THE MEGARO TAVERN IN LIMASSOL

A FAMILY RUN AFFAIR IN THE OLD QUARTER

MY NAME IS GEORGE JACKSON

My name is George Jackson and I am a professional food critic. I recently visited the Megaro Tavern in the old town of Limassol and I have created an honest and fair review of my experience. I have factored a number of things in my submission and these include service, parking, quality, variety, environment, entertainment, and value for money.

LOT’S OF CHOICE

I decided that I wanted to try an authentic Cyprus tavern in Limassol that offered proper live music, so I began my scouting mission by simply asking locals for recommendations. The name that kept popping up was the Megaro Tavern, situated near Limassol Castle in the old quarter of Limassol. What made it more appealing was when I was told that it was a family run business for over 40 years. I thought for it to last that long, it must be good, so I promptly booked a table for one.

LOCAL TRANSPORT

The bus 30 runs along Limassol’s seafront roughly every 12 minutes, which suited me fine. I departed the bus at the stop for the Limassol Marina and I crossed the road and preceded the narrow street that took me straight up to the Limassol Castle. It is true to say that, the old town is now Limassol’s premier location for tourists and locals to spend an evening and the hustle and bustle of the place was quite evident.

LIMASSOL OLD TOWN

The whole area has recently been revamped and as well as the numerous bars, cafes, and restaurants there are a number of charming little shops selling handmade crafts and local products. As I passed the Limassol Castle, the rustic old style setting with its narrow streets and classic architecture gave me a warm nostalgic feeling. Saripolou Square borders the old town to the north and the famous ‘Ayios Andreou Street’ can be found on the eastern side linking with another renowned shopping area ‘Anexartisias Street’. The Limassol Castle lies to the south and everything in between is a joy to visit. As I headed north, I passed through a number of trendy bars, coffee shops, and restaurants that have managed to tastefully introduce a modern twist against an old style setting. As I approached the end of the street, I arrived at the Megaro Tavern.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

I arrived at around 8.00pm and my first impressions were very good. I found the tavern itself to be a coveted older building that just oozes both character and charm and it can be said that the Megaro Tavern is a simple traditional place. I was received by a very friendly and helpful waiter with a beaming smile who then offered me the option of sitting inside or out on the pavement. I chose to sit outside, which somehow added to the ambience and the waiter promptly showed me to my seat. I noticed that the tavern by this time was already virtually full with patrons inside and the aroma of grilled meats was wafting from the kitchen. I ordered a cool refreshing Keo beer whilst I looked over quite a varied, but simple menu. I was told that the tavern itself was set in an old factory building, which was lovingly restored by the family that had been running the restaurant for the best part of 40 years. The stone walls were adorned with traditional Cypriot artefacts and the wooden stairs and furniture and chequered tablecloths added to the overall Cypriot feel of the place.

A CLASSIC CYPRIOT MENU

The menu has a number of fish and vegetarian options and of course all of the classic Cypriot dishes at more than reasonable prices. I was tempted to order a Cyprus meze, but for the purposes of this review, I decided to plump for the mixed grill. I also ordered a separate village salad and I was very impressed when the waiter suggested that as I had ordered the salad he would supplement the salad from the mixed grill with various dips, olives and pita bread, which I thought, was a very nice gesture.

A SIMPLE YET TRADITIONAL PLACE

Once the service began, I could tell that I was in for a treat. The food began to arrive at the correct pace allowing me to savour not only what I had ordered, but also the surroundings. The sun was just setting as my starter of mixed olives set in light olive oil, lemon and fresh garlic and a combination of various dips, which included tzatziki, houmous and tahini arrived. The freshly baked pita bread and fresh village salad with a good quantity of feta cheese supplemented the rest nicely. As I sat with my Keo beer, I could not help, but notice that it is quite a busy street and there were many passersby that I could see admiring the culture with satisfied looks. Grilled halloumi cheese and Cyprus sausages marinated in wine arrived next and both were cooked just right. By this time, I could tell that everything had been made with fresh, local ingredients and this was confirmed when the main course arrived. I was served a generous skewer of lamb, a skewer of pork, and a skewer of chicken souvlaki and this was accompanied by proper hand cut Cyprus potato chips that again were all cooked to perfection. The meat was tender and had just the right amount of seasoning and the small lamb and pork cutlets were also very good.

LIVE MUSIC

The music started just after I had finished my meal and the waiter offered me a table inside with some complimentary fruit. I took up his offer and supplemented the fruit with a fine local red house wine. As I sat back, I not only enjoyed the music, but the reaction from the other diners. Cypriots love their live music and they were constantly dancing and singing along, and I was savouring every moment of a very entertaining evening. A simple meal eventually turned into a lively night out which I rounded off perfectly with a traditional Cyprus coffee.

A DELIGHTFUL EXPERIENCE

On reflection, the Megaro Tavern is a lovely traditional family run restaurant in the heart of Limassol offering good food at good prices. It felt nice and cosy and it is a perfect choice for lovers of Cyprus cuisine. The decor is very tasteful and the renovation suits the old building well. A visit to this tavern is a delightful experience that combines delicious food, warm hospitality, and lively music with a great traditional feel.