Quina Creu Restaurant Review

Walking through what appeared to be an understated little tapas bar off the cobbled streets in Palma, we were pleasantly surprised at what awaited us inside Quina Creu. Upon arrival at 20:30, a friendly waitress called Sophia greeted us and guided us away from the no-frills bar and tapas area to a magnificent chic and stylish restaurant, complete with its own library and a traditional 1920s bar.

The traditional Mallorcan high ceilings, exposed stone walls and colourful tiles were complimented by a mishmash of 20th-century vintage furniture. The sophisticated chandeliers, library and 1920s bar juxtaposed with an 80s disco ball and 60s icons on posters plastered on the walls outside the bathrooms gave a sense of history and nostalgia to the place.

As we sat down at our table, we spied on the different dishes being served to the tables around us. Within seconds, we were delivered our menus and diving into some fresh bread, olives and alioli; a great start to our dining adventure.

Upon inspecting the extensive menu, we were perfectly satisfied to see that staples included traditional Spanish tapas as well as some unique offerings. Not dissimilar to its surroundings, this place offers a mixture of clear tradition and contemporary to create a revolutionary tapas experience.

Whilst pondering over what to eat, we decided to order a bottle of wine to share. Scanning the list of wines, we decided to opt for a Mallorcan wine that seemed to be a popular choice amongst the other diners in the restaurant. Its name: ‘AN/2’ (25.50€ for a bottle), from Ànima Negra vineyard in the middle of the island. For the wine connoisseurs out there, I would say it is a medium to full-bodied wine with intense flavours of mature red fruit, balanced with spicy, leathery notes.

Once some food was ordered, we sipped our wine and went on to absorb the magnificent surroundings. I spotted one blackboard with a selection of premium gins and another for the cocktails. Cocktail prices were a modest 6.50€ and looked delicious. Unfortunately, we had tucked into the wine by this point so decided to spare my head from the repercussions of mixing.

To start, we tried the all-time Asian-inspired favourite ‘Tempura Prawns with Chilli Dipping Sauce’ - the ultra-light batter was perfect. Then went decided to give some more traditional Spanish tapas a whirl with some ‘Pimientos de Padrón’ and ‘Patatas Bravas’, both very large portion sizes (more than enough for 2 people to share).

With a weakness for avocado, I was keen to give the tartar of avocado and scallops a try and was more than impressed with this little concoction. It was light and bursting with fresh flavours, a welcome break to the more- filling traditional tapas we had been sampling.

Now, being novices in the whole ‘Pintxos’ (or ‘Pinchos’) game, we asked the waitress for some recommendations. Before long, she came back with a plateful of these little beauties along with a brief explanation of what each were.

First and foremost, we were treated to a juicy ‘Mini Roast Lamb Burger’ which was bursting with flavour (the Spanish definitely know how to cook their lamb). The ‘Iberian Pork Tenderloin with Goat's Cheese’ was next on the agenda, an interesting amalgamation that seemed to work well together. Last but not least, a little treat of 'Grilled Foie Fillet with Baked Apple and Crispy Onions', presented beautifully.

At this point, we were bursting at the seams, but curiously asked for the dessert menu (you know, just to have a look). The waitress scooted off and a gentleman returned in her place with a tray of sweet paradise for us to choose from! I mean, how could we resist? We opted for two desserts to share, one being a little piece of chocolate heaven in the form of ‘Chocolate Fondant’ which came crowned with a vanilla and honeycomb ice cream; however, the ‘Mousse de Mojito’ was the winner for us. This was the dessert for me, a refreshing citrus mousse on a biscuit base with a raspberry sauce, it was zingy and absolutely delicious, words cannot describe! You’ll just have to try it for yourselves.

The two of us enjoyed a hearty tapas meal and a dessert for around 80€ – including a bottle of wine at 25.50€. Quina Creu also offers a long list of à la carte dishes which we will be back to try another time and, of course, Mallorca’s popular ‘Menu Del Día’ (a three-course set lunch menu), Monday to Friday between 13:00 and 16:00, which includes a starter, main course, dessert and a drink for 12.50€.

This restaurant is worth a trip or two, it offers a broad menu that merits repeat visits with friends or family.