Lakaz Maman is a Mauritian restaurant specialising in modern, fun and relaxed street food. Owned and run by MasterChef winner Shelina Permalloo, the restaurant serves up traditional Mauritian recipes with a contemporary twist. The name Lakaz Maman translates to ‘mum’s house’ in Creole, reflecting its mission to offer authentic dishes within a casual and homely environment. There are no napkins and diners are encouraged to get messy – just like they’re eating at home.
Shellina won MasterChef in 2012 when she impressed the judges with her vibrant Mauritian-inspired food. Along with opening her own restaurant in Southampton, she’s also made multiple appearances on TV cooking shows such as This Morning and Sunday brunch, and is the author of two well-received recipe books.
Similarly to the food, the interiors at Lakaz Maman are colourful, vibrant and uplifting. Sea blue walls are decorated with posters of Mauritian beaches, while bright, mismatched seating injects the space pops of colour thanks to yellow and orange painted wooden chairs.
The menu caters for dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan eaters, so there’s sure to be an option for everyone. Starters include anana confit which combines pineapple with tamarind, mint and chilli, and okra bhajis served with a mango chilli lime sauce. Traditional mains feature the likes of its island-style Mauritian cari, which sees a Creole coconut curry served with yellow rice, chutney and your choice of meat, fish or veg. Elsewhere, a selection of grills, burgers and sides completes the offering. There's also a kids' menu if you're after somewhere to bring the whole family.
Drinks are of the fruity kind, with a range of tropical soft drinks, homemade Mauritian soft drinks, mocktails and cocktails. It also runs a handy BYO policy, with a small corkage fee for wines, beers and spirits.