Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I'm not usually one to start a topic up on forums but this is starting to get to get to me now and I would like others opinions on food quality and hygiene here in Kyrenia in particular. My family and I moved here a few years ago and are so tired of eating out at cafés bars restaurants that serve tasteless food , undercooked food and who offer no service ,last week at the air show we went to a hotel ( will not name) and we asked for the drumsticks and meze, well the chicken arrived and it was raw as you like, blood pouring out of it we were horrified and called the chef over, he apologized and said that its because he is so busy and under pressure that he has to get the food out quick, he apologized and said he would make us something else we refused obviously, plus the meze looked like it had been sitting on a counter all day it was the most awful food we have well not eaten thank god but seen since we have been in the Trnc...
We had no forks, no serviettes, and we had to ask 3 times for our beers which were boiling hot
It seems like no one has pride in their food here, don't get me wrong there are a few places that are ok, but could I say I've eaten at an amazing restaurant yet, sadly NO!
Apart from this Hotel we have eaten at places where the hygiene is ludicrous, usually the waiters have terrible body odor, and this is before we have even ordered which makes you think who is managing the staff at these places, who is in the kitchen preparing our food!!
I'm sorry for a morning rant but if anyone could suggest a good clean place to eat I would really appreciate it!

Veni Vici

Where abouts are you Eastern?

Try The Almond in Lapta. Always spot on. Food and service excellent.
Fast Food. Alsancak. Perfect, always.
Silver Rocks. Fab.
Wild Duck. Food great.
The second beach side restaurant in Karsiyaka.
Girne Harbour Kibris Ev.
Lunchtime menu at The Rocks, rocks!

I'm sure other folk will add to this!

The Ambiance where quality and service have not varied in the 8 years we have lived here

Thank you guys much appreciated , we are in Catalkoy so not far away!

Calamari

Ibelli and Efendis, both in the old quarter in Girne. Food is very good
Agree, Mr Fast Food in Alsancak village VERY good. Lamb chops excellent.
Haven't tried Lintons in Ilgas yet, but I believe should also be very good. Not cheap.
Salty's fish bar do extremely nice fish and chips. Large portions and crispy batter

Agree that the restaurants and food are mediocre in a lot of place.

Best of luck.

If you are in Catallkoy why not go up to Bella Moon in Bellapais. Lovely food, lovely family and you pick your main course i.e. fillet of fish 35TL and you are served with about 10 different dishes to be included in that price. Always coffee and brandy on the house and they will even transport you there and back for free. What we like as well is that you can see them cooking your meal, as summer time it is all outdoors.
Give it a try!

If your in Karsiyaka go to the Bluegarden house lovely food good variety on the menu , friendly staff and great view of the sea opposite Karsiayaka beach, all in all a great experience

I agree with most of the above. There are some fab places and others that should be shut down overnight and are total rubbish. Most of the 5 Star places in this country don't impress me one jot (as my old Mother would have said "all fur coat and no knickers" and I particularly dislike the establishments where people go, not for the food, but to show off their latest Merc!! One of them is mentioned above. Time and time again The Fast Food in Alsancak comes up on list of good food and how I totally concur. Absolutely no show whatsoever (its as plain as you can get) but the Turkish food is great, not cooked until you order it and cooked where you can see what goes on. There are places in Girne that live on their past glories and personally I can't understand why they are still going (probably because of who owns them) I find that Hotel food rarely comes up to expectations.

Erols, Ozanköy. Consistently good over the last 15 years. Superb steaks!

Also try Eminem, Çatalköy. Excellent on every visit.

Thank you lots of restaurants mentioned above that we haven't tried!

Sophie: your mothers saying is hilarious

I second EMINEM in catalkoy lovely setting lovely food courteous staff and In Catalkoy

I agree that eating out here is not exciting and lacking in many ways but the recommended restaurants are good but not superb. Guess it just depends on what you are used to and if you're a person who loves Iceland products then you will be easily pleased here in TRNC. However, some of us are far more discerning and prefer to cook it ourselves. Pity we can't have the variety of meat, veg etc that we have back in Uk, France, germany etc etc; Quite honestly, the worst thing for me here is the halal meat, which i never bought in UK and don't buy here. Don't even recognise half the cuts of meat in the butcher's departments. Wish Morrison's would open a shop here oh Heaven. Please LIDL open up here too.

