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Hours
Tue
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Wed
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Thu
7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Fri
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Sat
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
MICHELIN
Details
Someone from this business manages this listing.
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PRICE RANGE
$82.00 – $165.00
CUISINES
Mediterranean, European
Meals
Dinner
features
MICHELIN Guide's Point of View
The luxurious Xara Palace Hotel is set in a 16C building in the heart of the beautiful walled city of Mdina where, on the top floor, you’ll find this i...
Read more on MICHELIN GuideOne MICHELIN Star: High quality cooking, worth a stop!
Does this restaurant accept reservations?
Details
About
The de Mondion restaurant at The Xara Palace Relais & Chateaux has consistently rated amongst the top restaurants on the island. Set atop Mdina's centuries-old bastions, the de Mondion enjoys truly stunning 180-degree views of Malta, the panorama providing a spectacular accompaniment to the restaurant's comfortable and convivial setting. We also pride ourselves in offering a discreet yet attentive service, leaving you time to savour the refined cuisine, the company and the view.The cuisine combines the finest seasonal produce with innovation and expertise to create tantalizing dishes of a style we like to call Modern Mediterranean.
PRICE RANGE
$82.00 – $165.00
CUISINES
Mediterranean, European
Meals
Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service
Contribute
4.5
506 reviews
Excellent
346
Very good
86
Average
53
Poor
17
Terrible
4
sarahetaylor22
London16 contributions
Jun 2021 • couples
We wanted to go somewhere special for our 20th anniversary and based on the reviews we chose De Mondion. We were not disappointed! All of the staff welcomed us and were extremely friendly, polite and attentive. The food was amazing and we left feeling extremely full as they kept bringing us tasting nibbles in between each course! A personalised menu was the icing on the cake :) The Xara palace is beautiful and a lovely view from the restaurant. I would not hesitate to recommend this place for overall quality of experience. It is quite expensive but we felt it was worth every penny! Thank you to all the staff and chefs who made our special occasion VERY special - we truly appreciate all the effort xx
Written July 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Pierre C
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this fantastic review on Trip Advisor.
We are delighted to read that you enjoyed every minute with us. We will definitely pass on this message to our team and they will be glad to read this.
We look forward to welcoming you in our palazzo once again,
Regards,
Jean Pierre - Marketing Manager
Written August 6, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ryan D
Brooklyn38 contributions
Feb 2020 • couples
De Mondion restaurant has exceptional food, a lovely wine list, attentive service and a very knowledgeable sommelier. The views are gorgeous and the small indoor dining room evokes a certain level of exclusivity.
Beef cheek appetizer was amazing, my husband ordered the vegetarian mushroom main and it was very good. I usually find vegetarian main courses a waste so this is a high compliment. My suckling pig was outstanding.
We had one issue- the music. The restaurant uses a “muzak” service and it was awful. Hearing classic David Bowie and the Beatles music “played” on an artificial computer device drove us both nuts.
Written February 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Good morning Ryan D,
Thank you so much for your review on TripAdvisor.
I am really happy to hear that you liked the restaurant so much.
Thank you very much for the compliments on the vegetarian mushroom main, and on one of our specials, the suckling pig! We are really glad you enjoyed it so much.
According to the issue you had with the music, I am really sorry to hear about this. We will definitely look into that and see what we can do about that, so that maybe we can change it in the future.
We hope to welcome you in our restaurant again, so you can discover some of the other dishes we have to offer.
Kind regards,
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DaivaTravels
28 contributions
Jun 2020 • business
Restaurant manager kindly opened the kitchen for our group lunch, even though the restaurant is only operating in the evenings. For coziness , we were offered a private lunch to be set up on the terrace in the best room hotel Xara has to offer. Service - outstanding and the food was delicious.
Written July 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Thank you for taking your time to post a review on TripAdvisor
We are delighted to hear that you loved your time at The de Mondion Restaurant.
Your kind words have been warmly received and we hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again very soon!
Many thanks and kind regards,
Written July 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Serendipity
Island of Malta7 contributions
Aug 2020 • none
The view is lovely but the "Michelin"star restaurant should make an effort to provide the best experience possible. There was no tablecloth and we were eating on a simple wooden table. Social distancing was respected but, sometimes, there was no staff in sight for ages. The staff were nice in a perfunctory manner. They need some training and an outfit makeover as they look and behave as though they were in a convent. The food was fine - not wonderful. We were charged a supplement of 10 Euros to change a dish - even if it was changing a main dish for a starter.
