Five of us met up in Valletta at 15:00 and were in search of a late lunch. But in spite of the capital being bustling and many establishments being open, it proved very hard to find one which would accommodate us at that time. Kitchens were all closing and we had much difficulty finding a place with continuous service, much as this sounds unlikely. Even some of those which actually remained open, informed us that their kitchen closes until later on in the evening.

I had recently remarked how practical it was to see that more and more establishments were remaining open throughout the afternoon, including proper restaurants, around Malta, so I was under the false impression that Valletta would be full of such venues.

So although we were initially after something rather smart, we settled for a much more casual eatery, just next to St John’s Cathedral.

The staff were bubbly and friendly and nice, definitely not reserved in any way. Service was at times a bit sketchy, but still very much on the acceptable side. Of course one has to make some concessions based upon the type of venue, and should expect a very casual style of service in this type of place.

Also as may be expected in this type of establishment, the menu was quite vast, but at least their wine list too was rather varied and even a bit beyond expectation. We went for Australian all round this time, and had Jacob’s Creek Semillon Chardonnay white and Jacob’s Creek Shiraz Cabernet red. I was very familiar with both and nobody was disappointed, as both make very pleasant and easy drinking.

We had a variety of dishes including a more than acceptable duck breast salad and various pasta dishes, including wild mushroom ravioli and asparagus fagottini, which were both lovely. Their penne al salmone was also very pleasing. Also a spinach and tuna pie which was fine.

So all in all, we very satisfied with the quality of the food, keeping in mind that this is a very casual diner. However I must admit that some of the dishes, and certainly the pastas, could have matched even what is served in good restaurants.

Naturally the location is just excellent, being situated right in the heart of Valletta, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of our stylish capital. The place was virtually exclusively frequented by tourists, but that is to be expected in such circumstances and has its own advantages, which can be very pleasing to the eye and also easy on the ear. I have absolutely nothing against young, skimpily dressed foreigners who keep their mouth shut while eating.

Unfortunately I really seem to have misplaced the bill. However I very much recall that the total amount came to only to a fraction of what we would have paid in a smart restaurant. So that too is an important element one has to keep in mind, when substituting a finer diner with a very informal one.

So although this casual diner might not become a destination restaurant in its own right for us, it would certainly be one we would gladly return to for a light meal.

The end of our lunch marked the beginning of a long evening and night of drinking and delicious debauchery, until the early hours in the morning and in no less than 5 different bars and clubs. Valletta has become without a doubt the best location for a fun pub crawl and truly has something for everyone. If moreover, like us, you are able to enjoy everything and anything, and to soak in the diversity of an eclectic evening out, then Valletta will excel.

Now where did I put those morning after pills tongue emoticon