Malta’s Michelin starred restaurants, new and old, have celebrated their achieving of the prestigious recognition.

For the newly awarded restaurants, ION – The Harbour, and Bahia, it is the thrilling culmination of the efforts of the staff and the owners, and they celebrate it as such.

Announcing its award on Facebook, ION – The Harbour, which only opened in November 2020, said it is “extremely proud of our team for such a great achievement”.

Michelin, the restaurant says, “recognises some of the greatest cuisines around the world and the much-coveted Michelin Star is considered an authentic hallmark of exceptional fine dining”.

In the words of Michelin, the fourth-floor restaurant, sitting atop a stylish hotel, offers “skillfuly prepared dishes from chef Andrew Borg”.

“The daily menus are dictated by the best produce available from local farmers and fishermen and the cooking is classically based, with Mediterranean influences and a modern edge,” the guide says.

On the part of Bahia, its owner Colin Ciantar told WhosWho.mt, “we tried to do everything [right] … and have been waiting for something like this to happen”.

After a year in which the restaurant industry as a whole suffered greatly with COVID restrictions, the news is especially pleasing, he said.

Michelin described the restaurant as a charming bistro, named after the oranges for which the area is known.

“The talented Tyrone Mizzi [head chef] is skilled in the classics but likes to experiment with the great quality ingredients he has at his disposal, which means that the menu changes frequently. The dishes may look simple but their complementary combinations and wonderful depth of flavour demonstrate the thought that goes into them,” it said.

Aside from those new additions, three restaurants retained their stars, Under Grain, Noni and The de Mondion Restaurant.

In celebrating the achievement Under Grain said it was "thrilled" and thanked its "esteemed patrons" for their support.

On the part of Noni, it says it is "so proud and humbled" to have achieved a Star, for the second year running. It thanks its staff and team for "being instrumental in retaining the Star", and its patrons for their support:

The de Mondion says it is "over the moon" to have achieved the star. Noting that it did so despite all the challenges it encountered in the year.

The guide, which first reviewed Malta's restaurants in 2020, is updated annually.

Aside from the most prestigious "star" ranking, restaurants can be awarded in "Bib Gourmet" categories, which celebrates value for money, and "The Michelin plate", which awards restaurants serving, "simply delicious food" made with fresh ingredients.

A restaurant is able to receive from zero to three Michelin stars, while the dishes are assessed according to five criteria: quality of ingredients, taste and technique of cooking, uniqueness of the chef’s style, value for money, and maintaining the declared bar of food quality.