Xerri il-Bukkett — Restaurant in Qala

Had a very bad experience here. We went on a Sunday for lunch and the place was packed so i assume they do something right..just not our food. I can also add the view here is beautiful!

We sat down and ordered the food, which were a chicken ceaser salad, 2 pasta mains and a kids' pasta dish. Waited endlessly, asked the first waitress to check on our food, but never got a reply as she did not come back to our section.

Asked the second waitress as people left, others came in and got their food, but we did not. Unfortunately, we got no reply either. Asked the third waiter and he as well ignored us, so i had to stand up and go look for him myself. He then said, "Your food will be out in 1 minute." It finally did. 1 bite into my chicken and it was undercooked! Texture was like a gummy and chewy. Told the waiter and he said nooo the rest of the chicken is all fine 😄. I will not risk my health and try it, so i rejected my plate. The kids' pasta was al dente but borderline to undercooked (way too borderline). The kid couldn't eat it. The carbonara was not a carbonara at all and something tasted funny. The cannelloni was the only good dish that came out.

For 3 pasta dishes and 4 soft drinks, we ended up paying over €55. Prices do not match those on the menu. When we queried, we were told there is an additional charge for main dishes. This charge was even added to the kid's plate!!!! He said that it was likely that we were served a main dish when this pasta only featured under the kids' menu!!!!

Definetly never going there again and I highly recommend for others not to go there. There are some amazing places in Nadur or even Rabat...just try...

We had visited this restaurant during the winter and had a completely different, much more enjoyable experience. This time, we brought our friends along, hoping they will enjoy it as much as we had but unfortunately, they left feeling disappointed.

We ordered pints of Heineken, which were not listed on any menu with prices. The first round was served in a pint glass, but the following ones came as two separate bottles, one of which was left sitting and became completely warm. We were then charged €6 each for these, which felt excessive given the presentation and lack of transparency.

We also ordered the calamari fritti from the specials board (as a starter) and were shocked to find we were charged €21 for a such small portion. We’ve never seen such a high price for a starter anywhere in Malta, let alone at what we considered an average restaurant in Gozo. In hindsight, we should have asked the price before ordering, so we will take responsibility for that.

To top it off, we noticed they charged different amounts for identical portions of French fries, and they seemed confused when preparing the bill. This inconsistency left us with the uncomfortable feeling that we were being taken advantage of.

This used to be our “go-to” restaurant in Gozo, but sadly...

Xerri’s (pronounced sherry), as locals call it, is legendary for their view. When seated on one of the terraces, you have a panoramic vista of the Gozo Channel, the Blue Lagoon, and the islands of Camino and Malta. Watching boats passing in and out of the harbor is mesmerizing. The service is professional and attentive in this beautiful, traditionally styled Qala restaurant overlooking farmland and the sea. The menu is decidedly Mediterranean, offering pizza, pasta, fish, chicken, beef, pork, and rabbit. I had fried calamari that was prepared perfectly. My partner’s cannelloni had great flavor but was overcooked, leaving the pasta mushy. Xerri’s pizza has high marks from everyone. It is also kinder to your budget than the rest of the menu, which we found over-priced compared to other local restaurants of similar style and quality. There is a full-service bar serving cocktails, wine, and beer. Xerri’s is a delightful place to enjoy a meal or a bottle of wine while gazing at the blue Mediterranean.

TIPS: -Booking a table is recommended this popular spot is busy during lunch and dinner. -Ask your server for the prices of the chalkboard specials. For some reason, they aren’t included. I didn’t ask and was shocked when I saw the cost of my main course...