Peperoncino — Restaurant in Saint Julian's

We had the pleasure of dining at Peperoncino for my girlfriend’s birthday, and from start to finish, it was a truly exceptional experience. Nestled in Malta but oozing the warm, unpretentious charm of a tucked-away Italian gem, this place made us feel like we had stepped into a bubble of relaxed, soulful hospitality.

We started with the octopus and beef tartare, and I have to say, the octopus was the most tender we’ve ever had. We even told our server that just the night before, we dined at ION Harbour, a two-star Michelin restaurant, and surprisingly, it didn’t impress us as much as this octopus did. That’s how good it was.

For mains, we shared a truffle artichoke risotto and penne calamari, both of which were beautifully executed and packed with rich, balanced flavors. Everything was cooked perfectly and felt thoughtfully crafted without being overworked.

The highlight, though, was the birthday surprise. I had asked for a slice of chocolate fudge cake with a candle, and they went above and beyond, bringing it out with a sparkler, and an older gentleman from the team even joined me in singing Happy Birthday. It was such a heartfelt moment, and one we’ll remember for a long time.

To top it off, we were offered a complimentary limoncello, which I enjoyed while chatting with our main server, an incredibly hospitable person who made us feel completely at home throughout the evening.

Peperoncino may not have stars on its door, but it delivered something rarer: genuine warmth, fantastic food and an experience which will stay with us for a long...

Behind an unassuming facade is probably 1 of the better Italian restaurant in St Julian Bay. Thru the door is a wine cellar setting that creates a very cosy atmosphere for dinning. Even the service staff were discreet yet efficient friendly. No overtly friendly that may sometimes come across as lacking genuinity. OK..enuf of the preludes. The food quality is quite a delectable treats.

Starters portions were just the right size...we had ordered 1) the ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese ad asparagus cooked in sage butter sauce and prosciutto ham. Simple and heavenly- period! 2) sea urchin pasta. Quite unlike the Japanese sea urchin, the Mediterranean version is less creamy and intensed. The flavour of the sea urchin is not as pronounced but when mixed into the sauce, the pasta mix turned out to be a great combo..light and a bit tangy due to the tomatoes.

Mains were equally superb. First came the chicken stuffed with sun dried figs and poached in white wine and majorum. A light summer dish that actually gave a very clean palate. The tender but slightly bland chicken breast worked perfectly with the sweetness of the figs. A winner surely. Personally, I tend to prefer a slightly heavier sauce base so perhaps a spot of cream added to wine mix would have been even better. 2nd mains was pan fried pork fillet stuffed with camembert cheese finished with a procino fondue. Pretty intense as you get the taste of tender pork medallion and double cheese. Brilliant stuff.

Glad I made it to this...

One of the best if not the best restaurants in St. Julian's. I would even argue that is the best restaurant/establishment at whole Malta island in general. Selection of some of the rare(st) and most delicious wines, spirits that I know, food is impeccable and delicious, fresh ingredients. Hospitality of the owner, and the whole team is on another level. Everyone's so welcome, open minded, friendly, professional, and they're making you feel as a special guest. They approach you on personal level yet very very professional and with high standards. As I come from high level hospitality industry, I was amazed how professional, yet warm the staff was/is. Very, very reasonable prices for the quality and experience that you will get. Located at a perfect location / spot this place is one of the top 3 gems at the whole island. Definitely will recommend it and I know that this place will be my first option to visit whenever I am in the area. Warm recommendation to everyone who wants to eat top quality ingredients, drink some of the top quality wines/spirits/liqueurs and feel welcomed and treated with high standard service.

Hospitality - 10 Service - 10 Location - 10 Food - 10 Drinks - 10 Ambient - 10

Please do visit, and be amazed with the...