Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

The Forum meal at Balaixa 

Penny White asked today how the meal went at Balaixa on the 27th of August and I was working my way around to it (despite the other forum members being present!) and was saving it until last as it was one of the best nights of my holiday.

It was a very sultry and stormy evening, and I did wonder whether my dream of sitting outside under the stars would come true or whether we would all be sheltering under a huge umbrella!

We arrived first and immediately my two children found the cats - the kittens presumably of the stars of my earlier post! However, this time they were exceptionally well-behaved (the cats I mean) and provided a very useful distraction!

Lilly, the Great Dane, also made an appearance and the whole atmosphere was very much like being welcomed into someone's lovely home for a personal dinner party.

Mallorcaboy and his charming wife arrived next and we ordered drinks and had a great chat whilst waiting for Roy and Katie and Pollensa and her family plus Pollensa Man. What a great crowd!

Very soon we were all gathered around a beautifully set table and reading the menu which I found hard to choose from as all the choices were delicious. I eventually settled for the tandoori chicken strips served with an onion bhajee followed by the calves liver which seemed to be a very popular choice amongst us.

Arnie sat with us and relaxed whilst taking our choices down and again the atmosphere was exceptionally friendly and informal.

The children had a great menu of their own which included a mild chicken curry and this dish was also available for adults only a bit hotter.

The wines I chose (with everyone's eyes on me!) were a very popular Marques de Caceres Rioja, an El Coto Rioja and the house white.

Desserts were few and far between as most people were too full but I know Mallorcaboy and I opted for cheese and biscuits, which were lovely.

We all had a great time and it was lovely to meet up with Roy and Katie who had flown over especially to come to the dinner. It was nice to finally see them after our long messages about New Zealand wine! Sadly there were no NZ wines on the list but I don't think that mattered!

Mandy came out to see us after the meal and told us she had been having problems with the equipment in the kitchen but such was their professionalism, we never noticed a thing.

We all had such a great time chatting and laughing that it was well past midnight before we all rolled home!

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

La Font del Gall

We left La Font del Gall for our last night after chickening out of taking the children to Ca'n Costa.

I went into the restaurant in the morning to book a table but they were unable to fit us in outside so it was only the second time in the whole two weeks we ate inside.

Le Font del Gall is Scottish-owned and the menu has some delicious Scottish dishes that sounded lovely.

We both chose haggis with neeps and tatties to start and hubby went for the fish of the day which was hake, only to be told it had changed to tuna. Not liking this he joined me by choosing the spiced shoulder of lamb with garlic crushed potatoes and red cabbage.

The children were well-catered for and although my son was a bit restless at being cooped up they both behaved really well and we had a great time chatting to them for a change!

We were given freebie starters of a delicious pate served on a tiny slice of toast plus the usual bread and butter.

I was looking forward to my haggis starter as I am a big fan but it was disappointing - just three tiny blobs of haggis, potatoes and neeps and that was it! Not much taste either and I know I can certainly do better at home!

Anyway! On to the main course and it arrived beautifully presented with what looked like a slice of cardboard balanced on top of the "lamb". (It tasted like cardboard too).

When we started eating hubby looked at me and we both said, "This isn't lamb! It's beef!"

But we didn't say anything!

Our wine was a star - a delicious Enate Cabernet Sauvignon from Somontano which went with the "lamb" perfectly.

No desserts for us but the kids tucked into ice cream and we were given a small measure of Brandy Alexander as we paid the bill which was 89 euros including drinks and water.

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

Two restaurants for the price of one... Ca'n Cuarassa and L'Aup

Our meal at Ca'n Cuarassa was to be the highlight of our holiday as I had enjoyed the restaurant when we visited back in May.

We called by the day before to book an outside table knowing (via the forum) that they had a small play area for children.

When we arrived at 8.30 the place was quite busy with families eating and we took our seats and ordered some drinks.

I happened to look down at my arm and was horrified to see a huge mosquito settling down for a good bite! Brushing it away I looked over at my son who had another huge one on his forehead!

It was then that I noticed the other diners flapping away more mosquitoes and I began to panic as none of us were wearing insect repellent as we had not seen a single one up until now.

Hubby was also being bitten on his legs and I realised I had been bitten four times in as many minutes. One kind lady was passing around insect repellent for the children but the thought of sitting and relaxing and being bitten was impossible, so we sadly got up and left immediately.

No one questioned why we were leaving as hubby paid for our drinks and although I know mosquitoes are a hazard in the area, it might have been a good idea for the management to place citronella candles about to help alleviate the nuisance.

I was so upset about the whole experience and my arm the next day was like a balloon, painful and very swollen.

We managed to get a table at L'Aup again but the evening had been ruined. It was interesting to note that we never saw another mosquito again during our stay despite eating outside every night.

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

Ca'n Olesa - Pollensa square

This was our third visit to this restaurant at the bottom of the steps (next to Il Giardino) and they offer Mallorcan specialities and stone-baked pizzas.

We booked a table before our drink at the Cafe Espanyol which was essential as they were very busy when we went back and we had to wait for our table to be cleared and re-set.

The menu was varied and I noticed Tumbet as a main course with pork, and a seafood Frito Mallorquin, plus fish dishes, a rack of lamb and one of my favourites, the fried green peppers.

The bread and olives made an appearance as we looked at the menu and I chose mussels in a tomato and onion sauce to start while hubby went for walnut, cheese and grape salad.

Our main courses of rabbit and onions and lamb in a rosemary sauce were slightly chewy but delicious as well.

