EATING OUT

By Lorraine and the team

THIS MONTH WE LOOK AT THE CHANGES IN THE ‘FOODIE’ SCENE

We’d really like to involve you, our readers, more closely going forward, so we are inviting YOU to send your own reports of dining experiences. Editors decision on publication is final! You can submit anonymous reports if you prefer. We’d like to gather a broad island-wide coverage. Our limited resources (and expanding waistlines!) mean we cannot cover everything! So your contributions will be so welcome.

We pay for all our meals and the restaurants normally are unaware that they might feature in Roqueta. We’d like to introduce a “Star rating” system, 5***** being the tops! And a cost rating 5 €€€€€ being the most expensive!

Reviews should cover not only the standard of cooking, but also presentation, level of service, “front of house”...how welcome did you feel, and would you return and tell your friends, plus your date of visit.

PLEASE EMAIL YOUR COMMENTS AND REVIEWS TO info@roquetamagazine.net

Editor’s decision to print or indeed edit is final. So here goes with a round-up of some of the main changes you will encounter this season!

Mahon

The floating platform of MINERVA Restaurant was recently demolished on orders of the authorities, and towed away, thus removing one of the more unusual and iconic venues.

It was considered an unregulated floating object! However, the main restaurants and terrace across the road are still open. Tel: 971 351995. Moll de Levant 87.

WAY, famous for its Asian cuisine, run by Mr Wang, has closed down. It plans to reopen under completely new management, to be called HAMMETS MESTIZO, offering “vibrant

Meso-South American and Caribbean-inspired fusion social dining and drinking.” Something completely new for Menorca, already proving a huge success in Malta. (Google “HAMMETS MESTIZO” for more details).

The AMERICAN BAR , which opened its doors in Plaza Real in the centre of Mahon in 1924, has been sold and will reopen under the ownership of the Castell shoe group “Castell Concept”...offering “shoes and booze”! Maybe some fashion too. We await more details of this interesting venture. Castell already operates a Cafe Concept store on the Industrial Estate in Ciutadella.

LA FLAMA and previously MOJIGATA , opposite the Fish Market, has been closed for a while, and will reopen as BELLA SOMBRA (same ownership as Sa Botiga opposite). More details awaited.

CALAS FONTS (Es Castell)

Gone: The owners of DINKUM have retired and there is no news of any restaurant opening in this location. As we go to press, the premises are vacant.

LA LOLA has reopened as TARAMBANA (Moll de Cales Fonts 28. Tel: 971 726551). It has been completely remodelled and offers a great standard of food, service and location.

S’HAM, closed, and being redeveloped...more news awaited.

BIELS CREPERIE...closed.

BOTANIC...closed.

VELL PARRANDER...closed.

There is still plenty of choice in this fantastic location, and we particularly recommend SA PUNTA , formerly Club Nautico, (open every single day of the year) Tel: 690 854671. One of the very best in Menorca in terms of food, service and location.

Also round the port in Calas Fonts we have ES LLENEGAL Tel: 971 964847, and ANA LUISA (Moll den Pons near the Hamilton Hotel) Tel: 649 083675. Be assured of a warm welcome by Carolina and Paco. EL CHIVITO has been recently renovated Tel: 971 352944

At BAR LEMON (971 483271 or 617317148), Juan and Carla offer wonderful classic cocktails and elegant service (no meals, but a great way to start or end your evening). A couple of great bars also worthy of mention are CHESPIR Tel: 681632065, who also offer light but delicious meals, and BAR TUTTI, Tel: 620 925757. Evenings only. Also serve sushi!

Sushi lovers should also visit SUSHI ES CASTELL, at the top of the ramp down to the port near the Health Centre (Tel: 871 902779). They offer a wide range of Chinese and Japanese dishes. A very good substitute for anyone missing WAY!

Ciutadella

SUTUKLAP is a Gin Club located in the heart of Ciutadella, near the Cathedral. Enjoy Music and drinks, in the atmospheric basement in the Plaça Nova, 4

They also organize private events.

