July 2022

Dining Review: Azienda Agrituristica Sa Mandra – Alghero, Sardinia

When visiting Sardinia, it is essential that you take an evening and spend it in the countryside for a traditional Sardinian feast. It may require a bit of planning but trust me, it is worth it.

While many spots claim to have the authentic experience, there are some aspects to keep in mind when selecting the restaurant.

Should be on a farm
Should not have a menu
Fixed price for the occasion

I had several spots picked for our trip. During our time in Palau, we booked Sa Rocca Manna as recommended by our Airbnb and also La Salconi closer to the main highway as an alternative. In Alghero, we visited Azienda Agrituristica Sa Mandra.

Be prepared for a long, family style meal. With no menu, you are served what is fresh for the day and consists of multi-course dishes. Both the traditional Sardinian meals we experienced were four hours long! It was like being invited to the family dinner and is truly something unique for Sardinia.

Azienda Agrituristica Sa Mandra is more than just a restaurant – is it an establishment in Alghero that has been preserving traditional ways of Sardinia for generations. They have rooms for accommodations, offer experiences such as cooking classes, and even have a Sardinian museum preserving culture. When I had the option of making reservations for dinner online, I knew this place had to be on their hosting game.

We arrived at Sa Mandra shortly after 8PM and checked in with the host. We opted for outdoor seating when we made our reservation online and I am so happy we did. The host showed us to our table among the trees that were full of string lights – this was a dreamy dining scene! She gave us a glass of Vermentino and told us to explore the property while we waited for the dinner service to begin.

It was very fun to walk around and see all the things on display that preserve the old way of farming and living in Sardinia – much like a museum. We did a giant lap around the property to make sure not to miss anything.

Our final turn into the center building hit us with an amazing smell. We turned the corner and saw six pigs over the fire being roasted – just unbelievable! The smell was just fantastic and to see everything on display just like this was validating we picked the right place.

We sat at our tables and readied ourselves for the feast. And a feast we had – the food was endless and absolutely amazing. Everything was delicious and there was entirely too much food

Giant pieces of Sardinian bread
Bottle of Cannanau di Sardegena DOC (the predominant red grape of Sardinia wine production)
Fresh raw zucchini, ricotta, and lard
Cheese plate of two differently aged pecorino, fresh ricotta, fresh cheese, and smoked ricotta
Charcuterie plate of three different sliced meats a mix of prosciutto and salumi
A brief intermission allowed us time to watch the pigs being butchered and served
Ravioli with a herb sauce
Gnocchi Sadri ragu
Porchetta suckling pig
Raw vegetables
Fresh fruit
Traditional Sardinian cookies
Seada – a traditional Sardinian dessert made with semolina flour for the dough, pecorino cheese stuffed on the inside, and drizzled honey on top after being deep fried.

We could not believe four hours had passed and could also not believe how much food there was tonight. All for 50 euro a person – a deal you cannot beat! The setting was completely magical – we had no idea this was the night we had in store and it just added to the experience. What an unbelievable meal and a memorable part of our Sardinia trip. If you are visiting Alghero, we cannot recommend this place enough – get your reservation at Azienda Agrituristica Sa Mandra and know you are in for an amazing time.