El XIRINGO — Restaurant in Palma

Odd place - but can't fault it!

We were staying at the Melia across the road, and were arriving late afternoon so wanted somewhere quick and easy nearby.

Our main reason for choosing this was that we could book online, as we were a group of 7 and didn't know if we could just turn up anywhere on a Friday night and be seated.

We needn't have worried as that whole strip is pretty quiet - i guess mid April is still off season - but they also didn't expect us, even though we had a confirmed booking via their online portal. But it was no worries, they could seat us as it was fairly quiet.

The menu is an odd mix of Spanish food and Indian, with some tex mex thrown in which is always a bit worrying, but thankfully all the food was really delicious!

There's a good kids menu with the usual choices, and a nice selection of fish and meats. As well as the Indian food!

The garlic prawns were simply incredible, and dipping bread into the oil afterwards to scoop up all the garlic and chilli was just too delicious for words.

We also had the grilled chicken breast and chips which was so tasty - really thin chicken breast on the plancha but still so juicy, as well as a club sandwich, burger, and pizza. All was great but i think the burger we would say was just so so. Nothing wrong with it just not wow, and as many other dishes were wow, it stood out as just average.

The service was really nice and the staff friendly, even with a few language issues (not their fault), and they were great with the kids.

I will say, though, from walking around the other nights in that area, it's clear that the menu and even some of the staff are identical to a couple of other restaurants along the same strip! Definitely the same owners. But still, it was a great meal, and we would...

I did a solo Extreme Day Trip to Palma, and with my flight back leaving at 930pm, I wanted to find somewhere on the beach away from the main overpriced tourist areas that I could watch the sunset, have a nice meal and some sangria, charge up my phone and then jump on the airport bus. El Xiringo hit the spot nicely. It's slightly set back from the beach, which means it's sheltered from the wind whipping up the sand. It was a Wednesday night, so it was quiet with only 3 other tables in use. The staff couldn't have been more helpful, making recommendations and bringing out drinks and nibbles quickly.

Part of what attracted me to this restaurant was the fact that I could get paella for one person as most places say a minimum of 2 people. The waiter warned me that it'd take 30-40 mins because they cook it fresh, which I was delighted to hear (and the bread and Sangria was perfect to tide me over whilst waiting). The Paella was well worth the wait, second only to one I had at a cookery school in València. I wish I had got two portions so I could have taken some home! I didn't have time for a dessert but they looked great.

My meal was very reasonably priced, with my whole bill coming to about €35. I'll definitely go back on my next trip there.

After paying, I crossed the road and jumped on the bus for the short 15min trip to the airport with a full belly after a fantastic day...

I'll be flying to Mallorca this afternoon, third time in a row, and yes, I truly feel blessed. First: usually I'm much better in complaining but here I have to make an exception: The first time I visited Mallorca, I stumbled upon this restaurant quite by accident, tucked away in a somewhat hidden location but near to the beach. But then I saw the terrace, so peaceful, so beautiful and I was instantly charmed ... and then came the food! From that day on, despite the distance from my hotel, I returned every single day. It’s simply a wonderful place to be. The dishes are prepared with such care and love, and the service is always warm and welcoming. Last time, I hiked six days along the Ruta de la Pedra en Sec (GR221) and came down here to celebrate finishing the first half of the trail. This time, I’m hoping to complete the second half and no matter what, I’ll make sure to return to this special place at least once. I am so looking forward to that. I love it here, and I can wholeheartedly...