At £5.95 a head, the Olympus must offer the cheapest three-course meal in town. What had we to lose – we entered and chose to sit in an outdoor annex at the side of the main entrance. Although this was a pavement taverna, attempts had been made to "make it special" by draping the inside with thick cream muslin curtaining and introducing subdued lighting from hanging fabric lampshades. It could not be defined as classy, but it was different.
We sat outside under parasols with an uninspiring view of the timber-framed awning and nearby road. It was not the best of settings, but soon we were joined by others and bizarrely the area took on a buzz. The chairs were certainly very comfortable – padded dining chairs that were complemented by smart pedestal tables with navy blue and white tablecloths.
But what about the meal, I hear you say. Well, it was a mixed affair, and in its appraisal, I have to remind myself that the cost was low for a "resort restaurant" near the centre of Kato-Pafos. The Halloumi sat on a bed of lettuce (a single leaf!) and looked fairly forlorn. It wasn’t the best I’ve tasted, and the accompanying bread was lacking both in body and taste. The main courses looked unappetizing, but my alfreda was a fine blend of pork slowly cooked in spices, resulting in a succulent dish. It was extremely tasty, but the accompanying french fries and vegetables should have come muttering apologies at me. Elaine’s pork meatballs (five of them), although lightly seasoned with parsley, were otherwise lacking in flavour. Her verdict was that a sauce would have been beneficial (I don’t think she meant H.P., but she did quip that even that would have been an improvement). The accompanying jacket potato had obviously been standing for some sometime and was a sorry affair.
The choice of pudding was limited to ice cream or fresh fruit. We both opted for ice cream – pink and vivid green balls were placed before us and we tentatively tasted the strange textured and perfumed-tasting ice. Flavours? I’m not sure, but I don’t think I want to repeat the experience.
The beer was only served in small bottles (not that I’m an alcoholic, but in these temperatures, one swig and it was gone), so we opted for a pint of Carlsburg (I’m not really into lager, but you can only get "proper" beer in the many "English pubs" on the strip.).It was okay – cold and damp!
Service was casual but friendly – there was no attempt to be pretentious here, but somehow it really didn’t have a taverna feel to it. A lone tea light had flickered throughout the meal and a strange combination of traditional Greek music and hip-hop was played throughout the meal. This dining experience was nothing great - but it was a cheap, filling meal.