Javier Hoebeeck – who’s the chef behind the culinary creations at the Playa de Muro restaurants Fusion 19 and Gaikan – is the owner of the eatery Übeck in Manacor. Fusion 19 is on my list of restaurants in Mallorca I’d like to try, but the 80€ per head price tag for what does look like a fabulous tasting menu means we’ll have to save our visit for a special occasion.

Javier’s Übeck restaurant in Manacor is an affordable, if different, alternative, as we discovered recently when we went for lunch on a whim.

Übeck is located on Manacor’s Avenguda d’es Torrent. It’s not the smartest street in Manacor but it has the advantage of ample street parking (metered), which is ideal if you don’t want to walk too far to a restaurant in the sizzling summer heat. Übeck stands out for its bright exterior signage in yellow and black, so it’s easy to find.

The Interior of Übeck

Contemporary, clean, light, and attractive sum the interior up well. Übeck is quite small, seating around 20 people at the most. The colours yellow and black are used again in the décor.

Most of the cooking/plating is done behind the bar/counter, so diners can see what’s going on.

This restaurant has no outdoor seating.

The Menu

One of the things I love here is that the menu is displayed outside on the wall – in English too – so you can check the offerings before you go in. That’s especially important if you’re a vegetarian.

Übeck uses local produce to create dishes with flavours of the world.

The menu offers eight starters – three of which are suitable for vegetarians. Prices range from 6-9€.

Choose from eight mains (two vegetarian), priced from 8,50 to 14,50€. Four side dishes are each 2,85€.

We shared one portion of six fried chicken gyozas (7,50€) to start. They came with coconut cardamon sauce and home-made sweet chili. Our main courses were udon wok with crispy prawns (13,50€) and spiced veggie shaorma with vegetables and yellow curry (14,50€). Portion sizes are generous.

The two desserts (each 6€) looked appealing but we had no room to eat anything else. Not a problem, as we shall return with larger appetites and looser waistbands.

Übeck also offers a dish of the day (from a choice of two) and a drink for 9,75€ and some specials. Oh, and you can order take-out too – in environmentally friendly packaging.

Drinks

The wines are displayed on shelves marked with the bottle prices. Some are available by the glass. Bottle prices looked fair: Miquel Gelabert’s Golós Blanc, for example, is 17€. They have a special-edition vermouth and also hidromiel, the fermented honey drink we know in England as mead.

The Service

We ate at lunchtime, when there were another five people eating. Gabriel and Cassandra, wearing their bright-yellow, branded T-shirts and black aprons, were in charge of everything. Gabriel took our orders and served our dishes; he’s efficient and pleasant, happy to chat and explain anything unfamiliar.

The Verdict

We’re definitely going back. Good value, a pleasant environment, and tasty dishes. I’ve already decided what I’ll try next time!

©Jan Edwards 2022