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Chez Pastis

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MichaelJM
MichaelJM
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
4
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Chez Pastis

  • February 27, 2008
  • Rated 5 of 5 by MichaelJM from Nottingham, England
Chez Pastis

A group of four from Wales had this place recommended to them and we decided to give it a go. You will need to book into this tiny place as they have only two sittings each night (6:30 and 8:30pm).

Now when I say it’s small I mean it’s petite and it feels like a right obstacle course to get through to the heart of the place (the reception desk!). On the Saturday night we booked a table for the Monday night and arrived a little early on the evening only to find the door locked tight and a notice apologising for the fact they had had to close for the evening but would be open the following day. We vowed to try again, to give this restaurant ‘a go’ and give them one more chance.

On the Tuesday, when in town, we went to re-book. This was not a problem and Claudia, of Davide and Claudia, apologised profusely for the enforced closure the previous night (most of her staff had declared themselves sick).

We booked in for Wednesday at 8:30pm and again arrived early but of course the first sitting had not quite completed their meal and we had to wait outside. Davide had popped out to check that we had a reservation and then told us our table was almost ready. Within two minutes he was back and guided us to our table.

Well when I say guided that was purely a matter of him taking us to the far end of the “corridor” and we walked in a single file (there was no choice to do otherwise) and we waited at the small table whilst Davide lifted it ‘up and out’ to enable my wife to sit down. The table was then duly replaced in order for my chair to be re-positioned. A large silk cushion was placed at my back and we were now both officially diners at Chez Pastis.

The seats are all very close and intimate with your fellow diners and once the table was ‘balanced’ on the cobbles we were able to peruse the menu, which compared to the majority of the restaurants in Santa Maria, was relatively expensive. After some consideration I chose Brazilian Cheesy Beef and my wife was determined to order smoked fish tagliatelle. However, before our order was taken the table next to us were served their pasta dishes - they looked boring and ordinary and so my wife decided to opt for ‘Rolling Pork’. The dishes were duly ordered together with half a litre of house red (650 CVE). The wine was duly served in a white ceramic jug alongside a hefty portion of bread and a garlic oil dip.

We munched on the bread and dip – my word there was enough garlic to keep a year’s worth of cold away or a whole family of vampires from Transylvania.

The meals were served with rice, mash and peas; the beef skewered and wrapped around a sweet cheese and interspersed with sweet tasty gherkins (I didn’t realise I like gherkins until tonight!), while the pork was smothered with a cream sauce and mushrooms. Both were very tasty and thoroughly enjoyed alongside conversation with other diners about the size of the restaurant and the compactness of the tables; all nationalities together enjoying Cape Verdean hospitality.

From journal Eating Out on Sal

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