It’s a chic food oasis near Palma’s "second city centre", the Plaza España: Mediterranean-Japanese fusion restaurant Arume Sushi in Calle San Miguel 83.
Many office workers and business executives from nearby companies, and even high-profile local politicians, like to come here for a stylish lunch or dinner. In the evening the ambience is romantically intimate. The majority of diners are regulars, however, and connoisseurs of Asian cuisine. Arume’s owner Pedro Martí and his nephew Tomeu, the restaurant’s chef, have devised a special service for their core of regulars. On the wall in the entrance area, a wooden shelf contains colourful Japanese “Hashi” chopsticks in boxes. “Whenever we know that a regular is coming, we lay his table with his personalized chopsticks.”
It’s certainly worth making repeat visits – as abcMallorca’s food jury can testify first-hand. When Mallorcan chef Tomeu (29) puts on his kimono apron – the Japanese style has to be authentic – he sets out to cook with an amazing speed. The self-assured cook gives his assistants short and clear commands, while he’s preparing every Sushi tapa element in less than one minute.
Before sampling the “Arume Sushi” collection, the abcMallorca testers savour an appetizer that’s not served raw – like many other dishes at Arume: Fried spiny lobster with Nori algae, wrapped in strings of Kardaiff paste. An almond-Rayford dressing is the dip. This dish called “Rol de Foie mi cuit” has a gorgeous crisp taste. Price: 14.50 euros. Another dish looks spectacular: “Tower of tuna tartar” with caviar, at a cost of 17 euros. Also worth seeing is the dish “Spicy Carpaccio of tuna with bean sprouts” (18 euros). Tomeu modifies the menu twice a year, including new creations.
The abcMallorca meal continues with Nigiri Sushi mouthfuls. These little cups are born of his swift hands: Cooked spicy lobster with roe of flying fish and Wasabi (radish paste), fresh tuna with ginger and scallion, sea bass with miso sauce and scallion, cuttlefish with hot dip and Yuzu (Japanese tangerine) peel, mackerel in vinegar marinade, decorated roe of trout, smoked eel with Teriyaki sauce and green roll with Rayford dressing. The arrangement of these small delicacies is so picturesque that it almost seems a shame to eat them. Price: 21.50 euros. Every tapa provides an outstanding taste experience.
Tomeu describes himself not as a Japanese but a “Mediterranean cook” above all – despite Arume’s Far East concept. His gastronomic philosophy is the perfect combination of both Japanese and Mediterranean haute cuisine.
Tomeu’s skills were mainly acquired during his five year performance at Puerto Portals-based Asian restaurant “Tahini” (2001 – 2006). In 2002 he won the national championship of Spanish cuisine with a suckling pig dish (“Cochinillo”). In 2006 he decided to stand on his own feet.
Pedro Martí, Tomeu’s uncle, provided financing and made his nephew co-owner and chef.
The minimalist but warm interior design is satisfying; the restaurant Arume houses two different floors with space for at least 65 guests.
The show kitchen for cold dishes is within the dining room near the entrance, the main kitchen for hot dishes is behind the scenes.
After the Sushi parade Tomeu serves us the third course: Fried crayfish, wrapped in Pasta. Its fine taste is due to perfectly combined flavours. The palate is now prepared for dessert.
One of the sweet delicacies the kitchen master offers us, is a spectacular bowl which two people could enjoy sharing: “Coco & Citricos”, a Caribbean dream with a sugar template, priced 6.50 euros. The alluring ingredients: jelly of passion fruit, ginger and vanilla, pieces of blood orange and grapefruit, small cubes of pineapple and Panna Cotta flavoured with passion fruit – all this covered with orange ice cream and sweet coconut foam.
Anyone who wants to end their meal at Arume in a Japanese way, can choose a glass of Umeshu, the Japanese apricot wine. Sushi connoisseurs will drink Sake, the traditional rice wine, served cold during the meal and warm after it.
Altogether, the abcMallorca jury was profoundly impressed this afternoon at Arume. This restaurant must be ranked – along with “Bar,co” in Portixol and “Sushi Club” in Porto Pi – among Mallorca´s top level addresses for Sushi.
Contact Details:
San Miguel 83, Palma, Phone: +34 971 214 121, www.arume-sushi.com, Opening hours: Every day (except Sundays) from 1.30pm until 3.30pm and from 9pm to 11pm Closed during August.
Text by: Roland Kroiss
Photographer: Thomas Baar
Link to: Arume Sushi Restaurant in Palma
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