Mallorca Restaurant in the Warehouse District in Cleveland Ohio

Last weekend, I was in Cleveland with a good high school pal Jen H. We had a blast. But we did have a meal at Mallorca which was highly recommended by our hotel staff. The person did emphasize their service is impeccable! I had read they had garnered some food awards in the past.

After walking around a bit in Downtown and Lake Erie area, Jen and I were ready to have dinner. We entered around 9pm on a Saturday night and got seated immediately. (We are both used to waits for a table in DC and Beantown respectively). There was dim lighting, the decor was not to cluttered. The waitstaff was very attentive and made sure our water glasses were constantly filled. I even got to practice my Spanish a little.

We both opted for some soup---Jen the Spanish veggie soup and myself the gazpacho. This time around the gazpacho was very tart. After the first two spoonfuls it was delicious. After 5 or 6 I was worn down and not loving the taste. I would have preferred Tascas fresher, lighter taste with the hint of cucumber. As for Jen's veggie soup, it was salty and heavy on the bean and kale flavors. Next, we got salads with our meals which we did not know we would be getting. It was a decent plateful of mixed greens, raw red onions and tomato slices. I enjoyed the honey mustard dressing. Then our main entrees came out, Jen got the tilapia stuffed with crabmeat $26 and I got the surf'n'turf $39 with the petit filet and the lobster tail hailed from South Africa (of all places!). The lobster was fine, the petit filet was good. After talking to some people from Ohio, I had to have some steak. Just different from the ones eaten in Massachusetts. It was tender, did not need much chewing and very delicious. Jen's had a wine garlic sauce and the fish was good with the crab stuffing. The sides of rice---dry and lack luster. The veggies were at least not oil drenched and for that I was thankful. Just boiled veggies on a plate with no extra flavor.

We were stuffed after our meal so we had no room for dessert.

Overall rating of 7 forks out of 10 forks.

Though the food was uneven, the service and decor bumped up the score. In addition, the pricey menu did bring the points down a little. Jen gave them 6.5 forks out of 10 forks.

New Trendy Chinese Restaurant

My parents are always on the look out for new Chinese restaurants especially those that are near my apartment. If we go to Chinatown, we have to pay for parking, on top of just eating dinner and spending money on gas.

So this newly opened restaurant New Trendy Restuarant in Allston on Brighton Avenue (few doors down from Le's or former Pho Pasteur) has the New Business garlands with many red ribbons with gold writing wishing best wishes for the new business. The dining room is very welcoming and clean. We are welcomed with a plate of pickled daikon and carrots (a fave of mine). We get the "Lai tong" or soup of the day. My mom loves it as it is broth that takes a LONG time to make. I do not know what it is called but it is good. Next we have the fish with sugar snap peas. I like it. The sugar peas are still crisp and the sauce and fish are in a mild sauce. The grilled eel (with honey) get six pieces for $14 is good. But I would rather have unagi instead Japanese style. It does hold its own though. Then next is a dish with chicken "wong shan" I know my mom uses it in dried form for her herbal soups. I have never had it in fresh form. It is crispy as daikon or jicama but not too flavorful. But just for the health benefits alone I eat alot of it.

Dinner is ended with green bean soup, which is just right and not overly sweet. My parents want to come back again to try more stuff.

8 forks out of 10 forks