DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE `SET` UP

[brianc]

I have sent this to TO CYPRUS TODAY.I am sure they will not publish it!

My wife and I recently went to the SET fish restaurant in Girne Old Harbour.WHAT A DISASTEROUS MEAL !I am amazed at myself in that we did not walk out after the second course, I must have been brain dead.
Fish soup resembled thickened water left after washing dishes and tasted very little of anything, let alone fish .
Mussels in garlic butter.
I had first asked if the mussels were fresh and in their shells. The waiter told me that mussels at the SET restaurant did not have shells ! so I was not expecting the best .
What I was served with was so acidic and vinegary that I could not eat them. Obviously the mussels were the commonly available pickled variety, I sent them back.
The waiter suggested that I try the shrimps which he assured me were served in their shells.
Four mussel shells arrived filled with tiny shrimps totally devoid of flavour and topped with rubbery congealed cheese equally flavour less.Being hungry and by now looking forward to a large ( really too large for two people ) Lagos we had chosen to be charcoal grilled, I ate them !!!
While we were waiting, the fish selection was shown to people on the next table, disconcertingly I saw what I believed to be our Lagos ! The waiter saw me look and immediately said that our fish was being prepared !??
IT arrived; I should have sent it back as soon as I saw it but the brain dead factor took over.
There was a fish head and a fish tail, probably from a Lagos, but in between was a mess of shredded fish flesh that could have come from anything, there was not one piece larger than 3 centimetres. Where had the pieces of back fillet gone? No doubt to complete a fish plate, also on the menu. The amount of shredded fish was certainly not the quantity we had expected from such a large Lagos !
I regret very much not jumping up and down and calling the police this was day light robbery!
Now as if we had not had enough torture my wife wanted Crepe Suzette ;
The pancakes were thin but tough and obviously old, there were two folded as would be expected, and swimming in just warm orange sauce, which although a million miles from Escoffiers masterpiece was edible.
Our bill was 160 tl we only had water to drink. The fish alone,120 TL!!!!
The SET is supposedly one of Girne’s best fish restaurant , God help the rest !

I have spent my life in the food and restaurant industry, my wife and I have lived here for 9 years and have tried most restaurants aspiring to serve good food. There are only two we would want to eat at again, The Ambiance in Karaoglanoglu and El Sabor in Lefkosa.
Perhaps the Roof restaurant at the Colony but do not extend the chef and go for simple dishes.
Yet to be tried is the new Hur Denis place, also in Karaoglanoglu but its main road position lessens its appeal.

[andrew4232]

i would be very careful about ordering fish here, as we know there are basicily two types of fresh fish that you can get here bass and bream both of which tend to be the farmed ones shipped in from turkey, you maybe lucky and find a boat that's just docked with a few fresh wild fish but there not the norm

[Mel7348]

Thanks for that. I believe "speak as you find" and you certainly Found !

Eat there a few years ago. An experience we chose not to repeat.

[PoshinDevon]

Have to say that we gave up trying any fish restaurant in Girne harbour many years ago. Even when I was I was working out in Cyprus in the 90sit was the same. Each and every experience disappointed. In fact the eating experience in the old harbour has in our opinion always been less than satisfactory, add to this the higher charges and often strange additional items that appear on the bill and overall we avoid. Also tell friends to do the same. We do enjoy a beer or two which does cost a little more but it is nice to relax and people watch.... But would rather stroll elsewhere for a meal.

If anyone has had a good restaurant experience and came away not feeling like a ripped off tourist it would be good to know.

[tutor4u]

We went to The Lemon Tree, Catalkoy, food was excellent and service too, menu mainly fish, sea bream was excellent July 2012.

[PoshinDevon]

Thanks for the Lemon Tree info.... We are not far away so will give it a go. Have driven by many times and wondered what it was like.

No recommendations for places in old harbour area - maybe most like us avoid eating there - pity really but if the quality is poor and charges high then sensible punters will look elsewhere.

[mrsgee]

I should keep this a secret really, but the new Hur Deniz fish restaurant just past the Dizayn 74 pottery shop is excellent. Good food, and packed with locals which is always a good sign. Prices are excellent, definitely will be going again......probably need to book a table though next time, looking at how busy they were last night.

[Deniz1]

Ani restaurant in Catalkoy do excellent fish its packed full with locals every week end so that says something. All very posh cars too.

[mrsgee]

Yes, Deniz1, love the fish in salt at Ani's....not been for a while so must go again.

[jayceebee]

Good to hear that The lemon Tree is still good...I remember enjoying a wonderful Fish Mezee-type evening there in the summer of '98!!!

