Dinner at Ristorante Cosmana Navara, Rabat, Malta, on Friday, 28th June,2013.

Inaugural “Friday Fish Nights” special menu for Summer.

It is always a pleasure to try out a restaurant that we would have never been at, and we find that we have discovered an excellent venue. We had passed by this restaurant on numerous occasions, and have always looked upon it as an imposing house of character in the centre of Rabat, right in the square in front of the main church to be exact. In fact, not only is the premises a splendid house of character which was built sometime in the 1600′s but is also a protected building by Heritage Malta.

The house was built by a certain lady, named Cosmana Navarra, ( although her maiden name was Cumbo, and her married name was Cassar, she always used her mother’s maiden surname of Navarra, which if truth be told, fitted much better with her Christian name of Cosmana), who was born in 1600 and lived up to the ripe old age of 87, until she died in 1687. Apart from other charital work, the family built the parish church of Rabat, which was dedicated to St.Paul. The church is situated right in front of the house. Enough history for now.

The premises of Ristorante Cosmana Navarra, is a dream of any restaurateur. It has an imposing main entrance, with the main restaurant and bar situated on the ground floor. This section is furbished in bright colours to reflect the main menu of the establishment and which is targeted towards, diners who are after that casual atmosphere, but at the same time wanting to enjoy good food at good value for money. Upstairs, one can find a splendid main hall, which is more sedately furnished for more up-scale dining and special occasions, with two private rooms on either side, which can be booked for private group dining of one’s choice- special suckling pig dinners, fenkatas, whatever, or choices from the excellent grill menu. The main menu of the restaurant offers selections of antipasti, platters, pasta,soups, pizza, and selection of meat and fresh fish main courses, with prices to suit every pocket, desserts, kid’s menu, as well as two set menus. A modest wine list selection is offered with very reasonable mark-ups, which make the overall experience very good value.

General arrangement view of the different rooms.

Coming back to our dinner on Friday, we were presented with two, specially constructed fish and seafood oriented menus. One was the Fish Nights set menu which gave an antipasto seafood feast to share to start with consisting of servings of: Tuna carpaccio with lemon pepper dressing, melon salsa, and rucola salad; Fresh mussels in garlic, white wine and fresh pepper; Deep fried calamari; Whitebait fritters; and Grilled Aubergines stuffed with rucola and Grano Padano cheese.

Primi /entree’ offered a choice per person of: Four fresh oysters served raw with side servings of chili garlic and tartar sauce and lemon wedges; or Thick fish soup with fresh chunks of fish and shellfish; or Spaghetti Vongole; Linguine Pescatore; or Linguine Langoustine served with fresh prawns tossed in lobster bisque. For Main Courses the selections centred on three excellent choices of either one of: Spaghetti Astice- spaghetti tossed with shellfish and half a lobster; a magnificent shellfish and seafood platter; or choice of any fresh fish from the daily selection which on our visit offered fish such as Pesce di San Pietro (John Dory); Cippullaz (Scorpion fish), Pagell (Red bream), and other fine choices. Three choices of desserts were offered with selections of sorbet. The indicated price if one chose this vast array of food and fine and expensive ingredients, was a very commendable Eur47.50 per person. The second menu presented was a fish and seafood oriented al a carte with individually priced items for one to chose in accordance with what he desired to it, from one course to a full three or four course dinner. This was an excellent touch by the operators and Chef as not everyone would opt for the Fish Night Menu.

Our choice, we were a group of four adults, was certainly for the Fish Nights Menu, as we were looking forward to see what this restaurant could produce. We were certainly not disappointed with course after course of excellent dishes, prepared from the freshest of ingredients were presented and served.

The antipasti presentations were a feast for the senses as one can see from the cuisine photos as served.

The antipasti servings and the fresh fish display.

The servings of our primi selections of two servings of: four oysters (per person), The Thick fish soup; and the Linguine Langoustine were superb. The oysters had been freshly delivered that evening and still smelled and tasted of the sea, and the side serving of the home-made chili garlic and tartar sauce were optimal to expound the flavours of the oysters.

Primi selections

For main courses the selections were: for two servings of their excellent Shellfish Platter which contained a selection of the freshest, Mediterranean red king prawns; langoustini; fasolari and other clams; fresh mussels; octopus in garlic. The other choices were for a good sized Pesce di San Pietro for two sharing, which was grilled and filleted and served in fine dining format. The focal point here was on the freshness of the ingredients and the excellent preparation of each serving.

Main Courses, and side servings of roast potatoes and vegetables.

Desserts: Choices fell on a chocolate sorbet; strawberry sorbet; and mqarett (date parcels) with ice-cream. Espressos, and complementary limoncellos, and of course two bottles of a very well priced, chilled Chablis complemented the dinner. Naturally, wine and beverages are paid for extra in accordance with choices and consumption.

Dessert selections and wine choice.

Service: Exceptionally attentive service was provided by Mark the restaurant manager who was assisted by a posse’ of young, but well trained Maltese waiters and waitresses. It’s always a pleasure to see efficiency in service staff, well done.

Value: One would be surprised when one sees the price tag of Eur47.50 per person for the Fish Nights Menu, but honestly speaking, the array of the freshest, and abundant cuisine served if one opts for this menu, make the price tag well worth it. It’s a four course dinner of the highest standard, and if one is a good eater of fish and seafood it is certainly worth a try.

Reviewers’ Impressions:

Ambience: A magnificent house of character, offering that architectural experience of a bygone age.

Atmosphere: Very good. We were seated on the ground floor section which was in use on this occasion, casual and enjoyable.

Cuisine Quality: Excellent.

Preparation and presentation: Very Good +

Wine List and Mark-Up: Modest selection with very reasonable pricing.

Service: Very Good.

Value for money: The price for the Fish Nights Menu in our opinion was well worth the price tag; a separate a la carte fish and seafood menu was also available which gave the option to diners to select particular choices at the individual prices indicated. Good value choices to suit any pocket and taste.

Overall Rating: 9/10 Recommended.

Contact Details:

Ristorante Cosmana Navarra,

28, St. Paul’s Street, Rabat, Malta.

(In front of the main Parish Church).

Tel: 2145 0638.