Tartarun Restaurant

Seafood restaurant · Marsaxlokk ·

Tartarun Restaurant

Seafood restaurant · Marsaxlokk ·

Elegant harbourfront seafood restaurant with fresh catch

Information

20 Xatt is-Sajjieda, Marsaxlokk, Malta Get directions

€50+

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

"This elegant restaurant on the harbourside of a small fishing village has been run by the Schiavone family for over 10 years. Son James treats diners to a daily changing selection of simply cooked whole fish and other, more modern, imaginative seafood dishes. Apart from fishermen they support the local baker that provides daily bread for the village and a hydroponic farmer which is a few kilometers from the restaurant. Their 150+ bin wine list is renowned locally." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/en/malta-south-eastern-region/marsaxlokk/restaurant/tartarun

Tartarun Restaurant

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

A Day in the Life at Tartarun, Marsaxlokk, Malta

"An elegant harbourside restaurant in Marsaxlokk run by the Schiavone family for over a decade, this place is all about fish and has become part of village life. It’s all about freshness here: father Joseph knows which boats are out, checks the weather to predict availability, and heads to the fish market at 3am to bid—sometimes fiercely—on the best catch, leaning on lifelong friendships with local fishermen to source top quality. Lunch is fast-paced, with a mix of bookings and walk-ins; the à la carte menu centers on a ‘catch of the day’ ritual where whole, unscaled fish are presented and explained, weighed for price, then cooked to preference—the most popular option is on the bone, before being filleted tableside. Afternoons bring quieter moments to handle correspondence while Stephen—now a certified sommelier—oversees a 150+ bin wine list that’s renowned locally. Dinner settles into a slower, laid-back rhythm, and the team often ends the night with a chat and sometimes a raised glass. Their mantra is to be self-motivated to be better, learn something new every day, manage the business sustainably, and stay consistent; they’re inspired by the simplicity, precision, and seasoning of Japanese cuisine—falling for irizake and experimenting to create their own garum—and lockdown reinforced how essential real customer exchanges are, reminding them that no technology can replace the human element in hospitality." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/people/a-day-in-the-life-at-tartarun-marsaxlokk-malta

Tartarun Restaurant

@afar

25,132 Postcards · 3,702 Cities

What is Maltese Food? 7 Essential Foods to Try in Malta - AFAR

"A fine-dining, seafood-focused restaurant on the Marsaxlokk waterfront prized for excellent whole lampuki and leisurely lunches by the wharf, especially popular with visitors and locals after the Sunday fish market." - Dave Seminara

https://www.afar.com/magazine/the-best-food-in-malta-and-where-to-find-it

Tartarun Restaurant

Val A.

Google

FIne quality, delectable, fresh Mediterranean seafood at its finest 10/10. Wide variety of fresh seafood to choose from - showed by the chef with recommendation on the preparation. Service was friendly, efficient and timely 10/10. Vibe is classy, but not stuffy. If you want to avoid the chaotic waterfront restaurants and yet still have the view of both the water and people, this is a great spot. We really enjoyed our dining experience. Please book in advance as this place is popular even in low season

Brent G.

Google

8.5/10 - Excellent octopus and clam linguine. Fillet of snapper was pretty good, not amazing. Dessert was delicious although a bit flaky and difficult to eat. In total mostly everything was delicious, some of the best seafood I've had.

Manveriee

Google

All style, no substance This restaurant tries hard, but fails. Serving industrial, frozen French fries as a side without mentioning it feels dishonest, especially when the beetroot ketchup seems homemade. The other dishes were not bad, but they are seriously overpriced for the quality. Portions feel Michelin-starred, but this is just a place listed in the Michelin Guide, which I still cannot understand. The daily specials were only mentioned when the waiter finally took our order, more than twenty minutes after giving us the menus, and we had already decided what to eat. We then waited over forty minutes for our food. To make matters worse, someone at the table next to us smoked an IQOS the entire time inside the restaurant, and no one from the staff did anything to stop it. At the end of the meal, we expected at least a simple “How was everything?” but guest experience clearly does not matter here. Money seems to be the only priority. Overrated, overpriced, and disappointing. You can eat better elsewhere for less, or if you are looking for a true Michelin-style experience, there are plenty of places that deserve the recognition much more, both for food and service.

Andrew S.

Google

Outstanding restaurant which has just reopened after some major refurbishment. The same staff are there to welcome you and they are very hospitable. The main course fish dishes are among the best in Malta but the starters are outstanding and it is easily possible to eat a whole meal of starters. Wonderful, particularly for a Sunday lunch! Follow lunch with a stroll around the beautiful fishing village of Marsaxxlok.

Andrea N.

Google

Honestly, this review could end with just one sentence: the French fries were frozen. In a restaurant of this level, with a very concise menu presented on two simple paper sheets, one would expect even such a basic side dish to be freshly made. Realizing they were clearly frozen was a letdown. As for the rest of the food, I don’t have strongly negative comments, but the dishes are quite simple, especially considering the type of restaurant and its Michelin mention. Portions are more in line with a Michelin-starred restaurant than with a Michelin-listed one, while the flavors are correct but lack refinement, missing that extra touch one would reasonably expect. Additionally, at the table next to ours, a lady was smoking an IQOS indoors, and no one from the staff intervened or addressed the situation, which was quite surprising and detracted from the overall experience.

Miss M.

Google

Very nice lunch. All the dishes were perfect, we will come back to test the rest of the menu ! The apple millefeuille was amazing ! Thank you

NFG Flame K.

Google

A Michelin experience. All the food so beautifully presented, and the taste definitely matched. Exquisite food. Top notch service. Delicious bubbly to compliment the cuisine. A must do when visiting Marsaxlokk. Well done to the team.

Matthew C.

Google

We visited for lunch and chose the degustation menu — and what an unforgettable experience! Every course was a burst of extraordinary flavors, beautifully balanced and thoughtfully presented. You can tell that a lot of passion and creativity goes into every dish. The care and attention from the staff elevated the whole experience even further. They were warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure we had a perfect meal. It felt personal and effortless at the same time. An incredible dining experience from start to finish. We left impressed, satisfied, and already planning our next visit. Highly recommended! 🍽️✨