[libby]

Try the CORNER restaurant in the harbour. The owners have been working in the harbour for 15 years...in other buisnesses and are well aware of the bad reputation the harbour. Yes I am a friend of theirs and I was down with them last night...the food is amazing - the presentation is wonderful as is the flovour......the feta chicken is flying out....
so if you are curious and you do actually want to eat in the harbour....try the corner restuarant.
As long as there is tuna to be caught..you will get fresh tuna...as angela's other half runs fishing trips too!
It is a new venture...with afew teething issus..but i hope you agree..the staff are smart and friendly....the food is fairly priced...6tl for a large beer must be a winner - happy hour between 4 - 7 ...and spotlessly clean and modern toilets! A first for the harbour!!!!!
It is the first restaurant on the left as you are walking down the cobble street...next door to the paragliding office.
I'm down there again on Friday..but why wait till then.....!

[PoshinDevon]

Ani is walkable for us but read on C44 that it was expensive and also no real idea of cost until the bill arrived.


Maybe someone who has been recently could update?

Posh cars suggests cash to flash?

[libby]

My Cypriot friends always recommend the Ani - i went years ago..it was lovely...
if you follow the rule...the cypriots seem to like to pay higher prices than the brits...
so yes.. anı restaurant can seem expensive for us! but....it is very popular with the locals......

[PoshinDevon]

Thanks for info re Ani restaurant. May give it a go - especially as we could walk - have no problem paying a bit more as long as we know the quality and service will match the price.... Be good to know a little more from anyone who may have tried it recently.

[Deniz1]

Our bill for three with a bottle of wine was 180ytl too much food we couldnt eat it all.

[PoshinDevon]

Deniz1 - many thanks for sharing costs at the Ani - I think we will give it a try. Was the meal a Meze or choice from a menu? As we are close by I think we will definitely be strolling down to check out the menu.

[Deniz1]

They ask what type of fish you want but the meze is whatever they bring and there is a lot of it!

[MoonageDaydream]

I agree, most of the harbour restaurants in Kyrenia are disappointing, and the staff that keep pestering you to come in are a pain as well. If you want to eat in the harbour, I have to say the Chimera is the best in our experience. However for value for money, get away from the harbour and head into town. We love George's restaurant opposite the town hall and near the car park. George is a London Turkish Cypriot and he serves excellent food at reasonable prices.

[brutus]

its well known and not any secret to us expats living here in the trnc....the harbour is a total rip off and should be avoided.
ive eaten in most of the restaurants in the harbour over the years,and theyre all crap....
the harbour restaurants have such a bad reputation that they struggle continuously for custom and only just seem to survive by ripping off unsuspecting tourists......ONCE!
the food served in most of the establishments is practically inedible,and if it is,it costs an arm and a leg,or you get topped up and ripped off with ridiculous drinks prices...
if one of the businesses decided to serve great quality fresh food and drinks at the right prices,then word would spread and other restaurants would have to follow suit,instead of knobbling the tourists who go back to their home countries with negative tales of the trnc,never to return.is it any wonder the tourism on this side of the island is suffering? its a downward spiral im afraid.............

[deputydawg]

That was brutal, Brutus, but not many will disagree with you.

[Soner]

I sometimes dine and drink at the harbour, usually on every visit. I expect to pay high prices for food and drinks due to the location, just as do when I visit other countries and eat and drink in there prime tourist locations. I am sure that they have very high overheads due to their locations and must some how cover them through their pricing. Yes, it would be great if food was top notch and prices were reasonable but in the real world those that manage to get these locations will always survive due to one off visits from the tourist trade; the same as anywhere else in the world.

[ozonkoyboy]

Really surprised brianc we ate there back in April and it was fine no problems at all, we alway go there once per visit as we like the raised terrace and the view
I wonder if the Chef has gone and a new one taken his place

We will be partaking again when we come out next week for a month so watch this space

[LooseBoots]

People can only speak as they find. I tried Ani once . Reasonable fish, disappointing meze, only had 1 drink each and when we got bill felt ripped off. Paid with local credit card and guy asked if we lived here.
When we said yes he went red and said OH................

Never been back. You may be lucky..............

[Marions]

Have to agree with Soner. Been in lots of similar places and the prices are higher, possibly because of impossible rent and rates etc. But like everything els,e one makes a choice. Sitting in an ancient harbour does something good to the soul - and I guess o ne has to pay for that.

[PoshinDevon]

I like the harbour area as it does have a good feel to it and would be more than willing to pay a little more to eat there. I am sure the rates/rental or whatever charges are high. However; ripping off the tourist or the permanent resident is not acceptable. Either way it means that yes in the height of the season you may get plenty of visitors, but they will never return. Outside of the busy times everyone will continue to struggle.

Only once way back in 1992 when tourism was really low key did we have a lovely meal and good service....it was a lunchtime visit taking my parents across from the south for the day...a memorable experience. However now there are more punters around we have had enough meals over the years to realise the standard of food has fallen dramatically and a fish meze is never as good as it should be. Having a drink and a seat in the harbour and spending a pleasant hour people watching is as far as we will take it, pity really as it could be so good.

