Trattoria Riccardo — Restaurant in Saint Paul's Bay

Very lovely ambience, nice design and style. Schion the waitress was very nice and attentive, she explained what was included with our voucher from AX ODYCY (it was drinks same as the bar menu and starter, main and dessert).

The service was very efficient and speedy, in a way it felt a little bit pressured/rushed. I went to the toilet soon after arriving and straight away when I came back I was asked to order, I then had a look at the menu a bit and then they came back for drinks, starter and mains. I hadn't had a full chance to look yet and we weren't sure what was included at the point before ordering, but quickly chose. Everyone was very helpful and friendly but it felt a little bit rushed.

I had the Maltese Rosé which was very nice, a garlic pizza/foccacia to start, which was very tasty with nice flavour and delicious dough but a massive portion, I think it would be a better size for sharing between two. Then I had a classic calzone for my main, this was massive and was impossible to get through. The dough was nice on the pizza but it was quite bland and hard to eat through, as it was just so much cheese and ham, not much other flavour or any sauce. I couldn't eat anymore than half and even that made me feel a bit sick and full. Then, they were worried that there was a problem, which made me feel a bit bad and I felt bad wasting it but the portion was massive and so filling, I already ate too much of it. Normal pizza and pasta looked very nice though.

There were a few desserts to choose from and I had an affogato which was very nice.

Throughout the service was very good and it was a nice place to eat but just to bear in mind the portions are very big and I would not recommend...

The moment you arrive at Trattoria Riccardo (located on Qawra Coast Road, part of AX ODYCY Hotel) you get swept into a charming scene. Whether seated inside or out, you’re often rewarded with sweeping sea views, generous natural light, and a relaxed ambience that manages to be both lively and comfortable. 

The design is tasteful: plenty of space between tables, good lighting in daytime & evening, and a décor that strikes a balance between modern elegance and rustic Italian charm. The wood-burning oven is a focal point — not just functional but atmospheric too. 

It’s especially attractive to families — there’s a “Little Italy” play area for kids ages 4-12, which shows the restaurant has thought carefully about making everyone feel welcome. 

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Food Quality & Menu

Italian cuisine is at the heart of this place, and they seem to honour it well. The pizzas — baked in that wood-burning oven — are frequently praised for having soft, light dough and authentic flavour. 

Pasta lovers will find themselves happy: generous portions, freshness, and good balance in flavours. Seafood and meat mains also make appearances, and many reviewers mention standout dishes like pistachio gnocchi, spaghetti with prawns, and a braised lamb shank. 

Desserts are typically well-received; people note them being satisfying finishers to the meal. 

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Service & Guest Care

Service appears to be a strong point here overall: attentive, friendly, genuinely engaged. Many guests report being made to feel welcome, with helpful recommendations, caring problem-solving, and warmth...

Having seen the amazing reviews for this place I was excited to come here and try a great meal during my stay in Malta. Unfortunately, the food and service undelivered.

Upon entering, the ambience was good, the restaurant well-kept and clean with beautiful views from the upper floor. We arrived on time for a reservation and were promptly seated. We were handed our menus and ordered. The waiter only took half of the menus and forgot about them for about half an hour before someone else took them from us.

Service was slow, we sat starving for an hour. We felt unattended compared to other customers in the restaurant around us who were being given attention. When the food arrived, we thought that we were going to be in for a great meal considering how long it took and the amazing reviews for this place but instead, we got a lacklustre meal which was bland in flavour. I ordered the fried fish mix which came looking amazing, the presentation was alright although one could say it was just a dump of the food on the plate compared to the other images I have seen, but the fish was overcooked in the frier and the chips were undercooked. The meal had no flavour whatsoever, leaving me extremely disappointed. To conclude, I don’t really recommend this place. But since the other reviews speak of such a great meal here, perhaps the staff didn’t like my family, or we came at a bad time to get the best...