Ruta del Tapeo - PP's own Tapas Route!

[sws97sdg]

I had been so looking forward to taking part in this, the first week was La Patrona so we only had the second weeks.
We headed of for Bellavista to fill up on veggie stuff before moving on, but unfortunately we didn't realise that they are not taking part at the moment, so we headed of for Taps instead.
We ordered a drink and they brought it out with a couple of tiny bits of bread with what looked like salmon and some spread, they didn't have a choice, so we had to leave it, so just drinks. The place was busy with people eating off the main menu, but we did see that they did do some things we can try next time and we will go back to eat there again.
We thought we would try LaCantina2 next as we have heard good things about them, but again no choice just one which was chilli con carni, it looked nice but again no use to us, but we also saw lots of veggie things on the menus we can try next time and lots of nice things for picnics or to take to the beach.
So two drinks and no food, by then it was getting late so we headed of for La Cabana where we know we could get some veggie stuff, we decided to have a full meal and as usual the tapas were fantastic and the service excellent as well.
So all in all slightly disappointed, it would have been better if the places had a choice of tapas and maybe if ones offering veggie options could be marked on the list so we would have known which ones to try, but anyway we will give it a try again next time and hopefully find more places offering veggie stuff, La Cabana prove it can be done.

 

[Sparky]

Bar Rumbo do a few different choices and at least one veggie option .

 

[sws97sdg]

Thats good to know for next time Sparky, we had them on another night and they were great there, lovely people running it there as well!

 

[pollensa]

I am sure that LaCantina2 had a choice as well & I'm pretty sure one was veggie as they do a lot of veggie stuff. Maybe they had run out that night. Did you ask at all?

 

[sws97sdg]

Hi Pollensa, we did ask and they said there was no choice and this must only have been around 10 by then! They have lots of veggie stuff on the menu, we will definitely try it again on another night next trip.

 

[Doogz1874]

Hi Pollensa, we did ask and they said there was no choice and this must only have been around 10 by then! They have lots of veggie stuff on the menu, we will definitely try it again on another night next trip.

I'm sure when we visited LaCantina2 on the Tapas Route they were the only place we were offered a choice of 3: 1 non-veggie, 1 veggie & a sweet -
this was however back in May so they may well have changed since then.

 

[sws97sdg]

I'm sure when we visited LaCantina2 on the Tapas Route they were the only place we were offered a choice of 3: 1 non-veggie, 1 veggie & a sweet -
this was however back in May so they may well have changed since then.

Must have done Dooogz, but as I say will go back to try them again, lots of veggie options on their main menu!

 

[pollensa]

I'm sure when we visited LaCantina2 on the Tapas Route they were the only place we were offered a choice of 3: 1 non-veggie, 1 veggie & a sweet -
this was however back in May so they may well have changed since then.

They had the same in July but it was our first stop just after 8 so they may run out later on...

 

[SimonButlerPhotography]

I had a fab time on the Ruta last week but my fussy eating 11 year old son had less of a good time.

I was amazed at just how much food, and especially, how much wine I got for only €1.50. It was an extremely cheap night out. I had also assumed that the wine would be like vinegar, and the food not brilliant, to keep the costs down but it was anything but and both were really rather lovely in each of the bars we visited.

We started off at the Rustic Cafe at just before 8PM. I had a very generous, and lovely, glass of white wine to accompany a chunk of chorizo covered in delicious tomato sauce on a baguette slice. Jonny had a sausage wrapped in a pancake (two things that normally he loves). Unfortunately because it came covered in onions (which he doesn't like) he turned his nose up at it, even when I scraped the onions off. So I ate his tapa, after I had put the onion back on. and it was just as delicious as my chorizo tapa.


IMG_8175.jpg by SimonButlerPhotography, on Flickr

I'd never been to the Rustic Cafe before but based on that visit I would definitely go back.

Next up we headed to the Music Bar, another establishment I'd never been in before. I had some sort of fish in mayo on a baguette slice covered with peppers and capers - really lovely. Jonny didn't like the look of any of the 3 choices on offer so the owner very kindly made him a slice of serrano ham (which Jonny actually does like) on a slice of baguette (we didn't ask him to do this, he simply asked Jonny if he liked ham and went off to get some). Unfortunatley he put tomato paste on the baguette which Jonny doesn't like. So I got to eat two tapas in this bar as well!


IMG_8177.jpg by SimonButlerPhotography, on Flickr

It wasn't all bad for Jonny because the bar had a really excellent old school table football machine that we had fun playing with. I think Barca beat Real in the end...!


IMG_8179.jpg by SimonButlerPhotography, on Flickr

I really liked the Music Bar and again will return. Perhaps not for food but it looked like a great place to go to for a lads night out (as well as the table football, they had a great pool table too).