Written September 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Thank you for taking the time to post a review on Trip Advisor. We appreciate your honest feedback on our restaurant. With regards to the table set up, we removed the linen to be safer due to the current situation. Prior to the current pandemic all our tables had linen but we decided on this way forward to ensure safety to all our patrons. Our tables are simple, because simple is beautiful and provides a nice surface for the art created in our dishes.
We will pass on the comments to the management and staff and we will look into the constructive criticism from your end to do our best and improve our future patrons' experience.
Kind regards.
Written September 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Natalie de Gray
San Gwann1100 contributions
Aug 2020 • couples
I will start off with the positive aspects, these being a lovely view and very polite and efficient staff.
However this is definitely an overpriced restaurant and in all honesty undeserving of a Michelin star. Let's talk about the food - you would expect original presentation and concoctions, as in other Michelin restaurants abroad and now even on the local scene. The bread was brought first, it was warm and crunchy outside soft inside, very good but not special, and although the olive oil was nice, no special condiments were on offer - could have been any other good restaurant. The complimentary amuse bouche was nothing extraordinary either, a fishy sort of spherical croquette but accompanied with a nice artichoke puree. For starter I had foie gras and my husband had the prawns. The prawns cost 10 euro each and didn't have anything special except 3 small bits of crispy guanciale, a cold starter definitely not worth 30 euro. Now the foie gras, something I have a great passion for. I've eaten a lot of this in many restaurants, mainly in Paris, but even a couple of local ones, and I even cook it myself. I was thrilled to see that there was a piece of pan seared foie gras and a piece of terrine. What wasn't so thrilling was that the small portion I had wasn't deveined, neither that used for the terrine. The taste of the pan seared foie was nice but the already small portion ended in tatters after removing the vein, the brioche texture not bad; for me though a disappointing starter. For main courses we had the guinea fowl, which my husband didn't find tasty at all, and the Scottona beef. The latter was tasty but, considering the price, I've had better cuts - it was slightly chewy and the outer seared layer quite tough to cut through. For dessert we had the souffle, which was delicious indeed, and the 'kannol', filled with ricotta that was so cold I thought it was ice cream at first. To clarify, the food was good but not excellent and not original, so when one considers the price it simply isn't worth it, and not Michelin star level. Other detrimental factors were, no table cloth as one usually finds in such restaurants, even outdoor ones. Also, though not a deal breaker, the wine chosen not available. I would like to repeat that members of staff were very polite and helpful from start to finish.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Thank you for taking the time to place a review on Trip Advisor. We are saddened to read that you were not star struck in our restaurant. The de Mondion has been rated amongst the best restaurants in Malta for a decade. It was also one of the very first three restaurants in Malta that gained a Michelin Star. We have received your comments and pass them internally. We will be discussing this review thoroughly to see where and what we can improve. We thank you for your comments and we hope to have the chance to see you again to change your opinion on this.
Regards.
Written August 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matthew Z
Zurich25 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
The restaurant seems to want to be a 3 star restaurant with all the pomp and formality they bring to their presentations. But first they need to get some basics right.
Dinner was 3 hours for 5 tiny courses. Each of those courses was 1 or 2 minutes of eating followed by about 30 minutes of waiting. This is absurd. I was forced to ask the sommelier to please stop bringing my wine pairing until he saw the food on the table - the first 3 courses my white wine was room temperature before the food arrived.
Speaking of wine, it’s weird that the pairings are not printed in the menu like at most Michelin starred restaurants. Instead you are asked to commit to 5 glasses of mystery wine. The Maltese pairing was mostly Chardonnay and Merlot as opposed to some more adventurous native grapes to Malta which I found a bit disappointing.
Dinner just lasted forever. I just cannot understand how slow it was.
In general the food was good. My wife liked the lamb but I hated it due to the anchovy which added nothing to the dish besides an unwelcome surprise. We both agree other courses were good.
By the end of the 3 hours I felt more relief it was finally over than genuine enjoyment. For 350€ for two people I should leave feeling a bit more enthused.
Written August 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Pierre C
Dear Mr. Zych,
Thank you for taking the time to review your dining experience at the De Mondion restaurant on TripAdvisor.
We are saddened to read that your experience at the De Mondion restaurant did not meet your expectations. We also thank you for praising the quality of food.
Our kitchen brigade are continuously using fresh produce and cooking the dishes to order so that we can deliver the freshest product to your table. Your comments about the food portions for the tasting menus have been passed on to our Executive chef, were he will be looking into it. We are sorry if you thought that the waiting time was too long, for the anchovy part and for the size of the portions, please accept our apology about that.
With regards to the wine pairing and the temperature of wine, thank you for your feedback and we will be looking into this. We are constantly doing our utmost to keep improving our experience with the service of wine and wine flights that marry with our tasting menu.
