Es Cupina - Formentera, Spain

My view of Es Cupina will be a little unfair as I went to it when it was rented out for a wedding. This of course meant that I couldn't order from a menu. What was on offer was still very good however.

To begin with let me talk about the location because I think this is what makes the restaurant stand out. It sits modestly at the bottom of a hill right next to the sea. Not only does this mean that you know your seafood has to be fresh but it also allows you to hear the crashing waves as you eat. We didn't, the music was loud and the party too frantic, but I imagine that would be the case under less celebratory circumstances.

We began with an Octopus, Potato and Red Pepper combo that came on a wooden board for sharing. It was perfectly fine but if you can't produce a decently cooked potato then maybe you should go back to culinary school. The second plate that came out was a Goats Cheese, Tomato, Bacon tower type sandwich. It was nice but a nightmare to divide between 4 and a slightly odd thing to have at a wedding. Third came the steamed Mussels in a Mariniere sauce. I don't eat mussels but they were huge and those that did eat them said they were delicious and juicy. Fourth were the clams which came in a more garlicy sauce. Everyone scooped those up pretty quick. Finally the savoury leg of our lunch ended with Fideua. Fideua being a paella with noodles instead of rice. It originates from Valencia, as does the groom, so it was a nice touch. It was passable, nothing special, but the prawns were huge and the ratio of seafood to noodles was generous.

Later that evening we had a BBQ. Es Cupina opened up their back garden and cooked up huge quantities of steak, sausages, and pork chops. All of which came with buns, lovely sauces and beautifully roasted potatoes.

It's a place to go without doubt. The location is second to none. The food is seriously fresh and the staff are very kind.

The only down side is you have to cab it or drive to get there. I drove but I have it on good authority that the fare from the middle of the island to this restaurant would have been around 17 euros.

Es Cupina

8/10

Venda de sa Talaiassa (Platja Migjorn), S/N

07872, Pilar de la Molar, Formentera

Illes Balears

Tel: 971327221

Pizzeria Macondo - Formentera, Spain

Macondo was my favourite restaurant in Formentera. Amidst a myriad of highly priced places it was a joy to find somewhere that was not only cheap but had very good food. We went three times during our 9 day stay and each time I ordered something different (not quite the same with my husband, he's a Calzone fiend). 

First time around we were with a huge group of people, all of whom were sharing mussels to start, followed by large pizzas. The mussels were as you'd expect when being by the sea, big and juicy with a Mariniere type sauce. The pizzas looked delicious too (however it was only on our second visit that we'd know exactly how good). They also had the most delicious and indulgent starter imaginable. It comprised of a lovely terracotta bowl filled with molten, bubbling hot cheese. With this you could dip in bread, vegetables, your hand perhaps. A steal too at under 10 euros.

After this experience we had to venture back, not only for the food, but also for the ambience and vibe of the place. It sits on a side street (the main drag of a very small town/village) and takes up the entirety of it. The lighting is great and I suggest you sit outside on the street and be ready to wait for a good 20 minutes for a table.

Second time I had the Diablo pizza and my husband of course had the Calzone. This time round it was Calzone Tony. Tony is filled with Speck, Pepperoni, Ham and 2 cheeses. It comes out looking like a huge pillow filled with meaty smelling air. It was very good and very reasonably priced. Likewise with the pizza I had (9 euros) which was wafer thin and really very good. I believe that when a slice of pizza doesn't flop and fall apart when you put it in your mouth then you're in for a treat. This one didn't flop. Good job.

And finally our last visit to Macondo comprised of yet another Calzone for my husband (this time aptly named Vegetal and filled with goats cheese, walnuts and spinach), and I went off piste and had the Tagliolini with Ragu. If you know me you'll know that I always adapt my food, usually it needs more salt and always needs more chilli. On this occasion I didn't add any salt but of course heated it up a bit. In all fairness it didn't really need it, because it was utterly delicious by itself.

