La Sfoglia Brothers Samuel, Jerome and Oswald Caruana have teamed up to produce a mouth-watering menu which changes daily, and which can be read on the blackboard inside the restaurant. With a selection of mostly Mediterranean food, La Sfoglia has a fabulous choice of fresh fish and seafood – we keep coming back for the bluefin tuna tartare and the pasta with sea urchins. The meat doesn’t disappoint either, including the roasted 350g rib-eye steak and the rack of veal. Oh, and be sure to leave room for the vanilla and cinnamon pannacotta or the signature, baked white chocolate cheesecake – absolutely scrumptious! 66, 67 Merchants Street (7991 9966, www.lasfogliarestaurant.com). Open noon-11pm daily. Main courses €14.50€25. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V. Malata For the ultimate romantic evening, you would be hard pressed to beat this picturesque spot on vast St George’s Square, which is made even more magical by the designer lighting and dancing fountains opposite. The menu here is a blend of French and Mediterranean cuisines, and your hosts, Verney and her sons Michael and Rowan, are a delight. Start off with the mixed fish carpaccio or goats’ cheese with caramelised onion. Follow that by the signature chateaubriand or the monkfish cooked in tarragon Sauternes sauce. Round things off with a dessert – the coffee-flavoured pannacotta is our favourite. For something that little bit extra special, book ahead for the Tuesday Jazz Nights, held weekly (weather permitting) between 8 and 11pm. St George’s Square (2123 3967, www. malatamalta.com). Open July-Oct noon-3pm Mon-Sat; 7-11pm daily; Nov-June noon-3pm daily; 7-11pm Mon-Sat. Main courses €13.50€28. Credit AmEx, MC, V. Mandraggio This is one of a number of Italianrun eateries that’s recently opened in the capital, and it is one of the most popular. As one of the few restaurants in Malta serving traditional cuisine from the Puglia region of Italy, we suggest the authentic pizza – which really is something to write home about. For dessert, leave room for the warm tart made with cream, amarena and shortcrust pastry, and served with ice-cream. Piazza Mattia Preti (7993 7811). Open 9.30am-3pm, 5pm-1am Tue-Sun. Main courses €7-€25. Credit AmEx, MC, V.
Valletta
6 St Christopher Street (2122 6936, www.ilhorza.com). Open Sept-June noon-3pm Mon-Fri; 7.30-11pm Mon-Sat; July, Aug 7.30-11pm Mon-Sat. Main courses €14-€23. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.
Rampila
Palazzo Preca It has at its helm members of one of the most famous foodie families on the island, so you’re pretty much guaranteed to have a fantastic meal here. The décor feels regal so it’s ideal for special occasions – especially on candlelit Wednesdays, when a sense of romance is given the chance to shine. Choose from the blackboard specials – the famous shellfish platter, which includes oysters, scallops, octopus and calamari is always delicious, as are the home-made prawn ravioli and the vegan spaghetti with capers, olives and fresh tomatoes. Dessert is wonderful too, with the house special featuring mini versions of all the best choices including a yummy chocolate hazelnut pudding. The 175-strong wine list features a range of vintages from Malta and abroad. Strait Street (2122 6777, www. palazzoprecavalletta.com). Open JuneSept noon-3.30pm Tue-Sat; 6.45-11pm Tue-Sun; Oct-May noon-3.30pm TueSun; 6.45-11pm Tue-Sat. Main courses €13-€25. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V. Pegasus Over 80 per cent of the produce used at this wonderful restaurant is locally sourced, so it gives great insight into Maltese ingredients. It’s the ideal place to dine after a busy day of sightseeing or shopping, housed within the beautiful (and historic) Hotel Phoenicia (see p64). The menu has been expertly crafted by executive chef Saul Halevi and the setting is intimate and exciting. For starters, we loved the seared artichokes and calamari, with toasted squid-ink bread, mint and lemon, followed by the paccheri with local sea urchins, buffalo stracciatella and wild thyme, as well as the rack of lamb in a
hazelnut and pistachio crust for mains. We rounded things off with the crunchy pistachio semifreddo and can certainly recommend it! Pegasus will be closed between November 2015 and April 2016 for extensive restoration. Hotel Phoenicia, The Mall, Floriana (2122 5241, www.phoeniciamalta. com). Open July-Sept 7-10.30pm Thur-Sun; Oct-May 12.30-3pm, 7-10.30pm daily. Main courses €18€32. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.
loved the antipasto of raw and cooked fish, followed by the catch of the day or the perfectly cooked fillet of beef. We rounded things off with the popular chocolate fondant and the interesting cannolo scomposto – a deconstructed version of the traditional Sicilian cannoli. Marina Street, Pieta (2123 0336, www. lavelamalta.com). Open 12.30-3pm, 7.30-11pm Tue-Sat; also 12.30pm-3pm Sun Oct-May. Main courses €13-€30. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.
Rampila Situated within Valletta’s bastions, Rampila is made up of four sections: the terrace, the wine bar, the tunnel restaurant and an exhibition space that houses 40 mannequins dressed up in period costumes showcasing village life from 100 years ago. Each of the sections is spectacular, both visually and historically. Kick off your meal with the quail wrapped in pork cheeks and served with a sweet pepper sauce, fried shallots and red wine reduction, followed by the bistecca Fiorentina for two. Dessert is a must, and we recommend the chocolate tart with hazelnut cream. To wash everything down, check out the extensive and reasonably priced wine list. 1 St John Cavalier Street (2122 6625, www.rampila.com). Open July-Sept 5.30-10.30pm daily; Oct-June 11ammidnight daily. Main courses €25-€30. Credit AmEx, DC, JCB, MC, V.
Rubino The daily menu at Rubino, famous for its celebration of Mediterranean and Maltese food, is scribbled on a blackboard and explained as you make your choices – there’s always a delicious selection of antipasti and dips, followed by fresh fish and local meat. If you’re daring, you could try the traditional Maltese items that pop onto the menu, often made with tongue or liver. Otherwise, we suggest the Maltese rabbit, the grilled pork fillet marinated in honey and thyme, or the tasty tagliata of grilled beef served with parmesan shavings. If you fancy something fishy, the sea bass involtini with mint and pine nuts are pretty hard to beat. We also love to end a meal here with the renowned cassata Siciliana or Maltese ice-cream (served in slices) or imqaret (dates cooked in pastry) with ice-cream. 53 Old Bakery Street (2122 4656, www.rubinomalta.com). Open 12.30-2.30pm Mon-Fri; 7.30-10.30pm Tue-Sat. Main courses €18.50. Credit AmEx, DC, MC, V.
Ristorante La Vela Really good Sicilian cuisine is the order of the day at this popular restaurant outside Valletta, and chef Enrico Alecci leads the way. The lovely outdoor area has been recently upgraded, and this is a great place to make the most of the view across to the harbour. Seafood is the speciality, and we
Sciacca Grill There’s no such thing as a fixed menu at this new eatery, which is very popular with the business crowd for lazy lunches. There’s an air of the good-old American
Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/TimeOut.MaltaGozo 55