Ethimo — Restaurant in Nicosia

GOOD FOOD - RUDE HOSTESS

We visited the establishment on a Thursday night as a party of 8 guests. When making the reservation we picked the 7:30 timeslot, and we were informed that we need to leave by 9:20.

Since we were a large party and had to decide on what we are having, we placed our food order at 8:00. Around 9:10 (while still enjoying our main courses and our 4th bottle of wine), the hostess started ghosting over us, hinting that we need to rush and finish our meals. She started cleaning our table, asked us quickly if we wanted desserts, and then THREW THE BILL on the table - UNACCEPTABLE. We felt uncomfortable with this hostile attitude.

Note, that the table next to us (another party of the same size), had arrived earlier, had finished their meal prior to us, but the hostess never bothered them (I guess they have connections).

Since it's a new restaurant, we called the following day to speak with a manager to provide feedback about our experience. The same hostess picked up the phone and was BLAMING US for the delay and for not having a nice experience. We asked for her name and she wouldn't give it to us - she started YELLING over the phone, telling us how she worked at the best restaurants around the world and that's the way it is. I guess yelling to unhappy customers is a common practice in the prestigious restaurants she has worked at!

Management and Owners should reconsider this timeslot policy, and definitely let their "highly experienced" hostess go and work in the prestigious restaurants she's used in working at.

Food: We ordered almost everything on the menu (besides fish dishes) and everything was tasty. Highlight was their Pita, Seasonal Greens Salad and Beef Cheeks.

Drinks: The restaurant has an extensive wine menu, and our waiter was knowledgeable to help us choose wine.

Atmosphere: Nicely designed and decorated restaurant.

Service: The wait staff were knowledgeable of the menu and...

Ethimo Restaurant in Nicosia offers a journey through Mediterranean cuisine, with a menu that highlights traditional dishes elevated by modern techniques. The dishes capture the essence of the region’s culinary heritage, each one thoughtfully prepared. The flavors are not very complex or memorable but rather simple highlighting the top quality of the ingredients. I personally expected more complex flavors but if you like simple dishes I definitely recommend it.

The atmosphere is both elegant and relaxed and the staff is super polite and friendly with impressive serving skills.

The appetizer options like creamy fava, fresh salads and zesty dolmadakia where very good. My favorite from the starters was the Cheese Pie. The filling was rich and in combination with the honey offers a satisfying depth of flavor. It’s a dish that’s very comforting and delicious.

The main dishes are also very pleasing.

Pappardelle with Beef Cheeks: a dish that is comforting and flavorful. The pasta is cooked al dente, providing the ideal base for the rich, slow-cooked beef cheeks. The meat is tender, melting effortlessly by using just the fork. It’s a hearty and satisfying option.

Orzo with Truffles: very balanced with the earthiness of the truffles complementing the creamy orzo, creating a dish that’s indulgent yet not overpowering.

Orzo with Lamb: a dish that brings together tender, slow-cooked lamb with the comforting texture of orzo. The lamb is cooked to perfection and the dish is hearty and satisfying.

Galaktoboureko: To end the meal, the Galaktoboureko is a great choice. The cream was really nice but I didn’t enjoy it as much because it had lemon zest inside which I personally don’t like.

Overall Ethimo is a culinary gem that beautifully marries tradition with modern flair. Only downside is that the prices are way too high but I guess you pay for the quality of the...

My recent visit to Ethimo unfolded as a culinary journey marked by both highs and lows, leaving me with a blend of satisfaction and disappointment.

Beginning with the food, Ethimo presented dishes that, while not exceptional, were reasonably satisfying. The flavors were adequate, but unfortunately lacked that distinctive quality that would inspire a return visit. The overall dining experience hovered in the realm of forgettable, with no particular element standing out.

A notable positive aspect of the evening was the commendable service from the waitstaff. Their friendly and attentive approach, ensuring a consistently full wine glass, significantly contributed to the inviting ambiance of the restaurant.

On the flip side, the hostess team's attitude was a clear disappointment. Their demeanor seemed out of sync with the restaurant's overall atmosphere, and attempts at conversation were met with blatant rudeness. Particularly disheartening was a hostess engrossed in her phone, prioritizing it over guest interactions. This inconsistency in service, combined with restroom sign confusion, left a notable blemish on the overall experience.

One major setback was the challenging time constraints imposed by Ethimo's reservation system. While the restaurant insists on specific time slots for dining, our experience was marred by an insufficient window to enjoy our meal leisurely. Rushed off the table before we could finish our drinks, we felt hurried and unable to savor the full experience Ethimo could have offered.

Regrettably, despite the redeeming ambiance and positive elements, the combination of inconsistent service, inconvenient time slots, and the rushed conclusion of our dining experience leaves me hesitant to consider a...