Please accept our apology about your dining experience at the De Mondion restaurant. Should you change your mind and wish to give us another chance please do not hesitate to contact me directly. We really would like to make up for this.
Thanks & Kind Regards,
Charlo - Food & Beverage Manager
Written August 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The Maltese FIN
Island of Gozo15 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
The tasting menu combined with its paired wine choices exceeded our expectations, a big thank you to the chefs and waiters as well as our wine sommelier for making our night a special one for my partner’s birthday. Being a local myself, I was intrigued in trying elevated Maltese dishes in the tasting menu and the chefs have accomplished in making dishes that are not only a fantastic introduction to Maltese cuisine to any foreigners visiting but also a new experience to any locals who are used to traditional Maltese food. Thanks for having us and expect us in the future again!
Written October 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerome M
Dear MalteseFIN,
We are pleased to read that your dinner with de Mondion Restaurant has exceeded your expectations. Our staff strive to provide our clients with a unique dining experience, a tasteful palate, complimented with our historic and breathtaking views. We will share your lovely comments with our staff at our restaurant! We hope to see you again soon.
Best Regards,
Jerome - Marketing Assistant.
Written October 24, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
chunkyCheshire
Stockport350 contributions
Jun 2021 • none
We stayed at the hotel and ate both in the Trattoria (excellent) and here. We last stayed 5 years ago but this experience was even better. We had the tasting menu which I would really recommend as often the course which does not seem that exciting is the best, in this case it was the soufflé, outstanding.
The service was great, especially the guy who was front of house, so helpful, he even phoned before we left the UK to check the booking! What I loved about the service was that it was absolutely spot on, not intrusive but friendly. Also loved the fact that the chef came out to talk to everyone, such a really nice touch.
Written July 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tonio Aquilina
Thank you so much for taking the time to post a review on TripAdvisor. We are delighted to read that you enjoyed your time with us at the de Mondion. We look forward to seeing you again when you visit Malta.
We will pass on the message to the Trattoria staff too!
Wishing you a lovely week ahead,
Regards,
Jean Pierre Cassar
Marketing Manager
Written July 19, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Graziella B
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • couples
The dinner was a surprise for my birthday. We really enjoyed the beetroot gnocchi and the suckling pig. And i was given a small birthday surprise which was delicious. It was a chocolate dome that melted with hot caramel sauce. With this i was also given a birthday card and a personalized menu for the special occasion which was a nice addition. We will be back soon for sure!!
Written August 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Pierre C
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review on TripAdvisor. We are delighted to read that the de Mondion was a special treat on your birthday. We will pass on this message to our staff. We extend our congratulations and we look forward to seeing you again at The de Mondion Restaurant,
Regards,
Jean Pierre - PR & Marketing Manager
Written August 27, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matthew Pace
Malta130 contributions
Feb 2022 • none
Came here for Valentines evening dinner, and have to say the place really lived up to its expectations.
The ambience and venue is remarkable - and dishes and flavour simply mind blowing
one dish after another was more impressive then its predecessor. I cannot recommend this venue enough.
After this pleasant dinner Chef Kevin toured the restaurant and met each and every customer which i felt was a very i nice gesture. Quite clearly what this gentleman can create in a kitchen is magical.
The icing on the cake was the finale the mind blowing passion fruit waffle, am still licking my lips today three days later.
Very well done and keep up the impeccable standard, a a fellow restauranteur but have to say that thsi establishment is simply the best on the island.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND
Written February 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria B
Dear G1417ZLmatthewp,
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your lovely comments. We are delighted to read that you had a truly memorable experience with us for Valentine's and that you enjoyed The de Mondion's exquisite culinary journey. We will pass on this message to Chef Kevin and the team, as it gives us great pleasure in knowing that our guests' expectations are met and exceeded.
We surely look forward to seeing you again at The de Mondion Restaurant!
Best regards,
Maria B
Marketing Executive
Written February 22, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Richard S
Swansea17 contributions
Sep 2020 • none
My wife and I dined at de Mondion after our wedding in September 2020 and we are so pleased we did. We had the full tasting menu with paired wines and it was superb. The quality of the food, the paired wines and overall the friendly professional service we received made our wedding day extra special. We would rush back to this restaurant without hesitation and highly recommend it to others. I am exceptionally grateful to the staff there for looking after us so well. One of the finest dining experiences we have had.
Written November 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Dear Sinclaironair, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on TripAdvisor. We are delighted to read that you enjoyed your first dinner as a married couple with us. We will definitely pass on this message to our team. We look forwarded to seeing you again at the de Mondion.
