Old Christchurch Road carries a lot of quick Italian food, most of it takeaway pizza eaten on the move. El Murrino aims higher up the same street, building its kitchen around a wood-fired oven set in full view of the room and cooking pizza, pasta and risotto to order. It is bright, casual and squarely aimed at families as much as couples.
The food
Pizza from the wood-fired oven is the headline, blistered and quick, but the menu widens out into fresh pasta, risotto and salads rather than stopping at the pizza list. The open kitchen is part of the draw — the oven and the chefs are on show, which gives the room its energy. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options sit alongside the standard menu, and there is a separate children’s Bambino menu for younger diners. There is a bar too, with cocktails and the usual soft and alcoholic drinks to go with the food.
The setting
The dining room is modern and bright, casual rather than formal, and clearly built with families in mind. As well as the children’s menu there is an iPad bar that keeps younger guests occupied between courses. It works for a relaxed dinner, a weekday lunch or a table of mixed ages, and the pace is easy without being slow. Outdoor seating lets you sit out on the pedestrian street in good weather.
Where it is
El Murrino is at 154 Old Christchurch Road, on the pedestrianised main street through the town centre. Glen Fern car park and the multi-storey behind it are the nearest places to leave a car. The position makes it an easy walk from most central accommodation and from the seafront, so it slots neatly into an evening in town rather than being somewhere you set out for. It is a reliable fallback on a wet evening, too, with the shops and cinemas close at hand. Our restaurants guide covers what else is near.
Good to know
It opens from late morning every day and serves through into the evening, though exact closing times move between weekdays and weekends, so check before a late arrival. Book ahead for weekend evenings. Takeaway and delivery run alongside the restaurant through the El Murrino app, Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats, which is useful if you are self-catering close by. For more ideas, see our food and drink guide, where locals eat in Bournemouth and the map of the bay.