Bistro Mar

Last date I was here: 05/31/2010

Restaurant: Bistro Mar

Location: Port d'Alcudia-Mallorca, Spain

Total Rating: 4.8

Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 5, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: For our last meal in Spain, we decided to walk over to the port area where there are a few newer restaurants overlooking the harbor. The first restaurant's menu caught our eye right way and we sat at a lovely table on the patio overlooking the water. It was quite crowded, yet service was the best we've had so far in Spain. We enjoyed our last bottle of Cava while starting with more large fresh clams that were prepared much like the steamed mussels that we enjoy back home and another goat cheese and vegetable starter. I ordered the local rape, also known as monkfish, which I had been wanting to try the whole time we were there. It was grilled plainly and a little on the rare side for me, but I still enjoyed the meaty portion. Keith ordered the salt encrusted fish and enjoyed the table side presentation - our server did a great job - I wish I had taken photos! We were too stuffed for dessert and were treated to shots of peach Schnapps that came with our bill. It was funny! All in all, with the fresh food, great service and the fantastic sunset view, this restaurant ranked highest among them all.

What I ate:

♥Grilled Clams ♥

grilled with garlic and wine and served with lemon wedges

♥Goat Cheese and Roasted Vegetables ♥

served with a raisin and fig chutney and mixed salad

Rape a la plancha

grilled monkfish served with potatoes and steamed vegetables

Plus Keith ate:

Salt Encrusted Sea Bass

served with potatoes and steamed vegetables

Hotel Viva Cafe

Last date I was here: 05/31/2010

Restaurant: Hotel Viva Cafe

Location: Alcudia-Mallorca, Spain

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 3, Service: 4, Ambience: 5, Accessibility: 5

Summary: After a second day of beach, we decided to just have lunch at one of the beach side cafes. Not sure if this is the actual name, but we saw it was associated with one of the Hotel Viva's (there is Sunrise and Tropic - not sure which the restaurant actually belonged to). Nonetheless, we were able to be seated right away and they had nice large umbrellas to shade from the sun. Our server was very busy, running from table to table, but it did not seem as though we had to wait long for our food. I really enjoyed my salad - a fresh change from the normal meat and potatoes, however Keith got something completely different than what he wanted due to the language miscommunication. I insisted he ask them to switch it, but he settled on eating it anyways. He also did not particularly like the gazpacho soup - it tasted too much like salad dressing.

What I ate:

Mixed Green Salad with Chicken

with sliced apples, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, topped with a creamy sesame seed dressing

Plus Keith ate:

Gazpacho

chilled tomato soup served with croutons, chopped onions and chopped peppers

Chicken Kebab Sandwich

served on a pita bread with a picante sauce

Pizzeria D'on Vito

Last date I was here: 05/30/2010

Restaurant: Pizzeria D'on Vito (http://www.don-vito.com/cms/projekt01/index.html)

Location: Alcudia-Mallorca, Spain

Total Rating: 4.6
Food: 5, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: After our mishap at lunch, we were hoping to find someplace better for dinner. D'on Vito to the rescue! Keith had noticed this restaurant earlier when we went to the beach and it seemed popular. We quickly looked at a menu posted outside and I eyed a lady's dish who was sitting on the patio. It looked fresh and promising, so we decided to give it a try. I thought we couldn't go wrong with Italian.

We sat outside on the patio which gives great views for people watching. Our server was very attentive and we ordered some appetizers to share since we were pretty hungry and a bottle of their house red wine. After enjoying our first course, our entrees arrived with bountiful seafood - It was all very good and fresh. This was one of the best meals we had in Spain.

