FOSH KITCHEN - LUNCH

Address:       Carrer d'Orfila, 4, 07001, Palma

Telephone:       00 34 971 72 13 54

My husband and I went with another couple for lunch on a Wednesday in October, having booked the table the night before.

The restaurant was full when we arrived for our 1.30 pm table reservation - always a good sign for a restaurant which has only be open a short while.

We had a street table which was nicely presented and were given a friendly and professional welcome by our waitress.  Our drinks order was taken and delivered in a timely fashion - a G&T, a white wine and a bottle of beer as well as 2 small bottles of sparkling water.  My husband had wanted a tomato juice but, unfortunately, they were not able to supply this.  However, he was quite happy to change this for a glass of white wine!

Our food order was also taken in a timely fashion considering how busy the restaurant was.

We were served delicious warm ciabatta bread with a mustard dip which made a nice change from the garlic mayonnaise which is more customary to serve in Mallorca.

All our starters were excellent - steak tartare, smoked salmon and filo pastry triangles filled with ricotta cheese and leeks.  The amounts were not huge but were about the right size for a starter.

To follow three of us had the sea bass accompanied by a parmesan and potato cream.  The fish was cooked to perfection and the cream accompaniment made a very interesting and tasty combination.  My husband had an aubergine risotto with burata cheese on top which was equally delicious.

To finish three of us had the pudding dish which was a modern twist on the traditional Mallorcan pudding dessert with a hint of almonds and apricots and served with an exquisite amaretto mousse.  My husband had a generous plate of cheese with bread which he chose from the a la carte menu.  As he had taken this approach to his meal he paid €17.50 for the starter and main (as opposed to €22.50 for the 3 courses) and then paid the a la carte price for the cheese plate.

We all felt suitably replete at the end of the meal and felt it was excellent value for money for the quality of the food.  The total bill for food and drink was €148.

This will be a restaurant to return to.

BASMATI - DINNER

Address:      Calle Caro, 7, 07013, Palma

Telephone:   00 34 971 710 387

I went here with my husband and another couple on a Friday night in October.

As you enter the main door you come into a large bar area beyond which is the restaurant - and you could almost believe that you had arrived in India.  The light is at a low level and there are Indian lanterns dotted around and the staff are wearing traditional Indian style clothes.  Our white table cloth was dotted with fresh red rose petals which was a nice touch.

The owner, dressed in chef's whites, welcomed us to our table and explained the menu to us, as well as the drinks.  A bottle of drinkable red wine was provided but, as I don't drink wine, I had a very acceptable glass of beer.

The menu is a tasting menu and, unlike the more local food tasting menus, there was food aplenty. With the exception of the dessert all dishes were for sharing.

We started with pakoras and pumpkin bhajis which had 3 different sauces to accompany them.  All were delicious and a great way to start the meal.

This was followed by kebabs - one being chicken and the other being beef - together with chicken tandoori.  There were 2 chicken tandoori legs which were delicious but they were a bit more difficult to share than the kebabs which were also excellent.

To follow this was perfectly cooked basmati rice and pashwari naan to accompany 4 different curry dishes, including a venison dish.  Once again these were extremely tasty.

None of the dishes were extremely hot which meant that you could enjoy the different spice flavours in each.

There was just room for the excellent mango cheesecake which was served in a  whisky glass.  This was extremely light and refreshing and perfect to finish on.

However, we were not quite done as coffee and tea were offered and I had an excellent cup of slightly spiced tea.

The meal for 4 of us came to just under €140 which we felt was excellent value for money.

There was no a la carte menu so you have to be feeling hungry if you are going to dine here in order to work your way through the feast.  So if you just fancy some curry and rice then this is not the place to go to.

When I next fancy a curry and am particularly hungry I shall certainly go back here.