ARE YOU HUNGARY?
Elsa Messi outlines a number of places selling Eastern European food in Malta.
Eastern European cuisine is full of culture and history. While for most people opting for an Eastern European restaurant in Malta may not be people’s first, second or even third choice, it doesn’t mean it cannot happen. There is still a lack of knowledge as to what Eastern European food entails whether it is from Russia, Hungary or Poland, which respectively, all have their own specials and cooking techniques.
Fortunately, Malta has its fair share of restaurants that specialise in delicious dishes from the Eastern hemisphere, so whether you’re a novice, or an expat who is missing traditional food, or anything in between, you need to check out the following:
Margaret Island, Sliema
Margaret Island offers a wide range of traditional Hungarian fare and the portions are huge. Typical (and recommended) dishes include hortobagy meat crepes (two savoury generously stuffed crepes with chicken stew in paprika sauce), the letcho (a hearty tomato stew with roasted sausages) and of course the beef goulash, one of Hungary's staple dishes.
VostOk Takeaway & Delivery, Msida
Although VostOk’s entire menu isn’t predominantly Russian, they have a very nice, hearty and authentic food offering from the country itself. For starters, nibble on Cheburek (deep-fried dumplings stuffed with minced beef) or typical Russian pancakes filled with meat or ricotta. Mains include Pelmeni, which are the Russian equivalent to ravioli or small pockets of unleavened dough containing minced beef. They always have daily specials which include traditional Russian soups.
Happy Pigs Tavern, St Paul’s Bay
An Eastern European tavern serving goulash (beef cooked with potatoes, veg and spices), beef tongue sautéed in butter, kavarma (a Bulgarian dish of pork stew cooked with veg, spices and baked in bread), sauerkraut (a cabbage-based dish), shashlik which is a Russian kind of shish kebab, in addition to other Eastern European meat specialties.
Familija Srpski, Bugibba
This eatery flies the flag for Serbian cuisine and it does it well. On the menu you’ll find ustipci (doughnut-like fried dough balls) ustipci, sudjuka (smoked beef sausage) and kajmak (a Serbian unripened cheese similar to clotted cream). On the grill front, diners can enjoy chepavis (grilled skinless kebab-like sausages plaved between a flatbread, typical Serbian burgers and burek (baked savoury pastries made with filo dough and stuffed with beef or potato).
D’Amici Russian Karaoke Bar, St Julian’s
This hidden gem offers small plates from Russia with love. Expect dishes involving various meats on the skewer, Russian dumplings and lots of vodka. Perfect for a late-night out!
Food connoisseur, curiosity feeder and travel queen. A londoner, Elsa has lived in Tokyo and now based in Malta. I like what I C: Cheese, cats, consuming cuisines, canines, cooking, clothes and countries. I also like taking long romantic walks to the fridge.
