Even seasoned Maltese diners will be surprised by the range and quality of dishes on offer at Rubino in Valletta.

Proprietor Julian Sammut has made it his mission to unearth the best of local cuisine and serve it at exceptional standards.

The soups, pastas, meat and bakes at the converted confectionary make it especially bustling during lunch hours, but Tuesday to Friday evenings offer more time to savour gorgeous specials like fettucini with snails and saffron or boiled gammon with stewed apple mustard.

The pasta with rabbit sauce (fenkata) and ricotta-based dessert cassata also come highly recommended.

Maltese cuisine is generally quite similar to Italian food, but incorporates aspects of other Mediterranean countries too.

On Sundays even further-flung influences can be found, with many locals professing a penchant for the British roast since times of colonial rule!

Located on the Mediterranean coastline, Dubrovnik is one of Croatia's shining jewels and provides a whole host of sumptuous restaurants for visitors to enjoy in this historic city.
 
Atlas Club Nautika, Proto, Kamenice, Sapur and Sesame are all eateries in Dubrovnik that promise an exquisite dining experience.
 
However, restaurant Orhan insists that holidaymakers must venture down to Pile harbour near the old town to taste its traditional Croatian cuisine.
 
Offering a covered terrace, diners can soak up the beautiful Dubrovnik scenery and fresh sea air while sampling its range of fish, pasta, meat dishes and soups.
 
And according to Concierge.com, the eatery offers guests a cheaper alternative to the nearby Atlas Club Nautika.
 
Furthermore, the restaurant can provide accommodation for those who cannot bear to be parted with the sound of the Mediterranean sea, as the nearest beach is just 50m away.

The restaurant Arzak in San Sebastian can offer one of the best culinary experiences in its region.

Currently run by Juan Mari and his daughter Elena, the family has been operating from the restaurant's current site since 1897. Originally opened as a wine tavern, the site now offers the finest delights, such as pommes roties a la graisse de foie and sole a la braise d’agrumes, the relais chateaux.com website reports.

Those who want to peer into a chef's inner circle may also be able to take advantage of the chef's table, which is located in the kitchen itself.

The restaurant states that "on special occasions, you can admire the work of this qualified team having lunch or dinner at the table in their kitchen. That will allow you to share and get involved in the soul of the restaurant".

In addition to the cuisine, Arzak also provides some of the "finest wines in the world". Kept in the restaurant's 'wine cave', visitors can taste some of the best vintages from as far a field as the Golan Heights, Mexico and Australia.

For those who also may be overwhelmed by the choice available, Arzak's website also points out that its staff "will be pleased to help you in your choice".