If you wanted Lidle and Morrisons, and not want halal meat, why on earth did you come to TRNC, which by the way is a muslim country.

Well said Paddywack.

I second that Becker

Bethany wrote:I agree that eating out here is not exciting and lacking in many ways but the recommended restaurants are good but not superb. Guess it just depends on what you are used to and if you're a person who loves Iceland products then you will be easily pleased here in TRNC. However, some of us are far more discerning and prefer to cook it ourselves. Pity we can't have the variety of meat, veg etc that we have back in Uk, France, germany etc etc; Quite honestly, the worst thing for me here is the halal meat, which i never bought in UK and don't buy here. Don't even recognise half the cuts of meat in the butcher's departments. Wish Morrison's would open a shop here oh Heaven. Please LIDL open up here too.

My, oh my. Either incredulously ignorant or a wind-up post.

Why live abroad then try to turn everything into little britain. I HATE THAT! Leave my lovely quirky country alone. If you dont like b off.

Deniz 1
I just agree so much with your comments, coud not have put it better.

Deniz1

Well said. Couldn't agree more.

I tend to agree with the original post.

However, perhaps, as most staff are mainland Turks, or Pakistanis and they have just had Ramadan, that may go some way to explain the recent situation.

Also, as it is prime holiday season, some customers may just be "passing trade" and as we Brits all look the same to them, they cannot tell the difference between a holiday-maker and the ones that keep the restaurant going for the rest of the year.

It could also be too hot!

Ezic may not be everyone's favourite, but everything is always consistent. The male staff are always shaved and very clean and tidy. But working inside with the air-con must make life a little more bearable.

Try the Corner Restaurant at the harbour, next door to Highline Paragliding, food always good and reasonably priced.

Nor Böreği, Kabak Böreği, Hellimli or Zeytinli, Yumurtalı Ayrelli, Tarhana Çorbası, Molehiya, Makarna Bulli, Çiçek Dolması, Fırın Kebabı (Kleftıco), Köfte,Şeftali Kebap.
Just a few for you to try to cook yourselves – at home where no doubt the service, cleanliness, cost and quality will meet your required demands.
If you came here looking for 5 star food and service then I would suggest that you came to the wrong place, either by accident or through lack of foresight and experience. If you came here because the country is 30 years behind the curve, then you have not integrated sufficiently as yet and you need to get out with local people more.
Whatever you came here for, this is a Mediterranean Island and the food you can produce yourself – with a little help from your local neighbours is not only healthy but cheap and plentiful, as well as being fresh – you will not find it in a neat little package from the Morrison’s freezer and most times it will not be on the menu. But if you ask for it, then if you have gone to a Cypriot eating establishment, more often than not it will be produced and you will have made a friend as well.
Eating here is not about seeking out the glitz and glamour of overpriced restaurants; it is about fresh and well produced ingredients, cooked to your own taste by yourselves, when you want it! Eat at Eminem for good local food and then try to make it yourself!!

waddo wrote:Nor Böreği, Kabak Böreği, Hellimli or Zeytinli, Yumurtalı Ayrelli, Tarhana Çorbası, Molehiya, Makarna Bulli, Çiçek Dolması, Fırın Kebabı (Kleftıco), Köfte,Şeftali Kebap.
Just a few for you to try to cook yourselves – at home where no doubt the service, cleanliness, cost and quality will meet your required demands.
If you came here looking for 5 star food and service then I would suggest that you came to the wrong place, either by accident or through lack of foresight and experience. If you came here because the country is 30 years behind the curve, then you have not integrated sufficiently as yet and you need to get out with local people more.
Whatever you came here for, this is a Mediterranean Island and the food you can produce yourself – with a little help from your local neighbours is not only healthy but cheap and plentiful, as well as being fresh – you will not find it in a neat little package from the Morrison’s freezer and most times it will not be on the menu. But if you ask for it, then if you have gone to a Cypriot eating establishment, more often than not it will be produced and you will have made a friend as well.
Eating here is not about seeking out the glitz and glamour of overpriced restaurants; it is about fresh and well produced ingredients, cooked to your own taste by yourselves, when you want it! Eat at Eminem for good local food and then try to make it yourself!!

