Luxury for less: Genestar Restaurant, Alcudia
There are some good restaurants in Mallorca that you rarely get to hear about. And there are others that you’re unlikely to find by chance. Genestar Restaurant, located beside the Auditorium in Alcúdia, is one of those that can be considered an ‘insider tip’.
Perhaps Alcúdia’s not a place you frequent very often – although its walled old town is certainly worth a visit – but you should make the trip, because you are going to love this restaurant.
The name Genestar is the surname of the owner Joan. He is largely a one-man show, cooking solo while also managing to greet his guests and give them a rundown of the menu of the day, which, by the way, changes daily.
The restaurant is intimate and modern in a creative yet sophisticated kind of way. It is not what you expect but you are pleasantly surprised. The welcome is genuine and the service homely. Even though it is a set menu there is flexibility in everything. Joan works hard to make sure you have a wonderful experience in his restaurant. “Mi casa es tu casa” is a nice expression and it’s not just rhetoric in Genestar.
I heard about the restaurant from Jaime, our Mallorcan chef in Bar,co. I was really impressed when we ate there the first time. For our review Joan prepared a special menu representative of the kitchen.
We started with a cream of potato soup with celery, grilled mushrooms, caramelised shallots and carrots. It was savoury and creamy with a pleasant aftertaste. This was followed by a mini veal stew full of vegetables, and miniature cubes of beef with a cheese topping. To fully appreciate the flavours you need to stir the contents. It was an inspiring reinvention of the ‘Ragout fin’ without the puff pastry top which was popular in the 80s. The next course was the most innovative – black rice with seafood sauce served with a panga (sweet water fish from Vietnam) on a bed of tapioca. It was a very unusual mixture of textures and tastes, but its subtlety and lightness were more than appealing.
Stuffed turkey
The meat course was my favourite: a stuffed turkey, rather like a meatloaf, incorporating a total of 25 ingredients! It was delicious. For dessert we enjoyed a flour-less chocolate cake filled with strawberries and oranges, served on a base of pear and white chocolate sauce and topped with vanilla ice-cream.
We drank a young white wine Martiuilli Verdejo 2007 and enjoyed the red Atteca 2006 from Calatayud with the meat. Considering the quality, the price of the wine is very reasonable at €20.
Chef Joan Genester – patiently waiting for the food to cook!
Joan, who hails from Inca, describes his cooking style as challenging, adventurous and very personal. He likes to improvise with ingredients and create dishes with unique textures and flavours. Many of the dishes served are slow-cooking recipes. The confit of duck is cooked for more than 24 hours (sadly not on the menu for our review) and is one of the best in the world – and that is no exaggeration!
Genestar offers a unique gastronomical experience which combines traditional Mallorcan recipes with modern cuisine. It is incredibly good value for money at €25 plus IVA for a five-course lunch or dinner. Take the time to visit Genestar in Alcúdia, for a luxury gourmet experience.
Mallorca offers a number of top-class gourmet restaurants at good value prices.
Here is our selection of the best:
Santi Taura, C/Guillem Santandreu, 38, Lloseta Tel: 971 51 46 22
Safra 21, Calle Illa de Corfú, 10, Ciudad Jardín, Palma de Mallorca Tel: 971 263 670
C’an Carrossa in Lloseta, 971 51 40 23
Check out our Mallorca restaurant section for an extensive list of the best restaurants in Mallorca with full reviews.
Genestar Restaurant
Plaça Porta de Mallorca, 1
Alcúdia. Tel. 971.549.157 / 630.039.169
www.genestarestaurant.com
info@genestarestaurant.com
Opening Hours:
Lunch: 13.00 – 15.30
Dinner: 20.00 – 23.30
Open Monday – Sunday.
Closed on Wednesdays and in winter on Sunday nights also.
Spring & summer closed on Sunday afternoons.
Photos: Thomas Baar
