I guess Rigas Restaurant was our preferred eatery on the Kings Road strip. It grabbed our attention from the first day: firstly, there are no touts on the pavement trying to coerce you to eat there; secondly, a real effort has been made to create an image; and finally, they did a superb-sounding three-course special meal for just under 7 Cypriot pounds. Admittedly, the mock ancient pillars mimicking the Coliseum and "ancient pottery" for the condiments should make it extremely naff, but, in real terms, it had converted a "standard" street restaurant into an establishment that looked crisp, clean, and inviting.
We were greeted by the owner as if we were long lost cousins and sat at a square, rustic table on wicker chairs with plush cushions. A plain-green tablecloth over a country-green check was complimented by heavy eating irons and white plates.
We started off with a large bottle of Keo (a local beer), and although we could buy it cheaper elsewhere, this was chilled to perfection. They bestowed certain fragility on the female of the species, assuming that a small glass was more in keeping. The head waiter/owner was very affable, and although his English was limited to some set phrases, he was really anxious to please.
I started with houmos nicely presented on a "wholesome" salad with warm pita bread, but the bread was a little late for my wife’s onion and tomato salad. Still, however, she was able to make use of the locally baked bread to soak up the tasty olive oil that had be carefully drizzled as a dressing over her salad. We found the waitress a little surly, but, to be charitable, "she was only young" and her systematic serving was well compensated by our genial host.
As our main course we opted for lamb Kokkinato, not a recipe I’d heard of before, but it was truly incredible. It was a huge potion of beautifully tender lamb that just flaked off the bone with an exquisite sauce blended with a variety of herbs tomatoes and onions that tickled the taste buds with every mouthful. There was hardly room for the accompanying fresh vegetables, potatoes, and fluffy rice. Our appetite was truly sated, and yet we were still face with the third course of a dessert. These were nothing special, but they did the job of rounding off a near-perfect Greek meal. The crème caramel was fresh on the palate, and I found the three-flavoured ice cream just sufficient. We’d had ample, and with the bill we were treated to a complimentary brandy or Grand Marnier.
We ate a couple more nights at Rigas: the Lamb Kleftico was divine and the Dolmades were superbly blended herbs, rice, and meat. You’ll never leave here feeling hungry and without the owner’s rehearsed witticisms ringing in your ears. This place deserves to succeed, and if you’re in Pafos, give it your best shot!