TRIP REPORT: May-June 2016

[Doogz1874]

El Posito:
Dinner Sunday 22nd May
2 x G&Ts
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Starter of Garlic Prawns to share
Cod with sobrasada & honey for Mogs & John Dory with fried onions & pine nuts for me.
1 x bottle of albariño
2 x cafe solo and 'some' brandy

Dinner Thursday 2nd June
2 x G&Ts
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Starter of garlic prawns to share again
Lamb chops with garlic served with Padron Peppers & chips.
1 x Excellent bottle of red (‘Senorio Ondarre’ as recommended by Toni)
2 x cafe solo and a 'some' more brandy

Food & service up to the usual high standards. From the mains on the 1st evening I'd say the portions are a little more controlled than previous visits - which I'd say is a positive as they've been too big in the past (although we still didn't manage dessert on either visit )

As ever, the highlight of any trip to El Posito was getting to spend time with Sparky & Hubby so we always make this our restaurant for both our 1st & final night of the holiday.
Thanks again to Lyn & Colin for welcoming us back to the port and also easing the pain of leaving over a few drinks


Prawns:
WP_20160602_007 by Doogz, on Flickr

Lamb:
WP_20160602_011 by Doogz, on Flickr

Wine:
WP_20160602_006 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

Los Faroles:
Dinner Monday 23rd May
2x G&Ts, Bottle of water & bottle of Mar De Frades
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Starters of Padron peppers & stuffed mussels to share
Lamb chops with fried eggs for me & grilled hake for Mogs.
2 x Carajillo & complimentary Brandy to finish.
Around €80

Starters:
WP_20160523_009 by Doogz, on Flickr

Hake:
WP_20160523_010 by Doogz, on Flickr

Lamb:
WP_20160523_011 by Doogz, on Flickr



Dinner Wednesday 1st June
2x G&Ts
Bread, Olives & Allioli
2 x Soller Prawns to start
For mains Mogs had the grilled squid and I had the Sirloin with Roquefort sauce - cooked perfectly.
Bottle of Water + bottle of Baron De Ley Reserva
2 x Carajillo & complimentary Brandy to finish.
Around €90

Prawns:
WP_20160601_003 by Doogz, on Flickr

Squid:
WP_20160601_005 by Doogz, on Flickr

Steak:
WP_20160601_006 by Doogz, on Flickr



Los Faroles is another regular restaurant for us - there seem to have been some small changes since our last visit: they now seem to favour rectangular plates and the prawns have more oil than I remember - still top quality food & service but my top tip would be to open the hand wipes before you start in on the prawns or they can be a little difficult to open (alternatively, just wait for your other half to sort it out for you !)

 

[Doogz1874]

Casa Vila:
Dinner Friday 27th May
2x G&Ts, Bottle of Baron De Ley Reserva
To start Casa Vila combo to share
followed by Bistecca De Fiorentina to share: Large T-bone steak which you finish cooking to your liking at the table (it’s a little sad how entertained we were by this … and as Lyn suggested should you not get a discount as you’re doing the chefs job for him !). Given the amount of steak on our plates it was nice to be able to alternate the flavours with the 2 sauces (pepper & blue cheese) provided + some French mustard.
2 x cafe solo
4 x Brandy
Around €90

Great food & service .... and the best company

Steak:
WP_20160527_004 by Doogz, on Flickr

Cooking:
WP_20160527_003 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

Los Zarzales:
Dinner Sunday 29th May
2 x Kir Royale, bottle of Water & bottle of the house cava
Bread, Olives, Pickles & Allioli
To start I had the excellent baby broad beans with butifarra negra (thanks to everyone on the forum who recommend this in the past – it was excellent) and Mogs had the Goats cheese salad which was also fantastic.
Mogs had the Cod, sobrasada & Honey for main and I had the best suckling pig I've ever had (& I've had a few !)
2 x Cafe Solo
Around €80

Goats Cheese Salad
WP_20160529_006 by Doogz, on Flickr

Broad Beans
WP_20160529_008 by Doogz, on Flickr

Cod:
WP_20160529_009 by Doogz, on Flickr

Suckling Pig
WP_20160529_010 by Doogz, on Flickr


This was an overdue return to Los Zarzales - we'd been twice before around 10 years ago and had been a little underwhelmed but this visit has ensured we'll be back on our next holiday.

