Looking for authentic Italian cuisine in the east of Mallorca? Head to Porto Cristo, where you’ll find Osteria Dolores.

This attractive trattoria opened in February 2020, but its owner/chef isn’t a stranger to Porto Cristo, near Manacor. Mario Hekke previously operated his fine-dining restaurant Sa Sal in the same premises.

Osteria Dolores doesn’t have a sea view, being in a side street off the main road down to the port itself, but makes up for this by offering very good food that doesn’t include a premium for the location. On-street parking (free of charge) is usually available in the vicinity.

Mario closed Sa Sal and converted the same former townhouse into a trattoria, serving authentic Italian food at prices that won’t make you wince.

The intention was for Osteria Dolores to be open throughout the year and, when we first visited, other restaurants in Porto Cristo were still shuttered for the winter. Sadly, the pandemic may affect opening plans for this coming winter, but we hope that the trattoria’s good-value food will attract enough diners to enable it to stay open this winter too. We’ll be eating there if it does.

The Place

Entrance to Osteria Dolores is now through the rear courtyard garden. The former front entrance has been blocked off inside by a wood-burning stove, (which keeps the place warm and cosy in the cooler months). The attractive enclosed outdoor space has been a bonus during the summer of 2020, when eating al fresco has had even more appeal because of Covid-19.

The interior retains some of the traditional architectural features of the old house, such as the beams, arch, and lattice-doored cupboards, but Mario has given the place a fresh modern look. The décor includes light-coloured wooden furniture, an interesting display of lampshades… and a racing car hanging on the wall. (Yes, a real one).

• 

• 

• 

Osteria Dolores is a relaxed, informal and family-friendly eatery: diners help themselves to (recycled paper) napkins and cutlery (and pizza cutter) from a basket on each table.

The Food & Drink

The concept may be simple enough, but the tasty Italian food – from the bread to the desserts – is made with care on the premises.

The menu’s starters include a very good beef carpaccio (11€ and prepared from scratch in the kitchen), caponata alla ‘Siciliana’ (8.50€), panzanella salad (9,80€), and vitello tonnato (10,50€). We’ve tried the carpaccio, artichokes ‘alla Romana’ (9,80€), and caponata during our visits and all were delicious and a good portion size.

Osteria Dolores offers nine pasta dishes, including a gnocchi and a ravioli of the day. All pasta is home-made and served al dente. (Gluten-free is available). Pasta dishes range in price from 9.80€ to 15€.

Choose from eight Napoli-style pizzas and a Calzone – with a delicious crust. These are a generous size, although the most expensive is only 9,80€. One is enough for two to share, if you’re also having starters.

If you like a sweet finish, check out the home-made dessert of the day (only 4€).

All the pasta and pizza dishes can be ordered as take-away dishes too.

Drinks are also reasonably priced: in addition to the Italian house wine on the menu, there’s a small choice of others – Italian, Spanish and Mallorcan (including the excellent Mandia Vell, which is produced in a winery between Manacor and Porto Cristo).

Need to Know

Opening hours at time of writing are 18:00-24:00h, but I would always recommend checking – and booking a table – before going.

Prices may be subject to change.

Osteria Dolores
C/ del Migjorn, 6
07680 Porto Cristo
Mallorca
Tel +34 971 822 049 (for pizza takeaway)

Jan Edwards Copyright 2020