Dinner at Blue Creek Restaurant, Lapsi, Limits of Siggiewi - Friday 12th July, 2013.

Blue Creek Restaurant, has been in operation by the Baldacchino family, led by Joseph and his father, for just over eleven years. Situated at the water’s edge, right at the edge of a cliff overlooking the picturesque views of Ghar Lapsi below, the Island of Filfla some five miles away, and the cliffs, of this part of Malta, straight up to the historical, watch tower which was built some 500 years ago at Ghajn it-Tafal .

The restaurant is divided in two sections. The upstairs, rooftop terrace restaurant which has only been in operation for some two or three years, offering a full a la carte menu with pizza and pasta through a separate kitchen serving only this section. The rooftop terrace is well sought after in Summer in the evenings and patrons can enjoy anything from a pizza or pasta with a bottle of wine to a full dinner with choices of antipasti, pasta, fish, seafood or meat dishes in a casual and relaxed atmosphere that is so well sought after by patrons during our balmy Summer evenings; and the main restaurant area, which also includes a bar lounge, and a magnificent terrace overlooking the sea views, and which is exceptional for Summer dining in slightly more formal surroundings. The main restaurant is beautifully appointed in sea blue and white colour scheme and blends in superbly with the ambience of the area.

We arrived as booked about 20.30 and had a look around at the Rooftop Terrace which was found to be very tastefully appointed, and which was quite busy for a Friday evening. We were then seated at our table at the terrace of the main restaurant which is referred to as Blue Creek Restaurant to create a distinction between the two dining areas. Blue Creek is served by its own Chef, staff and has its own kitchen, at which everything is prepared fresh when ordered. There are no “pre cotto” dishes served at this restaurant, so one has to be ready to wait for a few minutes more to be served with the a la carte orders, which if one is patient will be rewarded with some very excellent dishes, the freshness of which not only could be seen, but also taste delicious.

On seating we were presented with the menus, drinks and water orders taken, and after being served an amuse bouche of potato and prawn neonati, were left for a few minutes to check out the selections in the menu. As we are prone to do in Summer , we opted for a selection of seafood starters and fresh fish for main courses, and the Head Waiter suggested a degustation selection of various dishes to start with which resulted in an excellent choice with which we finished our first bottle of chilled white wine.

Food Selected:

Starters:

A degustation selection of freshly made fresh salmon gravlax, polpetti di gamberi, calamari bresato, and misto di frutti di mare served in separate dishes to share. This was a delicious feast of freshness and goodness which fitted well with the sea ambience of the location, the exquisite balmy evening and the reserva white wine.

The seafood degustation presentation and the home-baked fresh bread loaves. Fantastic flavours and quality.

Main Courses:

For main courses we selected two largish fresh Gurbell - Meagre, to share, one was cooked grilled and the other one was cooked al sale. The fish were brought to the table and were filleted at the table by the Head Waiter. The difference in the cooking style could very distinctly be noticed on the palate, but both were cooked to perfection.

The main courses: two fresh meagre one cooked alsale and the other grilled. Served to share between four persons. and filleted at the table.

One cannot expect to be served such a dinner, with all the trimmings within a few minutes, as everything was cooked fresh, but then again, who wants to be in a hurry, when enjoying an exquisite dinner, with exceptional company, at a great location, on a Summer’s evening? Especially when one would have driven all the way down to Lapsi to dine at this destination restaurant?

Dessert:

The dessert was the only let down. Not because the quality was not good, but the selections were not home-made. Pity. A serving of cassata Siciliana, and fruit tarts were selected, to finish off with the espressos.

Wine list: A very good selection of wines are offered, and the restaurant has a very admirable, temperature controlled, walk-in, wine cellar in which the top, premium wines are kept. The mark-up on the main wine list was calculated to be a very reasonable 80 per cent on the retail price.

Service: Is provided by Head Waiter assisted by two waitresses, all of whom were very attentive to all tables around us on the terrace, and everyone was being served in time with the minimum of fuss.

Value for money: Depending what section one chooses to sit at, that is the Rooftop Terrace Restaurant, or the main Blue Creek Restaurant, one can spend anything from as little as Eur20 per person with beverages included, to a full dinner as described above, which for food only came up to Eur 190 (or Eur47.5 per person). Wine selections and price depends on choice and quantity consumed in our case these were two bottles at a very reasonable Eur20 each. Water and espressos added up another Eur11. For the food and beverages ordered, the freshness of the cuisine served, ambience and service, value for money is very good.

Reviewers Impressions:

Ambience: Excellent.

Atmosphere and decor: Excellent.

Cuisine Quality: Very Good.

Preparation and presentation: Very Good.

Harmony of menu: Very Good.

Service: Very Good.

Wine List: Good choice with reasonable mark-ups.

Value for Money: Very Good - upscale casual dining.

RATING 9/10

RECOMMENDED.

Contact:

Blue Creek Restaurant,

Lapsi,

Tel: 21 462 800