(Cleveland) – I am totally unfamiliar with Cleveland. I googled and found some interesting restaurants to visit but they are either far from the hotel or extremely expensive. Tired from 6-hours drive, I just wanted a familiar, reasonably priced, quick bite to replenish my energy and hopefully, show a good first impression of Cleveland to me. I walked around the hotel area which is located at the Warehouse District and after a few minutes, I was standing in front of a restaurant that serves food I am accustomed to. “Let’s have Spanish tonight.” I excitedly helped my friends to decide on what to eat. Then, we entered the place called, Mallorca.
Filipino palate is used to Spanish flavors. I grew up loving Spanish dishes like paella, salpicado, chorizo to name a few. These dishes are comfort food to me. This is why I felt very much at home in Mallorca restaurant. Besides the great food, we got the best service from the tuxedo-clad waiter who attended us. I felt as if I was given a personal butler. Lol. He seemed to know well all the dishes on the menu, guided us on what to order and gave some very interesting background information about the dishes. He was attentive without being annoying and obtrusive. People like him will elevate your dining experience to a different level. So sad that such waiters are rare nowadays.
Everything we ordered was fantastic. The Spanish flav
ors on chorizo and paella were spot on. The servings were generous, especially on the most expensive ingredients in the dish like seafood. And the sangria, in terra cotta pitcher, was a killer; fruity without being too sweet, with subtle hints of alcohol and yet, strong enough to make you tipsy after a few sips.
Chorizo A La Plancha – Broiled Spanish sausage
Paella Valenciana – Shellfish Casserole with chicken and sausage in a saffron rice
Pasta con Mejillones Y Camarones – Linguine with Mussels and Shrimp in a chef marinara sauce
All the dishes come with free salad, steamed vegetable and Spanish potatoes. Our waiter gave us free shots of almond liquor that night. I didn’t see that freebie in the menu but nevertheless, we enjoyed it. Who doesn’t want pro bono stuffs?! But in a place like Mallorca where food is exceptional, I would still be happy and satisfied even without the giveaways.
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1390 West 9th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
(216) 687-9494
www.clevelandmallorca.com
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