Regards,
Jean Pierre Cassar
Written December 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Venessa
London14 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
My husband and I were so excited to eat here after the news that De Mondion was just awarded a Michelin star.
We eagerly ordered four appetizers to start. The
Octopus, Beef Cheeks, Risotto, and Agnolotti with Gorgonzola, Beetroot and horseradish were equally incredible. For our main course we chose the suckling pig and the fish of the day (Rock fish) , both dishes were average, my fish was actually a bit overdone.
Dessert was amazing, so don’t skip out on it! The date pudding was the highlight of the entire night for me!
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Good morning Venessa,
Thank you so much for your review on TripAdvisor, and all the compliments on our dishes!
We are really happy to read that you you enjoyed all of our dishes so much!
We are sorry that your Rock fish was a little bit overdone, we will tell our chef about this so we can maybe prevent this in the future.
I also am so happy you liked our dessert so much, it is the perfect touch to a perfect meal!
Have a great day!
Kind regards,
Written March 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nirvana James
1 contribution
Sep 2020 • couples
Booked for our anniversary, being suggested by a close friend of mine. Super impressed starting with the clean table setup, the view, service but most of all by the quality and execution of the food.
We opted for the 6 course taste of Malta. Each dish better then the other, however the best have to be the snails ragout. Each ingredient in each dish was making justice to the main ingredient and the local wine pairing elevated the dishes even more.
This place means business no wonder earlier this year it’s been awarded its first Michelin star.
What was a great end to the meal was the surprise special anniversary dessert and card. But more than anything the end of meal talk with Chef Kevin unique in the way he explained the inspiration he gets when creating dishes.
Great, Will Be Back, Great for Special Occasions
Written September 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tonioaquilina
Thank you for such a lovely review and for taking the time to write such words of praise. We are delighted to read that you enjoyed your experience at The de Mondion Restaurant. The Snails Ragout is definitely one of our favourites too!
We will pass on this message to all our team, both the kitchen brigade and the front of house.
We look forward to see you again at The de Mondion Restaurant,
Regards.
Written September 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nathalie B
Gerrards Cross26 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
I have been a patron of this restaurant for many years. I book to celebrate special occasions. I enjoy the views in Summer and the atmosphere in winter. This time round I once again boked, but was, for the first time rather disappointed.
Firstly, There was not the usual choice of homemade delicious bread rolls to choose from, along with the butter bearing the hotel's logo. We were presented with sliced maltese ftira, and olive oil. It was very tasty, but not the usual.
Then came the menu. Very limited in choice, just one fish item, no lamb, no venison, nor veal, nor any other sophisticated game item. The desert menu lacked the ususal creativity too.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, of course, service was excellent, as was the usual view. The food was presented beautifully and cooked very well, but the experience this time lacked that special thing, which is why I go there.
Written August 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jean Pierre C
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review on TripAdvisor. We are saddened to hear that you didn't enjoy the de Mondion this time. We promise that we are going to be looking into the matter and discuss this with our chefs and staff and do our utmost to improve your experience at the de Mondion.
Kindly note that our menu changes constantly and we keep improving on our products and variations.
We look forward to seeing you again at the de Mondion and we hope to change your opinion next time round,
Regards,
Jean Pierre Cassar - PR & Marketing Manager
Written August 23, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
seajanetravell
Maryland143 contributions
May 2022 • couples
My gracious, what a wonderful restaurant. Having tried DINS in Mallorca (also a 1 star mich restaurant), we were hooked on doing one fine dining experience, where ever we travel. De Mondion was no exception. From table service to food, to sommelier and her wines, everything was absolutely decadent.
We were able to bump our reservation from last year to this current year because of the Big Pandemic. So, we had a three course tasting menu instead of the five, which was more than enough food. We received little side dishes throughout the experience and we were stuffed.
The pigeon and sucking pig are delicious. The bird comes with a delightful beet concoction and the pig was perfectly crackly. The sommelier paired both of those exquisitely.
My favorite was the lemon souffle. It was just amazing. Hot and delicious, with a cold streak from the ice cream, followed with a sweet and fluffy meringue.
Our server, Angie, was absolutely the best. She was on top of everything we might've wanted and provided us with great detail on our dishes. We felt like royalty being served by her and the delightfully knowledgeable sommelier.
Written May 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julia GE
Dear Guest,
Sincerest thank you for providing feedback, following your visit to The de Mondion Restaurant.
We are pleased to read that you had such an enjoyable time in our restaurant. We passed your review to our chef, Angie and the team, and all comments have been warmly welcomed.
We look forward to hosting you back again soon.
Kindest regards,
The de Mondion Restaurant Management
Written September 14, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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