The wine, an Atrium Merlot from Penedes, was very drinkable, soft and fruity and went well with our meat dishes.

The staff, though very busy, were friendly and our waitress looked a bit like Julia Roberts. Presumably, this was in answer to the Catherine Zeta-Jones look-alike next door at Il Giardino, and her appearance made hubby very happy!

I was fascinated by the posh Brit family at the next table who loudly announced they were from the Hotel Formentor and then proceeded to order a pizza each. Obviously staying there is more expensive than I thought!

The bill came to 89 euros.

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

Centric

I always thought it pretty strange that the tables and chairs for this restaurant stretched around the front of a bank!

We ate here on Sunday night and it was very popular. We enjoyed a pre-dinner drink at Cafe L'Algar (more on that later) so we were able to grab one of the last tables as the square filled up.

Hubby and I both chose the suckling pig from the fairly standard menu which included some Mallorcan specialities and pizzas. We skipped starters as the bread and olives were more than enough and the wee ones chose off the children's menu in between playing in the square, so we were able to relax and do our favourite thing - people-watching!

When the suckling pig arrived it was enormous! We were impressed with the food and the service was quick and efficient with the waiters rushing around making sure everyone was happy!

We didn't have desserts as we were both full and the bill came to 60 euros for the four of us which included drinks (no wine).

One thing I remember is a group of 9 Brits getting a bit heated as the waiters weren't quick enough in sorting them out two tables! One very glam lady who looked a bit like Lorraine Chase in the Campari advert kept me fascinated as she growled and scowled at her sons while her blonde friend looked most put out to be kept waiting. Endless fun!

A great place to take children as they can play safely in the square while the adults can relax!

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

L'Aup

I have always wanted to try this restaurant and in some ways, it reminded me of Balaixa although I am sure Mallorcaboy would disagree! It is on the turning to Cala San Vicente and is screened by gardens and trees.

Anyway as it was a mere 2 seconds away from our villa we had to try it.

We made sure we booked a table before we went for a drink at the Cafe Espanyol in Pollensa and we were glad we did as the car park was full when we arrived at 9pm.

The good thing about L'Aup (if you have children) is the play area which is near enough to the restaurant but far enough away for them to have a good time as well.

The restaurant was mainly full of "Villa-Brits" but we were lucky enough to sit next to a table of three Germans, one of whom (a lady of a certain age) was absolutely out of her head drunk! She was entertainment by herself and at one point hubby caught the eye of the husband of the couple who were with her, and he shot hubby a very long-suffering look! So funny!

Anyway, we enjoyed our evening here and although the waiters were a bit harrassed when we first arrived, the one who served us had a great sense of humour!

The menu was full of the usual suspects - lamb, pork, beef and a good fish section but we couldn't find a starter we liked (either cold or hot) so we made do with the delicious pate and bread that came with our drinks.

We both chose suckling pig for the main course and were slightly disappointed as it was quite greasy, as were the vegetables that went with it. The children's menu was good and my daughter enjoyed her chicken which was well-cooked and tender.

With desserts (ice cream and almond cake again!) and a bottle of the Mallorcan red Heuras de Ribas, plus other drinks, the bill came to about 90 euros.

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

 Eyed up by a lobster at Os Cachelos - Puerto Pollensa

This is a lovely restaurant on the corner of the square next to the beautiful church.

I don't think many people venture this far and there were a lot of free tables when we strolled past after having a drink at the Hotel Daina and watching the sky over the bay turn a lovely shade of pink. From what I had read on the forum I was eager to try it so off we went!

The staff were very friendly and couldn't do enough to make our evening enjoyable. We sat virtually on the steps of the church and again the children went off to play.

Os Cachelos (Casa Gallega) specialises in fish but they were more than happy to cook spaghetti for my son and grilled chicken for my daughter.

For starters, I chose one of the forum favourites - the Piementos a la Padron while hubby had a real fishy evening with whitebait. Both starters were delicious (no hot ones for me) and I chose a crisp white wine - Vino del Alba Albarino - to accompany the main course of sea bream (Dorada) for hubby and chicken in a red pepper sauce for me.

We were able to relax while the children played but my son soon managed to find the lobster tank inside the restaurant and was fascinated as they waved their claws at him. I am convinced one of them winked at me and my daughter which put me off choosing one to eat straight away!

The inside of the restaurant was empty and you could see into the kitchen which was spotless.

With desserts (ice cream for kids and almond cake for me) the bill came to 82 euros.

Definitely a place I would return to, but not to eat lobster!

Restaurant reviews Mallorca 2005

La Posada D'Ariant

This seems to be a new restaurant at the bottom of the steps in the square in Pollensa. It's right next to Ca N' Olesa and the menu is very similar (usual mix of meat dishes, some fish, and a few Mallorcan specialities).

We found the square, restaurant-wise, very busy at this time of year and it is a good idea to book a table at these restaurants (Il Giardino is nearby as well) as they filled up very quickly.

Bread, olives and pate were served as we looked at the menu and we chose whitebait and croquettes Mallorquin for starters. Hubby's whitebait was delicious and very crispy, but my croquettes were tasteless mush and after eating two of the six provided I gave up.

The main courses were slightly better - hubby had shoulder of lamb while I went for the wiener schnitzel which was acceptable.

The children were more than happy with their choices from the children's menu and again had a great time making friends with the other children in the square.

We each had a glass of the house wine which was the highlight of the meal - a red from Roureda in Catalonia and made from Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

The bill came to a reasonable 68 euros.