Beach Extraordinaire! La Reserve Mala Beach Cap D'Ail

Cap D'ail neighbours Monaco to it's west, In 1560, 700 soldiers staged here to attack and conquer Monaco; they failed! The beach was settled in 1933 in memory of the ballet dancer Mala who was the friend of the last Russian Tzar, today its known as the Plage Mala, historically attracting a Russian clientele and such notables as Colette, Lord Beaverbrook; after 1945 Greta Garbo and Winston Churchill were frequent visitors too. Today they got me for lunch!

Arriving by boat, the Reserve has a zodiac tender to bring boaters to shore. In my experience, Beach restaurants tend to be basic affairs that charge stupid prices for bad food, accordingly my expectations were low.

I certainly was not prepared for what came next, plate after plate of brilliance, superb service married to wonderful atmosphere. The beach layout is tables with white awnings, comfortable seating makes this a remarkable place for lunch. Did I mention the great bar, cool music and sea breeze!!!

 

My group shared appetizers, we started with a pizza but it was devoured before I could snap picture one!

A Caprese, with a twist; basil sorbet, meltingly unctuous buffalo mozzi, Italian tomatoes and wild roquette arrived and gave us the first hint that this was no ordinary beach shack.

An orchid topped crunchy salad followed with a honeyed dressing.

These spring rolls were perfection! The mint and lettuce cradling the wonderful hot crunchy, far east filling.

Grilled Gambas with asparagus, crunchy carrots and beetroot vinaigrette were a magnificent perfumed success.

Grilled, line caught seabass!

Here in this closeup you can see the fresh parsley and garlic licking the Vongole (Clams) with an olive oil emulsion. Super, simple and good!

This was the best of the best, Linguine, with mussels, cherry tomatoes, clams, garlic and a plump grilled gambas crowning the glory. Off the scale good!

Instead of the usual Domain de Ott our waitress suggests we opt for a cheaper selection a magnum of Clos Beylesse Rose, it was the cool, refreshing and tremendous, the florality married impeccably with the fare we had ordered. As lunch wound down to dessert the piles of shells and discarded carapace were everywhere, the table sound was chorus of shells being sucked and cracked longingly as hands replaced cutlery. Here is the damage!

More than just fruit, this is art, 9 fruits in all heralded dessert, ripe and sweet, this wonderful lunch drew to a close. Great value, superb setting, attentive service and a brilliant kitchen, add the sun and you have perfection!


Below samples from the menu, the address and web site.

Entrées

La Grande Salade de la Réserve - 16 €
Carpaccio de Boeuf Mariné aux Copeaux de Parmesan - 16 €Variation de melons et Poivron Grillé au " Patanegra Iberico " - €
Salade de Crevettes au Piment d'Espelette - 14 €
Tomates et Mozzarellas à l'Emulsion de Basilic - 14 €
Salade de Langouste aux Légumes Confits - 26 €

Pizzas

Marguerite - 12 €
Scachiatta - 16 €
Végétarienne - 16 €

Pâtes

Spaghettis aglio olio Peperoncino - 12 €
Fettucine Frais au Pistou - 14 €

Le Panier du Mareyeur

Sur le Grill selon la Pêche... -

Poissons

Tournedos de Saumon en Brochette de Citronnelle - 16 €
Langouste Rotie au Sabayon Champagne - 49 €
Tagliatta de Thon " Wasabine " - 18 €
Gambas Sauvages Saulées au Basilic Frais - 26 €

Viandes

Carrée d'Agneau au Miel d'Oranges et Poivre Sarawak - 32 €
Filet de Boeuf à la Crème de Roquette - 24 €
Brochettes de Poulet grillées à la Fleur de Cactus - 16 €
Selection de Fromages, Salade d'Herbes Fraîches - 8 €

Desserts

Mille Feuille de fruits Rouges " Puit du Dragon " - 12 €
Banane Rôtie au Lait de Coco - 8 €
Moelleux au Chocolat Mi-cuit, Crème glacée au Gingembre - 9 €
Crème Brûlée Renversée au Safran - 8 €

You can reach the restaurant by sea or road with ease
La Réserve de la Mala
Plage de la Mala
06320 Cap d'Ail
Tél : +33 (0)4 93 78 21 56
Fax : +33 (0)4 93 78 29 42
lareserve@capresort.com