Samara is a strange beast. The surroundings are lovely, set among wooden beams and a little swimming pool, just off the north beach road. There’s a woven ceiling, comfortable seating, and a great bar area, making for an atmospheric spot for dinner among friends. And while the food isn’t bad either, the slogans plastered on everything from the walls to the menu had us confused.

“We all live in the yellow,” screamed a sign right by our table. “Dessert is the final rip-off,” said another. “We live the Mozambican dream and you live your worst nightmare,” read another. Perhaps we didn’t get the owner’s quirky sense of humor, although it gave us something to ponder while we tucked into seafood. Samara has a good reputation for seafood, as it happens. Some locals will tell you that it serves the freshest fish in Vilanculos. We weren’t disappointed, although the chef was a little heavy-handed with the oil on the night we ate there.

Our stuffed crab starter was delicious, filled with cheese, breadcrumbs, and of course, light crab meat. The main course was big by American standards, comprised of a shoal of shrimp, a generous helping of calamari, a big bowl of basmati rice, and a side salad. Fresh lime sealed the deal. We were too stuffed to eat dessert, but there was creme caramel and fruit salad on offer.

It’s worth noting that Samara is ethical in the way it sources seafood. Several types of fish and shellfish are threatened by over-fishing in Mozambique, including crayfish, which Samara refuses to sell. We’ll give Samara a gold star for that, although it falls down on the service and the cryptic signage.