A survey among a large number of the registered members of the Facebook page Restaurants In Malta: The Good, The Bad, The Rip-Offs, administered by wines-andrestaurantsofmalta. com, has indicated that the vast majority of them dine out a minimum of once a week with a partner while others dine out twice or more per week with a partner, colleague or for business entertainment.
This means that these members produce a turnover of over 18,000 meals a week or, better still, over 930,000 restaurant meals a year, culminating in a financial turnover of over €42 million for restaurants in Malta over a 12-month period, leading WRMC to push for higher standards among restaurateurs.
The WRMC will hold its Restaurants Quality Recognition Awards Presentation Gala Dinner at the Portomaso Suite at the Hilton Malta on January 27. An average of about 100 restaurants are inspected by the WRMC’s appointed, professional inspectors throughout the year. The top 30 adjudicated restaurants – which must score 8.5 points out of 10 – are included in the WRMC 30 Best Restaurants in the Maltese Islands – Blue Riband Awards.
The top 10 out of these restaurants are, in turn, subjected to a further three anonymous inspections, carried out by different inspectors during the year. The best six – which must obtain a minimum of 9.5 points out of 10 in the inspectors’ combined ratings – are presented with the Silver Spoon award. This also entitles the winners to use the title of WRMC Silver Spoon Restaurant for advertising purposes.
The six 2013 recipients of the One Silver Spoon award, which is bestowed for outstanding quality and service among other aspects, can also be considered for the Two Silver Spoons award, which is given after a more thorough adjudication, possibly with the assistance of an overseas adjudicator.
The 2013 One Silver Spoon recipients were: The Arches Restaurant of Mellieħa; Blue Elephant at the Hilton Malta; Grill 3301 at the Corinthia St George’s Bay Hotel; Tartarun of Marsaxlokk; Tarragon Restaurant of St Paul’s Bay; and Patrick’s Restaurant & Steakhouse of Victoria.
It is anticipated that further awards will be presented at January’s event, including best chef, best dish presentation, best five Sunday buffet lunches, the top three family-oriented casual diners and the bestethnic restaurant.
For more information, visit www.winesandrestaurantsofmalta.com; www.facebook.com/groups/restaurantsinmalta or www.renospiteriwineopolis.blogspot.com.