TRIP REPORT: Better Late than never (I hope!)

Doogz1874 · #1 17-01-2013, 09:06

Well ....I'd love to say that it’s because I've always noticed that there are fewer posts this time of year that I've decided to hold back my trip report until now ......
however, having turned up around 3 hours late for one of the forum meet-ups in September I suspect Sparky would point out (correctly) this is just another example of tardiness on my part.
In my defence I've been really busy at work since we got back and after spending all day at work on a computer I really couldn't face spending more time on the PC at home.

Anyway, we did take notes while we were there so on with the report - Initially I'm just going to start with a summary of where we went, what we had & how much it cost- later on (hopefully not too much later on

) I’ll try and add a little more background to some of the restaurants/meals.

Sunday 16th Sep
Lunch @ La Cantina:
Drinks: 2 Beers
Tapas: Onion Rings, Frito, Patatas Bravas & Chicken Croquettes
la cuenta: €23

Dinner @ El Posito
Drinks: 2 x G&T, Bottle of wine, water, 2 Americanos & 2 Brandys
Starters: Garlic Prawns (Doogz), Baby Squid (Mogs)
Mains: John Dory w. Garlic and fried onions (D), Cod w. sobrasada & Honey (M)
Dessert : Ensaimada pudding (shared)
la cuenta : (around) €100

Monday 17th Sep
Lunch @ Bar Coral:
Drinks :2 Beers
Starter: Bread, olives Alioli
Mains: Pepito De Lomo Con Queso (D), Pa Amb Oli Con Queso y Jamon (M)
la cuenta : €18

Dinner @ O'Lume:
Drinks: 2 Champagne Cocktails, Bottle of Albarino, Water, 2 x Coffee's, 2 x Amaretto
Starters: Clams Marinera (M), Scrambled Egg w. Jamon & Asparagus (D)
Mains: Confit of Duck (M), Sea Bass A La Sal (D)
la cuenta: €86

Tuesday 18th Sep
Lunch @ La Roda:
2 Beers + 2 Pa Amb Oli: Sobrasada & Mahon (M), Lomo Completo (D)
la cuenta: €19

Dinner @ La Llonja
Drinks: 1 G&T, 1 Cava Rosado, bottle of Albarino, Water, 2 x Coffee's, 2 x Amaretto
Starters: Spaghetti w Truffle Sauce x 2
Mains: Sea Bream (M), Beef Stroganoff (D)
la cuenta: (around) €100

Wednesday 19th Sep
Dinner @ Cellar La Parra
Drinks: 2 x G&T, Bottle of the house Red, Water, 2 x Carajillos con Barndy
Starter: Croquetas (To share)
Mains: Suckling Pig x 2
Dessert: Almond Cake w. Ice Cream (to Share)
la cuenta: €62

Thursday 20th Sep
Lunch @ El Posito (MDD)
Drinks: Bottle of House Red
Starters: Squid-fideua Soup x 2
Mains: Squid Stew & Chips (M), Stuffed Peppers & Chips (D)
Dessert: Ice Cream (M), Swiss Roll (D)
la cuenta: €20

Dinner/Ruta Del Tapeo @:
C'an Toffel:
Wine (M) Beer (D)
Croqueta x 2 + Bread w. Chicken x 2

Gemini:
Wine (M) Beer (D)
Croqueta x 2 + Mini Burger x 2

La Roda:
Beer x 2
Olives + Bread w. Bolognese

Cafe 63
Beer x 2
Bread w. Chicken x 2

Bar Rumbo
Beer x 2
Empanadas x 2

La Taperia
Beer x 2
Pa Amb Oli w. Chicken
Bread w brie & bluebery

Ivy Garden
Beer x 2
Bread + Patatas Bravas

Friday 21st Sep
Lunch @ Bonys
2 x Beer + 2 x Baguette
la cuenta: €13

Dinner @ La Llonja (MDD)
Drinks: 1 G&T, 1 Cava Rosado, Bottle of house white, Water, Coffee x 2, Amaretto x 2
Starter: Black Spaghetti Arrabiata with Prawns x 2
Mains: Bream Fillet Mallorcan Style x 2
Dessert: Poached Pear & Chocolate Mousse
la cuenta: €69

Doogz1874 · #2 17-01-2013, 09:08

Saturday 22nd Sep
Lunch @ O'Lume
Drinks : Beers x 2, Water, Carajillos con Brandy x 2
Tapas: Fish Croquettes, Garlic Prawns, Choricitos, Chipirones
la cuenta: €32

