Paella MalloraceEver since Laurie Torres opened Mallorca Restaurant, 1390 W. 9^th Street in the Warehouse District, in 1997, she has built a loyal following for the establishment's Spanish and Portuguese cuisine and warm hospitality, while establishing the restaurant as a Cleveland fixture in a time when many independent restaurants come and go.

“I always say Mallorca is the kind of place that if you don't get a hug on the way in, you're going to ask for one on the way out," says Torres.

Mallorca's upcoming 30th anniversary in February isn't the only milestone Torres is celebrating. Cleveland Independents, one of the country's largest organizations representing independent restaurants, is marking its 20th anniversary.

The organization also is preparing for its semi-annual Cleveland Restaurant Week running Monday, Nov. 9 through Saturday, Nov. 21.

Cleveland Restaurant Week occurs in the spring and the fall. The approximately 70 Cleveland Independents member restaurants feature special three-course, prix fixe menus at $39 per person.

“This year is difficult for restaurants,” says Torres, who is also president of Cleveland Independents. “We’re trying to maintain our prices while combating high food costs, increased gas prices and so much more. We’re hoping that the promotion, in celebration of this very momentous anniversary year for us, is our most successful.”

Mallorca owner and Cleveland Independents president Laurie Torres.Three decades of making memories
Mallorca's longevity is about much more than serving good food, Torres says, with the restaurant becoming part of her customers’ memorable milestones over the past three decades—from engagement celebrations and rehearsal dinners to retirement parties and family gatherings.

"The soul of Mallorca is made up of the joy that's been celebrated there," she says. "And there's just been so, so much."

Torres says she knew the restaurant had become a Cleveland landmark when she began hearing people use it as a reference point when giving directions.

"It's like we are a landmark when people are using us to give directions," she says.

That connection with customers and the community also extends to Mallorca's staff. Chef Eleazar “Chef E” has been with the restaurant since the beginning, while Jorge, the lead waiter and manager, has worked there for 28 years. Torres describes the team as a family and says their commitment to hospitality helped Mallorca earn recognition as a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for hospitality.

"We were one of only 20 in the country up for the hospitality award," she says. "And that's what we are all about—we are all about hospitality."

For 30 years, Laurie Torres' Mallorca Restaurant has offered Spanish and Portuguese cuisine and warm hospitality.Independent restaurants, invested in Cleveland
That spirit of hospitality and community is also at the heart of Cleveland Independents, which promotes dining in independently owned restaurants and serves the interests of, protects, and nurtures independent restaurateurs in Northeast Ohio.

Torres says Cleveland Restaurant Week is an important way to introduce diners to independent restaurants that are committed to their communities, passionate about food and service, and contribute to the vitality of Northeast Ohio.

"Your independent restaurants are what makes Cleveland, Cleveland," she says.

Mallorca has participated in Cleveland Restaurant Week for the past decade, says Torres, who adds that the promotion offers diners great deals on three-course dinners while encouraging people to venture beyond familiar chain restaurants and discover the locally owned establishments that help give Greater Cleveland its character.

The Mallorca team is known for its warm hospitality while serving its Spanish and Portuguese cuisine.offers diners great deals on three-course dinners while encouraging people to venture beyond familiar chain restaurants.

She points out that independent restaurants also support their communities in ways that extend beyond the dining room. They contribute to local charities, sponsor youth sports teams, and provide food for community events and fundraisers.

"Those are the ones who are supporting the local community,” she argues, “it's not the national chains.”

Mallorca, she adds, has contributed to countless local causes during its 30 years in business.

“I can't even tell you the amount of charities that we've given to, the amount of softball teams we've supported, the amount of free food that goes out the door to support the local charities and the local community," Torres says.

A timely boost for independent restaurants
This year's Cleveland Restaurant Week comes at a time when both restaurant operators and diners are feeling the effects of rising costs. The prix fixe dinner promotion gives customers a chance to enjoy meals at participating restaurants for special prices while helping independent businesses bring in customers during challenging times.

"It's really kind of a time when everyone needs Restaurant Week, with everything being so expensive for both restaurants and for people—to be able to go out and experience your favorite restaurants again at a little bit of a discount and explore," Torres says.

For 30 years, Laurie Torres' Mallorca Restaurant has offered Spanish and Portuguese cuisine and warm hospitality.Participating restaurants generally will offer three-course, prix fixe menus for $39, although individual restaurants may adjust their prices, dates of availability, and carryout options. Some members also will offer other specials suited to their menus and dining styles.

At Mallorca, diners can expect familiar favorites, including paella and chicken in garlic sauce—a customer favorite, Torres says. The restaurant also plans to offer a special paella for two to go, one of its most popular carryout orders.

Torres is also considering something new for the promotion: paella pasta, combining two popular dishes. Although paella is a signature of Spanish cuisine, she says pasta is also a staple in Spain, where ingredients are often cooked together so the noodles absorb the flavors of the dish.

“I've been asking the chef for a long time if we could do a paella pasta, because a lot of people want paella, but they also want pasta,” she says, “so it's a good way to marry those two together."

Restaurant Week is about giving people a reason to explore, Torres adds, whether they are returning to a longtime favorite or trying something new. It's also an opportunity to recognize the independent restaurants that help make Cleveland unique.

As Mallorca approaches three decades in the Warehouse District and Cleveland Independents celebrates two decades of promoting locally owned restaurants, Torres says she hopes diners will make a point of supporting the businesses that, in turn, support their communities.

Cleveland Restaurant Week runs Nov. 9-21. Cleveland Restaurant Week menus and participating restaurant information are now available on the Cleveland Independents site. Gift certificates will not be accepted during the promotion, and third-party delivery services are not participating.