Le Pescatore

Le Pescatore has occupied its spot on the main waterfront road in Grand Baie for over two decades, and the fact that it remains one of the consistently recommended Italian restaurants on the island speaks to a kitchen that takes its craft seriously rather than coasting on position and reputation. The décor is unapologetically romantic — dark wood, candlelight, white tablecloths, and a terrace that fills with the scent of frangipani in the evening. The menu stays in its lane: Italian seafood, executed with the ingredients available in the Indian Ocean, and done extremely well. Spaghetti alle vongole made with local clams and a generous pour of dry white wine; risotto nero coloured with cuttlefish ink and finished with a grilled prawn; a simple whole fish of the day baked in a salt crust and cracked open at the table. The pasta is made in-house daily — the tagliatelle with blue marlin ragu is a signature that has been on the menu since opening. The tiramisu is made properly, with real mascarpone and Savoiardi biscuits soaked in good espresso. The Italian wine list, while short, is well-chosen: a Vermentino from Sardinia that pairs remarkably well with the local seafood, and a Montepulciano for the meat dishes. Book the courtyard table in the frangipani garden for anniversaries.