Panormus La Tavernetta di Mamma Ciccia: Good Food, Bad Communication

So I was doing some errands in Paola, Malta and got a bit pekish so when I stumbled upon Panormus La Tavernetta di Mamma Ciccia I decided to give it a go. Now, Paola isn’t exactly known for its dining scene, so I had my reservations about this place, but I was willing to give it a shot.

I was pleasantly surprised by the food – the swordfish and lasagne were both delicious! However, the lack of communication ability really did my head in. I mean, not a single person at the restaurant spoke a lick of English. How do they expect to attract locals or tourists if they can’t communicate with them?!

As I was trying to order my sides, I was met with blank stares and a lot of pointing and gesturing. And, of course, I ended up ordering the wrong sides because, well, I had no idea what I was getting. Considering that I was a bit hungry, it wasn’t really the best outcome.

And the coffee? Don’t even get me started. It was boiling hot and undrinkable. For an Italian restaurant, I was disappointed – they’re famous for their coffee, for Pietro’s sake!

All in all, the concept of Panormus La Tavernetta di Mamma Ciccia is good, and the food was tasty, but the lack of communication and average coffee really let the whole experience down. I would give it 3/5 stars. If you’re feeling adventurous and don’t mind the language barrier, give it a try for the food. But bring a translator, or learn some Italian, because you’ll need it!