L’Espadon

About L’Espadon

L’Espadon sits on Royal Road in Pointe aux Canonniers, on the western edge of Grand Baie, Mauritius. It is a long-established, family-run seafood restaurant — cordial, personable and unshowy — that has built its reputation over more than a decade on fresh fish and shellfish, and remains one of the bay's higher-rated tables for seafood. A glassed-off kitchen lets diners watch the cooking, and the owners make a point of responsible, sustainable sourcing.

For Grand Baie's other tables, compare the poolside fine dining at La Goélette at Royal Palm or the Sino-Mauritian cooking at Chinese Garden.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is built around the daily catch: grilled lobster, succulent tiger prawns, fresh tuna, crab and squid, prepared simply and with care so the seafood leads. Regulars single out the lobster and the tiger prawns, with cocktails and a relaxed island service rounding out the meal. This is straightforward, well-sourced seafood cooking rather than a chef-driven tasting room — the appeal is freshness, generosity and a family that has run the place for years.

The Room

The setting is a relaxed, unpretentious seafood restaurant a short way back from the bay, with friendly, personable service that regulars return for. A glass-separated kitchen, kept visibly clean, lets you see the cooking. It is an easy, low-key room geared to a long seafood lunch or an unhurried dinner, suited to couples, small groups and solo diners after a plate of fresh fish.