What I ate:

Antipasto Salad D'on Vito

mixed greens with salami, cheese, beets, carrots, olives

♥Baked Mushrooms with Gouda Cheese♥

in a tomato sauce

♥Spaghetti with Clams♥

big fresh clams sauteed in garlic and wine with tomatoes and served over a bed of spaghetti

Plus Keith ate:

Seafood Spaghetti

mussels, shrimp, calamari, clams in tomato sauce served over a bed of spaghetti

Los Tamarindos

Last date I was here: 05/30/2010

Restaurant: Los Tamarindos

Location: Alcudia-Mallorca, Spain

Total Rating: 2.65
Food: 2, Price: 3, Service: 3, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: On our first full day in Mallorca, we spent the morning enjoying the beach and then wandered into town to find someplace for lunch. Although we past several beach side cafes, we wanted something more "authentico" and decided to explore....it got hotter and we grew hungrier....nothing seemed to catch our eye. So we settled on Los Tamarindos for their inviting shaded patio area. The menu was small with a few choices of local pork dishes and some pizza and salads. Our server did not speak much English and seemed a little confused by us. But we relished the opportunity to sit in the shade and strategize our plans for our remaining time in Mallorca.

My pizza was below average, tasting almost as if it were those microwavable frozen personal pizzas you get in the supermarket. Keith was torn between two pork dishes and after his meal arrived, wished he had ordered the other one instead. Oh well - another miss, but we finished our food, paid the bill, and continued on our way back to the hotel to freshen up and then head back out for more adventures in Mallorca.

What I ate:

Vegetable Pizza

Plus Keith ate:

Fried Pork Chops

served with potatoes

Xop D'Or

Last date I was here: 05/28/2010

Restaurant: Xop D'Or (http://restaurantxopdor.com/)

Location: Place d'Espanya-Barcelona, Spain

Total Rating: 3.5
Food: 3, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: We wanted to find a place to have dinner before the night time water fountain show and stumbled upon this brewery/restaurant. Patio seating is available outside and the tapas bar inside. We sat in the back dining area that was decorated with bright orange colors and contemporary paintings. Our server spoke English very well and was very attentive. The menu seemed varied with common dishes - similar to the chain restaurants in America. Our appetizers were amazing and very tasty, yet I was disappointed with my entree selection. I knew I probably should not have ordered it, yet thought it would be a safe choice. Keith enjoyed his veal and we both devoured the desserts (seemed to be a trend in Spain). All in all, this dining experience was different than the "authentico" establishments, but the food was still decent. I would recommend other tourists to eat here, since they could find a mix of familiar (salad, pasta, pizza) and traditional (veal, rabbit, tapas).

What I ate:

♥Goat Cheese and Roasted Vegetables♥

Tortellini with Mushroom Sauce

spinach tortellini filled with Ricotta cheese and topped with a creamed mushroom sauce

Bread Pudding

served with pistachio ice cream

Plus Keith ate:

Fried Sardines

Veal Steak with Potatoes

served with boiled potatoes

La Mer Salada

Last date I was here: 05/27/2010

Restaurant: La Mer Salada (http://www.lamarsalada.cat/)

Location: Barceloneta-Barcelona, Spain

Total Rating: 4.05
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 4, Accessibility: 5

Summary: This is the second restaurant that Keith found, and it was along a strip (like a boardwalk) overlooking the harbor and beach area called Barceloneta. Offering a more modern dining venue with tasty Spanish dishes featuring fresh seafood, La Mer Salada was a nice change from the hustle and bustle of other tourist attractions. Even though it was starting to rain, we sat outside on the patio covered by large umbrellas. Our server spoke English pretty well and after ordering a bottle of wine, we studied the menu. Many of the items were more eclectic than my usual tastes, yet Keith who is always brave, decided to pick some things and try it. We were both pleasantly surprised and left the evening very satisfied. The seafood was extremely fresh and the price tag was worth having a nice meal in Spain.

