© J. Rains
© J. Rains
© J. Rains
© J. Rains
© J. Rains
© Hotel Sant Francesc
Quadrat Restaurant review
In the depths of Palma’s old town, on Plaza de Sant Francesc, resides a neoclassical style 19th-century mansion, which has been transformed to become Hotel Sant Francesc. This little boutique hotel has many charms from its original character through to its elegant accommodation, chic lobby bar and rooftop sushi restaurant, but on Valentine’s Day I went along to try out the renowned Quadrat Restaurant.
The restaurant’s brilliant reputation is down to the magnificent food creations of chef Alfonso Lillo, also known as Chef Fonsi. A remarkable man who has been inspired by the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Gordon Ramsay having worked for their kitchen teams. His own creations, however, take on aspects of traditional Mediterranean food with a modern style of cooking to create exquisite flavours.
Upon arriving outside the beautifully lit building on Valentine’s Day, the place oozed sophistication and style which was reinforced as soon as we entered the hotel lobby bar. Greeted by some immaculately dressed staff, we were guided downstairs to what seemed to be the cellars or old stables of the building where our gastronomic adventure awaited us.
Once seated at the table, we had a moment to soak up the surroundings. The décor combines the essence of the building's 19th-century roots with the contemporary furnishings of a first class restaurant. It was a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere with some well-heeled clientele filling the dining tables.
There’s the "à la carte" menu and special tasting menus (Menu Degustación) available every day, (4 courses for 45€, 6 courses for 65€). Having opted for the humble four-course option, we put ourselves at the mercy of the highly trained waiting staff who ferried one innovative dish to the table after another.
Kicking off the meal, we sipped on a cheeky gin and tonic (Hendricks 8€, Fever Tree Tonic 4€) served in the legendary Spanish chalice glasses whilst pondering over the wine menu. It consisted of mainly Spanish and Mallorcan wines at a wide range of prices. We opted for the Ribera del Duero (which was around 23€), which was more than drinkable and paired perfectly with the food that followed. There were also some imaginative cocktails (15€) on offer for those keen to try something new.
The appearance of a complimentary shot of gazpacho to accompany the bread and olives set the standard for the whole meal. This was quickly followed by a cold starter of grilled creamy corn with tomato and avocado ceviche, tastefully served on a bed of salt. We were immediately impressed with the presentation and the subtle individual flavours coming through.
Next came the most memorable dish, the hot starter, which was more like a theatrical experience. The Pekin duck dim sum with confit Shiitake mushrooms were presented with a smoke effect thanks to some dry ice that brought the whole table to life for a few minutes before tucking into the delicate and tasty pieces.
The next dish was perhaps the simplest of the entire meal, yet delicious. Having picked the meat option, Angus beef rib with carrot and grilled yuca, we weren’t disappointed. The meat was succulent mouth-wateringly tasty.
Dessert, again skilfully presented, was definitely a dessert to die for. It consisted of a fake beetroot and cocoa crumble with creamy passion fruit served with a yoghurt ice cream. It’s one of those desserts that when the waiting staff take the empty plates away, leaves you wanting more. The good news is that, if that little sugar fix wasn’t enough, coffee is served with three petit fours, my favourite being the citrus macaroon closely followed by the truffle. The perfect ending to a perfect meal!
This enchanting restaurant also offers a 3-course lunch menu, the Menu Mediodía, which is 26,50€ per person if you are looking for a superb spot for lunch!
More inspiration...
Palma is fastly becoming a foodie-favourite destination with many interesting places popping up all around town. Take a look at some of our top picks.
