May Round-up Restaurants visited.

Dinner at Ristorante La Vela, Pieta Garden.

Saturday, 30th May, 2015.

Another enjoyable, fish and seafood oriented dinner at Ristorante La Vela, at Pieta Gardens.
Food ordered:

A good look at the fish display and discussion with the head waiter to see and verify the freshness of the fish as usual, and four fish consisting of two kahli, and two bazug and a dot steak were picked. These were removed from the display, placed on a tray and taken to the kitchen.

Starters: chosen were three servings of Chef Enrico’s seafood soup, rich with mussels, clams, the medium sized red prawns, langoustine and baby lobster;
One Linguine seafood;
One Linguine with scallops
and one penne rizzi for my five year old granddaughter.

Main Courses:

The fish for the main courses were cooked acqua pazza and the dot steak was cooked in bisque and served in a rich tomato sauce.
Roast potatoes and grilled veg were served on the side.

Dessert: The chef’s broken cannolo to share; one chocolate parfait with strawberries, crushed almonds and cream; one dairy free walnut and orange/berry tart with berry sauce; a large portion of vanilla ice-cream for my granddaughter, and a taster Valrhona Chocolate fondant . All Home made by the chef and exceptionally good.

Two bottles of Italian white wine, three bottles of water, espressos, and complementary liqueurs completed the dinner.

Price for food, water, coffees EUR225 (shared between five adults EUR45 per person).

Very good food; very good service; good value. Very enjoyable atmosphere underneath the canopy on the outside terrace overlooking the yacht marina.

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Gate of India (Chris) 31st May.

An excellent indian dinner at Gate of India restaurant in Bugibba this weekend. We ordered dahl (lentils) soup and popadoms with condiments for starters. The middle course consisted of a Tandoori mixed grill for 2 persons. For main course we chose 2 dishes from the specialities section - chicken jalferezi and karachi lamb tikka, which were served with pilau rice, curried vegetables and garlic naan bread. We complimented our dinner with gavi di gavi white wine and still water. The cost of this dinner was Eur70, ie.. Eur35 per person, which is quite reasonable. The food served to us was of good quality, authentic indian and abundant. The service was good with recommendations from the restaurant manager as to the amount of food to order and whether we should have our food mild, medium or hot. This restaurant was opened last September and hence is quite new. Its ambiance is good and the tables here are big and ample to have a spread of dishes to share. Will definitely visit again.

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Trabuxu Valletta. 26th May, 2015.

Spot of shopping for some Summer clothes and a light lunch at Trabuxu Restaurant in Valletta.

Food:
Starter - 1 serving of the Beetroot cured gravalax - cured with beeroot, grainy mustard, herbs and a bit of sugar.
Main course: 2 x panfried fresh sawrell (scad) served with potato crispy chips and quinoa salad.
(side salads or veg charged extra)
Half bottle Corvo Glicine; one bottle water; espressos.
Good service; good food.
Price between two all inclusive EUR61. (EUR30.50pp).

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La Capanna 25th May, - REVIEWED SEPARATELY

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Dinner at Fork and Cork Restaurant - Rabat, Malta.

Friday, 15th May, 2015

Dinner on this Friday was opted for the Fork and Cork Restaurant, at Saqqajja Hill, Rabat.
This restaurant is relatively new having been set-up and opened by Chef-Patron Carl Zahra, (ex-executive Chef at Grill 3301), in November/December last year. We had already reviewed this restaurant in December. and can honestly say that what was very good then, has now been scaled up a bit further in food quality and presentation. Carl and his staff have settled in nicely and the place, not being large, with seating just 24 patrons inside and when weather permits about 16 outside on the terrace, offers a very good venue for that romantic or special dinner.

Food ordered:

Once seated, pre-dinner drinks and water order were taken, the menus and wine list presented, and the specials for the day explained. Bread basket with fresh, hot rolls, extra vergine olive oil and aceto balsamico were served on the table.

Starters:
I opted for the slow cooked duo of pork, with braised tongue and cheek, served in the reduction jus of the preparation - extremely tender and good. This was one of the specials;

A serving of the fresh tuna ceviche ;
Spaghetti rizzi; these two starters were also on the day’s specials.
and the Acquerello Carnaroli risotto with prawns and herbs.

Main courses:
Two servings of the 350gm, Irish beef rib-eye grilled medium, served with pancetta and garlic butter;
and two servings of the Stuffed leg of chicken in Chasseur sauce.

Dessert:
Two servings of the in-house made sorbet; one date fritters with vanilla ice-cream; and one serving of the cheese selection served with biscuits and chutney.

Two bottles of a very good Aglianico wine from Campania, two bottles of water, espressos, and complementary Grappas, complemented the dinner, which was enjoyed at our leisure.

Value: The bill for the food, inclusive of water and espressos came up to EUR138.50 between four persons ( EUR34.63 pp) excluding wine and drinks; Naturally, wine and pre-dinner drinks are ordered at clients’ discretion both in quantity and quality, but what we can say is that the mark up on the wines is very reasonable at approx. 75 per cent above retail price.

Service: Special attention is given by the Chef-Patron on every table assisted by two very efficient young servers - very attentive and smooth.
An enjoyable dinner, quality cuisine, good service and also good value.

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Mamma Mia - Chris 16th May.

