Il-Merill Restaurant — Restaurant in Sliema

A Memorable Evening of Maltese Delights!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Il-Merill Restaurant, an charming family-owned Maltese restaurant with a group of friends, and I can confidently say that it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. This hidden gem delivered authentic Maltese cuisine with a warm, welcoming atmosphere that made us feel right at home.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, we were greeted by the aroma of tantalizing Maltese spices and the cozy ambiance of the place. It was a special evening for us as we were early celebrating our friend's birthday, and this restaurant turned out to be the perfect setting for the occasion.

To start our culinary journey through Malta, we ordered the Ġbejna and Maltese Platter for starters and then for the main dishes we order Rabbit pan seared in garlic and herbs,, which is a traditional Maltese delicacy. The succulent rabbit was expertly prepared and burst with flavor. It was tender, savory, and perfectly seasoned, a true testament to the chef's mastery of Maltese cuisine. This dish was a delightful introduction to the rich and diverse flavors of Malta.

The octopus with calamari was another standout dish that left our taste buds in awe. The octopus was incredibly tender, and the calamari was crispy without being greasy. The combination of the two seafood delicacies was nothing short of exquisite. The accompanying sauce added an extra layer of flavor, making every bite a true delight.

One of the highlights of our dining experience was the exceptional service provided by the friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. They not only made us feel like honored guests but also shared fascinating insights into the history and preparation of Maltese cuisine. Their passion for the food they served was evident, and their recommendations were spot on.

The restaurant's commitment to preserving Maltese culinary traditions shone through in every aspect of our meal. From the warm and welcoming ambiance to the mouthwatering dishes and attentive service, this family-owned gem truly exceeded our expectations.

In conclusion, our dinner at this traditional Maltese restaurant was a delightful journey into the heart of Maltese cuisine. The rabbit and octopus with calamari were simply outstanding, and the attentive waitstaff made our celebration even more memorable. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to savor the flavors of Malta while enjoying a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It's a dining experience that I will cherish, and I look forward to returning soon to explore more of their...

Bad experience afterall. We made a reservation for 20h45 and everything seemed fine. When we arrived at 20h43, they told us the reservation was for 21h and we had to wait outside (bad start, we called the day before and they told us it was scheduled for 20h45). They called us in to sit down at 21h06. I looked at my watch when they called us and got a comment from the waiter "yes, its 9pm now". No its not, sorry, it's 21h06! I said nothing because I didn't want to be rude, but it annoyed me. The food was good, no doubt. But when I ordered the wine, they told me to try it out. All good, that's how's supposed to be. When I tried the wine I realized it was at room temperature and I told the waitress "it's a bit warm, but it's fine, you can serve". And she replied back "what? It's red wine, its always served at room temperature". To be honest, I didn't like the comment but I said "it depends on the wine, but it's fine you can serve it". She offered to bring a cooler (even though her tone was a bit rude) and she put the wine in the cooler. I was sure the wine was too warm, so I checked the bottle and it said "to be served at 14°-18°". So in the end of the meal, when we were paying already, I told her I had an observation and I told her that that specific wine was supposed to be served colder as the bottle said "14°-18°". She replied back saying it was a red a wine and red wine is always supposed to be served at room temperature and that was how she always did it. The problem was, she was very rude and even with evidence in front of her, she didn't want to accept it. Yes, the food was fine, but I am really sorry to say, the service was really bad! Specially when a waitress does not want to understand what the client is saying. Its called stubbornness, because I know I'm right, I know what I'm talking about and it even says so on the bottle, I am not making this up! And even if it didn't say in the bottle, as far as I know, I am paying for the bottle, so she should do as I say. But instead she was rude just because no one ever complained before. So for me, it is really bad service. And when someone doesn't even want to make an effort and try to change/understand, I think that's a really bad service. And wherever I'm back in Malta, I'm never going back to...

9.5/10

The atmosphere and the service was great and went hand in hand with the story of a small and cosy family restaurant they are telling. The owners/waiters were extremely friendly and simpatico(?) :)

Regarding the food: For the starters we had grilled cheese (goat) with cranberry jam (10/10) the bean pate with their bruschetta (7/10) it was tasty but nothing extraordinary And garlic bread with sausage with some goar cheese (7/10).

After we finished the starters we thought that this was gonna be a tasty experience, but nothing special... This changed dramatically when we tried the main courses.

1st the seared rabbit - for me, it set the standard of how and exquisitely prepared rabbit should taste. Seasoned perfectly and made in their secret sauce ,it was melting in the mouth and in the same time sticking to the teeth from something sweet in it(11/10).

the ribs - also the same thing, it set the standard for me regarding ribs, amazing, flavourfull, sweet, no need for chewing the meat it was so tender, in 1 word - incredible!

then we had the pasta arabbiata - all ingredients very tasty, but for my taste a very simple dish, not much you can do regarding some extraordinary flavors. 9/10.

For desert - fried dates with icecream - very very good, not something you eat every day (9/10) And fondant - chocolate fondue with whipped cream - tasty, classic, nothing extraordinary (8/10)

All in all, an amazing gastro experience, not the cheapest but worth every penny!

for the 4 of us, having shared 1 main course and with drinks and 2 deserts - we...