VESTIGE SON VELL. A new luxurious Hotel Rural, situated in the countryside south east of Cuidadella. Typical Señorial House in the Palladian style built in 1829. It will offer every facility, and will be the largest Hotel Rural in Menorca.

The Chef will be the highly regarded Joan Bagur, formerly of Rels in the centre of Ciudadela, which has closed. Opening dates to be confirmed, June onwards.

FLAMANTE is a new opening on the port of Ciutadela across the bridge on the north shore. It will be run by Dioni Gelabert, who also owns Cittadella, in the centre near to the Borne square. As the name indicates, food from the grill will be the speciality. Great views too.

SHELBY BRUNCH AND DINNER HOUSE is taking over Can Rafa, next to the market place in the city centre.

ES BITXO, on the Polígono, close to the Castell shoe factory. A great offering of all-day culinary delights from Breakfast, Menus del dia, burgers, cocktails and various infusions!

IMPAR GASTROBAR in Calan Blanes has some good reviews, Carrer Torre de s’Aigua, 259 Tel 659 195271

MORVEDRA NOU, the long-standing hotel rural on the Cami de Macarella, has changed hands. It is now run by AMAGATAY, a company from Northern Spain, who also have opened another Agroturismo of that name, in 30 hectares of countryside close to Alaior on the Alaior/Calan Porter Road (near the Torralba archaeological site.)

The MOGA GROUP continues to add new culinary proposals to its already extensive repertoire. First there was KAYPA , offering Peruvian cuisine, this year the novelty is THAI GARDEN ARENA BEACH, located in the Casas del Lago hotel.

The chef Emilio Carcur is offering authentic Thai Gastronomy with views over Calan Bosch Marina. It promises everything from street food to the spiciest Thai platters.

Son Park GOLF CLUB….this venue has had so many changes over the years! Let us hope they have got it right this time and can offer something that pleases golfers and non-players alike. The swimming pool will also be open. It’s being managed by the Golf Club in a more direct way, along with the Son Park beach bar. We hear that bacon sandwiches are back on the menu at the golf club by popular demand.

Na Macaret

ES RACO DE MACARET is garnering rave reviews. It was a former village bar but now operates as a full service restaurant and gastrobar, offering the freshest fish, rice dishes, and high grade tapas plates to share. Carrer de Sa Costa 21, on the way down to the beach. Tel: 613 112039.

Addaya

PIZZERIA BAIA has now moved to Addaya. 971 159281

Calan Porter

VILLA MADRID in San Luis has closed and has reopened as EL VELERO in Calan Porter. https:// elveleromenorca.com/ Paseo Marítimo 16, Cala en Porter Tel: 971 150 464

BINIFADET GROUP update

The Vineyard and its charming restaurant surrounded by vines is now open. Just outside Sant Lluís on the road from Es Castell. Tel: 971 150715. Dine here overlooking the vines and you could be in deepest France or Tuscany!

Binifadet also operates LA CANTINA on the Isla del Rey, adjacent to the Hauser & Wirth Art Gallery. They are open during the Gallery times. Beautiful setting under the trees. You should book everything online on the H&W Website, including the Yellow Catamaran transfer (every hour). Try to include a visit to the 1711 Royal Naval Hospital (English tours Thurs and Sunday) , and also visit a newly opened area on the first floor of the hospital depicting the whole history of the port of Mahon! Make a day of it! Look out for live music and other special events too in La Cantina area, which is such a spectacular location under the wild olives.

TAMARINDOS in Es Grau….on a platform overlooking the sea. Tel: 682 625775.

LOS BUCANEROS...aka BINIBECA BEACH BAR despite a huge amount of public pressure, permission to open continues to be denied by “the authorities” on various spurious environmental grounds. This was exacerbated by a mysterious fire which destroyed the “lavatory block”. It seems our politicians here have no power or control over this situation which is causing so much distress. But we live in hope. There is a lot of pressure behind the scenes to solve this issue. So…..this report is certainly not exhaustive by any means, it I hope will explain some of the main changes that you will encounter this year!

Keep us posted with your reports, comments and any other useful information!

Happy dining….! The next issue will keep you updated plus will include more actual restaurant reviews. Buen provecho!