14th April, 2012.
LA FAVORITA RESTAURANT in Marsascala opened its doors some twentyfive years ago, and has always been run and managed by the Spears family. Joe Spears was the Chef/Patron for many years ably assisted by wife Phylis running front of house, acting as host, head waitress and everything in between, until their son Anthony was old enough to finish school and train with his father to take over as the head chef, with daughter Dorianne assisting Anthony and also acting as the restaurant's patissiere. At one time all pasta was home-made by Joe, and new dishes were introduced in Marsascala to place this once sleepy village in the forefront of good food restaurants in the South of Malta.
Times change, some seventy food outlets opened up in the Marsascala area over these years, competition hotted up, but La Favorita still remained one of the venues that is sought after by many for authentic food, mostly cooked Maltese style to suit perfectly the Maltese palate. Emphasis at this family-run operation is on the food rather than on decor, which is nonetheless pleasant, although maybe due for an upgrade to bring it back to its original glory. The restaurant's forte is fresh fish and seafood cuisine, and the menu depends largely on the best and freshest products from the daily catch.
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| More fresh fish selections. |
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| Deep Sea Balck Bream -Tannuta. |
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Scorpion fish -Cippulazza and
Gurbell -Meagre. |
Fresh fish and seafood are the forte of most up-market restaurants in Marsascala, and these offerings from La Favorita make this location proud.
We've been to this venue on
numerous occasions during its twentyfive years of operation, and one of our favourite dishes, and one which we order frequently especially when we would have had a good spell of good weather in Malta, and ample ingredients are freshly available, is their seafood meze, which consist of a feast of the best seafood served in buffet style on one's table for the table guests to share between them.
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Baked Mussels topped with
cheese. |
Fresh fish, good pasta dishes, individual seafood platters are normally the order of the day and their oven baked mussels topped with cheese as well as their Zuppa di Pescatore a rich seafood bisque with portions of seafood and crispy toasted bread are to die for.
|
Oysters served as part of
the meze' |
La Favorita's menu offers selections of Antipasti priced from some Eur4.25 to Eur7.75 with oysters at Eur2.5 each; Soups that are based on seafood such as the traditional Aljotta (fresh fish soup), Zuppa di Pescatore (shellfish cooked in its own juice in bouillabaisse style) and Lobster Bisque decently priced from a low Eur3.50 to Eur9. Spaghetti and rice dishes Eur5.50/Eur8.25; Fish and Seafood dishes as well as choices of Meat dishes to suit all palates.
|
Grilled Beef Fillet with
mushroom sauce. |
At this venue one can have a three course meal excluding wine and beverages for as low as Eur22 or for a more decent Eur33.50 per person, for their better food selections from the priced menu. Fresh fish in season is priced as per the season's market price, so it is advisable to ask for the price when one selects the fish from the display (as such one should do this at every restaurant to avoid surprises later when the bill is presented).
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| Grilled Spigola - Sea Bass. |
Photos illustrated in this review have been taken by myself during two recent visits to this venue, both for lunch and dinner and give a good indication of what one should expect when cuisine ordered is served.
Wine list is not overtly large, but gives a good selection of both local and imported wines at a decent mark-up.
Our Food Selections as per dinner on the 13th of April, 2012.; one grilled beef fillet with mushroom sauce
on the side; one stone-bass (dot) fish steak. Maincourses accompanied by fresh
salad, chips and hot veg on the side. Bread and butter. Whilst reading the
menus a platter with a hot cheese bruschetta was served with a bowl of quail
eggs as appetizer. Desserts: Four ice-creams and one cassatella portion.
Drinks: 2 bottles of water, 1 bottle of the more expensive local Chardonnay
(Eur19) barely marked-up; and espressos. TOTAL price Eur132. Very good value;
very good food; very good service.
|
Grilled Stone Bass (Dot)
Fish Steak portion. |
- Members in group:
four adults and a child. Food ordered: Starters - 2 servings of
baked mussels topped with cheese; 1 lobster bisque; 1 spaghetti with rizzi
sauce; and tortellini with cream, ham and mushrooms for the younger member
of our group. Main Courses: One seafood platter; one grilled fresh spigola
(sea bass);...; one grilled beef
fillet with mushroom sauce on the side; one stone-bass (dot) fish steak.
Maincourses accompanied by fresh salad, chips and hot veg on the side.
Bread and butter. Whilst reading the menus a platter with a hot cheese
bruschetta was served with a bowl of quail eggs as appetizer. Desserts:
Four ice-creams and one cassatella portion. Drinks: 2 bottles of water, 1
bottle of the more expensive local Chardonnay (Eur19) barely marked-up;
and espressos. TOTAL price Eur132. Very good value; very good food; very
go one grilled beef fillet with mushroom sauce on the side; one
grilled stone bass (dot) fish steak;. The main courses were accompanied by
fresh salad, hot seasonal vegetables and potato chips. Prior to ordering
the food, we were served with a central platter of baked cheese bruschetta
and a bowl of quail eggs as an antipasto. Desserts: four ice-creams and
one cassatella portion. Drinks: 2 bottles of water, one bottle of Antonin
Blanc which was barely marked-up and espressos. Total price Eur138 or
Eur33 per person all inclusive for the adults. The child’s food
-tortellini with ham, mushrooms and cream sauce; and two scoops ice-cream worked
out at Eur6. A very good dinner at a very good value.
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Complementary antipasto
baked cheese bruschetta with cheese.
and quail eggs. |
REVIEWERS REMARKS:
Ambience: Good.
Atmosphere and decor: Good.
Cuisine Quality: Very Good.
Presentation and preparation: Very Good.
Service and attention: Very Good.
Wine List and mark-up: Good.
Value for money: Very Good.
OVERALL RATING: 8.5/10 Category Casual Dining Restaurant.
Recommended.
Contact Details;
La Favorita Restaurant,
Triq Il-Gardiel,
Marsascala.
Tel: 21634113
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