Dinner @ Los Faroles:
Drinks: Macia Batle - Blanco, Water, Carajillos con Brandy x 2, Hierbas x 2
Starters: Bread, Olives & Allioli + Stuffed Peppers (M), Jamon Iberico (D)
Mains: Cuttlefish & Tumbet (M), Lamb Chops w. fried egg & chips (D)
la cuenta: €72

Sunday 23rd Sep
Dinner @ El Posito
Drinks: G&T x 2, Bottle of C'an Vidalet (white), Water, Brandy x 2, Carajillos Con Brandy x 2
Starter: Garlic Prawns (to share)
Main: Fideua De Marisco
la cuenta: €88

Monday 24th Sep
Lunch @ C'an Torrens
Drinks: Beers x 2
Tapas: Albondigas, Frito, Pa Amb Oli
la cuenta: €25

Dinner @ O'Lume
Drinks: 2 Champagne Cocktails, Bottle of Albarino, Water, 2 x Coffee's, 2 x Amaretto
Amuse bouche: Deep fried prawn in filo pastry
Starter: Foie Gras (to share)
Main Course: Sea Bass in Martini Sauce (M), Fillet Steak (D)
Dessert: Crepe w. Grand Marnier
la cuenta: €88

Tuesday 25th Sep
Lunch @ Bar Rumbo:
Drinks: Beers x 4 (it was a warm day!)
Tapas: Rabbit,Tumbet, Russian Salad (D), Tumbet, Frito, Pica-Pica, Stuffed Squid (M)
la cuenta: €29

Dinner @ La Llonja
Drinks: 1 G&T, 1 Cava Rosado, Bottle of vionta Albarino, Water, Coffee x 2, Amaretto x 2
Starters: Gazpacho (M), Beef Carpaccio (D)
Mains: Salmon in Red Curry Sauce (M), Cod in Garlic Sauce (D)
la cuenta: €92

Wednesday 26th Sep
Lunch @ O'Lume
Drinks: Beers x 4 (Must have been another warm day!)
Tapas: Choricitos, Chiperones, Jamon Iberico, Mer con Limon
la cuenta: €37

Dinner @ Los Faroles
Drinks: Bottle of Vionta Albarino, Water, Carajillos con Brandy x 2, Brandy x 2
Starters: Tomato Mozarella salad (M), Avacado & Prawns (D)
Mains: Sole Meunier (M), Chicken Cordon Bleu (D)
la cuenta: €62

Thursday 27th Sep
Lunch @ La Roda
2 Beers + 2 Pa Amb Oli: Cuttlefish (M), Lomo Completo (D)
la cuenta: €17

Dinner @ El Posito
Drinks: G&T x 2, bottle of C'an Vidalet (white), Water, 2 Coffees, 2 Brandys
Starters: Garlic Prawns (M), Frito (D)
Mains: John Dory w. Garlic and fried onions (D), Cod w. sobrasada & Honey (M)
Dessert : Crema Catalan (D), Chocolate Cake (M)
la cuenta : (around) €100

More details to follow....

Sparky · #3 17-01-2013, 10:37

Only 4 months late

but seems like yesterday Doogz/Mogs

.
Great reports thanks for posting.......eventually

.

clinkham · #4 17-01-2013, 10:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doogz1874

More details to follow....

Enough!!!! Enough!!!! Give us a day or two to digest he food so far, then carry on.

Must say the details of food and prices, give food for thought -Gedit?

Doogz1874 · #5 18-01-2013, 13:27

Okay – just a little more info:

La Llonja: Wonderful food, location and service and one of the best value MDDs available. All the food was great but the Black Spaghetti Arrabiata with Prawns was the definite highlight.

La Cantina: Great tapas at a great location. I could happily sit here drinking beer, eating onion rings until sunset or until I pass out !

Bar Coral: A little disappointed we only managed the one visit here as the food is always good and the staff so friendly – this was partly because where we were staying this holiday it wasn’t as convenient as usual (i.e. we didn't have to walk past 4 or more times a day) but also, because we almost always have the steak w. Roquefort sauce and as good as it is, it just wasn’t going to be able to match my steak at O’lume. We still had a very enjoyable lunch and will be back again on our next holiday.

Cellar La Parra: Without doubt at €6 their own wine is the biggest bargain PP and this place would be worth a visit for that alone, but they also do one of the best suckling pigs we've had in the port -
to a certain extent it's so good it's almost a problem: the only reason we didn't return for a 2nd visit was that we both knew we would have to order the suckling pig again .... so we'll just have to wait 'til the next holiday to make a return trip. Staff are very friendly & professional and it’s probably the best value for money for an A La Carte menu.

