Ristorante Su Murruai — Restaurant in Arriora/Riola Sardo

We booked Su Murrurai with few expectations, simply on the basis that we were glad a new fine dining restaurant had opened in the area and that it already had many good reviews.

The streetlighting on the outside of the restaurant and the interior design alerted us that this restaurant was different. Whereas other restaurants here fall into the warm somewhat messy traditional style or the cold modern style, this restaurant managed to create a beautiful warm and welcoming modern style with a harmonious contrast to what was the interior of an old flour mill.

We ordered the seven-course tasting menu for what turned out to be a reasonable 75 €. Sensibly, they insist that for the tasting menus everybody at the same table should eat the same food. The amuse-bouche was a bit bland, not really something that tickled one’s sensations. While not bad, the first course of artichoke filled with fish mousse and topped by streaks of celery purée didn’t really come together. And the bread was not what one could have hoped for. Why not serve bread with some of the marvellous latest harvest olive oil from the area instead butter that can never compete with Northern European butter?

But after that, things took off – sweetbreads flavoured with liquorice root; fish and octopus with eucalyptus smoke, wild herbs, and horseradish; pork with oriental spices; coffee-flavoured white chocolate with capers. Apart from all dishes being well-prepared, they shared a streak of well-balanced aromatic bitterness. This sort of careful exploration of a sensation is what one wishes for in a fine-dining restaurant.

While eating, we wondered about the name of the restaurant, Su Murruai. But it wasn’t until the day after that we found out that Su Murruai was Sardinian for the scent that can only, but not necessarily, be achieved by Vernaccia wine that has been aged at least ten years. That is what the chef managed to capture in these dishes.

The Sardinian wine we ordered was good. The service was impeccable – kind, friendly without being intrusive, efficient, and perfectly timed. An added plus for the great consideration to my wife being celiac. Thank you for a...

This elegant restaurant has a clean and delicate interior design that immediately sets a refined tone. The menu is concise, focusing mainly on fish and seafood dishes, with a meat option for each course. A tasting menu is available with 3, 5, 7, or 9 courses, though it must be ordered for the entire table. A unique feature is that diners can curate their tasting experience by selecting the courses from the à la carte menu.

The presentation of each dish was stunning, with minimalistic yet thoughtful plating, always featuring a pop of color. The ravioli with goat, saffron foam, and liquorice was a highlight – the sweet liquorice perfectly balanced the airy saffron foam and the savory goat meat. The eucalyptus smoked mullet filet was another highlight, impressively infused with a delicate, smoky flavor.

However, a few dishes fell short. The mixed Neapolitan pasta was unbalanced, with too much acidity from the dried lime and tomato base. The pasta was inconsistently cooked – some pieces al dente, others overcooked. The dark chocolate dessert was flavorful, but we were disappointed that the promised olive oil component was swapped for an almond biscuit without prior notice. It would have been more professional for the kitchen to inform us of this change beforehand, giving us the option to choose a different dessert.

Service-wise, while polite and professional, it lacked warmth. The wait time between courses was notably long, around 20 minutes, making the meal feel overly drawn out. Additionally, we were only informed of the alcohol content in two dishes after they were served, which should have been communicated when ordering (e.g., for pregnant women, intolerance purposes).

For the area, the price point is on the higher end, especially given the portion sizes and the extended wait times. While the dishes were enjoyable, the flavors described on the menu didn’t always translate to the dishes themselves. All in all, a good dining experience with potential, but certain aspects could be refined for a truly...

This outstanding restaurant is located in a stylishly renovated old mill, on a quiet side street in the charming town of Riola Sardo in Oristano Province. This is our third trip to Sardinia and this restaurant is the best we've found so far (and easily one of the best we've dined at in Italy.) It is run by a young couple who are experienced restaurateurs who fortunately decided to bring extraordinary cooking to the small village of Riola. Their dishes use locally sourced herbs, fish and vegetables that are prepared in an inventive way that also respects tradition. Succulent local red shrimp and grey mullet are showcased with outstanding sauces and local vegetables. A cold pea soup with Thyme is simultaneously refreshing, rich and delicate. While the presentation and preparation is at the level of a Michelin star restaurant, prices are reasonable to reflect the local economy and portions are generous, so eating here doesn't mean forgoing the value, comfort and portions of a home cooked Italian meal. Their wines are diverse and lesser known, but great, all at reasonable prices. There are many fantastic dining options in and around the province of Oristano, this one is the best and a not-to-miss destination. (To complete the evening, walk around the corner for an alfresco night cap at Da Ivana snack bar in the town's...