In a nutshell

In the last few weeks we have eaten in Veni Vici, Charcos, Silver Rocks, Tervetuloa, Merit Royal and Magarina Bulli and I could not fault any of these. A variety of menus and prices. All with good food, hygiene and service.

2 more in the Turkish quarter in Girne, Ikimiz and Kyrenia Tavern (that one has been there for years!!!!!)

Ikimiz is GREAT!

I must say we have eaten out in many places over the years ( as a family) and we look at the menu, check the overall cleanliness and the toilets and make our choice from there...TRNC is like the UK in the fifties...the responsibilty is left with you...as it should be. That is the charm of this island I think.
It is easy to fall back into the trap of wanting everything 'perfect' and not having to use one's intuition...but then we would be back in the UK and of course realise it wasn't so perfect after all...just manufactured to look that way.

Msg 14 - you could move south - there is a Lidl there.

I think that you are possibly in the wrong country.

We have just come back from having lunch at Tanners, If people do not know it, it is just off the coast road coming from Catalkoy into town, a turning right by the washing machine repairs shop and before Marshall, we think classed as Karakum.
I had panfried lamb in a beautiful sauce with onions, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes and the other half has shallot kebab, which is beef meatballs with a pomegranate sauce, roasted vegetables and piped creamed potatoes - They were both delicious and made a lovely change from the normal Shish!!
Food Bill for the two = 46TL plus drinks which is optional (but not for us) !!!
Beautiful setting on the terrace looking over the roof tops into the sea AND most importantly to the likes of my other half - the toilets are immaculate.
Also this is the only place where we would order and eat the beefburgers - definitely homemade and not frozen inferior ones!
Try it - not open Sundays.

BBB and "other half" I agree, have been there MANY time. Pity the new houses have obscured some of the view, but the food is still as good as ever. Fikri and his Dad Tanner have been there for a long time, must be doing something right

Totally agree about Tanners.

10/10 from us. The home made fish pie is too die for

I like Tanners too but I wasnt invited boo hoo.

Next time Deniz1, that's a promise ! X

If you fancy a day out you couldn`t do much better than drive to Yesilirmak and have lunch at the Vouni King. All the food is cooked to order in a kitchen that`s on show to the restaurant. The price includes a meze, usually a plate of fruit at the end and coffee on the house. A typical price would be 55 lira for 2 including drinks. We go there quite regularly.

We have been there many times Maismoo and agree its lovely at Vouni King, always made to feel very welcome and the food it always good. Love Yesilirmak and always pay a visit to Ismail the very talented artist and his Wooden Faces of Cyprus.

Wow thankyou not been on for a while and have just come back to see a whole load of new posts, thanks again for new recommendations, I would just like to add that I am Turkish Cypriot born and raised in the Uk and definitely know how to cook local cuisine, I am not looking for 5 star treatment or standards I was just simply saying that being served a raw chicken is no excuse wherever you are in the world, and cleanliness and hygiene is up to the person and not the country they are from, so, the chef or cook should have pride in his food ie, make sure it's fresh we are in Cyprus no exscuse, and the management should make sure their staff are looking clean and tidy, I have eaten at shacks around the world but the food was fresh and tasted beautiful and the people very clean, that's all Im saying and yes I do cook more at home now but would be nice to go out once in a while and experience delicious food...
I for one definitely do not want a Lidls never went to one in the Uk let alone here, I don't know maybe I have been spoilt by my parents and families amazing Cypriot cooking that I expect everyone to be able to cook the same
End of my convo thankyou all again for your input,
Afiyet olsun to us all!