There is nothing like a dinner with friends to look forward to. From the laughs to the seriousness of putting the world to right, it is a highlight of my week – made even better by good food and drink.

Hammett’s Gastro Bar is the sort of city-inspired dining experience you usually get in London or New York. Chic, welcoming, perfectly-lit and with beautiful décor, it quickly proves itself as the ideal place to take a load off after a busy day, relax into the comfy seats and take in the ambience. Outdoors, there are also a few lovely tables with views across to Marsamxett Harbour and Manoel Island – so al fresco lovers are equally served – but on this occasion, we opted to go indoors and enjoy the air conditioning.

There we were met by Taylor, who instantly made us feel at home. She was quick to explain why Hammett’s – the brainchild of 24-time award winning chef and restaurateur Chris Hammett – is that little bit different to many other restaurants in Malta.

This is largely thanks to its innovative sharing menu, which is designed for friends or family to enjoy together. She presented both the food and drinks options, but we chose to let the chef do the choosing on the food front, while we consulted the cocktails.

Like most diners these days, we came with a few restrictions. I opt for vegan and vegetarian cuisine where possible (with the occasional fish twist), while my dining companion doesn’t like onions in pasta (specific but true; all other forms of onion are fine). Thankfully, Chef Ryan – who has just launched this new international menu after months of development – wasn’t the least bit perturbed and created the perfect selection to match… starting with a vegan crowd-pleaser (which isn’t something you hear much about – especially in local restaurants).

So, out came one of Hammett’s signatures – their KFC (or Korean Fried Cauliflower). Now, while it may not be the prettiest dish I have ever seen, it is definitely among the most tasty – with a crisp outer batter, tasty cauliflower beignets (that, at a pinch, could be chicken) inside, and all enveloped in a Korean soy glaze. We were off to a good start, and could easily see why this has been a Hammett’s favourite since the early days.

In fact, it was the ideal item to enjoy first, because it so perfectly matched our (stunning I might add) cocktails – a ‘Bulldog’ made from homemade infused tonic, lavender and lemon for my friend and a Ruby Spritz made from a mulled wine reduction, aperol, prosecco and berries for me. As mine arrived, I was pleased not to see a plastic straw but a bamboo one. Hammett’s has the environment in mind whenever possible, and bamboo straws here can be bought and taken home, with all proceeds going to local clean up NGO Zibel. Delicious and eco-conscious? I’m in.

Next on our sample list was another winner – the stracciatella mozzarella, with tomato fondue, balsamic vinegar jelly, rocket pesto and basil sponge. The flavour combinations were wonderful – sweet tomatoes, rich mozzarella and tangy vinegar. It definitely got another thumbs up, especially when paired with delicious fresh bread.

As we moved into the meal, my friend and I sampled no less than four more dishes – tuna tacos with a ceviche of fresh tuna, guacamole and pico de gallo; in-season local lampuki with tom yum, katsobushi, wakame, and pickled vegetables; salmon ‘black’ with squid ink soubise and black garlic; and my own personal favourite, tomato risotto with local ricotta, roasted cherry tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil (which can easily be made vegan if you opt out of the ricotta).

As we reached that point in the meal, we were as full as we thought we should be (the portions are all very well sized and hearty), and considered leaving things there… but were soon tempted by one item on the new dessert menu – the PB & J of peanut butter cheesecake, candied peanuts, banana brulee and raspberry jelly. What a way to finish a meal! Yes it pushed us over edge, but we had to agree that it was worth it!

Finally, as we sipped our drinks, we reflected on what makes Hammett’s the perfect place for a meal – whether that’s a fast lunch (they recently launched their quick business lunch menu), or a laid-back dinner with cocktails or a bottle from their incredible 100-strong wine menu. Plus, this autumn, Sundays will be in vogue here, thanks to their Sunday Specials with free bar bites for those enjoying drinks.

With all of that on the go, there’s no doubt in my mind as to why Hammett’s wows – it’s definitely doing things right!