A restaurant serving traditional Portuguese food is making waves in Southampton.

Mad Cafe and Deli boasts the best Portuguese cuisine, offering an array of delights such as cakes, sandwiches, teas, coffees, wines, and pastries, including the famous Pastel de nata custard tart.

Tania Zeferino took over the shop, formerly also a Portuguese café, in 2017 and transformed it into a home of Portuguese food, art, and culture. The name was inspired by her origin, the island of Madeira.

Tania said: “Portugal is so amazing in its culture and food. I just wanted to show the quality of our delicacies.

“I moved to the UK in 2007 working in kitchens, restaurants, and coffee shops, but I always wanted to have a coffee shop.

“I used to come here (the former café) to have a coffee. It was a Portuguese café but it wasn’t that great.

“I like my coffee and my pastel de nata, but the culture was not here. So, I thought maybe I could bring it here.”

Since its opening, Mad Cafe and Deli has attracted plenty of customers, including non-Portuguese people many of whom have left positive reviews on Google. The café also serves as a meeting and bonding venue for the Portuguese community in Southampton.

Google user, Ana said: “I make sure I come here every time I'm missing home, pretty sure I've cried of joy every single time. It's got such a special place in my heart. Madeira will always be my home and I'm happy Southampton has a place that resembles where I've come from.”

Tania herself met her husband in the café while enjoying a cup of coffee. She is now expanding her venue and looking to extend the opening hours, especially on weekends to accommodate the rising number of customers.

“People come over here because of different stuff they don’t find elsewhere,” says Tania, expressing the desire to launch a new menu with drinks and cocktails to the delight of customers.

“We want everyone to come and enjoy Portuguese delicacies through our products because we’ve got so much good stuff.”