Trattoria translated is ‘an Italian, family style restaurant’ while Mar is Spanish for ‘sea’ – add to the mix a luxurious port-side setting, divine cuisine, superior service and an open-all-year sign and we give you Trattoria Del Mar.
Since opening in June 2007 - after a six-month renovation overhaul with well-known Madrid-based architect Ricardo Goldman - Trattoria del Mar has quickly become a favoured haunt of many. Located frontline within the exclusive Marina Botafoch, the restaurant sits pride of place with stunning views across to Dalt Vila.
The D’Ambrosio brothers - Chef Luciano and restaurant manager Alessandro - arrived in Ibiza from Naples in 2000 dragging Antonio (brother number three) to the isle shortly thereafter. With the arrival of Mama and Papa a year later the family was together and the team complete.
With Luciano as head chef, Pa in charge of making daily pasta and Ma the desserts, the Trattoria kitchen is a well-oiled machine.
The style is Italian Mediterranean with modern creations and original recipes sharing the blackboard with Naples classics such as aubergine ‘parmagiano’ served with a seven-hours-to-make Napoli sauce and homemade Rigatoni with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella and parmesan.
The entire menu is a must-try but the prawn tagliatelle is deliciously messy, the chick pea soup with seafood, mussels and prawns a Luciano original and as for dessert – alongside homemade tiramisu, panacotta and ice-cream - there’s the delectable Mousse de Turron, which we’re sure will lure you back to re-sample on more than one occasion.
With a modern and elegant décor consisting of wooden furniture and white trimmings, Trattoria del Mar is exquisite, open all year, relaxed and a place where we find it very easy to lose track of our lunch hour.
This story was published on August 13, 2008