Sunday at The Harbour Club in Valletta gave us 1 great lunch with amazing views!
The Harbour Club is located in arguably one of the island’s best locations, fronting the historic Grand Harbour in Valletta. You can either enjoy amazing views from its open-air lounge bar terrace, or inside an elegant yet cozy interior space. The Harbour Club in Valletta offers a combination of quality food, cured wine list and breathtaking views of the Grand Harbour!
The Harbour Club in Valletta is one of the prime examples of how to convert old underused spaces (it was originally an 18th Century warehouse) into something of quality. The area, near the ‘Telgha ta’ Liesse’ has seen so much – volumes upon volumes of Maltese history. Fact for you, the area just in front of the restaurant was the site of the old Valletta fish market and the Neptune statue, which is now situated at the Grandmaster’s Palace. The link between this area and food is a long standing one.
View this post on Instagram
The two-tier interior is somewhat cavernous (the wide front opening the only source of light) but impeccably decorated. The upper ‘al fresco’ terrace area makes excellent use of the traditional materials, also featuring a delightful little kiosk structure.
Being already mid-October when we decided to visit The Harbour Club, we made a reservation for a Sunday lunch, hoping the weather would favour us. It did. The beautiful afternoon sun enabled us to enjoy the stunning Grand Harbour views, whilst sipping a couple of delightful cocktails (may we suggest the Club Martini?).
Some lovely cocktails on selection
The attention for detail in service at The Harbour Club, especially in observing all the COVID19 related regulations was immaculate (bordering on annoying, but given the situation, necessary). The food is Mediterranean in its essence, with a touch of French.
Our first starter was a beef pastrami, with onion, Gruyère and cucumber. A generous portion of tasty beef, salted just right, which really went really well with the jam. A simple and rewarding dish which makes you wonder why a deli classic in many other countries is not so popular here on the islands.
Beef Pastrami
The second starter comprised some very tasty fish scallops, with cauliflower and a very thin and delicate sheets from the Lardo di Colonnata, which brought a taste of Tuscany in the dish. The combination of all three proved a very balanced one, each flavour complementing the other. Thick sauce and a very enjoyable dish.
Fish scallops
So close to the sea we opted for fish as one of the main dishes. Since the Meager, listed in the menu, was not available, we were served Turbot instead. A very welcome substitute. Two decent sized fillets of Turbot came with miso, a garlic purée, fennel and prawn sauce. The flesh, typically stark white was firm with large flakes, and with a taste-of-the-sea flavour which was a touch too salty for our liking. It also needed more than just a fork to cut the fillets.
We loved the prawn sauce, whilst the fennel was nicely caramelised and cooked ‘al dente’. Overall, the minimalism of the serving rightly keeping the focus on this luxurious fish.
Turbot came with miso, a garlic purée, fennel and prawn sauce
Next was the beef bavette with local beetroot and berry jus. We requested the beef to be cooked medium rare, but in this case the cooking leaned more towards the medium rather than to the rare. I would say just slightly overcooked, but enjoyable nevertheless, as was the beetroot and berry jus.
Beef bavette with local beetroot and berry jus
For dessert we decided to share the Orange curd, with Campari and a basil ice cream. The curd was sweet and tangy, with a luxurious texture, beautifully complemented with a cracker like piece of nougat. I was not very fond of the basil ice cream by itself, but with the rest, it made the dessert feel earthy.
Orange curd, with Campari and a basil ice cream
The Harbour Club in Valletta is one of those few examples where prices are not exclusively the result of a great location and view, but also based on quality food and service. Its consistency and quality were rightfully rewarded with an inclusion, along with other Maltese restaurants in the Michelin Guide.
View this post on Instagram
OMGFOODMALTA Rating: 7.5/10
Star Items: Scallops with cauliflower and Lardo di Colonnata / Beef pastrami
Website: www.theharbourclubmalta.com
Email: info@theharbourclubmalta.com
Address: 4/5 Barrierra Wharf, Liesse Hill, Valletta
Tel: +356 21222332