I look forward to the day when Kibkomers who live or spend a lot of time on the island come on this forum and give a wholehearted recommendation for any restaurant on the harbour...only then may we be tempted to give it a go. I wont hold my breath in anticipation tho!

[Soner]

I usually go to the restaurant at the very end of the Harbour, do not know the name but have been using it for the past 5 years and am quite happy with the service and food. Will get the name next time I am out there, they also have a little covered area next to the restaurant with a piano. Sometimes just go to have a drink and watch the sunset.

[PoshinDevon]

Soner

Thanks. Will await some information.

Personal recommendation is always a good start!

[Deniz1]

Thats Chimera Soner. They also have a very tasty waiter called Bayram!

[ozonkoyboy]

PD
I agree with you but the Harbour is as you rightly say, big tourist attraction so they 'milk it' as a part local we understand that this is never really going got change,I guess its the same all over the world it doesn't make it right, there is no economical different than to going to visit the spinniker in Portsmouth and have a meal in one of the bars / restaurants there

[Marions]

areyou sure Deniz. chimera is where I go (it belongs to Onar Village, byu the way) but I did not know they had a piano. I thought that was the other end of the harbour. Happy to stand corrected on that, if I am wrong.
But I see see that Brian had a letter in weekend Cyprus Today. glanced at it, and not sure the terminology was the same as in first posting here. But you did get published, Brian, so you assumed wrongly on that one!

I haveheard of another estaurant on the harbour which offers good food, but again at harbour prices, - so not for me, but for those on holiday withincomes outside of TRNC, the prices are not too bad at all. it is for those of us here trapepd in the local economy that probably feel the pinch. I guess it is the old story of 'you pays your money and you takes your choice'.

[Deniz1]

They did have a piano at one time Marion.

[Marions]

Then that could be the one. Certainly my favourite. nice setting away from the madding crowd 9a bit) and always helpful staff (well, when I have been)

[PoshinDevon]

Looseboots- Thanks for sharing your experience. Was nearly tempted to try the Ani but will reconsider.

I have no problem paying for good food, service and atmosphere but being ripped off leaves a very nasty taste and can spoil what should be an enjoyable time.

Having lived and worked in Cyprus for over 10 years in the 70's, 80's and 90's plus very many holidays we have enough knowledge now to know when we are not getting good value. Whilst we are not permanent residents we certainly would not accept being charged more just because we are visitors. We plan to come out 3 times a year and will continue to find new places to eat. We love exploring and feel we know most of the island very well - this all helps when friends and family join us and we can show them the real Cyprus away from the tourist trail.

Shops, restaurants or other such places are doing themselves no favours if they give poor service, bad quality food etc.....short term gain is often not translated into long term sustainability.

[Deks Restaurant]

Always a real let down when someones has a bad experience. However as someone who owns and runs a restaurant here in TRNC we would always want to know if a customer left our establishment disappointed. Things do happen sometimes out of your immediate control but we would always like the chance to put things right. It is a struggle enough to keep businesses in the black so good calm constructive critism should always be welcome. If only you had spoken to the Manager on the night. Obviously it would not change the fact that you had a bad meal and as always your customers will always be your - hopefully - best advert!!

[Strandfan]

Interesting to read the contribution from DEKS...

On the other side of the little harbour from Deks and beside St Theresa Hotel is a fabulous fish restaurant called something like HALIL ALEVKAYALI restaurant. We have been staying in Dipkarpaz for a holiday every year and a fish dinner at Halil Alevkayali Restaurant is a highlight. We look forward to revisiting it in a few weeks.

They have a wide selection of fish and we always ask if we can see what they have. They open the fridge and show a range of farmed and line or net caught fish including grouper, red mullet and whatever is available at the time. You can always have farmed fish but they also sometimes have red schnapper and other kinds of Mediterranean fish. We choose our fish (looking it in the clear and shining eye) and the kitchen cooks it as you wish. There is a good wide choice.

The restaurant is right on the sea and seems to be popular with locals. It is relaxed and reasonably priced. The staff are professional and friendly.

We have eaten at most of the places mentioned in the thread. Reckon the Catalkoy restaurant is good on a good night as was the more expensive Lagoon opposite Niazi's.

We thought the fish restaurants around the Address rip-offs. It depends what you want.

Many years ago Altankaya out by the monument was terrific but it went off and we haven't been back for some years. Is it any good now?

[Deniz1]

Went to Ani on Saturday night it was very busy as usual. We had meze and grilled sea bass. Far too much food really. There was three of us and the bill including a bottle of Angora large water and a soda water was 170tl.

[littlelegs]

try the lagoon fish restaraunt, nextdoor to the Dome hotel opposite Niaziz, great fish meze.

[Grockle]

I can agree with Strandfan and littlelegs about The Lagoon. I've had the fish meze twice and have come away satisfied on both occassions. The locals eat there too and in the warmer months I would recommend booking a table on their balcony.