Smigies Tavern, Neo Chorio

by Jamie
(Scotland)

This is very nice food indeed. Simple, fresh and well-cooked. The simplicity of the place, with its real feeling of rural Cyprus village life, was overwhelming. It won the prize of the best place to eat during our week's stay in your beautiful island.

The Full Meze is excellent - just the right amounts, although the pasta-in-tomato dish was perhaps a little too heavy. The 'village salad' was particularly good - a nice variation on the usual theme, with interesting (and sucessful) use of herbs. Nothing seemed to come from the 'standard supply source' which is nowadays all too common in restaurants (e.g. Dolmades which always seem to taste the same, with that 'just-too-much' vinegar ...). The owner's English is OK but not great, and we understand that it is his wife who is the chef, being passionate about food. If we had to invent a phrase for this place it would be: Keep it simple, keep it Cyprus.

We hope it remains a well-guarded secret, but well enough known to encourage the couple to keep going and to know that it is a great place.