An excellent group lunch at Mamma Mia restaurant in Ta’ Xbiex last Friday. Our table was next to the window and being a lovely, sunny day it felt as if we were actually on one of the luxury yachts in the marina. Our starters consisted of bruschetta with cheese and tomatoes, caprese salad with a whole big buffalo mozzarella, and spaghetti with octopus. For main course our orders were fillet rustica with onions and cheese, filletto dello chef, rolled and stuffed pork fillet, and fresh salmon. All main courses were served with a choice of jacket potatoes or potato wedges and vegetables or salad. We complimented the lunch with nero d’avola sicilian wine and still and sparkling water. Some of us had some space left at the end and had cassatella siciliana, mamma’s cake and ice-cream with oreo biscuits for dessert. The cost of this lunch came to Eur32 per head including tips. Very good value for money, good food and service, and a very enjoyable ambience indeed.

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Trabuxu Chris - 3rd May.

A pleasant lunch yesterday at Trabuxu Bistro in Valletta. I had their arborio rice with mushrooms, spinach and pecorino cheese as a starter, and pan fried seabass with mixed salad and potatoes as main course. My wife had spaghetti with fresh prawns and zucchini in a prawn bisque as a main course. Beverages consisted of a big bottle of still water and a half bottle of Corvo white wine. The cost of this lunch came to Eur52 which is very reasonable indeed. The food was of a very good quality and abundant. Service was lively and with a smile. The place, which was formerly the Nani piano shop in South Street, has been very well decorated with wooden furniture and antiques, and also serves as an art gallery. Will visit again for sure.

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Dinner at L’Agape Restaurant, Rabat, Malta.
Friday, 1st May, 2015.

We have been frequenting L’Agape Restaurant for some time, since it was opened some three or four years ago. Run and operated hands on by Pierre Calleja as Front-of-house manager and by Chris Gherxi as the Head Chef, this restaurant offers a limited menu comprised of top quality produce, wherever possible of local origin especially fish which is only purchased if locally caught and fresh; vegetables; the next door baker for bread; or carefully sourced as in the case of meat, from reputable butchers. They do not have a printed menu, but what is available on the day is written down on a small blackboard which is brought to the table and each item explained by Pierre. The duty Chef this evening was Katrina Zammit, Sous Chef to Chris Gherxi.

Once seated and a drink, and water were ordered, we were served a nicely presented amuse bouche of Chicken liver pate’ on crispy, toasted fresh bread and pumpkin soup cup. A basket of extremely fresh, local bread was placed on the table.

Our food choices for the evening were:

Starters:
Two servings of the Gamberi Fritti - pan-fried, medium sized prawns served on a bed of lettuce and salad.
The Linguine with sliced Scottish Scallops,
and a serving of the Carciofi hearts,
as starters.

For main courses the choices were:
The charcoal grilled Charolaise T-Bone steak for two persons. This was a two-inch thick cut of beef more akin to the porterhouse cut, complete with the fillet and the sirloin side; This was grilled perfectly medium-rare;
The stuffed Capon breast,
and the milk fed Veal Charolaise T-Bone steak.

Desserts:
The date parcels with ice-cream; the apple crumble and ice-cream and cheese platter .
A tasting portion of the in-house made tiramisu which they make with the original Savoiardi sponge, finger biscuits soaked in espresso coffee was served. This was quite good, not as sweet as some tiramisu portions are elsewhere.

Two bottles of wine, a good Soave Classico and a Langhe Nebbiolo were paired with the food. Two bottles of water, espressos and complementary Grappas, finished off the dinner.

Prices: The bill for four persons for the above excluding pre-dinner drinks and the wine, but including water and espressos, came up to EUR155.5 (EUR38.88 per person).
Service, ambience, food quality and value considered to be very good, all in all it was a very enjoyable dinner.

There are 12 photos in this album. Click on any to see the descriptive caption.

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Pepe Nero Valletta Waterfront - 8th May, 2015

Pizza and burger and a pint of beer. Sometimes one does have a craving for this comfort food, but of course they have to be, fresh in-house made, from the best ingredients all round to satisfy and to be enjoyed.

We were not disappointed at Pepe Nero at the Valletta Waterfront some three weeks ago, as both the pizza Capriciosa which was ordered by my wife as well as the USDA gourmet burger that was ordered by myself were very good indeed. Mind you, we are not frequent pizza or burger eaters, but when we crave for one, we want them good.

The pizza dough from Pepe Nero is made on order, from a special mix of some five different flour products, and one cam watch the Pizzaiolo making the dough and the filling at the pizza kitchen where they have a special , flamed pizza oven. A Pizza is a pizza but the dough makes all the difference.

The beef burger was flame-grilled, medium, juicy and served in a toasted bun with caramelised onion, tomato jam and smoky mayo.

As the order was freshly made so one has to wait a few minutes to be served we enjoyed a antipasto platter shared between us, with peppered cheeselet, salted tomatoes, olives, baby tomatoes, and lettuce with a galletta or two and a sip of beer here and there. Simple comfort food, but highly enjoyable.

Service very good and good value for money, all told with food, pint of beer, water, espressos EUR31.80.

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Oceana at the Hilton - Mothers’ Day.

Sunday buffet lunch at the Oceana is always a new experience, and on special holidays such as Mothers’ Day, the Chefs ar the Hilton under Chef Joe Vella, Executive Head Chef, there is always something special on the cuisine stations.

As always on these occasions the price tag was EUR60 per person excluding wines, and other drinks, but on normal Sundays this goes down to EUR35 per person.

Assessments are done for normal Sundays, but what is good has to be acknowledged as being so, and once again our expectations were exceeded.

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