GRILL CHEF — Restaurant in Larnaca

I’ll write more details when I recover from eating one of the best meals I’ve had in Cyprus. Super attentive service, professional wait staff, generous portions, and great Cypriot flavors. This isn’t a Michelin star place, but it’s got much that Michelin requires: everybody here is serious about their job, and their job is feeding you well and fast.

Now I have to go lie down again and savor it – – it was awesome.

Ok!

Old school, hawk-like owner, very focused young wait staff, efficient cooking brigade popping out yummy meals like hotcakes.

It’s just what I love to eat: unpretentious, authentic food, served promptly and piping hot and made from good ingredients.

I’ve had this place marked in my phone for ages because on my last trip to Larnaca two different people recommended it. Unfortunately, when I strolled by at that time, there was no chance of a table. Coming now in the off-season, I got lucky.

I can’t believe I ate the whole thing. I’m not a very big person, but it was too delicious to stop.

If I had any criticism, and I don’t really, I might suggest that they don’t cook the ground meat specialties quite so well done, and also the wine was kept in the fridge, so it was cold for the first glass. Big deal. The place is terrific. The young lady server, the theater graduate, in particular, was attentive and totally committed to doing a great job.

The owner is such a classic! It takes me back to the great old days in New York City when there were still so many restaurants like this where you could eat every night of the week in your neighborhood and feel so satisfied on excellent home cooking. He’s just like those fellows who brought wonderful Mediterranean cuisine to New York City — he doesn’t miss a beat of what’s happening in his kingdom, and we customers benefit. He prowls the aisles of his restaurant like a leopard – – a good leopard who’s on your side.

The kebabs were beautifully marinated and cooked just right, the salad was flawlessly fresh and very nicely dressed, the little spread/dips were such a wonderful assortment of flavors each with a unique personality; the pita was warm and fresh and slightly grilled; the jug of house wine was a sense memory of being young and free and in Europe for the first time those many years ago. The french fries were perfectly cooked and just the right foil to the grilled meats. I know rice is more traditional, but french fries are a lot more fun. The halloumi and pork rib were perfectly cooked and the tangle of grilled veggies were a nice contrast.

This is a restaurant for savvy travelers who’ve followed the sun, and their sense of adventure, since the Summer of Love. Fussy types whose visual sense of the surroundings matters more than their palates will not enjoy this the way that I did. But for me, it was everything I’ve ever wanted in a restaurant on an island vacation somewhere a tiny bit lost in time. The walls could use a coat of paint and the tables are expertly shimmed not to wobble. For such charms, I gladly pay extra. But I didn’t have to. Prices are more than fair.

Thank you for a perfect experience of Cypriot food and wine and...

I enjoyed a good dinner after a walk on the promenade. I took a salad, Halumi and the seabass. The salad was fresh and delicious, with fresh pita bread. Some places give dried pita disguised as grilled pita, I got fresh pita slightly grilled for extra flavor. The grilled Halumi was tasty, grilled and not burned. (The picture was taken after I already took a bite). The fish was appropriate sized, well prepared and comes with a salad in addition to the side dish (I took mashed potatoes). The service was courteous and swift. I did not wait long for the dishes to come and they came out at the right pace and I could enjoy them gradually. I highly recommend this place for good food. I preferred it to the restaurants facing the sea. Visited...

Souvlaki cooked over real charcoal!!! Prices are amazing especially in this part of town. Quality is truly great. We go there once a week, because it is the best souvlaki in larnaca and at a low price. Portions are huge, but they don't mind you sharing a dish. The meat is fresh, and juicy. You can tell them if you want it more fatty or more lean. They never cheat you in price. They have cheap beer, fresh orange juice, and amazing home made lemonade!!! You can order just one skewer of souvlaki, or souvlaki in Greek pitta, or in Cypriot pitta, or a portion which is a full huge dish. They even have seafood and many interesting starters. It is a restaurant but with fast food prices, and...