BeirutBay — Restaurant in Sliema

As someone familiar with real Lebanese food, I was very disappointed by BeirutBay. We tried several “traditional” dishes, but none of them tasted or looked like the authentic versions. If you’ve never had Lebanese or Levantine food before, you might be fooled, but this is far from the real thing.

The menu claims to use only fresh meat and no frozen products, but with an open kitchen, it’s easy to see what’s really happening. I literally saw the chef take frozen meat straight to the grill (not a great look).

The staff were okay, but none of them spoke Arabic, which is surprising for a Lebanese restaurant and takes away from the overall experience. On a positive note, the decor was nicely done — but sadly, that’s about it.

Edit after the owner’s reaction:

Hi, I’m genuinely surprised by the aggressive tone of your response.

First of all, I have no reason to lie — I was simply visiting Malta for a week and decided to try your restaurant because I missed Lebanese food. I even attached a photo of my payment with the date and time as proof that I was there.

My review was honest and based entirely on my personal experience. It was meant as constructive feedback — not an attack, nor part of any so-called “conflict of interest.” If you advertise fresh meat and then serve frozen meat in an open kitchen, that’s something worth pointing out. Same goes for the overall authenticity of the food, which I felt was lacking.

As for the Arabic comment: no, I didn’t speak to everyone, but none of the staff I interacted with spoke Arabic, which I found surprising for a Lebanese restaurant aiming to offer an authentic experience.

Lastly, your comment about “being found” is concerning. If that was meant as a threat, I hope you realize how inappropriate and unprofessional that sounds. I left a respectful review — perhaps it’s worth responding with the same level of respect.

I sincerely hope you take this feedback into account and use it to improve....

A Culinary Delight at Beirut Bay

Last evening, my brother, father, and I had the pleasure of dining at Beirut Bay, a gem of Lebanese cuisine in the heart of the city. From the moment we stepped in, the warm ambiance and the enticing aroma of spices set the tone for what was to be an unforgettable dining experience.

The menu was a delightful journey through traditional Lebanese dishes, each more tempting than the last. We decided to indulge and ordered a wide variety of dishes. The highlights included the perfectly grilled lamb kebabs, which were succulent and seasoned to perfection. The tabbouleh was a refreshing blend of parsley, mint, and bulgur, with just the right hint of lemon.

A standout dish was the hummus, which was undoubtedly the best I've ever tasted. Creamy, rich, and topped with olive oil and a dash of paprika, it was a simple yet masterful representation of classic Lebanese flavors. The falafel was crispy on the outside and delightfully soft on the inside, paired wonderfully with tahini sauce.

The service was impeccable, with attentive but unobtrusive staff who were knowledgeable about the menu and happy to offer recommendations. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that we left feeling satisfied and delighted with our culinary adventure.

As we concluded our meal with a serving of baklava and mint tea, we all agreed that Beirut bay had not just served us food, but a memorable and authentic Lebanese dining experience. A must-visit for anyone looking to explore the rich and flavorful world of Lebanese cuisine.

Rating: 5/5 - Highly recommended for its authentic flavors, excellent service, and...

Disappointing and Unacceptable

We were waiting for over an hour, even though we were told the wait would be 15-30 minutes. To make matters worse, I overheard guests in front of the restaurant saying they didn’t have reservations, yet they were seated before us. I genuinely feel we weren’t taken seriously because we’re young. This kind of treatment is disrespectful, and there was no apology or clear communication from the staff. I’ve never experienced such poor service in any other restaurant. Would definitely not recommend.

Thank you for your kind message and for the generous invitation. Unfortunately, we are leaving Malta tomorrow morning, so we won’t have the chance to visit again.

I completely understand that your restaurant is very popular, and I would have understood if we were informed from the start that there was no space available. What felt disappointing was being told the wait would be 30 minutes, only for it to stretch to an hour. Even after asking again, we were told it would be 5 more minutes, which turned into another 18 minutes, so we ultimately decided to leave.

I also wanted to mention that I’m on crutches due to a broken foot, which makes getting around in Malta quite difficult. After waiting so long, it was very frustrating that I‘ve decided to just go home without have eaten anything.

Thank you for your attention and...