60,000 restaurant meals surveyed

Six hundred people responded to The Definitive(ly) Good Guide to Restaurants 2005 Survey, rating an average of 20 restaurants each, an equivalent of 60,000 dining experiences.

Prizes were recently presented to those reviewers who returned their surveys with ratings and included the funniest, most relevant and most informative comments. The survey was supported by HSBC and Marsovin.

The first prize was of two nights at the Fortina Spa Resort in the "all-inclusive" therapeutic spa bedroom with own private pool; the second prize was a Padi open water dive course for two people at the Oxygene Dive Centre at the Fortina Spa Resort and the third prize was of two nights for two at the InterContinental Malta plus a meal for two at Al Fresco restaurant.

The sixth edition of the guide, incorporating results of the survey, will be published at the end of November together with the launch of the guide's website www.restaurantsmalta.com It will include the top-rated 150 restaurants out of over 1,000 restaurants on the Maltese Islands.

On December 5 a restaurant award ceremony and gala dinner will be held at the InterContinental. The top-rated restaurants for food, service, ambience and overall excellence will be presented with awards by Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

Awards will also be presented for the top-rated restaurants in the Maltese, value for money, business entertainment, romantic, children-friendly, best restroom and fine wine categories.