Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

La Rabtija Restaurant

Rabat, Malta

(Pronounced Ir-rah-BAHT, MAHL-tuh)

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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Just down the street from our apartment in Malta is this traditional Maltese Restaurant.

Called La Rabtija - the name one gives for a local who lives in Rabat, Malta - this restaurant specializes in traditional food of the island.

The historical town of Rabat dates back to Roman times, and the ancient remnants of this era can still be seen.

The front of La Rabtija Restaurant

Every day we would walk past this restaurant with its sandwich board menu and outdoor seating.

Well established and seemingly popular, we thought to give it a try.

The St. Paul's Cathedral is directly opposite.

White board menu outside the restaurant

The white board boasts the specials of the day.

Tagliata di Manzo is a seared and seasoned beef dish cut into slices and displayed on rocket lettuce with cherry tomatoes. Generally virgin olive oil is drizzled on the top. It's a very popular local meal.

Aurata is a local sea bream, and here it is served with grilled shrimp.

Menu

With a menu such as this one, it's hard to know what to choose.

Rabbit is a local specialty.

In the 18th century, hunting restrictions on rabbit were lifted, and the technique of rabbit domestication was brought to the island.

When the Muslims lived on Malta, foods like rabbit and pork were forbidden. But in the Christian world eating these animals was permitted.

Malta has gone through many cultural influences over the years.

Inside the restaurant

On a typical day, the restaurant fills up and one has to wait for a table.

The photographs on the wall are of local people over the centuries - some were famous rulers and their wives.

The traditional favorites according to country

Due to the island's strategic location in the Mediterranean, the peoples of these countries above have left their culinary influences behind.

Malta is a tourist destination today, and with La Rabtija serving these specialties, you can pretty much find anything to suit your tastes.

Fried rabbit and vegetables

I chose the Fenek Moqli or fried rabbit, since it is one of their traditional dishes.

My German-Austrian Grandmother used to make Hasenpfeffer on the weekends when I was growing up, so this dish appealed to me.

I would have liked something a bit more flavorful, perhaps choosing the stewed rabbit instead.

The sauce was a little light for me, but the rabbit was crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

Traditional beef dish

This is the Tagliata di Manzo which Billy ordered and it's served on a cutting board.

Thinly sliced and grilled, it's a typically a high-quality cut, such as a rib-eye or sirloin.

Normally it's grilled to a medium-rare, but this one was a bit too rare for him.

Shaved Parmesan cheese is on top for contrasting flavor. Mushroom sauce is on the side.

The bill for the 2 of us

Our bill with 2 glasses of wine each came to $59Euros, or about $64USD.

Maltese sausage

When we returned to La Rabtija, we chose a Maltese sausage and pasta dish.

This pork sausage has a variety of spices like coriander, black pepper and garlic, and encased in a natural casing.

Our bill for two

This time our bill came to $36Euros, about $39USD.

Would we recommend this restaurant?

Yes.

If you come to Rabat, La Rabtija offers variety and is open Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. You can also order late night drinks and takeout is available.

__________

La Rabtija

Open 8am - 10pm daily

Triq San Pawl

Rabat, Island of Malta RBT 1260

Email: agimsosoli@gmail.com 

Tele: +356 7776 8569 

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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