St Paul’s Bay fine-dining restaurant Tarragon yesterday swept several awards – including the top spot – at the 2018 Definitive(ly) Good Guide To Restaurants In Malta & Gozo Awards Ceremony.

Tarragon clinched the awards for best service, best ambience and the most coveted award for best overall restaurant. It was also commended for its wine list.

This is how the guide describes the winning restaurant: “Tarragon has racked up numerous awards over the years including this year’s Top Overall Restaurant, and with good reason. Chef patron and owner Marvin Gauci has tirelessly pushed himself to stay ahead of everyone else when it comes to innovation in cuisine and excellence in service. The tasteful interior décor truly enhances the elegance factor. The place is spacious and allows for a completely unobstructed view of the sea.”

Marvin Gauci also received awards for his other restaurants Buddhaman, which placed fifth overall, and Caviar & Bull, which placed seventh. Gauci’s other venture Dinner In The Sky, which is currently rated Malta’s best restaurant on Trip Advisor, was awarded 15th place.

Marvin Gauci with Italian masterchef Bruno Barbieri

Last year’s winner La Vela did not make it to this year’s Top 40, while several new places made their way towards the top, including Rocksalt, L’Artiglio, LVB and Hammett’s Gastrobar which placed third, fourth, ninth and eleventh respectively. Rocksalt was also awarded for best newcomer.

Patrick’s in Gozo placed second overall and was also given the award for best food. 

The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants Awards Ceremony, sponsored by HSBC and Global Payments, was held at The Xara Lodge yesterday evening to award the top survey-rated restaurants as voted by 2,368 diners out. Based on popular vote, only 150 restaurants make it to be included in the latest 2018 edition of The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants in Malta & Gozo and its official portal.

The results of the Restaurant Survey can be found in the 2018 edition of The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants in Malta and Gozo and is now available to purchase online for €8 which will also entitle you to the Guide online and a free hard copy in the post. It is also available at leading stationers and bookshops in Malta & Gozo.

Watch the Best Overall Restaurant award being announced

Tag a friend who’s never been to Tarragon!

READ NEXT: TOP 40: Malta’s Towns Ranked By Their Food

Chris Peregin

Christian is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur who founded Lovin Malta, a new media company dedicated to creating positive impact in society. He is passionate about justice, public finances and finding ways to build a better future.