Zoltan TeglasAnd your point is ?

Williams, you have no idea how much.

Richard PearsonVery few locals eat out in Santa Catalina, it's for tourists and rich Germans/Scandinavians.

Richard PearsonWow Richard, you really get around. From Magaluf to Portals. And even as far-flung as Santa Catalina. What a broad sampling of off-the-beaten-path "back from the waterfront" Mallorca, deep into to the uncharted wilderness beyond Calvia. I've apparently underestimated you.

Morgan Williams“Here in Mallorca , once you leave the beach resort, prices drop radically”. Not in my experience. In actual fact, quite the opposite, especially when one takes into account that “beach resort” food providers only have a 7 month season compared to a year round one in Palma and other urban areas. When, for instance, was the last time you dined in Puerto Portals or Santa Catalina ?

Morgan WilliamsOf course it’s all relative. Two of my nieces live and work in Switzerland (one was born there), and the salaries they earn (banking and pharmaceuticals) far outstrip anything they could earn in Spain, let alone the U.K. Do they find it expensive ? No, considering the standard of living they receive in return. Of course, in comparison, they find Spain cheap and good value for money. Speaking personally, I think that for eating well, Japan, France and Italy are very difficult to beat. Germany also gets an honorable mention, especially for the service and professionalism provided.

Everything is relative. In Zurich, a plate of really awful korma will cost at least 20€, and anything else will cost even more. A plate of something more average - what you might expect for a reasonable price - will be 50€ at least. Something really nice will approach 100€. And if you express shock to a local, they'll tell you it's quite normal. In contrast, in Capetown you can sit down at any average restaurant and enjoy a really nice meal for the equivalent of about 6-7€, and the food will be delicious. A really great chef prepared dish will cost you about 20€. Yet, here in Mallorca , once you leave the beach resort, prices drop radically.

In my experience, you cannot just eat out here, you have to do extensive research. I got served a prawn salad somewhere, the prawns were boiled shrimp and it came with chopped banana in it. Another example was the tacos i had in Santa Catalina, with basil pesto instead of guacamole. There are so many amazing chefs out there, why serve meals like this!

We own a home in Mallorca and we love to eat out, perhaps five or six evenings a week with the occasional lunch. Sadly due to the 90 day rule our time spent in Mallorca is restricted, we left the island in early June because we were approaching our 90 day limit. I noticed many restaurants in Port Andratx were offering menu del dia, which is unusual for this time of year, perhaps a sign they are struggling

Bad food at extortionate prices. Its not difficult. 16 euros for tomato and mozzarella starter kind of gives an idea why people are staying away.