Lunch at Tartarun Restaurant, M’Xlokk - March 23, 2026.

An exceptional Sunday lunch to celebrate my son’s Chris birthday on Sunday 23rd of March, at Tartarun Restaurant at Marsaxlokk. A splendid array of the Chef’s selected antipasti platters to share: prawn carpaccio; swordfish carpaccio; marinated, crudo red mullet; cured salmon. These platters were followed by individually selected starters: white tortellaci stuffed with lobster; black tortellacci stuffed with langoustine and crab; local octopus; pappardelle with seafood and traditional fish soup. Maincourses: Tartarun’s Plateau Royale, fresh fish from the days display; Home made desserts. Cuisine photos of the food as served can be viewed in the following 16 photographs taken directly by my i phone.

These were paired with Tartarun’s own imported white wine, water; and finished off with complementary liqeuers. Price per person excluding the wine approx EUR50. Exceptional quality cuisine; very good service and great value commensurate with the restaurant’s concept and food quality. Highly recommended.

Tartarun Restaurant is a WRMC Silver Spoon Restaurant.

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Dinner at Venus again: March 14, 2026.

Been once again treated to a business dinner at Venus Restaurant in Bugibba, on Friday 14th March, 2014. Already been there on another occasion with friends in February, (also reported here with photos), but the food at Venus is not to be missed regardless how often one dines there. This time tried some different cuisine which was very enjoyable: the chef’s , six-assaggi antipasti starters to share; main course as individually ordered; and selection of home-made desserts to share. A very enjoyable evening and dinner.

Venus Restaurant is a WRMC Blue Riband Restaurant.

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Lunch at Gente di Mare - Marsaxlokk, 19th March, 2014.

Being such a beautiful day, today, heralding the arrival of Spring in Malta in the next two days, we decided to go for lunch at Marsaxlokk. Believe me, we were not the only ones that decided on this choice of location, as I have not seen the restaurants in Marsaxlokk so busy, indoors and more so outdoors as they have been today, for some time. Good luck to all, but I must stress the point that over extending premises by large outside areas does not always guarantee that restaurants can cope with such huge volume.

We opted to pay a visit to Gente Di Mare, having heard that it came under new management about a year ago, so we booked a table earlier in the morning and off we went. The place was very busy both outside at the al fresco area, as well as inside, although not as crowded as some of the other establishments and we were seated at our reserved table inside. This was a bit more quieter and of course much more pleasant than outdoors.

Menus and wine list were presented, and we noted that Gente di Mare, in the tradition of good casual diners, created a choice menu which covers all the essentials without bogging down clients by having to weed through numerous items. Five choices of starters with aljotta, lobster bisque, fresh oysters al mare, stuffed mushrooms Monte Carlo, and Fresh mussels cooked in garlic with cherry tomatoes, white wine and Pernod; Five choices of pasta dishes; Fish and seafood selections, including fresh fish from the display, lobsters, calamari, local fresh king prawns, and their version of the Shellfish Royal platter; and for those that do not like fish, naturally the meat and poultry section with Angus fillet and rib-eye, and grilled chicken breast cooked in Madeira and walnut sauce.

Our choice of food rested without doubt on fish, so we selected the traditional fish soup - aljotta for my wife, and the fresh mussels for myself as starters. These were followed by a grilled Sea Bream (pagru), and Rock fish (cippullaz) al cartoccio for myself; these were served with accompanying freshly boiled vegetables and chips on the side. For dessert we selected just one apple strudel portion with cream to share with coffees. Water, one bottle of local white wine, and complementary Avernas. Desserts are out-sourced from usual sources which can be found al over Malta, which although good have now become common.

Menu prices at this establishment are in the main reasonable, with fish being priced at EUR5 per 100gm a bit on the high side for Marsaxlokk; The price for our food choices, with water, coffees and dessert, excluding wine came up to EUR75 between two. Nice place; good food, reasonably good service. Family-oriented casual dining.

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Fratelli La Bufala - March 11th 2014

Lunch at Fratelli la Bufala, Tigne Point, whilst doing a bit of shopping at The Point, today. The place was a bit quiet when we entered at about 13.00 but within 15 minutes filled up on every table.

We opted for a couple of their excellent pizzas, a bottle of water, half a bottle of white wine, and coffees. My pizza Ripienone was massive and filled with fresh ricotta, and hints of Neapolitan sausage. This is a flat pizza, which is stuffed with goodies between the thin dough sheets. My wife’s Vessuviana was a flat based pizza with a rich topping of mozzarella di bufala, cherry tomatoes, black olives and anchovies. Both pizzas were very good. Service was very attentive on all tables, although as I said earlier, the place was full. Price between two excluding the wine EUR27.50. Nice place, good food, from a succulent Bufala fillet or rib-eye to a good plate of pasta or a great pizza, at good value for money. Very good service.

Fratelli la Bufala, Malta, has been included in the “WRMC 10 Best Family-Oriented Casual Dining Restaurants” awards for 2014.

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Castello di Monterone - Ristorante Il Postale - Michelin Star Establsihment.
Dinner on Saturday, 1st March, 2014.

Situated in an epic location in one of the most historic castles of Perugia, which also serve as a classic hotel for honeymooners and special get-away weekends, the Il Postale is rather difficult to get to and it only caters for just about 16 to 20 diners that are not residents. This makes this place a bit difficult even to book a table at, unless one has the proper connections.

The ” Il Postale” is run by Michelin starred Chef Marco Bistarelli, and offers two very varied menus : the “Pop” menu and the Creative menu serving Antipasti, Primi, Secondi and dessert dishes with a twist and the creative flair of a top class chef.

Food ordered and presented can be seen from the following photo album, which show the food as served to us, and a descriptive caption on the side. Click on the album’s title to see all photos, and click on any photo to see description on the side.

Prices are extremely reasonable, and the four course meal as shown (as each dish was served to the six diners on our table), plus water and coffees came up to about EUR 65 per person. Two bottles of fine wine were consumed and enjoyed. One has to bear in mind the exclusivity of the place, the outstanding service, and high standard gourmet cuisine, to fully appreciate the value for money of such an establishment.

Ristorante Il Postale at the Castello di Monterone- Perugia, Umbria, is a Michelin Star Restaurant, under the stewardship of Master Chef Marco Bistarrelli.

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