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EATS | Spain > Manacor > Factoría Restaurant

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Tonight I had one of the best meals of my life.  I was sitting at my home in the countryside of Mallorca and was feeling bored and hungry when I decided to venture out to another town in search of something to eat.  I drove about 30 minutes to Manacor, which is Mallorca's second largest city and the birthplace of tennis player Rafael Nadal.  Once I arrived in Manacor I found a place called Factoria Restaurant.  I was greeted by Juan the bartender and he set me up with a table.  I was flying solo tonight and may have actually enjoyed the essence of my meal more because of it.  I can't remember ever having a dining experience that had me savoring every bite from beginning to end.  I was fully immersed in the flavors interacting with my tastebuds, and no joke, I was smiling after each bite because everything tasted so good.

I had the black yucca bread appetizer and highly recommend it because it's f--cking delicious.  I followed that up with the grilled pork dish and there are no words to explain how tasty that was.  I almost drowned in flavor ecstasy and was enjoying my meal so much that chef and owner Tomeu Bauzá, actually came out to thank me for my appreciation of the culinary art he was creating in the kitchen.  We chatted for a bit and then it was time for dessert.  He walked me through each option, but in the end I still couldn't decide so he brought me both, again more flavor ecstasy.

I thoroughly enjoyed my solo date with food tonight.  Chef Tomeu is a super cool guy creating flavorful masterpieces and is grateful to have the opportunity to share his art with others.

Thank you chef Tomeu, Vanesa, and Juan for an amazing dining experience.  I'll definitely be back!

FACTORIA RESTAURANT
Plaça Weyler, 1
07500 Manacor, Illes Balears
Spain
+34 654602 769
www.factoriagastrobar.com
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EATS | Spain > Palma de Mallorca > El Aquanauta

I arrived in Mallorca on April 19 and prior to getting here, I was craving some good Mexican food, which I had neglected to take advantage of before leaving San Diego.  I've been living in the countryside near a village called Montuïri and there really aren't too many food options nearby, definitely no Mexican food because this is Spain after all.  Anyway, after a couple of weeks in the countryside, I decided to spend a weekend checking out Palma.  After arriving by bus I was walking to my hotel, still craving Mexican food.  As I stopped to check some directions I looked up and saw that I was standing in front of a place called El Aquanauta and saw the word "tacos."  I went in, had a seat and ordered 3 different tacos off the menu.  Each one was great and I was wishing I had a larger appetite and more accommodating belly that would allow me to try more from the menu.  These tacos were easily on par with anything in southern California.

I've been back a few times, not only because of the great food, but also because the staff is super cool and very welcoming.  The chef Raúl is from Mexico so he knows his shit and is a great guy to shoot the shit with.  He's lived and worked all over the world so we've had plenty of good conversations across a wide spectrum of subjects.  The owner Andres actually spent time in San Diego researching taco spots to get inspiration for El Aquanauta, which makes this a very appealing place to hang out when I want a taste of home.

If you find yourself in Palma you should definitely make a point of having a meal here, whether you're looking for Mexican food or just looking for good food, in a cool environment, with a staff that enjoys their job.  This place is a great hang out or meeting spot to get the night started.

El Aquanauta
Avenida Argentina, 27
Palma De Mallorca, Spain
+34 871 80 49 30
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