Just recently returned from yet another wonderful holiday in Puerto Pollenca. This year we had 5 in our party ranging from 18 to 50+.
The restaurants we visited this year continue to provide a high standard in food, service and local wines.
Our first night we stopped off at Nico’s for a family favourite the famous Roulette Wheel, this was followed by 2 Utah steaks, 1 burger, 1 quesadillas and an enchilada. We received a wonderful welcome from Marcos and his team. I know some people only want to go to Majorcan restaurants but this is really a great place to go for a great steak and they always have something for all age groups.
2nd night booked a table at
El Posito added bonus of meeting up with Lynn and Colin. Started with 2 x seafood stuffed red peppers, 2x garlic prawns (not the usual little prawns but big juicy succulent ones !) and 1 x chicken croquettes. This was followed by 2 x honey & rosemary lamb (best lamb dish on the holiday), 2 x John Dory & crispy onions & 1 x cod bacon with aioli. Those with room left had ice cream and almond cake.
3rd night Citrus, a family favourite. We have known Kenny and Maureen for a number of years and once again the food and welcome were superb. 3 of the party started with the famous Tempura Chicken, 2 x goat’s cheese and tomato tarts. For mains we tucked into pork loin with mash and a jus, 1 x Mediterranean pasta (my eldest declared this the best pasta dish of the holiday), 1 x Asian chicken stir fry and 2 x steaks and hand cut chips. The chips were so good we all had to pinch one or two. Who could resist the warmed caramel shortbread with ice cream, sticky toffee pudding or the citrus cheese cake? Not us! Must go on a diet!!!! For those who have not visited Citrus it really is worth a try.
4th night Iru – great amuse bouche this year, spicy potato wedges with a tangy dip. We all chose a separate starter and shared the plates with each other – a good way to try something new. 1x goats cheese tartlet, 1 x fish soup (plenty of seafood in this one), 1 x Caesar salad, 1 x chicken croquettes, 1 x parmesan risotto with black truffle (Mr G’s favourite starter). 2 x prawns with lime mayo, 1 x Tagliatelli, 1 x suckling pig and 1 x Turbot. Only 2 desserts this time -1 x sorbet and 1 x crème brulee (with 5 spoons of course!).
5th night
Celler La Parra. Part of the experience is walking through a large wine vat into a quirky restaurant. You are always guaranteed and friendly and entertaining welcome eg when ordering coca cola my daughter was asked “fizzy or still?” or when ordering prawn cocktail “is that with prawns?”. 2 x prawn cocktail, 1x melon and Serrano ham and 2 x chicken croquettes (declared the best croquettes on holiday). 2 x shoulder of lamb (succulent and fell off the bone), 2 x chicken and pepper sauce and 1 x rabbit (Boing, boing!!!). Increased to 3 desserts 1 crema catalana, 1 x chocolate mouse and 1 x light as a feather almond cake and almond ice cream. Who could resist the jarra de la casa at 5 euros a bottle! Not us we had two tinto and 1 rosada!
6th night O’Lume the beautiful garden courtyard has an air of tranquillity. 3 x garlic prawns, 1 x mussels and 1 x ricotta ravioli with truffle sauce. The dish of the holiday for me was the confit of duck with raisins, sweet and delicious. 2 x fish and prawn brochettes, 1 x sea bass and martini sauce and this dish that caused a stir in the garden was the sea bass a la sal. The cooking, presentation and the way Jaime uncovered and served the fish was a spectacle to behold. This was Mr G’s dish of the holiday. All topped off with 1 x cheesecake and 2 x crema catalana.
7th night Los Faroles on the front. Lovely fish restaurant where the catch of the day is brought to the table for you to select and decide on how you would like the fish cooked. 1 x garlic prawns, 1 x tomato and anchovy salad, 1 x red pepper stuffed with cod, 1 x tomato and mozzarella salad and 1 x prawn cocktail. For mains we had 1 x fish brochette, 1 x mussels, 1 x John Dory (beautifully cooked), 1 roast chicken and 1 x chicken & mushroom sauce. Desserts on the increase 4 this time – 1 x chocolate mousse, 1 x crema catalana, 1 x nutty ice cream and 1 x strawberries and cream. Ooops there goes another button!
