Description: After a long day of sightseeing we don’t venture too far for our evening meal. Right of the edge of Kato-Pafos is the Melania Restaurant, which has been recommended to us by the tour guide. Despite its position on the busy main road out of Pafos we sat in the relative tranquillity of the taverna’s garden dining area under a thick canopy of vine leaves with heavy bunches of grapes hanging tantalisingly just out of reach.
It’s a biggish restaurant with a substantial inside diner (with wooden tables prettily adorned with fresh flowers) and a large garden area decked out with pedestal tables and slatted chairs (just a little too low for the tables). Fluorescent lights cast an eerie shadow across the outdoor patio and the odd flicker of a candle added to the effect. There was a steady flow of diners, the majority preferring to eat outside, and this seemed to fluster the staff. However, no one was in hurry and the waitress soon settled down to take each table in order.
We deliberated over the menu and finally decided just before mine host arrived at the table. I had opted for the restaurant speciality of the day – homemade Moussaka – and was most disappointed to be told they had “run out”. The owner explained that he regretted this but there had been a large memorial service for those who had tragically died in the Helios air-crash and the Melania had provided free food for many of those that attended the ceremony. Yes you’ve guessed they fed them on Moussaka!
So we opted for the Meze. This was a veritable feast with small plate loads of food being stacked on the table to the extent that it was almost buckling under the weight. We had taramasalata, tyzaki, tahini, olives, beetroot and a massive bowl of freshly made salad with feta cheese. To accompany this, there was loads of really scrumptious homemade bread. After a short rest the service started again with kebabs, stifado, fried chicken, sausages, spare ribs, dolmades, fried zucchini with eggs (a courgette omelette!) and French fries. We could hardly keep pace with the flow of food – all freshly cooked and piping hot – and my attempts to scribble notes for this journal were seriously impaired as I tucked into this most enjoyable meal.
As suddenly as the service had started, so the flow of food ceased. We rested and enjoyed the rest of our locally made beer, and just as I was considering that it might be safe to order a small dessert, an enormous plateful of locally grown organic grapes were placed on the table. The owner was proud to announce that these were the product of his vines! We tucked into the fruit, and it was exceptionally tasty. Certainly the best grapes I’ve ever tasted, and probably the freshest.
A concessionary drink was delivered with the very reasonable bill. A great meal in a good taverna.
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