The Porteño opens in Porto Cervo, the pearl of the Costa Smeralda, continuing its expansion into Argentine-style haute cuisine which began in Milan – where it has four venues – and in Rome with two restaurants.
The one in Porto Cervo is the first seasonal restaurant of the El Porteño brand, ready to welcome tourists after a soft opening in the first ten days of June, in this corner of paradise on the Gallura coast.
A splendid terrace, overlooking the marina of one of the most exclusive locations in the world, which offers the classic specialities that have made El Porteño a point of reference in Milan and Rome, enriched by dishes with a taste of the sea and Sardinia, signed by theExecutive Chef Matteo Torretta. An excellent selection of wines and champagnes for perfect pairings with the culinary offerings.
The relaxing and elegant atmosphere makes every lunch or dinner in the Dorrego group's premises an unforgettable experience. Food&Experience Company, founded by brothers Sebastian and Alejandro Bernardez and Fabio Acampora in 1995, Today it has eight restaurants – with the El Porteño and Pisco brands – as well as the Living, Flores Cocteles and Refeel cocktail bars. It also directly manages other businesses in the restaurant and hospitality sector. In 2023, the Dorrego Group closed with a turnover of 22 million euros and 300 employees, forecasting growth of over 20% in 2024.
El Porteño conquers Porto Cervo with the cuisine of chef Matteo Torretta
“El Porteño goes to the beach! – he comments smiling Fabio Acampora, co-founder of Dorrego Company – to recreate the style and atmosphere of our gastronomic proposal in this prestigious location with great natural beauty. We have chosen Porto Cervo to open the Group's first seasonal restaurant. It is an entrepreneurial commitment that we face with enthusiasm and a challenge in which we have believed from the beginning. This splendid part of Sardinia is experiencing a second renaissance with the arrival of international groups such as Mandarin, Belmond, Hyatt and Chaval Blanc, who have chosen to invest in the growth of the location, brought to the world's attention in the 1960s by Prince Karim Aga Khan. Porto Cervo is one of the most famous destinations for international luxury tourism and we want to offer this clientele our restaurant model based on the quality of products and service, with excellent raw materials and fresh, summery menus, ideal for relaxing and enjoying time with friends after a day at the beach. This is a missing piece in the Dorrego Group that we wanted to add in our process of expanding the brand and the offer, which here in Porto Cervo marks a further step forward and will continue in the coming months and in 2025 with other openings”.
As previously stated, El Porteño Porto Cervo's menu is curated by the executive chef Matthew Torretta, a talent of Italian cuisine who, since last year, has been leading The Porteño Gourmet of via Speronari in Milan.
We start with the classic proposals of the Argentine restaurant: grilled meat – the famous Asado – slowly cooked on the grill, the barbecue, following the South American tradition and accompanied by typical sauces such as Chimichurri. And still the Empanadas, the typical Argentinean parcels similar to Sardinian panadas, stuffed with meat or vegetables and enriched with seasonal ingredients, the Fassona Sashimi with foie gras or marinated in soy sauce, and the Tartare.
The bond with the sea and Sardinia is reflected in the dishes created for El Porteño Porto Cervo like the Sea and Land, a toasted brioche bread with tuna tartare, caviar and quail eggs, or the Tiradito de aji amarillo: knife-cut tuna with lime, sweet and sour vegetables, South American mince and aji amarillo and cancha sauce.
Among the fresh and vegetarian dishes, there are the Veg Mosaic, with avocado, slightly spicy cucumbers and lime flavor, and the Avocado Ceviche, prepared with avocado, cucumber, yellow and red cherry tomatoes, coriander, red onion and jalapeño. Myrtle, the aromatic plant symbol of Sardinia, enriches some classic preparations: the smoked Galletto with myrtle sprigs and the Carrito de Helados, served with toppings including a myrtle reduction.
The restaurant can accommodate up to 120 guests, 30 of which are on the splendid terrace with a breathtaking view of the promenade and the Porto Cervo marina, ideal for enjoying a fantastic sunset.
The furnishings recall those of a comfortable Argentine home, with velvets and fresh cottons on the seats, and display cases with modern objects from the markets of Buenos Aires.
The walls are decorated with prints and paintings that portray glimpses and moments of life in the main Argentine cities and Polo, a discipline much loved by the owners of El Porteño.
The wine list is rich and international, with over 200 labels featuring the best Argentine products – Malbec, Cabernet and Merlot – and the great Italian whites and reds, with particular attention to emerging Sardinian wines. There is no shortage of renowned labels of Italian Champagne and sparkling wines.
On the terrace you can also enjoy long drinks or classic cocktails prepared by the team of Cocktail Flowerss, among which the most notable is the Sour Coast, created by the bar manager Diego Atlantic exclusively for El Porteño Porto Cervo, based on Filu 'e Ferru, myrtle drops, lemon, lime and sugar syrup.
El Porteño Porto Cervo is located in Viale Aga Khan, 1. The restaurant is open every day from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm; reservations are recommended at the call center 07 89 17 76 803.