 

[Doogz1874]

I'll add some more tomorrow

 

[car77]

Thanks Doogz. Loving the pictures. Its great to actually see the dishes.

Car

 

[scotslizzy]

Yummy

Quick Question ;

Are you guaranteed Soller prawns in Los Faroles or the other restaurant's that you visited ? I love these as they are different from the standard ones ?

Looking forward to the next instalment !


Scotslizzy

 

[Doogz1874]

Quick Question ;

Are you guaranteed Soller prawns in Los Faroles or the other restaurant's that you visited ? I love these as they are different from the standard ones ?

Looking forward to the next instalment !


Scotslizzy

The Soller prawns are a fixture on the menu at Los Faroles - also had 'Prawns from the bay' at La Llonja but they were only there as a special.

 

[Doogz1874]

El Meson:
Lunch Friday 27th May:
6 x small beers
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Patatas Bravas, Chipirones, Cazon en Adobado, Pinchos Morunos.
Around €30

Tapas:
WP_20160527_001 by Doogz, on Flickr


Dinner Tuesday 31st May
2 x Cañas (inc. complimentary tapa of choricitos on bread)
Tapas Menu #3:
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Meatballs, Calamari, Garlic Prawns, Patatas Bravas, Bread & Cheese
Bottle of house white.
Dessert of 'pudding' for me & pear in Red wine for Mogs
2 x cafe solo
2 x hierbas on the house
€45

Great value, excellent tapas and friendly, efficient service – as ever.

Tapas Menu#3:
WP_20160531_009 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_010 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_011 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_013 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

El Meson - Tapas Menu#3 Continued:

WP_20160531_014 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_015 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_016 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_017 by Doogz, on Flickr
WP_20160531_018 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

La Llonja:
Dinner Saturday 28th May:
1 G&T and 1 cava rosado, bottle of vionta albariño & bottle of water.
Bread, tomato & tapenade
Mogs had the 'Prawns from the bay' to start and I went with an old favourite (not a reference to Mogs !) of Truffle Spaghetti
We both had the Fresh Tuna for mains and excellent Apple Tatin with cinnamon ice cream to finish.
2 x cafe solo
2 x Brandy (on the house)
Around €125

Another excellent dinner.

Prawns:
WP_20160528_004 by Doogz, on Flickr

Truffle Spaghetti:
WP_20160528_005 by Doogz, on Flickr

Tuna:
WP_20160528_006 by Doogz, on Flickr

Apple Tatin:
WP_20160528_009 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Shaun&Caro]

Many thanks for these - very helpful and has got the juices flowing for our trip out starting tomorrow!
Shaun

 

[jjacks]

Great reviews - just added a few more to the list when we visit in July.

 

[scotslizzy]

Great

Thanks and I know now where to guarantee getting soller prawns.

Love La Lonja and will def be going back to eat there.



Scotslizzy

 

[Doogz1874]

La Celtika:
Dinner Thursday 26th May
Okay, this is a big one. I think we’ve done a reasonable job of remembering most of the details (particularly as there was alcohol involved) but hopefully LaCeltika sees this & can update if we’ve missed anything important:

2 x Kir Royale
2 x Tasting Menu with matching wines:

Round 1: Amuse Bouche of Artichoke with tomato marmalade / Tapenade & a cheese crisp
Round 2: A celebration of peas: Pea soup, with pea puree, pea shoots, pea salt & peas plus a perfect poached egg.
Round 3: Marinated Sea Bass, Beetroot, Asparagus, Octopus + Beetroot & Asparagus purees
Round 4: John Dory, Lentils & tarragon 'horseradish' served with a john dory stock. (All the dishes were stunning but we both agreed this was our favourite
Round 5: Dessert of Mango Sorbet, Fresh Mango, Mango & passion fruit coulis, Chantilly cream & meringue.
Wines were all white: Gomariz, Butxet & Tianna Bocchoris.
To finish : 2 x Brandy (Montenego) & 2 x lemon macarons

