influence on Mauritian cuisine shows through with an upside down tarte de pommes, a small individual tart with tangy apples and a cooling vanilla ice cream accompaniment. The French theme continues with a creme brulee, with a crispy sugar topping and a layer of coffee liqueur to cut through the sweetness.

Prices on the menu are scandalously cheap for the vast size of the meals and the top quality fresh ingredients – starters are under £4, main courses £7 to £12 and desserts come in at under a fiver too. A meal for two here will cost less than £40 without wine.

The Drink
The staff are happy to mix you up a Caribbean cocktail if something takes your fancy, and there is a range of draught lagers and bottled beers too, as well as the keenly-priced wine list. There are about half a dozen whites and half a dozen reds to try, with the fruity easy-drinking French House Red coming in at a modest £11.

The Last Word
The Mauritius Bar is at its best when in full swing on one of its soca, sega, Elvis or disco nights, when top notch modern food is combined with an authentic Caribbean flavour to give you a night to remember. However, it’s still a worthy stop-off at any other time when the warm, personal welcome and wallet-friendly prices will ensure you leave feeling much more relaxed than when you arrived.

venue information venue map view london review user reviews (2)