U' Mazzeno - CASTELLABATE

Their food is simply superb. So close to the sea you expect the offered antipasti to be dominated by fish: marinated raw tuna and cooked octopus served fresh; pan-fried alici (anchovy) stuffed with provola (smoked mozzarella) coated in Japanese bread crumbs; baby clams served with diced potatoes and courgettes. We skipped the primo and had lightly grilled local snapper served with sautéed artichoke hearts. If you prefer meat for your main course, the resident professional victualler will help you select your preferred choice of cut. Our meal was a delight to the senses which was topped off with Giovanna’s delicate Ricotta and Pear dessert. Our food was accompanied by Carmine’s choice of a robust Primitivo di Manduria. Apart from the excellent cuisine you will also be embraced by the welcome of Carmine and Giovanna, who both understand how to run a fabulous restaurant. Not to be missed!

The name of the restaurant means in dialect “The Tool Shed”. It’s an interesting intimate place made up of different seating areas inside, each with its own ambience; and for the summer months Carmine, the gregarious owner, opens a fabulous garden dining area. Between himself, his lovely wife Giovanna and his Mother who works the kitchen, they manage a successful restaurant that prides itself on Cilentan dishes, cooked using the freshest local produce. I dined there recently and had the freshest sea bream that I have tasted in a long time. My antipasto of fresh marinated octopus salad was delicious and beautifully presented. To complete the meal Giovanna’s homemade torta caprese has to be tasted to be believed. They also boast a great wine list. The restaurant team is friendly and attentive and unlike other restaurants in the area remains open throughout the winter months. This summer they have opened a pizzeria too, serving a varied selection of pizzas, to keep up with their high overall standards. They often have live music at the weekends. Restaurant U’Mazzeno is definitely worth a visit if you are in Cilento. During the summer, booking on Friday and Saturday nights would be advisable.

The ambiance itself is pretty, you seat outside, in a sort of big gazebo. The menu is focused on fish and sea food; the only main course that did not have fish was cavatelli with fresh tomato sauce and caciocavallo (a tasty hard cheese similar to scamorza) and it was simple but truly delicious. Our waiter suggested we'd go for a mixed sea food starter; some of the stuff was really nice, some other quite boring and all in all not worth the 18€ per Person it cost. The grilled sword fish my husband ordered as a main course was nice and fresh. What really spoiled the whole experience was our waiter at the end of the evening. He had been ok until then, and quite fast. When we've asked for the bill, he was just not bothered. We've waited and waited, then reminded him and still he did neither apologise, nor bring us the bill. I had to ask him once again, this third time with a less friendly tone, saying that we were getting tired and just wanted to leave. His reaction: he looked away, offended, and walked off, and still did not bring us the bill!! Luckily a very sweet girl with long hair works there too: we've asked for her help and she got us the bill in less than one minute. So she was the one to get tipped. To be fair, this place was ok, but I would not drive miles to come and have dinner here.

Even on a dismal Sunday in November we were lifted by the freshness and superb quality of the food presented in such a tasteful way by Carmine and his lovely wife Giovanna. A cosy atmosphere welcomed us to a starter plate of fresh seafood and crustations, all cooked delicately and lightly in olive oil. The tempura was melt-in-the-mouth light! We followed with a warming dish of small cubetti of pasta with artichokes and cockles, to die for!! This was all accompanied by a lovely Aglianico produced locally in San Pietro. We honestly didn't have enough space to move on to a main course, so we rounded the meal with a homemade tortino di cioccolato , a round chocolate hot muffin, with wonderfully sinful chocolate inside( again masterfully crafted by Giovanna! .This was all digested magically by a glorious Vin Santo. We thought everything was so fresh, extremely good value with great service. A winter lunch to lift the lowest of spirits. U mazzeno deserves recognition as a great place to eat fresh well cooked food, with great presentation.