A nice mention of Volta do Mar by Sophie Laughton in the Metro, owned by by my good friends Isable and Simon, boo a table, you will not be disappointed.
“Volta do Mar is such a neighbourhood spot, but I don’t think that means we should let Chelsea’s well-heeled locals have all the fun. It’s a family affair, with Portuguese-Angolan chef Isabel Almeida da Silva in the kitchen and restaurateur husband Simon Mullins welcoming regulars out the front.
The name means ‘return from the sea’, the food taking inspiration from Portuguese-speaking regions around the world, from Brazil to Macau to Mozambique.
Start your voyage in Iberia with Ibérico ham, Chorizo & Smoked Ham Hock Croquettes, followed by plump grilled prawns in a blazing Mozambican style sauce, and a solid hunk of well-seasoned Macanese pork chop. Finish with a rather British pud — sticky toffee with Madeira-spiked caramel drizzled over it. (If there were a place to indulge in an after-dinner glass of Port or Madeira, this is it — they’ve quite the collection.)
But they’re all overshadowed by a brilliant green bowl of Arroz Verde, a rice dish from Mozambique, stewed in a herby broth that tastes as verdant as it looks. In freezing cold February, it’s the perfect remedy: utter sunshine.”