Cost €50 per tasting menu + €20 for matching wines + €extra for Kir Royale & Brandy
The most expensive dinner of the holiday but still fantastic value for money for the standard of cooking, ingredients & service (especially when compared to what you would pay in the UK for something similar).
The chef/owner, Yann only uses the best ingredients, cooks & presents the dishes perfectly - if it's not too warm I'd recommend sitting inside so you get to watch Yann at work and interact with him throughout the meal.
Currently they are only doing the tasting menu and the details of the menu aren't listed as it can vary daily because Yann is focussed on using local ingredients & adjusts the menu depending on what is available / in season.
Given the price and the lack of detail I think some people may be but off going in but, having eaten here on previous holidays we had no such concerns -
If you enjoy high-end dining then I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough & if you have any concerns about the lack of detail on the menu pop into the restaurant and I'm sure they'll be happy to provide more info.
Hopefully we still have another holiday in PP later this year so I won’t be voting for my top 5 restaurants just yet – but I’d be very surprised if we will find anywhere to top this (& we will definitely be back for another meal if when we next come back to PP).


Round1:
WP_20160526_002 by Doogz, on Flickr

Round2:
WP_20160526_003 by Doogz, on Flickr

Round3:
WP_20160526_004 by Doogz, on Flickr

Round4:
WP_20160526_005 by Doogz, on Flickr

Round5:
WP_20160526_007 by Doogz, on Flickr

macarons:
WP_20160526_008 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[mike_dublin]

@Doogz1874
Thank you for the brilliant trip report and the great pictures.

 

[Doogz1874]

@Doogz1874
Thank you for the brilliant trip report and the great pictures.

Thanks Mike - as ever Mogs deserves the thanks for providing the pictures

 

[Doogz1874]

Na Ruixa:
Dinner Monday 30th May
2 x G&T
Bread, Olives & Allioli
Bottle of water & a bottle of Macià Batle Blanco
To start Mogs had Prawns & Avocado to start and I had the excellent Fish Soup
For mains Mogs had a perfectly cooked Sole meuniere (which she proceeded to fillet just as perfectly !) and I had Cod Mallorcan Style
2 x cafe solo
2 x limoncello on the house
Around €95
Another restaurant that we've not been to for around 10 years – really enjoyed all the food & we will make more of an effort to return in future but not sure it'll be one we visit every holiday.


Prawn & Avocado:
WP_20160530_006 by Doogz, on Flickr

Fish Soup:
WP_20160530_007 by Doogz, on Flickr

Sole:
WP_20160530_008 by Doogz, on Flickr

Cod:
WP_20160530_009 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

(Grill Bar & Restaurant) La Vall:
Dinner Wednesday 25th May
2 x G&T, 1 x bottle of water & 1 bottle of excellent red (Tianna Bocchoris)
Amuse bouche of baby squid
Mogs had the rack of lamb & I had the Presa Ibérica
2 x Carajillo
Around €75

We've been to this location before under the previous incarnations of La Vall / La Roda and always enjoyed it and we’re pleased to see it is at least as good as before.
As soon as you enter the restaurant you can smell the barbecue - which made our decision to go with meaty main courses.
Portion sizes are large so we sensibly skipped starters and dessert - the mains were excellent & it was a bonus for me to find a restaurant in PP cooking Presa which is one of my favourite cuts of meat.

Baby Squid:
WP_20160525_004 by Doogz, on Flickr

Rack of Lamb:
WP_20160525_006 by Doogz, on Flickr

Presa:
WP_20160525_007 by Doogz, on Flickr

Wine:
WP_20160525_008 by Doogz, on Flickr

 

[Doogz1874]

(Grill Bar & Restaurant) La Vall:
Lunch Tuesday 31st May:
2 x MDD,
Water, Wine, Bready & Olives
Doogz: Rice Salad > Rabbit & Onions > Flan
Mogs: Pasta & Cheese > Cod > Watermelon
Portions are huge - amazing value @ €18.

Will definitely return here for dinner on our next trip - & possibly lunch if we're feeling really hungry .... quite keen to try their barbequed burger that often appears as an option on the MDD (it’s always worth checking their facebook page as the usually share the MDD in advance)

Pasta:
WP_20160531_003 by Doogz, on Flickr

Rice:
WP_20160531_004 by Doogz, on Flickr

Cod:
WP_20160531_005 by Doogz, on Flickr

Rabbit:
WP_20160531_006 by Doogz, on Flickr