I got ripped off in Mallorca, my own back yard

Oh, and by the way. Do you remember a few months ago stating categorically that contrary to my opinion, no restaurants in Spain, in particular in Majorca, put a time limit on the time their clientele could occupy a table ? Check out your new favorite restaurant's web site.

“There is a growing demand for quality food and service“ Maybe from those with a very healthy bank balance. More and more fast food restaurants are having to close due to the fact that even the average Joe is finding it hard to justify paying the prices demanded by such outlets. Not so long ago, eating (sorry, dining) out was a regular occurrence for the general populace. Not any more. Something is seriously going wrong, and it ain’t people’s appetites.

Obviously Williams doesn’t know Santa Catalina as well as you, and maybe I, do.

Richard PearsonThere is a growing demand for quality food and service. Not the McDonaldland fare you have often expressed preference for. You might be happy with mediocrity (as long as it's relatively cheap), but the rest of the world is increasingly accustomed to a higher quality dining experience. This is changing all over Mallorca now. One good example of a restaurant that learned this the hard way is Illeta. It's a tiny island just off the beach in Camp de Mar. The entire island is a restaurant - which is unique in itself. A few years ago, it was relying entirely on its unique charm as an island restaurant, but their food and service was the same mediocrity you're used to - yet very expensive. But as time went on, its island uniqueness just wasn't enough to carry it anymore, and they began to struggle, and nearly closed down. But then they got wise and completely upped their game. Now, that restaurant delivers outstanding cuisine with top service - and it's quite pricey. Yet they're so busy that there's no chance of just walking in - you must have a reservation, and you may need to reserve a couple of weeks in advance. It's just that popular. So, while mediocrity may suit you, it doesn't suit most others. The restaurant referred to in this article is located in a highly popular restaurant district and faces lots of seasoned competition, yet is delivering pricey mediocrity, presumably relying on its location in a highly popular restaurant district to justify it. That's incredibly short-sighted and amateurish. They won't last long, unless they up their game to compete with what's around them.

Richard PearsonTrue. My favorite steak house and fish restaurant, both really excellent, sadly closed a few years back. Another one called Zanzibar, a fun place to go, is no longer.

Morgan WilliamsWith all due respect, implying that a closed restaurant is due to the owners being amateurs, is an insult to many former restauranteurs. Anyone who has some knowledge of Santa Catalina will testify to the fact that many that are no longer operating were serving excellent food at reasonable prices. The fact remains that the consummate professionals running them realised that after years of slaving over a hot stove, combined with increased costs and taxes, and decreased energy, that it just wasn’t worth it, and decided to look for pastures new. New bad ones folded quickly. Old, good ones, lasted longer, but sadly, some, after many years, decided to call it a day, but with their heads held high.

It's one thing to deliver an outstanding cuisine and charge appropriately - it's quite another to deliver mediocrity and charge as if it's Michelin star. There's some of that still going around, but many more are finally wising up - by force. Other amateurs have opened up shop in Santa Catalina and ultimately learned the hard way, and are long since ancient history. No worries, they won't last long if they keep that up.