Philistines, truck drivers and fast food lovers should turn the page immediately.
After 12 years of wondering what lay inside the closed Maricel hotel in Cas Catala we finally found out late last month having seen a small editorial piece in the local Spanish press that the re-furbishment had been completed and it was now open again.
The outside Italianesque structure and classical style has been retained and has been meticulously cleaned; looking as good as it did when it opened.
Inside, the spacious style has been tastefully refurbished to a very high standard, retaining the original Italian style, with beautiful leather and cane furnishings and is now graded as five star.
For the record they have 29 rooms which range from 222 to 288 Euros for a sea view.
The view, out into the bay of Palma, from the dining room (or you can eat on the terrace) is, without doubt, one of the best on the island.
The menu is simplicity itself offering a choice of 13 starters for 14 Euros; 10 main courses (5 meat, 5 fish- 18 and 20 Euros respectively) and a selection of sweets at 12 Euros.
Alternatively, they offer a set meal of 8 courses at 50 Euros.
For our starters we chose the red prawns with a sea-food sauce and a salad of marinaded and tempura anchovies.
After ordering we were offered a selection of freshly baked rolls and two appetizers: carpaccio of Parma ham with parmesan leaves in extra virgin olive oil followed by a skewer of asparagus tip, cherry tomato with a tender slice of octopus.
For our main courses, we selected the rack of lamb in rosemary which was served with a selection of diced vegetables and lamb’s liver and the ´lechona´ with oven-baked, potato lyonnaise. I would say that the lechona was ´adequate´ and the rack of lamb, a ´generous´ serving. Both are cooked in a wood-fired oven.
We couldn’t manage a sweet but chose to take a coffee and digestif on the splendid arched, columned balcony terrace (right on the sea); this came with an assortment of small sweets.
Everything was perfectly served by an omnipresent staff without being too fussy.
With a bottle of Mas Comtal Merlot rosado (which reminds me they have a selection of around 120 wines) and water (again a selection), the total bill was 115,50 Euros- well worth it indeed and highly recommended.
It is essential to book. Hotel Maricel C/ Andratx,11 Cas Catala Tel: 971 70 77 44
I make no apologies for mentioning the restaurant, Port ´Alt in Portals Nous again as it is certainly on of our favourites.
Coming into the Autumn they are re-introducing their lunches offering a la carte or a menu del dia at 8.50 Euros (Sunday 11 Euros) and the menu del noche at 15 Euros.
They open between 13:00 and 16:00 for lunch and 20:00 and 23:00 for dinner.
On a negative note, and as you know I rarely do this, I was very disappointed with the new ´Thai´ restaurant, Royal Siam, in the road up to Belver castle in Palma.
OK, we tried it only 3 days after it opened but that’s no excuse for iffy service and a menu del dia which completely lacks imagination and authenticity.
I’ll have to be convinced by a number of good reports before I’ll go there again!
Bon apetit, Luncher