Sicilia Bella — Restaurant in Għajnsielem

On a Wednesday evening we decided to try this restaurant. It was busy, but they seated us at a table a few minutes before 9pm (I checked the time for a completely unrelated matter).

They immediately gave us the menus, listed the specials of the day, and quickly brought us the water that we order. After that... nothing. The waiters kept walking past our table without even looking at us. After about 20 minutes we loudly called a passing waitress, who then could no longer pretend that we did not exist. We placed our orders and, guess what?, same story as before.

After 30 minutes I was ready to leave, however my wife wanted to make another try. She managed to stop the same waitress as before and we asked what happened to our dinner. The waitress apologized for the delay (at least that) and told us that the food would be ready in 10 minutes.

My son's spare ribs arrived a few minutes later, because they were (obviously) pre-cooked and only needed to be plated. After a while we told him to start eating. A while later, my order and part of the sides were delivered. Once again, I waited to see if my wife's food would come, but no luck. My wife's order and the rest of the sides arrived when I was already halfway through my food.

From the moment we sat down to when everyone got their food, more than an hour had passed.

When we paid, I mentioned that to the waiter and, instead of an apology, he just told us that it wasn't true. Just unbelievable. We had to pick up our other son and we were already late, so I just paid and left fuming.

I understand that the restaurant was busy, but if they can't serve their customers in a timely fashion, then they should not seat them at a table.

Incidentally, the food was ok, but honestly I can't recommend this restaurant after...

Our experience started well: we were seated on an outdoor table watching the harbour. The order was taken swiftly but this is when I started sensing something was going to be wrong. The girl that took the order said kitchen would close at 11 but when one of the owners came he said orders had to be taken by 10pm (no one had told us so when they accepted a booking for half 9) . I said it was ok as long as we had time to eat the antipasto. I was assured that was going to happen and gladly placed the order. The antipasto was delicious: bufala, cold cuts, some cheese and some deep fried items superbly cooked. Crunchy and not soggy: ten out of ten. We had barely time to finish it and the main course arrived. .. Bad... My 10/10 immediately dropped down. My partner's meat was good, the veg that was supposed to be sauteed/stir fried was a soggy mush swimming in cooking water. My pasta (with clams in white wine) needed another minute of cooking plus you could still taste the acidity of the wine. This only means it was cooked in a hurry.... When we politely gave our feedback the answer was that since it was a Saturday they were busy. My question: if you know you are going to be busy, why don't you plan? I don't know if I am going...

Sicilia Bella is a waterfront restaurant located on the Island of Gozo. From the outside, it might not immediately catch your eye – the exterior is modest, even easy to overlook. But step inside, and you’ll find Mediterranean cuisine served with honesty, freshness, and attention to detail.

One of the standout dishes is the Risotto al Pescatore in Bianco – a light, creamy seafood risotto prepared without tomato, allowing the natural flavors of the sea to shine through. Another highlight is the Dentex fish fillet. The taste is subtle yet intriguing – not immediately obvious. There’s a delicate note in the flavor, perhaps a hint of anise or fennel, that gives the dish a unique and memorable character.

A glass of local wine rounds out the experience, perfectly complementing the food and the peaceful setting by the water.

And for dessert – don’t miss the ricotta cannoli! The filling has that perfect balance of sweet and slightly salty, creating a rich and surprising flavor that truly rounds off the meal.

If you’re looking for an authentic Mediterranean dining experience while staying in Malta, Sicilia Bella is definitely...