one80 St.Christopher Str. Valletta — Restaurant in Valletta

This review reflects the behavior of the restaurant manager, and not that of the kitchen or service staff: I visited the restaurant on December 29, 2024, after researching for a long time where to eat well in Valetta. I had already had a few failures and wanted to treat myself to a great lunch. The many good reviews convinced me. I walked through the whole city to One80 and arrived there at 1:40 pm. I knew that the kitchen closes at 3:00 pm. I was greeted by the restaurant manager and told him that I didn't have a reservation but would like a table for one for lunch. There were 3 small tables free. He told me they were all already reserved. He couldn't offer me anything. I expressed my regret, I had been so looking forward to it! He said with a smug smile that I could wait 45 minutes. I replied that I would do that and went outside on this cold winter's day to wait at two (dirty) bar tables for smokers. There I opened the restaurant's homepage, saw a booking tool for reservations and decided to give it a try. To my surprise, there were slots that could be reserved immediately and I booked a table for one person for 14:00, a 15-minute wait. I then entered the restaurant and told the manager that I had a table reservation and would wait outside until he called me in. I was delighted to see his surprised face. My learning: if you want to be badly received as a solo traveler, you should avoid this restaurant. This experience was very unfortunate and lasting, especially as the food is good and the service excellent. To elaborate: I ate deviled eggs as an appetizer. A little bland for my taste, but beautifully presented and edible. This was followed by a steak with hollandaise sauce on enoki mushrooms with wonderful side dishes. Delicious. I treated myself to a Negroni beforehand. Nice, very sleek ambience with a few “side tables" (where I sat, for example). Toilets on the same level, mostly clean. My recommendation: the restaurant should invest in training its manager in how to approach customers. There is nothing wrong with everything else.

Edit: After receiving the response of the management I would like to add that of the two free tables that were still available after I entered the restaurant one was occupied by a couple entering the restaurant after me without a reservation in place, and the other one wasn’t occupied at all. The impression remains that this is not a place for solo travelers, which are not...

We chose from the plant based menu. The food was well presented and the attention to detail was second to none. There were a few niggles, which we did let our waiter know about but received nothing by way of acknowledgement at all. We didn't receive a wine list upon sitting down, only a very short drinks list which hadn't any wine listed. We later noticed others were drinking wine and it transpired you have to ask for the wine list, which comes on a tablet. Hopefully these are wiped between uses. Having ordered a beer and cocktail because we thought it was a wine free affair, we enjoyed the snacks provided by way of fresh bread and crackers with a delightful dip. My mushroom dumpling starter was the highlight of my meal - the broth was divine and I wish a spoon had been provided in place of two sets of chopsticks (I used neither), to drink the broth! My husband's sobo noodles were so salty they were inedible. He ate the tofu and some of the veggies but couldn't eat more than 1/3 of his meal. Even I, who probably over salts most things, thought it was inedible. He told the waiter, who said he would come back to us. We assumed he was passing on feedback, or getting a menu to ask if my husband would like an alternative main course. We did indeed see him again, when he brought the dessert menu with no mention of the extremely salty main. Oh well! The ambience was pleasant. However, upon booking we received an email telling us children under 8 were not welcome in the evening but there was a child of about 5 wandering around. The email also stated - 'Ongoing audio of media players devices such as tablets or phones is not permitted in the restaurant. Our staff will kindly ask to shut it down if it is intrusive to other guests.' And yet a table of 5 loud American men did precisely this for about 30 minutes, including whilst the waiter was taking their order! One man in particular deemed it necessary to show everyone he was with the same tiktok video several times, very loudly. He was not asked to shut it down. This ruined the atmosphere quite a bit. Upon receipt of the bill we were charged full price for the inedible noodles and no mention was made of them again. Even knowing the feedback had been passed to the chef would have been a decent acknowledgement. It was a pleasant enough experience but I...

Simply Spectacular! A Must-Visit Gem in Valletta - Restaurant One80

Wow! My recent lunch at Restaurant One80 in Valletta wasn't just a meal; it was a truly memorable culinary journey from start to finish. Set against the stunning backdrop of Valletta, this restaurant delivers an experience that matches its incredible location.

The afternoon began with the simple, yet telling, pleasure of freshly baked bread accompanied by high-quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It's often these small details that set the tone, and One80 nailed it – a perfect, flavourful welcome.

For my starter, I chose the burger slider. Don't let the "slider" name fool you – this was a perfectly crafted bite packed with incredible flavour! The patty was juicy and seasoned beautifully, nestled in a soft bun with just the right accompaniments. It was a delicious and promising start to the meal.

The main course, however, was the absolute showstopper. I opted for the chicken skewers, and the menu's description only hinted at the delight to come. "Exquisite" is truly the only word! The chicken was cooked to absolute perfection – incredibly tender, moist, and bursting with complex, yet harmonious flavours. Every component on the plate worked together beautifully, showcasing clear culinary skill and a passion for quality ingredients. It was genuinely one of the best chicken dishes I've had.

To conclude this fantastic meal, I indulged in the chocolate cake for dessert. It was pure, decadent bliss! Rich, moist, intensely chocolatey without being overly heavy – it was the perfect sweet finale to an already outstanding dining experience.

Beyond the incredible food, the ambiance was sophisticated yet relaxed, and the service (though not explicitly detailed in my brief notes, the overall feeling was positive) seemed to complement the high standard of the cuisine.

Restaurant One80 is more than just a restaurant with a view; it's a destination for exceptional food and a wonderful atmosphere. If you're in Valletta and looking for a dining experience that will impress, delight, and leave you wanting to return, look no further. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars! Highly...