10 Best Restaurants In The Eastern Mediterranean

First came The Daily Meal's 101 Best Restaurants in America, then 101 Best Hotel Restaurants Around the World. Now, The Daily Meal has set its sights on Europe. Each week this fall, The Daily Meal has highlighted the best restaurants in various regions in Europe, culminating with the debut of our first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe on Dec. 19.

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Perennially on the quest to find the best places to eat and dine in cities large and small, The Daily Meal finishes its European culinary tour in Croatia, Greece, Malta, and Slovenia.

The Daily Meal's list of the 10 Best Restaurants in Croatia, Greece, Malta, and Slovenia was carefully curated through a two-month-long nomination process; we consulted the Michelin Guide and other trusted sources and gathered recommendations from The Daily Meal's editors, who have traveled and dined extensively around the world.

Once we compiled a preliminary list of more than 100 restaurants, we reached out to a panel of knowledgeable judges, comprised of restaurant critics, food and lifestyle writers, and bloggers with wide restaurant-going experience. They added their own favorites, and then voted for the winners. Some of our judges requested anonymity. Among those we can thank publically are Gerry Dawes and Diane Kochilas.

Panelists voted in two categories: cuisine and style/décor/service. From innovative menu options to plating and presentation to freshness, quality, and taste, panelists evaluated each restaurant's cuisine and only voted for the restaurants which they believe are extraordinary. For the second category, panelists evaluated the dining experience, from the restaurant's interior and dining room ambiance to the service, voting for the restaurants which they believe offer an unrivaled experience. Each restaurant had the chance to be voted on twice during the survey. Finally, the percentage scores from each category were averaged to arrive at the final ranking.

With dozens of restaurants to choose from, it was a culinary challenge to whittle the list down to a select 10. Restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, from classic French to fusion, were considered. We did not discriminate according to location; no town or island was off the table. The list is populated with restaurants serving cuisine that runs the gamut from traditional at Mavrikos in Lindos, Rhodes, to Thai at Blue Elephant in St. Julians, Malta.

The restaurants are scattered throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, from Hiša Franko, a gostilna (Slovenian bistro) helmed by Ana Roš and her husband Valter Kramar in Kobarid, Slovenia, to Le Mandrać in Volosko, a fisherman's village in Opatija on the Istrian Peninsula where chef Deniz Zembo serves "slow food" by candlelight.

While The Daily Meal's first list of the 101 Best Restaurants in Europe won't be revealed until Dec. 19, The Daily Meal's 10 Best Restaurants in the Eastern Mediterranean is sure to whet your appetite for more.

Lauren Mack is the Travel Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @lmack.