Last time I visited Sant Elm was when I reviewed another restaurant in this charming corner of the island, nearly a year ago. As I walked down its quaint main street, adorned with restaurants and tasteful shops instead of the usual tourist traps, I made a mental note to return to this hidden gem more frequently. We settled down at Tigy’s expansive seaside terrace and ordered some water to start.
At the same time a man walked in with a huge grin on his face, carrying a box of fresh mangos. He turned out to be David, one of the two owners of the place. It’s always heart-warming to encounter people who genuinely love what they do, and David, while entering Tigy’s, looked as though he was reuniting with a friend or a lover rather than coming in for another day’s work at the end of a long season. I loved that!
Curious about our dining options, we turned to David for suggestions, and he offered three starters. First, a generous bowl of Tigy’s potato chips with truffle mayonnaise arrived, cut into V shapes, rendering them irresistibly crispy and perfectly shaped for the incredibly tasty sauce they were smothered in. I tried to coax the secret recipe out of David, beyond the obvious truffles, salt, black and red pepper, but all I got was, “It’s a secret!” accompanied by another broad smile. If I was not too hungry, I could easily have indulged just in these special potatoes and a glass of chilled white wine, while enjoying the sea view.
Next on our tasting menu was a prawn, mango, and avocado salad, accompanied by yet another intriguing sauce. By now I knew better than to ask what was in it! While I am familiar with the prawn and avocado combo, the addition of mango provided a delightful twist. The final entrée in our trio of dishes was a burrata and tomato salad garnished with green pesto. A great combination of freshness and creaminess, truly delicious!
Given that Tigy’s primarily specializes in pa amb oli and pizza, we decided to sample some pa amb oli too. David told us that they offer all the classic toppings while also catering to healthier options. He brought out a selection of three generously sized slices of locally baked pan moreno, each adorned with a colourful array of toppings: tomato, avocado, and sautéed onions; hummus, tomato, avocado, and mixed seeds; and a rocket salad with tofu and sundried tomatoes. I particularly enjoyed the first two slices, although I was initially sceptical about the tofu, which I am not a huge fan of. However, it was marinated in soy sauce and surprisingly flavourful, leading me to enjoy it more than I expected.
For dessert, we decided to share a slice of homemade cheesecake topped with mixed berries and a slice of Cardenal de Lloseta, sourced from the original bakery. The Cardenal was every bit as delicious, if not better, than at a high-end restaurant where I’d previously tasted it. However, the cheesecake was truly a revelation, up there with the best I’ve ever tasted, whether in Mallorca or elsewhere!
Engaging in conversation with David about his typical guests, I found out that Tigy’s draws a mixed crowd of various profiles and nationalities. During this time of year, many cyclists and hikers make their way to or from La Trapa, making Tigy’s a likely candidate to become a weekend hotspot for this part of the island as they are likely to remain open all-year-round. You can certainly count on finding me here again sometime soon!
The place
- Pambolería & Pizzería Tigy’s: Av. Jaume I, 10 - Sant Elm
- 971 23 90 20
The bill
- Starters from 9’50€
- Pa amb oli from 15€
- Desserts from 6€
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