Victoria Gastropub — Restaurant in Saint Paul's Bay

I don’t know why I’m suprised at their terrible Customer service, I’ve only been coming here because this has been my family go to breakfast restaurant for the last almost 5/6 years or more.

Today on 13/09/25 I decided to go and have a milkshake, breakfast and cocktail whilst I sit on my laptop and apply for a job, I first asked if I could sit inside to which the waiter said no for whatever reason and I respected that and sat by the side somewhere inside,

The waiters and managers already seemed to be in a bad mood with the influx of customers, however it was not that busy, as I caught them just standing and doing nothing at various times. However everything was going well until a friend of mine came in, they handed me my cocktail after I had just had my breakfast and milkshake and water, and after 30 mins of me sipping slowly and talking to him I had noticed a fly in my drink. I had kindly asked for them to change it as I was not even half way through, the waiter told me he could give me a spoon to scoop out the fly as he claimed he had given me the drink “for an hour”. I was apalled by his statement. I then insisted on a new drink to which they provided so long as I paid for it, to which I told them, they can keep it since they are trying to charge me for 2 drinks!! Giving the first one I didn’t even drink due to the fly!

The manager came with the bill including the drink and I told him I refuse to pay for something I didn’t drink, if I was outside the establishment I may understand his little argument of “but we brought the drink over so it’s your responsibility”, but if I’m inside! A building with walls and doors, and flies are roaming around my food and drink, and one happens to drop inside! It is your responsibility as an establishment to change it! Coupled with the fact that I have come to this establishment for years now and have spent over 1000 euros in food just me alone, how much more my family! The manager finally agree to remove the drink as long as I left the establishment.

I have never been this insulted by a restaurant in all my life. They had previously overcharged me double the amount for food the other time I went and I closed my eyes and paid it, but this time I refused to be cheated.

Whenever I felt the service was good I had dropped tips, but now I wish I can collect all the tips I’ve ever dropped for...

To be a wife of the chef is a blessing and luck. But also it’s a curse.

Because I can’t simply eat what there is offered. You can’t unknow what you know and unsee what you see. And un-taste the right taste of food.

You know the right taste, colour, smell and structure of food.

Victoria gastropub is…

first of all pretty much overpriced.

Prices are higher than in places around. I paid 22 euro for chicken breast with potato. And I was absolutely disappointed.

It looks good. Well plated and served. But I could see there was something wrong. Potato purée was watery. Chicken breast looked too obviously not fresh and dry. Probably was cooked and frozen after. And then cooked again.

What I tasted my dish, I realized that sweet potato pure was not fresh (!!!) and tasted like acid(!!!). This is something unacceptable!

Chicken breast was dry and chewy.

Why are restaurants doing this? Serving food that gone bad but still try to do fine looking plate? Cook with fresh ingredients first of all. The rest is just decoration!

I live in Malta 2 years. It is hard to find good food here. I have been avoiding Victoria pub for all this time and decided to give it a chance. Was it worth it? No.

But my conclusion is to always listen to my gut and keep on avoiding places is I feel so.

I’m just sorry that people have no basic taste in food and are happy about being served very bad food… Otherwise how did this place get so many good reviews?

Guinness was good. Thanks god they can’t spoil it.

Service is very slowly. There were 3-4 tables and half of them were just drinking. My poor chicken breast took them infinity to cook....

I dont often leave poor reviews... but this place honestly only exists due to location.. We decided to eat here as a group of 6. 2 looking for seafood, 2 for vegetarian and 2 for vegan. They had vegan options on the menu, so it fit our needs. The 2 for 1 happy hour was also enticing.... My mussels were really delicious, I had no complaints, honestly a huge portion and the sauce was very well seasoned. Mushroom risotto was also decent and creamy.... but that's were it ends. The goat cheese and ricotta ravioli were clearly frozen, the filling was SO dry and lacked any goat cheese flavor,- my friend ate two and stopped But the real showstopping let down of the night were the vegan meals...it's not hard to do a vegan pizza, literally just make a vegetarian pizza without cheese and add extra of the vegetables it would already have... but this was just weird... corn, carrots, peas, paprika- Like it all came straight from a bag of frozen vegetables and a quarter of an Avocado kinda smashed over top... The feta salad offered the option for tofu in place of feta... so you'd think the tofu would be marinated similarly or at the very least seasoned.. NOPE.. just half a block of raw, firm tofu, sliced in two and plopped on top. Whoever thought of these vegan options needs to seriously put some effort in or just not offer them at all. Service was equally poor, those serving the patio seemed more interested in chatting away with one another than actually doing their job. All but one were actually was friendly. Definitely skip this place and find another happy hour if youre also trying to have good food... 1 out of 6...