Ristorante Il Fuoco Sacro — Restaurant in Olbia

We dined for several nights at this restaurant while staying at the resort in July of 2024. Experience at this Michelin star rated Il Fuoco was neither memorable nor enjoyable. Upon arrival we were directed to the waiting area for the usual 5 to 10 minute wait, despite having arrived on time and with earlier reservations. The usual practice was to wait for 10-15 minutes, then march into the restaurant and asked to be seated. The staff would oblige though only after asking if we had reservations at the Michelin star restaurant (exact words used) and after once again confirming the same we would guided to a table reserved for us. No menus provided nor did anyone greet us after seating. About 10 minutes later sommelier stops by and asks if he could help, which was an odd way to start one’s dinner. We inquired if menus were available and he obliged. Soon after we were offered water and given menus, wine list apparently is available only to those who ask for it. The waiter assigned to our table was a very pleasant fellow and did his best to ensure that we had a pleasant dinning experience. Unfortunately, he was somewhat limited in what he could do as the kitchen & the chef’s staff did not always cooperate. We ordered a 3/4 course tasting menu and it took a good three hours plus, as it took forever for each course to arrive. Dishes were beautifully presented though not all tasted what they looked like, as some were rather bland and uninspiring (taste wise). Once again, a few of the dishes had a requisite surplus of salt, but we already knew - it is a local tradition. Desert was once again beautifully sculptured, though Raspberry Pavlova was severely lacking in raspberries (pre-desert raspberry sorbet on the other hand was excellent and should definitely be paired with the Pavlova to counterbalance its sweetness). Wine list was comprehensive, though the selection of light reds was severely limited. We started dinner at 8 pm and by 11 pm we decided we had to leave as we were falling asleep at the table. Overall, it was an ok dinner but definitely not up to the standards that the restaurant markets itself for. Regrettably, while we heard the word Michelin star more often than we cared for, the service and the chef did not...

WOW this place was an absolutely unreal meal and one of the best we had on our two week trip around Sardinia.  This was a destination meal that we were drawn to given the Michelin star and it absolutely earned it!  There are a lot of different dining adventures one can do from a la carte to full 6 course chef tasting.  We went with a shorter tasting and it was definitely worth it.  There were also so many fun amuse bouches before we even started into the proper dinner.  If you're not staying on property, it is fun going early to have a cocktail in their welcoming lounge area or outside (it was a bit rainy when we were there).  The wine program is stellar and we did a pairing which was stunning and complimented all of the food perfectly.  Sure it is a bit expensive, but absolutely inline with other dining options in the area and very warranted given the calibre of food and service.  I would definitely recommend to anyone who is staying in Costa Smeralda and...

Il Fuoco Sacro is perched high above Sardinia’s otherworldly landscape, leaving you with the sense that it’s grown out of island. The setting is exceptional, as is the service across the property and design. Staff at the restaurant are attentive, knowledgeable, and discreet, and show good personality. The food is very well executed, showing a range of technical skills. Unfortunately, the tasting menu is heavy-handed, unbalanced, and excessively rich. For example, cream- and butter-based sauces form the base for almost every course, leaving little relief for diners. We would have appreciated a menu that showcased more of the island’s wonderful produce and fish, with a lighter and fresher touch. However, we understand that we may be in the minority in this respect. Diners also have the option of ordering à la carte, where seemingly lighter and fresher dishes are available. Perhaps this would have been the better...