What I ate:

Cod with Spinach

served with a fig and raisin chutney

Plus Keith ate:

Grilled Octopus

served over sliced potatoes with paprika

Calamari stuffed with Sausage

served with boiled potatoes

La Catonada

Last date I was here: 05/27/2010

Restaurant: La Catonada

Location: Barrio Gothic-Barcelona, Spain

Total Rating: 3.85
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: After a busy morning of sightseeing, Keith researched and found this little restaurant to be in the area that we would end up, near the Picasso Museum. The reviews he read mentioned it to be another local gem with some crazy characters, but good food. Since we did well with the day before's lunch, we thought this might be a similar experience. As we entered, we were greeted by a loud smoking woman - the owner perhaps - who spoke no English, yet offered us a table by the door. We were the first lunch customers it appeared, even beating the waitress who soon entered after us. After finding some appealing items on the daily menu, the waitress took our order and then repeated each item to the owner lady who was very curious and pleased by our choices. One item on the menu that stood out was their house Cava - sparkling wine - usually reserved for special occasions, I decided to order it.

The owner brought out our Cava and served it - making some comments in Spanish and laughing - then placed it in an ice bucket on our table. The waitress brought out some bread and delicious Spanish olives while we waited for our appetizers. The food was surprisingly fresh and flavorful. This was probably one of the best meals we had and again a 3 course lunch for only 10 Euros each.

What I ate:

Melon and Jamon

slices of cantalope melon topped with slices of Iberico ham

Pollo Paella

traditional Spanish rice dish served with vegetables and chicken

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Plus Keith ate:

Spinach Empinada

Mariscas Paella

traditional Spanish rice dish served with mixed seafood

Flan

La Xerinola

Last date I was here: 05/26/2010

Restaurant: La Xerinola


Location: Las Ramblas-Barcelona, Spain

Total Rating: 2.35
Food: 2, Price: 2, Service: 3, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: After walking around all afternoon, we decided to check out the touristy Las Ramblas area of Barcelona. Full of shops, restaurants, street performers, we thought for sure we would find some place nice for dinner here. After perusing a few menus displayed along the way, we couldn't decide and were getting hungry. I spotted one place that seemed to be fairly busy and had a large sign out front stating a 3 course price fix dinner for only 11 Euros. I thought - wow, that's a deal - boy was I suckered!


The place turned out to be full of tourists (it was along the main strip of Las Ramblas after all) and they had a separate bar area to sit if you were ordering tapas only. Since we ate that earlier for lunch, we wanted to sit down for actual entrees. We asked about the daily price fix menu and the options seemed delightful - paella, salads, various seafoods. Also being the first night in Spain, I ordered sangria - but instead of a tasty local specialty - we received an overpriced jug filled with soda and wine topped with several two foot long plastic straws. When our food arrived, I realized why the price was so low - the fried calamari was soggy and the paella was dry as if it had been sitting all day under a heat lamp. Keith's mussels seemed a little spoiled, yet he ate them anyways. The best thing was the dessert. Oh well - we learned our lesson. Don't get tricked by the "deals" - it's probably too good to be true, especially in the touristy areas.


What I ate:

Mixed Salad

Fried Calamari

Bourbon Cake

Plus Keith ate:

Mussels Marinara

Seafood Paella

Lemon Cake

Mediterranean Taverna

Last date I was here: 05/26/2010

Restaurant: Mediterranean Taverna

Location: Eixample-Barcelona, Spain

Total Rating: 3.95
Food: 4, Price: 4, Service: 4, Ambience: 3, Accessibility: 5

Summary: Fresh off the plane, we arrived in Barcelona a little dazed and ready to go. After making way to our hotel we changed and headed out to find something to eat for lunch right away. Nearby our hotel, we found this little bar/tavern that served tapas and decided to give it a try. It appeared to be a local gem, with only a handful of local customers inside. The server realized we spoke English right away and showed us a menu. We picked a few tapas items and sipped on some bottled water as we waited. Each item was made fresh to order and we just enjoyed ourselves. For our first meal in Spain, we thought we did very well.

What I ate:

Tomato Bread

slices of French bread topped with shredded tomatoes

Patatas Bravas

Fried potato wedges served with a spicy tomato ketchup

Chicken croquettes

Champignons

fresh mushrooms sauteed in a pesto sauce

Grilled Shrimp