8th night back to the kids favourite Nico’s. It was going like a fair – great to see. Once again the roulette wheel and spicy wings flew off the plates. All the old favourites were ordered 2 x chicken burgers, 1 x beef burger, 1 x fajitas and 1 x Utah steak. No puddings as we were all full to the gunnels!!!
9th night – free night oldies went to Can Josep tempura prawns and calamari followed by lamb and sea bass. Lovely and friendly staff. The kids went to Dragon Oriente and enjoyed their meal.
10th night we all voted to go back to Celler La Parra where we got a great welcome. 1 x prawn cocktail, 1 x chicken croquettes, 1 x tuna salad and 2 x melon and Serrano ham. Mains were 1 x suckling pig (delicious crispy crackling), 1 x grilled prawns, 1 x chicken pepper sauce and 2 x shoulder of lamb. 3 desserts this time, 1 x nutty ice cream, 1 x almond cake and almond ice cream and 1 x chocolate mousse. And of course the jarras de la casa!!!!
11th night
Stay – this was a special celebration as our eldest had graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance with a teaching degree (she missed her graduation ceremony as the date clashed with our holiday). As many of you know the location of this restaurant makes it special. The service is attentive without being obtrusive. On to the food - 3 x shrimp and Riesling soup, 1 x mussels and 1 x tagliatelli with prawns and saffron. Moving onto the mains 1 x guinea fowl, 1 x John Dory, 2 x scallops and 1 x duck. 3 x chocolate mousse 1 x crème brulee tart and almond ice cream. It was a lovely night, with delicious food and good company – great place for our celebration.
12th night – Citrus great welcome again and it was good to see more people are finding this little treasure. Starters- 1 x goats cheese tart, 2 x tempura chicken, 2 x potato fritters and dips (new dish and really fab). Mains - 1 x sea bass (as well cooked as any of the sea front fish restaurants), 1 x burger, 1 x fish and chips (had to pinch a few chips again), and 2 x Mediterranean pasta with goats cheese. Only 2 desserts this time with extra spoons of course 1 x warmed caramel shortbread and 1 x sticky toffee pudding. This is really the best value for money restaurant in the port.
13th night El Posito- great Majorcan cooking and friendly staff. Started with 2 x garlic prawns, 1 x seafood stuffed pepper, 1 x prawn and cod croquettes and 1 x chicken croquettes. For mains we had 1 x john dory with crispy onions ( a favourite dish), 1 x suckling pig, 1 x steak, 1 x grilled sole and 1 x duck with jus. Followed by 2 x almond cakes with ice cream and 1 x strawberry ice cream.
14th night – can we take any more great food? Yes of course off to Iru for our final night, really wonderful restaurant with staff to match. We love to watch the sky change colour over the mountain backdrop. Starters 1 x fish soup, 1 x calamari, 1 x Caesar salad, 1 x parmesan risotto with black truffles and 1 x pardon peppers. Mains decided to try a new dish on the menu – 1 x chicken stuffed with pine nuts, spinach and cheese wrapped in Serrano ham – fantastic. Other dishes were 1 x duck and jus, 1 x Lobster & prawn ravioli, 1 x tagliatelli and 1 x steak and mushroom sauce. This was topped off with Raspberry & passion fruit sorbet, almond cake and ice cream and crème brulee.
Off course no meal would be complete without lashings and lashing of lovely local vino tintos – our favourites being Macia Batle and Mortitx.
A great place for breakfast is The Sparrow, there is a lovely restful courtyard to the rear where you can enjoy anything from a full breakfast to a cup of coffee. We also discovered our kids used to nip in here at lunch time for a quick toastie and chips!!!
We would also like to say a special THANK YOU to the local restaurants and bars who made it possible for a fantastic fireworks display which really enhanced our holiday experience.
Looking forward to next year!