At the end of the meal they offer you a shot. I wondered if that touch was a Macondo thing or a Spanish thing. I hadn't seen it anywhere else so I concluded that it was just a Macondo perk. We didn't take them up on it but everyone else did. It made me think 'no wonder everyone leaves here satisfied and merry.'

We left entirely satiated but equally saddened that we were heading back to London with no Macondo food in our near future.

Pizzeria Macondo

10/10

Calle Mayor, 3

07871, Formentera

Tel: 387065555

Seafood and Steakhouse - Salisbury, Wiltshire

Seafood and Steak is part of the Milford Hall Hotel but non-guests are welcome. The restaurant name is a little misleading. Yes they do offer up good quality steaks and seafood but when I hear the words Steak House it conjures up images of questionable chains serving mediocre food in a dark generic setting. This restaurant however is far from that. I can best describe it as being a fancy, semi-romantic restaurant with well dressed waiters and high quality food.

I had the Pan Seared Scallops with Cauliflower Puree, Black Pudding and Truffle oil (£8.25) and my mother had the Mussels, Smoked Bacon, Cider Cream, and Tarragon that came with Garlic Toast (£7.25). The Cauliflower Puree was a little watery, the Black Pudding was crispy and rich and the Scallops were slightly underdone. Overall I didn't rate it. My mother however enjoyed her Mussels. The sauce was nice and the addition of the Bacon gave it a pleasant salty kick.

The restaurant was nearly empty when we went however I was told by one of the waiters that they are usually very busy and booking is required. I'm not sure about that as we went on a Friday night.

I think I'll give it a miss next time I'm there, not because it's bad necessarily but because it required us taking a taxi to get to it (it's not walking distance from Salisbury center) and I don't think it's worth the cab fare.

Seafood and Steakhouse
6/10
206 Castle Street
Salisbury, SP1 3TE
01722 424 110
www.salisburyseafoodandsteakhouse.co.uk

Fish in a Tie - Battersea, London

I took my mum here for Mother's Day. We went for lunch on a Friday. When we walked in the restaurant only had a few diners. It took no time at all for the place to fill out though. A good sign we thought, because in this day and age who can afford to go out for lunch in the middle of their work day?

The decor was lovely, yet understated all at once. I can imagine that at night, with the warm light of candlelit tables it can be a very romantic place to go. The upstairs was small, accommodating around 20 people, but there is a downstairs as well.

The service was impeccable. The one waitress working was enthusiastic, polite and helpful. It really made our meal more enjoyable.

You can choose from two separate menus at Fish in a Tie. First there's the 2 courses for £10 menu and then the 'a la carte' menu (both of which are incredibly reasonable). I ordered from the 2 for £10 menu that started with Calamari followed by the Fishcake (all the mains come with a selection of vegetables). My mum ordered from the 'a la carte' and started with the Moules Mariniere in a cream, wine, garlic and shallot sauce (£5.25) followed by the Seabass (£9.95).

My Calamari was lovely. The danger of ordering something like Calamari when you're in a city is it's often fried from frozen. This wasn't, resulting in it being mighty tender. My only qualm was that the Tartare Sauce was effectively mayonnaise and perhaps the coating on the calamari could have been a little crispier. The sauce that came with my mum's Moules was lovely but unfortunately there were around 4 or 5 that weren't open, which as we all know is a big no no with shellfish.

My main was good. I liked the crispy potatoes and the other veg weren't overdone. The fishcake could have possibly done with a little more fish and the texture was a little cakey, but still enjoyable. My mums seabass wasn't filleted which meant there were quite a few bones, however you can't fault them for that as it didn't state filleted on the menu. The fish was very well cooked and came with the same vegetables.

The name of this restaurant does lead one to believe that it's a fish restaurant, however they also offer specials, steak, pasta, chicken etc... I would describe it more as Mediterranean. 

My mum and I enjoyed our meals despite the slight imperfections. There were certainly elements of our respective dishes that I think could have been improved, however at these prices they are doing a great job. The overall experience was lovely and I will certainly be going back.

Fish in a Tie

7/10

105 Falcon Road

London, SW11 2PF

0207 924 1913

www.fishinatie.com


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