Ta' Pawla Mother Earth Restaurant — Restaurant in Saint Paul's Bay

We went with so much positivity because of all the positive reviews. We went in and were greeted lovely. We ordered fish soup and calamari for starters and the Rabbit and pork belly for mains. The soup was strange with rice in it still stuck together 2 pieces of fish in it and lots of fish bones. We didn't get the deep-fried squid as we expected, we got stuffed squid, which was lukewarm and odd and was apperantly the special which we got told about at the beginning... but we'd already ate half of it before realising and we didn't want to say anything, as the staff were lovely and we didn't want to make a fuss. The pork belly was a massive piece not very tasty and pink inside, and came with some veg which stunk of gas so we couldn't eat them. The rabbit wasn't anything special, it was a rabbit covered in curry sauce, I think they ruined it. Anyway, we had water and a glass of wine. We paid 60€ and did not eat barely any of it, the staff didn't seem bothered that the plates were still full, just took it away and took the payment. Now we have just got back from the restaurant about 2hrs later and my partner is getting excruciating stomach pains, which she believes is from the squid as she hasn't eaten anything else all day and it definitely wouldn't be the pork belly as the symptoms don't match compared to shellfish, she can't get off the loo and has pretty bad diarrhoea... we certainly wouldn't recommend...

Reserved an outside table for 21:00, showed up at 20:55, was seated inside since the table wasn't free. Placed order from inside table at 21:15, including order for wine based on servers suggestion for a sweet wine that is not dry. Were finally moved outside at 21:30, 30 minutes after our reservation time. The wine was very dry and semi sweet, exactly what I was trying to avoid. Was not given an opportunity to taste the wine before accepting it. Could not even drink more than a few sips of it.

The food finally showed up an hour later at 22:15 and was overly salted and did not taste good at all. The risottos funghi porcini claimed to have sliced mushroom and truffle sauce, but was completely missing the truffle.

Also, they offered a bowl of Parmesan to add it on the food and left it at the table. It did not even have a cover and there is no way it is being thrown out after each table. They claim to be covid compliant, but almost none of the customers were wearing masks while walking to their tables and the waiter never wore a mask the entire time. There is no covid compliance here! Also saw the bartenders without masks very often.

We also weren't really checked on the entire time as the server was busy drinking with the loud old ladies at the table next to us.

Absolutely do not...

For many years I have been coming to Bugibba during the winter and for years Ta Pawla has been one of my favourites for Maltese cuisine. Michael and the always hand shaking Marco made me feel welcome and the food was moderatly priced and excellent. During the pandemic Marco left for Milano and did’t come back. But the food and hospitality stayed. So, after my plane landed, I checked-in my regular hotel and headed to Ta Pawla. I usually either take the grilled octopus or rabbit from the set menu. This time I ordered the menu. The starter (pasta with sausage) was great, but then I got four tiny pieces of rabbit with some fries on my plate and the icecream was one scoop instead of the usual two. The price of the set menu had gone up significantly, but inflation is on the rise everywhere in Europe. But the quantity had gone down as well. The quality was still good, but to spend €21 (excluding drinks) and having to go down to McDonald's after the meal to fill your stomach, never was part of the deal. Even the free Limoncello after the meal was left out this time. So, because of the food quality and service, still three stars, but because of my dissapointment not the regular five. I hope that they pick-up. Otherwise I will have to find a...