Paradise Island

67 South End
Croydon
020 8688 9848

Paradise Island is named after Mauritius in the Indian ocean whose cuisine it ably brings to South Croydon, writes Gary O'Connell.

It is undergoing some changes for the better at the moment. A new manager has introduced some striking new signage at the front and expanded the restaurant out into the open air at the back for the summer evenings still to come.

Mauritian food is a fusion cuisine. The island was ruled by a variety of European powers through history before gaining independence so its cuisine is a mixture of French, Indian and Far Eastern influences. The restaurant specialises in seafood and while I am not a huge fan of fish I was by the time I left.

While sipping on the house red a pleasant Chilean merlot we opted to see what the Paradise Island appetiser (£5.99 per person) would offer to get an idea of the restaurant's range. This included delicately flavoured chicken satay sticks, extremely tender spare ribs, king prawns in crispy batter and the real highlight mussels in a delicious sauce.

The options for main course are extensive and it was quite a challenge to select just one from the promising alternatives available. I went for poisson vacoas aux gingembre and was really pleased with the results. Its dense flesh was packed with flavour and a delightful texture, accented with spring onion and sesame seeds a real treat. My wife opted for the peroquet de mer Colombo better known as parrot fish with a cinnamon and mango flavour sauce.

We rounded off the meal with crme brulee and a coffee, finding ourselves replete but not too stuffed to move thanks to a well-judged amount of food.

Paradise Island offers a good-value lunchtime special for a fiver and indeed their night-time menu is not going to break your budget with most main courses costing around a tenner. The staff are happy to accommodate corporate events, parties or even to put their patio garden seating to good use by hiring it out for a barbecue for a special treat.