AYU — Restaurant in Gżira

Out of all the other Asian restaurants that serves a fusion food, this place actually serves Pho. Even Saigon that’s two blocks away don’t serve Pho, when it’s the most common know noodle for Vietnamese food.

I would highly recommend that if you’re going to dine-in, call and have a reservation, I didn’t care to dine-in or take-away. I just wanted some pho. There were three different couples that walked in to get a seat and they were told to come back in 30 mins to see if there’s any opening.

Due to the lack of resource showing their pho, I will do the honor and provide you with what I got. The broth was good, they had all the herbs that goes with the pho. I understand that they want to keep their reputation for getting their Michelin star, but in my book I hate Michelin star restaurants. I paid €15 for a cup of noodles that was worth €8 max. The amount you get is enough for a kid to eat. I was able to finish eating it in less than 5 mins and I was still hungry. Good thing there was other restaurants near by, I had to settle in for some Chinese food that I paid €12 for and It came with egg noodles, roast duck, and two chicken eggrolls.

Yes I’m Asian so I know when which Asian food is authentic and right for the price. Not something that’s overpriced to view the food as art and starve.

Responded to the owners post: I did try to sit down and have a nice meal. Like I mention, half of your restaurant was unoccupied, your staff said I NEEDED a reservation.

If your take away food is not consistent with the dine in, why even offer it? You agreed you’re self that the pho you made is not the best, why have it on the menu? Your restaurant had no photos of your pho and no customer posted and pho moments.

I gave you credit for having the best pho in the area, abit over priced is what I’m sharing to others is base...

Visited this place for the first time on a Saturday night for dinner with friends. The place was super chaotic, noisy, and the table setting was very inconvenient. We were 4 individuals, with a reservation. My first negative point is that we were placed on a U shape table, which was located near the exit. Looking around this was the only table in this setting all the others were squarish. So given the fact that we were 4, this table setting was very inconvenient for us. We were supposed to go out with friends and have a chat all together but we ended up only speaking to the person near us. When asked the waiters for a better placement they told us that it's impossible as the way will be blocked for them to serve or for other guests to pass through. Adding up to this, and to our misfortune, in the middle section there is a large table with high chairs which and it had a group of individuals celebrating a Bachelor party. You can imagine the noise, but they are not to blame. However they were so drunk that one of them started to vomit on the table! This group of people should have been placed in the inner side of the restaurant on low table , so that the other clients are not exposed to such vomiting experience, especially when they are in the restaurant to eat. The second issue is the menu. Usually Oriental based menu restaurants who offer spicy food to guide their guest in choosing to the right, they make the intensity of the spice with a red 🌶️ pepper. The more of these the more spicy the food. But this guidance is missing in this Michelin star menu. Regretfully I can say that I have never had such a bad experience so will definitely not return again...

Friday night, table for one as I’m by myself, I reserved a table 2 days in advance because I imagined that because of its location, intriguing menu and being a friday night it would be packed. Sure, it was crowed but the restaurant wasn’t completely full, and yet they managed to let me wait 10 minutes by the entrance as a waitress “prepared my table” (no tablecloth, just a paper napkin, with a fork and knife on top, so I really don’t get the 10 minutes wait).

I sit and I have to wait another 10 minutes for someone to notice that I haven’t been handed the menu yet. Didn’t take me too long to decide to go for the noodles, but it sure did to be able to order as another 10 minutes passed. About 30 minutes passed from when I entered to when somebody managed to get my order (noodles + beer + water) but it wasn’t over yet, as I had to wait an other half hour to get it.

I hoped the dish would be worth the wait, but then again I got quite disappointed: the rich and flavorful combination of ingredients that is described in the menu shouldn’t have such a bland taste! Expectations were not fulfilled as the noodles completely lacked in salt and flavor, kinda oily texture of the sauce prevailing on everything else and fried tofu shockingly soft and soggy (how?).

The restaurant itself is beautiful, too noisy if you ask me but that’s pretty subjective, visual presentation of dishes also pretty on point and ingredients looked fresh too. The menu is very interesting and unusual so I hope to be back soon to try something else and hopefully change my mind about this place, as it still looks very promising and I might have...