New Chinese / Thai Restaurant (Panta) Catalkoy.

[MikeK]

Does anyone know if it has opened yet,if so any reviews?

Many thanks

[Deniz1]

i think its open as there are table cloths on now outside tables that is.

[waddo]

Not yet people. Latest news from last night is that it "Might" be open on Friday but probably more likely to be open next Wednesday. It is not the owners fault, like the rest of us here he is waiting for the slow and ponderous Belle machine to kick into motion and issue his permits. Right now he is going slowly mad waiting and paying all his staff to sit around and do nothing - Cyprus does not encourage competition in any form!!!!!

[MikeK]

Any further updates on when it is opening?
Many Thanks

[Toftsv]

Hi Mike,

Yes this is now open and we have booked a table for tomorrow.
The grand opening is on Saturday.

Regards.
Peter.

[MikeK]

Many thanks Peter.
I Will be eagerly awaiting comments on your visit.
Regards
Mike

[ozankoys]

Anyone tried this restaurant yet we always go west for our Chinese so would be great if it was nice!

[rabbit]

Tried Panta last night. Very friendly, attentive staff, nice setting
and great Thai-food, tasty and freshly cooked. Prices are reasonable.
We do hope they are doing well. They are a great completion
to our other favourite Eminem.
Rabbit

[ruggy]

Rabbit , where's Eminem ?

[Deniz1]

Further up the same road as the Fez.

[MikeK]

Hi
Had a meal at the Panta, pleasant setting, very attentive and friendly staff.
plenty to choose from on the menu as well as a small selection on a " specials menu board"

Starters. (prices ranging from 12 - 18 lira, approx.)
Main Course (prices ranging from 36 - 40 lira, approx.)
We had 2 soups, 1 portion chicken cakes
2 main meals with boiled rice (included in meal price)
Drinks
2 x Effes (large bottle)
1 x white wine
1 x large water.
Total cost 142 Tl

All freshly prepared and very tasty (non of the food was overpowered with fish sauce as some Thai food tends to be). We will definitely be going back there.

[MrA]

Had a takeaway last night it was ok but all dishes very "bland" little taste. We will try again and eat in this week as I think it shows promise and needs support

[Jonesy299]

Tried the Panta for the first time last night (Weds) - very positive experience. Attentive staff / good menu choice. 4 of us ate - tom soup and prawn rolls were tasty. I had red curry - excellent (very authentic) and others had crispy duck (delicious) and masamam curry (very nice). We needed more rice and was provided quickly at no charge.
Prices are not the cheapest (average 18TL starter / 35-40TL mains) but you get what you pay for - authentic tasting well presented Thai food.
Restaurant close to the road but didn't really notice it. Enough fans in current hot / humid conditions to keep you comfortable.
Definitely coming back soon - well done Panta!

[snd1966]

Enjoyed our meal last night, unfortunately I like to take my time over a meal therefore the warm food was quite cold by the time I had tasted all the dishes especially as it was quite breezy. Lets hope they purchase some burners soon.
Disappointed no sweets yet therefore will have to return!
and more importantly take cash no card facilities.

[Belfast Belle]

Went last night, was a great experience it was just like being in Thailand, food smelt & tasted absolutely lovely.

Well done Boys & Girls x

[mrsgee]

tried it for the first time last week. Not impressed and doubtful will return. Food was barely warm, boss said he was waiting for the warming trays to arrive (is that not one of the fundamentals for an oriental restaurant???). Had crispy duck and noodles. More crispy skin than duck. At 40 lira overpriced. Didn't see anything Japanese on the menu. Staff were very welcoming, and that's about all I can say. Sauces seemed to have come out of a bottle. Very disappointed, especially with a bill of over 170 lira for 2. Although that did include drinks of course. I wish them luck of course, and some seem to think they are marvellous, so perhaps it is just us, but I have had far better Thai and/or Chinese food.

[waddo]

mrsgee, not getting at your posting as all reviews are good, no matter what they say. But, if you have had far better Thai and/or Chinese food here in the North can you please say where you had it. I will drive for miles for Chinese food although not a great lover of Thai I have tried it on occasion and to be honest I can not tell if it is good or bad. I lived in the far east for a number of years so as far as "Chinese" goes - I can tell what is good or bad and prepared for the Eastern taste or the Western taste. Sad to say that I do love Singapore Chow Mein! which is not even from Singapore at all but from Hong Kong - its a strange old world!!!

[mrsgee]

Hi Waddo, unfortunately most of my experience of Chinese and/or Thai has been in UK, China Town in London, Birmingham and Manchester always particularly good, but also we have some excellent restaurants where I come from in UK. Have lived here in Cyprus for 6 years now, and so far I would say the best (if pricey) chinese is the Dragon. Am eager to try the new Mandarin though, and the Chinese House.

[waddo]

mrsgee, Manchester probably the best area in the UK for chinese - sticking my neck out there because I know the Won Kee's (Very close to the UJ club) in London is the best in the UK, he is known as Mr YOU SIT HERE! no argument or no food and if you ever managed to get a seat upstairs, you eat with the locals there out of the big pot, magic. It was/is/used to be a bit on the basic side but the food was spectacular - you always got exactly what was available - no matter what you ordered - lol.

I find the Dragon (take away) too salty and far too much mono in it for my taste, the Dragon itself is ok but again its a taste thing. I have yet to try the fat gold git up on the hill but keep giving it a miss as the reports from trip advisor say it is the best view on the Island and probably the worst food anywhere!! My current happy place is Chinese House but it is not everybody's dream come true. I have yet to make the longer journey across to the Mandarin but when Dave tells me it is really good, I just have to believe him and I will go soon.

[bigbadbob]

The FatGold Git up on the hill Waddo, we think is the best Chinese here. We have taken friends over from England and they all raved about the food, service and the value for money.
I suppose it is a matter of taste and what food you like to eat. We selected four main dishes with rice and noodles plus starters, which they gave us extra dishes and it was 65TL per person. This is their special meal plan. The dishes we chose were excellent.
We tried the Panta last night and the staff are lovely but we found it to have no real ambience and thought it was quite expensive but we will go again as things can be improved as they get established. It is early days for them.
Everyone to their own - as the old saying goes!

BBB's other half.

[Owl Lady]

Where are Panta and FatGold Git please?
My friends have been to Mandarin twice and not impressed. I have never had a bad meal at the Chinese House. Not been to the Dragon since it moved, so can't comment.

[bigbadbob]

For Owl Lady - The Panta is the restaurant opposite Supreme Supermarket, formerly the Lemon Tree.
The other one is The Laughing Buddha in Kyrenia, just off the start of the dual carriage way to Lefkosa.

[DieHard]

Next to Onar village.

[Owl Lady]

thank for the info,I know both venues.

[helendj]

Have gone to Panta a couple of times, and found both times the food to be excellent, freshly cooked, and really really tasty. Its not like going to a bog standard Chinese though, more authentic Thai cooking - will happily go there again and again. The staff all friendly and pleasant, ready to attend to you immediately. Everyone of course to their own taste, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[mrsgee]

Am willing to give it another go.....maybe they were just having a bad night when we went a few weeks ago.

[Lovelife]

We decided to spread our wings and venture from the dark depths of Esentepe to the bright lights of Catalkoy and this restaurant.

Have to say enjoyed it, the staff were very pleasant and attentive, the food enjoyable. I did read through the previous comments and noted that the restaurant were supposed to get the burners to keep food warm when its on the table, well they still don't have them and in my opinion need them, as another poster commented the food gets cold quickly.

The other half tried the sushi and enjoyed it.

We will go again.

LL