Any one wishing to have traditional English food whilst here in trnc must try VILLA SWALLOW opposite the dome hotel inKyrenia.
Below is a recent report on the food threre.
Cyprus Observer
December 8th 2006 Edition
Articles from Keith aka Alan Brackley
Villa The Swallows Serves up Wonderful Sunday Lunch
Vivenda relishes a traditional plateful in Central Kyrenia
Ever since the lovely old colonial building was converted from being a hairdressing salon, Villa The Swallows has proved to be a popular bar and nosherie for central Kyrenia’s diners and imbibers. Various owners and landlords have brought their own unique styles to the décor and the menu, but the essential ambience of the gorgeous old mansion retains its classy feel.
Now under the control of new owner Victor Redman, ‘The Swallow’ is offering an old style British Pub environment with a spacious bar servery, a newly refurbished dining room and as you’d expect, a typical meals and snacks board menu featuring all your old favourites, so there is no point in listing them here. But be assured that all the ingredients are freshly prepared and cooked by the lovely Maggie in the well appointed and spotlessly clean kitchen. The evidence was clear when a group of four visited Villa Swallow recently for Sunday lunch.
On a gloriously warm November day, we ate outside, out of the slight breeze enjoying the bright sunshine in the front courtyard; this is used mainly as a car park in the winter months, but is a charming spot for summer dining and entertainment evenings, or as we experienced, Sunday lunch in November!
No starters are on offer, good job too; the main choices represent a generous plateful of fine food, comprising as it does roast meats, Yorkshire pudding with everything and seven, yes seven fresh seasonal vegetables. In addition to lovely crispy roast potatoes which are cooked with the joint, we were treated to buttered mashed potatoes, al dante runner beans, cabbage, carrots, garden peas, and leeks.
The roast beef looked a little overdone to this correspondent, who prefers sirloin to be briefly introduced to the heat, rather than cooked in it; but others in our party were most enthusiastic about the texture and flavour.
The roast pork was well cooked, sadly no crackling, but the fabulous sage & onion stuffing and apple sauce fusion were just perfect. Tasty gravy, again prepared using natural juices from the meats, augmented by the vegetable water, wonderfully complemented the generous plateful, as did various mustards and appropriate sauces. There are always three roast meats available for lunch on Sundays at Villa Swallow; on our visit the third option was roast chicken, although only the beef and pork were sampled. Vic says that lamb will appear on the menu on some days, and roast turkey on days leading up to the Christmas holiday. Three choices for pudding were offered ‘Four apple pie and custard please.’ Just the job, you must try it; no frills and fancies, just semi sweet Bramley apple mash ‘n chunks, housed in a crisp short crust pastry with lashings of egg custard. Divine!
There is usually no need to reserve a table during the winter months, although, if the current standard of food service is maintained, The Swallow will increasingly become a popular dining venue, so book just in case on 0542 851 1113.
Located across the street for The Dome Hotel, a few yards up the hill, this charming English pub is open seven days each week from 10am to10pm, except when there is late sport from Sky TV, or if there is live entertainment, when things can go on a bit!
Sunday lunch for four at Villa Swallow including beers, wines, bottled water, coffee and huge brandies cost a very reasonable YTL105 |
