The Diner Restaurant Review, Santa Catalina

There are obviously many other places in Mallorca to get a burger, after landing at Palma airport one of the first greetings comes from Burger King who are happy to let you know that there a thirty places to pick up a Whopper in Majorca. The thing is even with something as simple as a burger I'd like to know that it's made fresh and I'd like to eat it in a place that has a little character, and I'd prefer that character not to be a large clown.

Fifty metres up Carrer de Sant Magi is a little slice of Americana. Vinyl covered booths, black and white chequered flooring and a jukebox, it's like Happy Days, the Fonz would be at home here here. With an open grill area anyone concerned about how their burger is made and prepared should be happy too as you can watch your patty being hand-made and cooked up just how you like it.

The burgers themselves come in a range of sizes with various toppings and the ever important buns come fresh from the local Ca Sa Camena bakery. I've always chosen a "Texas Burger" with cheese, bacon salad and fries and I've always enjoyed it. There's nothing too flashy about the burger to be honest, this is no Heston Blumenthal deconstruction with liquid beef, frozen cheese and bacon vapour, it's just a simple favourite hand made with fresh ingredients and it's very, very tasty.

The rest of the menu is made up of similar staples of the American Diner experience; milkshakes, fries, B.L.T's and steak sandwich's can all be found in the Diner along with cooked breakfasts of pancakes, eggs and bacon.

The thing that makes the Diner exceptional though is it's opening hours. The Diner is open twenty four hours a day, seven days a week and only closes on Christmas Day and for twelve hours on New Years Day. No matter what the time or date you can come and have a bite to eat and with some of the clubs in the area closing at 5am the Diner is the perfect place to have some food before you head home from a night out.

The restaurant is always clean and the staff are very friendly and mercifully don't feel the need to wear more badges than an over enthusiastic boy scout. For entertainment you can listen to your favourite tunes whilst you eat courtesy of the juke box.

The Diner is not flashy or fancy but it's always open and always welcoming. The food is fresh, the burgers are one of the best I've ever tasted and they're very well priced. If you want a burger in Palma this is the place to go.