Mara Restaurante — Restaurant in Calheta

We had been staying in Paul do Mar for a week before we finally decided to try Mara Restaurante. Our only regret is that we waited so long, as we won’t have time to come back before our vacation ends.

If you are holding back to try it out because of the general look of the restaurant, DO NOT WORRY. This is truly a hidden gem.

The food was local, great options on the menu and it tasted amazing. We had the fish stew, which was great and more than enough for 2 people, with plenty of good tender fish, potatoes and vegetables inside. Yum! (Do beware of extra spicy sauce, which is indeed VERY spicy)

My parents tried the Espetada and the steak, which all was equally good. The meat was cooked to perfection.

The young waiter was also a highlight with great service throughout!

We ended with a couple great desserts, but what i have to highlight is the passion fruit pudding that my father had. Probably the best we have ever tasted. The waiter even told us they used their own passion fruits from the garden and in general tried to use homegrown where possible.

Before leaving we had a special herb infused rum to say goodbye on. Very special and pretty damn strong. One of those if you know, you know.

We had to write these reviews, as the restaurant was pretty empty in general, which is very sad. The only people besides us were a couple of locals, which should also tell you that the food is good.

Please give the place a try, i know you...

We thoroughly enjoyed dinner last night. We sat outside but under cover, it was good to have fresh air. Our waiter was fantastic, and was the cherry on the top. We were so lucky that he spoke excellent English and was generous with information. We could just have been another batch of tourists but we were never made to feel that way. The most important part, the food, my husband and I shared the mixed seafood platter and my Mum had the tuna steak. Everything was cooked well, and tasted fresh. We loved the simplicity of the dishes so that the ingredients could shine. We could chose a side dish with the platter, and our waiter recommended the "mihlo fritos" which were amazing. He told us that his granny used to make them for him. I could eat a big bowl of those with a tomato salad and I would be thrilled! It was really special to try the various fishes, it felt quite decadent. It was plenty for two of us. We shared the passionfruit dessert and it was a wonderful way to end the meal. Bob the ginger cat was a good host too and deserves a...

Arrived at our Airbnb next door after a taxi from the airport in the pouring rain with all our bags and time ticking towards late evening. Having not eaten since Gatwick we were uncertain we’d be satiated to any extent we’d wish - but saw this place open and near, strolled in not certain as to why to expect and were met by Rodrigo who we came to know as a top chap seeing him about the place over the days we were around the area - being served the meal pictured which I’d say without hyperbole and in full sincerity is up there with any dish I’ve ever had and will have in my lifetime. Absolutely stunning seafood, simple yet exotic and incredibly priced. We went back again before we left as we knew we must - despite being on only a short mini break. The first dish was so good we resolved we would return to Madeira for it alone (although ofc there are other charms - this was the pinnacle in a place of peaks) top crack to Rodrigo and all at Mara for all, but what an evening the first nights...