Restaurante Torralbenc — Restaurant in Alaior

I recently had a disappointing experience at this restaurant, which was quite surprising given its reputation and the lovely setting. My sister and I made a reservation for two at 8:45 pm. Upon arrival, we discovered that our reservation was mistakenly made for the bar instead of the main restaurant. The hostess, who greeted us with a less-than-welcoming attitude, seemed unwilling or unable to assist in transferring our reservation to the main dining area, despite it being nearly 40% empty, likely due to the end of the season.

We were asked to sit aside while she supposedly checked on availability. However, it quickly became apparent that she made no effort to find us a table. To expedite the process, we decided to make a new reservation online, noting that there were plenty of tables available. When I mentioned this to the hostess, she responded in a rather dismissive and unhelpful manner, telling us we could do as we pleased—book online or wait. This left us feeling confused and frustrated, leading us to ask for the manager.

Instead of the actual manager, another staff member arrived and promptly seated us, while the hostess continued to interject. It was a shocking experience, especially for a place with such a beautiful garden and, from what I’ve heard, an excellent kitchen.

To add to the disappointment, the actual manager later took our food order but did so in a manner that lacked friendliness, which made us wonder if this behavior might be a reflection of the overall management style.

As someone who has been visiting the island for over a decade and owns a property here, I’ve never encountered such poor service. It’s a shame, as the setting is lovely, but this place clearly has issues that need to be addressed. I won’t be returning and would recommend trying one of the other charming fincas or restaurants...

hmm. it seems this place is trying to be something more than it is.

charging high/michelin prices but not michelin star food. everything ended up a little flavourless, soulless and sterile… i look back and i’m not craving any of the dishes, at all, or thinking that anything was that special … unlike 90% of our meals in menorca!

for instance the pork starter … tasteless and depressing. octopus over cooked, best part was the potato. tuna served with a lifeless sauce and relish that did not pair well. it felt like they were unable to sufficiently add flavour to any of the proteins themselves… hence dousing them in sauces or serving with weird sides.

also service is a little all over the place. they pour the wine without letting you try. no one walked us through the menu or told us the highlights. bread was not served warm.

even worse that you are on a vineyard but the by the glass wine options are super limited. 2 reds, 2 whites. 1 of each is a terrible blend. as a group of two (with one of us driving, because this place is far out), we didn’t get a bottle and we’re stuck with this.

for this price i’d try somewhere else. the surroundings are nice but at night/dinner you don’t...

Gorgeous setting and great service but overpriced... Set in the gardens of the hotel, it's a beautiful place for lunch, so peaceful. Service was perfect, very friendly and efficient and they're obviously passionate about providing a great experience. We tried their rosé and red, both delicious. The food was hit and miss : delicious scallops starter and good beef as a main but the octopus was so undercooked, very chewy and with too little side sauce/vegetables. Desserts were good. The couple next to us had the degustation menu which looked very nice too.

I just think that a 90€ piece of steak should come with complimentary vegetables or chips ( which are charged 12€ each and not featured on the menu). All the dishes were on the pricey side, as much as i don't mind paying for a nice meal, the quality of the food does not justify the high price tag (140€ a head with wine). It's a shame as it is a stunning place with so much potential but the prices need to be revised or the quality needs to...