I decided at this point to pop into a Spar and buy Jonny a baguette that he could munch on while travelling to the next bar (his favourite thing to eat in the world is plain baguette and would happily eat his way through every baguette in PP given half a chance). At least he would have had something to eat was what I thought.

I needn't have bothered though because at our third bar, the Ivy Garden, I finally found a bar that did food that he would eat. And I loved it too!

They didn't have a choice of tapas, we were just told that the chef would provide us with something involving chorizo from the kitchen. In fact, what we got for our €3 was a mini feast! We got one bowl containing a delicious chorizo, tomato and cream stew and another bowl containing a cruncy vegetable dish plus a basket of sliced baguette and a bowl of olives. Oh and one large glass of wine for me and a bottle of mineral water for him.


IMG_8184.jpg by SimonButlerPhotography, on Flickr

The chef, who was British, came out to chat with us and check that we liked the food. We did of course, as it was delicious, and so we had a lovely chat with him.

After we had finished and were leaving I took a quick photo of the menu that was outside on a chalk board. I wanted to show the menu to our friends who were arriving in PP on the Saturday as the Ivy Garden could be a possible venue for dinner with them. The chef was also outside having a fag break and he insisted that I took a photo of Jonny with him! As it was that kind of night, I absolutely obliged!


IMG_8188.jpg by SimonButlerPhotography, on Flickr

Unfortunately my friends have an even more fussy 11 yo eater than Jonny so we didn't go back but next time I am in PP I will definitely do so. We walked past the Ivy Garden a few days later and the chef saw Jonny and he shouted out a greeting to him which was lovely.

As I had pretty much eaten 6 tapas and had 3 very large glasses of wine we decided to call it a night at that point. I had had a great night out and even Jonny eventually had some fun, but he was starting to get a little bored and me slightly more tipsy that I'd like to be when I am with him on my own.

So I returned to our apartment very happy and can highly recommend the Ruta. I just wish I could have visited more bars than 3! Next time I'll make sure I go with adult rather than child company so should manage a few more....

 

[Sparky]

What a lovely report and photos Simon, thank you for posting .
Jonny is growing into a fine looking young man, you should be very proud of him .

 

[SimonButlerPhotography]

What a lovely report and photos Simon, thank you for posting .
Jonny is growing into a fine looking young man, you should be very proud of him .

No problem, I really enjoyed the Ruta and thought others should know more about it!

Yes, I am still not sure where he gets his good looks from, must be his Mum!

 

[cherylbb]

Great report & great pics, thanks Simon. Jonny looks lovely, glad you had a good holiday.

 

[Kat19]

thanks for all the lovely photos - glad you both had such a good time

Kath

 

[LK1960]

I always so enjoy your posts Simon and the lovely pictures of your smashing son! He really has grown. Didn't manage to do the Ruta in July this year but your account and stunning photos have made me more determined to do it next time.

 

[Nick]

Excellent report and photo's mate, well done.....

 

[MairiCladach]

Thanks Simon for such a beautifully evocative report - both your writing and your photos made me long to be back in the Port!

Also thanks for finally convincing me that I MUST visit Ivy Garden on my next visit. Staying in Sis Pins 4 years ago (in the good old Globespan days...) it was an obvious choice being only a matter of steps away. Although we had been coming to PP for several years Ivy Garden had remained beneath our radar and so we had absolutely intended to visit. Then we were dissuaded by very negative reviews from a number of fellow holidaymakers, criticising the standard of the food and poor value for money, and so have never ventured there since.

In recent months though I have been impressed by all the praise for Ivy Garden on the forum, and did think about giving it a go in July, but didn't quite get round to it (you know, so many great places to eat, so little time...). Now though, Simon's glowing report has really made me wish we'd made it, andso I resolve to visit there early on in our next visit!

Thanks Simon!

 

[SimonButlerPhotography]

Although I didn't manage to go back to the ivy garden my friends managed to have a meal without children after we went home. They reported back to me via Facebook that they had a really lovely meal there.

mairicladach - I too looked up the trip advisor reviews for the ivy garden and was shocked to see how poor some of them were.

 

[kiwirussuk]

So, 4 sleeps and counting - may we have the September list? can't wait

 

[Sparky]

Participating are:

Bar Rumbo...Juan XX111
Cafe d'Eu Moll...Roger de Flor.
Can Tofol ...overlooking new carpark.
Geminis 18
Ivy Garden 49 *
Juniors
La Cabana
LaCantina2 *
La Roda
Music Bar
Rustic Cafe *...C/Formentor.
Sushi Pascalino
La Taperia
Taps...Verge del Carmen
Tots Buffet *.... Verge del Carmen

 

[Sparky]

Have just heard there are 2 new additions starting tonight, Los Zarzales Chiringuito (next to the restaurant) and Serenity Coast Chinese (beside the church) .