Restaurant Binimel·là — Restaurant in es Mercadal

We found this lovely restaurant by a fortunate accident about 6 years ago, when we were exploring the island. I saw a wide dirt track with a plume of dust in the distance from the road we were driving down, and decided to see what was up there. A few kilometres later we arrived at a nearly deserted car park and there it was. I said that any restaurant that could survive in the middle of nowhere had to be worth checking out. And, even though we had not eaten long before, we agreed to go in and sample the food. We were not disappointed. Today, we returned for lunch and the place was really busy. It seems like the world and their mother had discovered our secret. But again, we did not regret our choice. We even got seated at our table, outside in the shady dappled light under a tree. The Garlic Prawns, with a few dried chillis was a good as we remembered. The Meatballs, pork I believe, in tomato sauce were soft, juicy and divine. The fresh Tuna Steaks with a caramelised onion topping was a first, and absolutely perfect. I shall try to replicate that at home. The portions were more than enough with some bread and chips. My son wanted some melted cheese on his chips, which was not on the menu, and after a bit of explanation was no problem. Please ignore this review and DO NOT visit this restaurant!!! Or at least pick a time when we...

Update for 2025 - still excellent value for money, serving generous portions of Menorcan dishes at affordable prices. Very friendly and attentive staff. We enjoyed black squid ink paella, salmon tartare on mashed avocado, fried chiperones (baby squid), patata bravas and the classic tomato bread with Spanish cured ham. Two courses plus soft drinks for a family of 4 totalled Eur126.

2024 review - For what it is, it does it well. We visited in July 2023. At the end of a dusty road, a relaxed and informal yet friendly and efficient cafe restaurant, offering generous portions, overlooking the rugged Menorca coast and countryside from shaded trees. I managed to eat 'black rice' for the first time - a type of paella made with squid ink. Delicious and there was so much we had to ask to take the remainder home. If you book in advance, the guard will allow you to use the...

The restaurant is okay overall, but we’ve definitely found better places. Its main advantage is the location, being right by the beach makes it the only real option in the area. The chicken scallopine was slightly undercooked, and while some dishes weren’t necessarily overpriced, they weren’t high quality either. We ended up spending €80 for two courses and drinks, which felt steep, these are prices you’d expect from high-end restaurants at the city port, not a rustic beachside spot.

We didn’t try the paella, which seemed to be the better choice compared to what we ordered. The sangria was also disappointing, tasted more like Don Simón than a proper homemade one, yet it was priced like the real deal. That said, it wasn’t a bad experience, just not quite worth the price in...