Our Ibiza Winter Restaurant review this week took us to Es Cavallet in the south of the island and the idyllically located Restaurante La Escollera.
With spectacular views across the clear blue Mediterranean, picturesque wooden-decked terraces and swaying palm trees, it is easy to understand why Restaurante La Escollera is a popular choice for romantic Ibiza weddings. For a mid-week lunchtime treat, it certainly didn't disappoint either.
My editor, Cat, and I arrived on a very windy day but found that the terrace was surprisingly sheltered so we were able to dine al fresco with the added bonus of watching the colourful display of kite surfers who were out making the most of the weather.
Setting the menu board in front of us, our waiter brought us flutes of Cava whilst we made our selection from the impressive and wide-ranging choice of dishes. With no sense of being hurried, our orders were taken, and we settled back to enjoy the traditional Ibiza appetisers of olives, bread rolls and alioli.
Restaurante La Escollera has been a favourite of locals, residents and holiday-makers alike for almost twenty years, and is now run by the very friendly Wilhelmina, whose grandmother's famous Paellas were originally responsible for the restaurant's increasing popularity. It is elegant yet homely, sophisticated yet friendly…the balance is perfect. We were particularly taken with the heavy, rustic wooden furniture which was spotlessly clean, the good-sized linen napkins and top quality cutlery and crockery.
And then the food arrived…
Cat had opted for Ensalada Ibicenca, traditional Ibiza salad with potato, egg, pepper, tomato and tuna. This is one of her all-time favourite dishes, but she was particularly impressed by La Escollera's artistic presentation and the well-balanced variety of flavours which made each mouthful a pleasing combination of different tastes.
My Crepe Espinica (spinach crepe) was enormous and positively brimming with spinach in a delicate creamy sauce. Had this been my main course, I would have devoured it all, but aware that this was just the start of my meal, I reluctantly left some, breathing a sigh of relief as our waiter cleared the table and removed all temptation. In fact, not only were our plates removed, everything was cleared from the table, including the condiments, which really gave us a nice sense of space in which we could relax completely between courses.
Pollo Payes was Cat's choice of main course; chicken served with chips and roasted vegetables. Wherever possible, Restaurante La Escollera use locally-sourced produce, including meat. The result? The largest chicken breast Cat has ever been presented with in all her years of reviewing restaurants. Not only that, she assured me that, being raised in a natural environment meant that the meat was especially flavoursome, as compared to low quality UK supermarket meat which is pumped full of water and often quite tasteless. This, I can assure you dear readers, was expressed with no hint of gloating whatsoever!
As for me, I was also very happy with my choice of Vegetarian Sushi. Rolls of rice and vegetables, delicately flavoured and accompanied with ginger and wasabi.
We found it almost impossible to decide on dessert, the entire sweet menu looked divine, so at the recommendation of our waitress, we were presented with a mixture of six desserts to share…plus Cat's all-time favourite, mousse de cafe, which she refused to share! This was no bad thing; we invited two friends who also happened to be lunching at La Escollera to help us to tackle the cheesecake, profiterole, mango mousse, white chocolate mousse, chocolate truffle mousse, and chocolate brownie, garnished with fresh strawberries…and between the four of us, we came nowhere near to emptying the plate.
With an exceptional bottle of house rosado and our glasses constantly topped up by the attentive staff, followed by a good, strong coffee, it is fair to say that we were more than impressed with our lunch at La Escollera.
If you decide to try it out for yourselves (and we strongly recommend that you do), then please note that reservations are essential by calling 0034 971 39 65 72 – please mention Ibiza Spotlight – thank you!
Quick Facts
What Restaurante La Escollera
Where Es Cavallet
Why Superb variety of top quality food, excellent service and fairy-tale views.
When 11.00 - 19.00 hrs every day of the year. Kitchen open from 13.00 - 18.00 hrs.
Vegetarian Options Yes
Disabled Access Yes
Average spend per head €40 - €45 including drinks
Top Tip Share a mixture of desserts with your friends! If you are a non-meat eater, check the ingredients, as some of the sweets contain gelatine.
