Recommendation sites can only take you so far. Not to worry though, it's not as hard as you'd think to seek out quality restaurants.
With so many restaurants in Malta & Gozo, as with any touristic destination, it can prove difficult to avoid those whose main purpose is commercial gain. It's a little easier for locals, because on these small islands, word of mouth is quick and effective. However, visitors have to rely on recommendation sites, which aren't always accurate! Local owners have wide networks, including uncles, cousins, friends... you name it, who can easily leave glowing reviews on websites.
Still, there are so many restaurants in Malta & Gozo which are truly dedicated to delivering their best in terms of food, service and general quality, and they're certainly ones to look out for. This is why the Quality Assured Malta seal (QA seal) has been devised by the Malta Tourism Authority - it's designed to give due recognition to those restaurants which consistently deliver on all fronts, in earnest, and serve as a guideline to assist potential customers, whether local or visiting, in making an informed decision about the best places to eat on the Maltese islands.
"This initiative was launched in 2014, with the first restaurant awarded in 2015. Now, we're on the fourth intake, with approximately 120 restaurants carrying the QA seal. The concept is very much in line with MTA's bid to continue raising the quality of the local product, with restaurants being such an important part," says Catherine Zammit, of the Malta Tourism Authority. "The difference between recommendation sites and the QA seal is that the seal is not based on opinions, but rather on international standards that are tailored to the Maltese market."
"It's not only about whether the food is 'good' as such, but also whether it's served as ordered, at the correct temperature, on sufficiently hot plates, and in a timely manner."
Personally, my first reaction when learning about the QA seal was, 'how can anyone possibly approve or disapprove of a restaurant's quality, since there are so many different types of dining experiences, as well as it being somewhat subjective?'
According to the dedicated website, qualityassuredmalta.com, "the QA seal makes no attempt to enforce restrictive criteria that promotes a formal dining experience or style. Different styles of restaurants with different average spends are eligible for the scheme. Assessment of quality takes into account the standards and expectations appropriate to that style of restaurant. It's only natural that these expectations will be very different. For example, the expectations of a restaurant in a 5-star hotel will not be the same as when visiting a bistro-style restaurant."
The criteria were thoughtfully designed, with every effort made to outline all the aspects that should be taken into account when making quality assessments. Annual mystery guest visits (followed by an announced visit every two years), are carried out similarly to audits, with details such as whether drinks include ice and lemon, or whether there's the use of trays to serve drinks by the glass. Particulars such as reasonable waiting times for a dinner service and good serving skills are taken into account. It's not about whether the food is 'good' as such, but rather if it's served as ordered, at the correct temperature, on sufficiently hot plates, and in a timely manner. The criteria goes on elaborately, covering all bases to ensure fairness and accuracy.
"Due to the variety of the restaurants on offer, it is of course impossible to cover every individual characteristic that may be encountered during a visit. For this reason, the criteria were designed to be both objective and subjective. Whilst the former are clear and self-explanatory, the latter include indicators to consider when awarding points according to a five-point assessment scale," qualityassuredmalta.com continues.
So the next time you're looking for a place to enjoy your next meal, without worrying about whether you could potentially get sucked into a tourist trap, look out for the QA seal logo plaque. (Its often outside the restaurant, but sometimes inside due to exterior regulations.)
For the full list of quality assured restaurants, click here.