When my partner goes ‘amazing’ after just one bite of a vegetable samosa you know something’s up.

We were in the bright and cheerful Mamma Mia Portuguese Flavour restaurant on Honiton’s lively High Street and what a treat it was. If you like Portuguese cooking with South African flair (think about where Nandos originated) then this colourful happy eatery is the perfect winter’s evening escape.

Husband and wife team Elvio and Fatima De Aguiar are celebrating the restaurant’s one-year anniversary and over the past twelve months they’ve fine-tuned the menu, offering a curated selection of excellent meals, served with generous portions and very reasonably priced.

I grew up in South Africa and have always been a fan of the adventurous cooking brought to the country by Portuguese restaurateurs so went straight for the chicken livers starter.

My daughter couldn’t resist the sticky chicken wings basted in the ever-so-tasty, signature Mamma’s sauce while my partner was floored by the vegetable samosas. Some olives on the side looked almost demure.

Elvio told us that a recent customer said, ‘every dish here speaks to you with its own voice’ and he was right – every dish is distinct and unique.

For my main I ordered the prawns. Do not think shrimpy little frozen prawn in turgid batter. Think glorious, plump, succulent, big langoustines drenched in a delicious marinade that lights up in your mouth with a full-on taste bud sensation! I was instantly transported back to the sunny beaches of Mozambique.

My daughter was now hooked on the flavoursome chicken and opted for a chicken wrap. This chicken is marinated for at least 24 hours before being perfectly grilled and delivered wrapped in a soft, warm wrap, with mixed peppers, onions, beans and lettuce accompanied by excellent chips dusted in Fatima’s own dry rub and salad – and if you need even more to tantalise the taste buds there’s Fatima’s own peri peri sauce, or Elvio’s slightly lethal chilli sauce too.

My partner went for the chicken prego with a fried egg and side salad – food heaven. Drinks wise there are vibrant Portuguese fruit juices, and a range of beers and wine, notably an excellent bottle of Portuguese red.

To cap it all there is a selection of half a dozen awesome homemade ice creams, ‘so creamy’, with flavours such as Biscoff, coconut and toasted walnut, honeycomb and salted caramel and delicious pasteis de nata to choose from.   

Mamma Mia Portuguese Flavour is well worth a visit, and serves as a reminder of how a humble and enthusiastic independent can add life to our town’s streets. There’s plenty of parking in the centre of the town, and a direct rail link on the Exeter line too. However you travel, we recommend taking the chance to eat a truly phenomenal meal! 

Words and Images: Bruce Hetherington