Es Ventall — Restaurant in Sant Antoni de Portmany

For diners who aren’t familiar with Ibizan cuisine, Es Ventall’s menu is descriptive listing out the individual ingredients and eliciting a sense of excitement to see how things tie together. The Ibizan tomatoes salad (19€) starts with a bed of ripe chopped tomatoes and tops it with a full burrata, which when broken creates a creaminess to the dish. Strawberries and basil add an interesting refreshing element, but I would have skipped the crunchy pistachios that detract from the silkiness of the salad.

I can’t turn down trying a roasted aubergine (17€), which when done well takes the spongy eggplant and turns it into a creamy concoction. Es Ventall whole roasts the vegetable until it’s soft but still holds its shape and smears a sugary praline and fruit mixture on top. The dish is too dessert-like for me, I wish the praline spread was replaced with something savoury that would go better with the basil cream.

Our waiter describes the tomato and grilled prawn salad (26€) as being smaller, which is an understatement as the dish is truly skimpy. To call the crustaceans on the plate as grilled “prawns” is misleading, the thumb sized items are spot prawn sized, which are generally served by the half cup than individually. These Ibiza prawns are equally sweet, but given their petite size, the chef really needs to give more of these on the plate or at least leave them in the shell.

At the very least, serve the “prawns” with more than a scant quartered tomato, crème fraiche, and an oil sorbet that while adds a lovely richness, melts into nothingness. For the price, this dish needs more tomatoes, other vegetables, and a helping of grilled crostini to swipe up the sauces.

We didn’t order the cuttlefish and Ibiza prawns’ paella with aioli (24€ per serving; a three serving portion pictured below), but the kitchen mistakenly mixed up our order with another table, so we ended up having it as our main. While the dish had a lovely aroma, the rice was awfully salty reminding me of the soy sauce tasting concoction I had in Barcelona a decade earlier. Perhaps this is the traditional way of preparing paella, but the saltiness is so pungent that it detracts from the seafood and the rice becomes saturated in sauce that there’s no crispy bottom. This...

A Taste of Authentic Ibiza Heaven

From the moment we stepped into Es Ventall, we were transported into a realm of culinary excellence that perfectly captured the essence of Ibiza. Tucked away from the bustling tourist spots, this restaurant offers an authentic dining experience that showcases the very best of local Ibizan cuisine.

The food was nothing short of extraordinary. Every dish featured incredibly fresh, locally-sourced ingredients that truly celebrated the island's rich culinary heritage. The seafood, caught that very morning, was prepared with such skill and respect for tradition that each bite revealed new depths of flavor. Their signature paella was a masterpiece of perfectly cooked rice infused with saffron and adorned with the most succulent seafood.

The staff's knowledge and passion for their menu was evident in their thoughtful recommendations and the care they took in explaining the origin of each dish. The warm, attentive service complemented the relaxed yet refined atmosphere.

But the true revelation came with dessert. The dessert selection at Es Ventall is simply exquisite - works of art that taste even better than they look. Their traditional Flaó (Ibizan cheesecake with mint) was a delicate balance of sweetness and herb notes that lingered pleasantly, while their chocolate creation with local almonds was pure indulgence.

Es Ventall is more than just a restaurant; it's a celebration of Ibiza's rich gastronomic culture. In a magical setting on this equally magical island, this restaurant offers a dining experience that engages all the senses and creates memories that last far longer than the meal itself.

Whether you're a culinary adventurer or simply in search of an authentic Ibizan experience, Es Ventall deserves a prominent place on your must-visit list. This hidden gem is the perfect reminder of why Ibiza is special beyond its famous nightlife - it's an island with heart, soul, and...

Having previously dined at Es Ventall twice before, our third experience unfortunately left us with a strong sense of disappointment. We had enjoyed the restaurant on prior visits, even overlooking the overly salty arroz a la banda when we ordered bullit de peix, assuming it to be an isolated mishap. However, our latest meal there was a stark departure from the quality we expected.

We decided to have the paella this time, which turned out to be an awful choice. The dish was overwhelmingly salty, and the fish included was far from appetizing. It consisted mostly of fish skin and bones, with a cracked crawfish that left its shell scattered throughout the paella, and shrimp that was outright undercooked. The dish was not only poorly executed but also unpalatable from every angle.

To add insult to injury, both my girlfriend and I experienced food poisoning the next day, suffering from diarrhea and vomiting for two days. This experience certainly overshadowed the only positive aspect of the meal, which was the good service provided by the staff. Unfortunately, in the context of such a disastrous dining experience, even good service cannot compensate.

In conclusion, Es Ventall has lost our trust, and we will not be returning. If you're looking for a good paella, I strongly advise against choosing this place. While the service might be commendable, it doesn't matter when the food...