LA PARADA DEL MAR - LUNCH

Address:    Av Joan Miro, 244, 07015 Marivent, Palma
Telephone:  00 34 971 592 706

I went here for lunch with 2 girlfriends on a Thursday in June.

The restaurant has no frills in terms of ambience with simple tables and chairs in both the inside restaurant as well as on the terrace outside.

This is a restaurant for those that like to eat fish and seafood as there are no other options.

We each chose lenguada (sole) from the iced slab of fish and sea food that greets you as you enter.  To accompany the choice of fish was a green salad or salad topped with seeds and raisins.  We were going to order a salad each but were advised that 2 would be sufficient for the 3 of us.  We admired the honesty of the restaurant and, in fact, one would have been sufficient.  We were given a number and told to listen out for it being called at which point we should collect it from the kitchen hatch inside the restaurant.

We then ordered drinks - Cola Zero as it was a very hot day and we didn't feel like drinking any alcohol at the bar before being shown to our table.  We had booked a table on the outside terrace earlier that day and were relieved that their were sun awnings to protect us from the sun.

Fresh white bread and herby garlic mayonnaise was brought for us to enjoy whilst we awaited our fish being cooked.

When our fish had been prepared our number was called and we collected it as instructed.

The fish were huge and the flesh easily came off the bone and was fresh and perfectly cooked.  The salads were similarly fresh and we were given oil and vinegar to dress it.

We ordered 2 more Cola Zeros and a cortado (espresso coffee with a shot of hot milk).

The total bill came to €70 before tip and we felt that it was a fair price for such excellent fish.  It would certainly have cost a lot more in one of the more upmarket restaurants in Palma and would not have been any more delicious.

The only downside of our meal was that the terrace is close to a rather busy road, so there was a bit of traffic noise as we ate and at times it could be a bit difficult to hear what was being said.  However, it really did not detract from what was a most enjoyable dining experience.