Ruta Del Tapeo: A fantastic addition to PP this year - for €1.50 you get a drink and a tapa which is a great way to try new restaurants. Gemini & Can Toffel were the highlights of the places we were trying for the first time - and I'm sure we will visit both again for a beer & / or lunch in future.

Bar Rumbo: The highlight of our Ruta del Tapeo night during our May holiday is now a regular stop for both lunch and as just a beer stop. Run by a lovely couple who provide the best traditional homemade tapas we've had in PP (so far).

Los Faroles: Another place we regularly stop for a refreshment. Great food (particularly seafood) and great value for money. It’s always worth booking especially if you plan to go after 9 at the weekends as its very popular with locals.

C'an Torrens: I think we only ended up here as La Roda is closed on a Monday – it was our first visit to this restaurant (although we had been regulars at C'an Andreu in the past). Good tapas and may well return to try the MDD which looks very good value.

Xocolat: Very nice and very reasonably priced coffee & ensaimada for breakfast - I was however amazed on every visit that we managed to avoid buying any of their chocolates as they look fantastic.

Bonys - Great value for a light(er) lunch – a little more expensive to just stop for a drink but the measures & entertainment always make it worthwhile.

Cafe 1919: Always a nice place to stop of for a carajillo or cafe bombon after a meal – this trip we also enjoyed a couple of visits for coffee and an ensamaida for breakfast.

A little more on La Roda, El Posito & O’Lume to follow (probably next week)

Doogz1874 · #6 25-01-2013, 09:08

Final update:

La Roda: Many thanks to Lyn for her review of La Roda back in May - as soon as we read the review and saw the photos we knew we would be making a visit here- (& additional thanks to Colin for highlighting the Pa Amb Oli with cuttlefish - which I'm sure Mogs will be ordering when we return.)
Great value lunch and the staff are great but just a warning that their English maybe isn't as good as most other restaurants we visit but through a combination of our Spanish/ their English we were able to communicate successfully and for us this only added to the experience. The Pa Amb Oli is obviously their speciality with several different versions available – highly recommended.

El Posito: Despite a few negative comments latterly this (along with O'lume) is our favourite restaurant: returning to here and seeing the guys almost feels more we are visiting friends rather than a restaurant (sadly I don't think we have any friends in the UK that can provide food of this quality!).
I already mentioned in my May trip report but it’s worth repeating the garlic prawns are quite simply the best we've had in the port.
I also need to highlight the Fideua De Marisco – it’s the first time we've tried this (If you haven't tried it before it's similar to a paella but made with short noodles instead of rice) and it was excellent - it's going to be a challenge in future to choose between a Fideua and a Paella Negra.
If you do visit I’d suggest it’s always a good idea to check the specials board - as the dishes are in our experience truly special - on our first and last visits we both had to have exactly the same main course (John Dory w. Garlic and fried onions for me and Cod w. sobrasada & Honey for Mogs) as we had enjoyed them so much first time round.
Lunchtime is great value at €10 and with all the locals (as long as you're prepared for it) a great experience - just don't go expecting the more relaxed atmosphere you get in the evenings.
Finally, special thanks to Zak for all the laughs especially his 'Happy Gilmore - My endless Love' mime .... but he really needs to get out more (nobody that age should get so excited over cleaning glasses and making them shiny !)

O'Lume: I really can't praise this place enough : Jaime is such a fantastic host and takes great care of us and of course Fran is an exceptional chef.
It’s always been one of our favourites for an evening meal but this year we’ve made a few visits at lunchtime for tapas and it’s just wonderful to be able to enjoy the beautiful courtyard in the sunshine while eating the superb tapas.
In the evenings it’s just as good a location – just a little different – & regardless of how busy the restaurant is (and it does often get busy ….. not that you can tell just by looking from outside) Jaime is such a professional that it is always a wonderful atmosphere in which to enjoy the sublime food.
The chipirones were my favourite tapas dish of the holidays & the fillet steak I had may have been the best I've ever had.
It was really difficult to limit ourselves to only 4 visits in our 12 days and we’re already looking forward to returning on our next holiday.

General: As ever, it was great to catch up with Lyn & Colin several times at El Posito & Circulo Cultural.
We also had the pleasure of meeting Mr & Mrs Smiddy at El Posito and really enjoyed our chat at O'Lume the following evening.
Finally, it was great to meet everyone else at the forum meet-up (sws97sdg, Mike Dublin & family, PPKev & wife, Debz1 & whaleywanderer - apologies if I've forgotten anyone ..... it was a few months ago !).

Cheers,
Doogz