Restaurant Review – Bel Punto

Crisp white table cloths and a deck with views of Umdloti’s sparkling main beach.
What more could a man ask for? Only the fantastic seafood aromas coming from inside Bel Punto in Umdloti.
Last weekend I decided I needed a bit of a change in scenery, so I went for a drive and ended up at this rather pretty spot.
The experience left my wallet substantially lighter but my taste buds were satisfied.
I had heard so much about this restaurant. Having never been there myself I was really looking forward to making up my own mind.
Firstly the venue is classy and well thought through. Their deck is clean and has a wonderful view. They are predominantly an Italian restaurant, which is evident from their menu.
The menu has a few too many S.Q’s for my liking. It is unfortunate to have to ask the waitress over and over again how much each item costs.
I must say our waitress was very good. She made some really thoughtful recommendations and really tried her best to make our meal enjoyable.
For mains I went with the seafood risotto. Technically it wasn’t the best seafood risotto I’ve ever had as it lacked creaminess. The sauce and the rice felt like two separate entities. But the flavour profile was amazing. It had such a fantastic seafood aroma and all the seafood was cooked to perfection, from the calamari and prawns to the mussels.
My companion had the baby chicken and prawn combo. I must say the prawns were sublime. They were tender and well cooked with a fantastic smoked grill flavour. The chicken was also stunning and still tender and juicy. I did find the dish as a whole needed some sauce.
Even though I might sound a bit harsh in this review the food really is amazing and to a standard that puts them in the top five on the North Coast. But the steep prices mean that the average family won’t be able to afford to eat there.