Monthly Dinner Club

This is a blogspot which will serve as a Restaurant Review for our Monthly Dinner Club. We are based in Cape Town and have visited restaurants since January 2001. Each month, one of the Organisers selects a new restaurant with the only rule being that it is not allowed to be a venue that the Monthly Dinner Club or one of the Organisers have frequented before.

Saturday, May 24, 2008

IL Mare Salato

Venue: IL Mare Salato

Address: No 9, Mira Mar Centre, Beach Road, Melkbosstrand

Tel: (021) 553 5414

Date: Saturday 24 May 2008

Time: 7pm

Food: Mainly Italian (pizza, pasta and light meals)

Ambience: Relaxed

Corkage: R15 for first bottle thereafter R10 per bottle.

The posting on Dining-Out.co.za:
"IL Mare Salato" is the Italian for "The Salty Sea", and an appropriate name for this delightful little restaurant. Located right opposite the beachfront in Melkbosstrand, it has relaxing sea views and on occasions one can even spot the odd whale or two frolicking close to shore. Opened in September 2007 IL Mare Salato is owned and managed by Charmain Swanevelder and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner 7 days a week. The service is excellent and the small kitchen is indeed a hive of activity, as is the wood burning pizza oven, from which emanates delicious aromas to stimulate your appetite! There is ample parking directly outside the door and due to its safe location and well priced menu; IL Mare Salato is a great venue for family entertaining. Whilst the interior is certainly compact, the décor and table settings are bright and colourful with bold reds and oranges. The outside deck is very spacious with seating for 32, and thanks to a very attractive medieval style canopy offers a shady retreat for alfresco dining during the day. The deck is also very popular on warm summer evenings, and when the sea breezes are rather chilly, roll down blinds and a heater ensure that diners stay warm and cozy.

Directions:
Coming into Melkbosstrand on the Otto du Plessis Road (M14), turn into 6th Avenue. We are in the Mira Mar Centre on your left right after you turn left into Beach Road.

Organised By: Nadine

Patrons: Mike, Lucy, Janine, Nadine, Gathry, Vannessa, Craig, Carol, Clarissa, Kerry, Neil, Craig, Ana Rita

Review:

- Chilled out evening. Food ok.

- New experience - bring own toilet paper next time. Chicken pasta good, Salad like. Pizza was not enjoyed.

- Chicken pasta was tasty - more like a salad than a saucy pasta but light enough to finish.

- Beware - there are 2 versions of the menu so make sure you get the 1 with all the options.

- Interesting - food ok, but nice ambiance.

- Interesting group. Food ok. Definitely need a doggie bag.

- Food was wholesome & good value yet the toilet facilities are "to die for" !!!

- Enjoyed the Alfredo, one of the best I tasted.