28 Oktovriou sq 6 (behind Faneromeni church), 22755846, LEFKOSIA (NICOSIA)
Mon-Sat 11:30-16:00
Food: 
3/5
Service: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5
One of the top 3 “magiria” in Nicosia (see Vasiliki and Siantris). Food is quite similar across all of them (and almost equally great), but one thing is for sure, the scenery at Mattheos is the best. Right behind Faneromeni church and in front of Faneromeni school, in this tiny alley you can see 4-5 tables with the typical orange chairs. If you are lucky you can get the furthest one which is under the trees.
The food is very traditional, and prepared either in the morning or the night before. It includes slow cooked rabbit (one of my personal favourites), 
“gemista” (vegetables stuffed with minced meat), fried meatballs, slow cooked lamb and many more depending on the day. There is, of course, the dessert of the day cooked by Mrs Mattheos, that varies from the traditional “galaktobourekko” to “baklava” or apple cream. From the amount of intellectual tourists that we see there, I would imagine that it is at the top of international tourist guides!
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Yiayia's Lemonade (Grandma's Lemonade)
Hi Mary, that sounds delicious! I think περγαμόντο is bergamot orange
Yiayia's Lemonade (Grandma's Lemonade)
My grandma once mixed together lemons, grapefruits and περγαμόντο (don
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ioli
Once again, I have to disagree with you. Matheos used to be a great place to eat homemade comfort food for a good price, but it has fallen in the trap that most restaurants do: a decrease in quality and an increase in prices. I was there a few months ago with a friend. We each had a main course, we shared a salad and she had a glass of wine and i had a soda. It was 20 euros EACH. I’m sorry, but this is not what I would call friendly prices, seeing as you put only one euro sign in your critique. Also, the quality of the food was, as mentioned above, not as high as it used to be. The afelia I ordered was so salty it left me thirsty for the rest of the day. But I do agree on the ambiance, it’s nice to eat in the Phaneromeni square. Why don’t you write a critique about the pastry shop “Ta tria Fanaria” just accross the other side of the square? They have truly traditional sweets and an original retro ambiance, unchanged from the years that have passed, yet nicely preserved. Great prices, as well!
admin
3 Fanaria is one of my favourite pastry shops!!
http://www.cypriotandproud.com/2011/11/22/3-fanaria/
Elena
yes, 3 Fanaria is another great spot with uneatible pastries….
Leoni
I would like to say that I disagree with the above review. If the food is salty it is a matter of taste, and secondly regarding the prices: all “ospria” (pulses) are 7€, and all the meat dishes are 8€. A glass of wine and soft drinks are 1€ each and 5€ for the salad so I can’t see why you paid 20€ each, unless you had more to drink. What is also nice is that the coffee and sweets are ALWAYS on the house.
Finally Mattheos is one of the few “magiria” in Nicosia that keeps its prices as low as they can (as opposed to Siantris!), and it is no accident that it is included in all the touristic guides.
Elena
agreeing about Mattheos, but 3 Fanaria…. I’m sorry but may be you don’t know much about traditional sweets.
I suggest you try Melissa’s sweets around the corner from there and then, reconsider the quality at 3 Fanaria. Unfortunately, Melissa doesn’t have an open patio, but their decor is the only one that can represent how Nicosia used to be in the old times. ‘Hurricane pastry shop, is also another one that kept some of this ambiance, but also, unfortunately, lowered a bit of it’s quality. Yet, still much better than 3 Fanaria’s quality.
George
OK I agree with Leoni that prices are low, BUT food quality cannot be compared with Shiantris or Vasilou!!
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Tony
I will have to dissagree with all of the above reviews…
The only true “magirio” in Nicosia is Evroulla’s, in Klokkari Arcade (stoa Klokkari) on Ledra street. The place is a dream, one of the best looking buildings in the area, built in 1932. And the “magirio” has been there forever, originally operated by Evroulla’s parents and since the mid 80′s by Evroulla and her husband Takis. The prices are the lowest by far, 5.50€ per dish (any kind) and 1€ per drink. The quantity they serve there is just right, sometimes even more than enough. The quality of the food is incredible. The dishes are always accompanied by a side of fresh tomato, cucumber, green olives, spicy green peppers and bread. The service is amazing, mr. Aristos has been there serving people for so long, with the owners Evroulla and Takis. They prepare everything themselves every day. It is by far the busiest “magirio”, around 80 people can sit there and it’s full all the time from noon to 15:00 every weekday. It’s closed on weekends and in the evening, but that’s because it’s not aimed at tourists. Almost the entirety of it’s clientelle are locals who work in the area and they all absolutely love the food there. Today, coincidentally, I saw two tourists passing by. They had a look around and then the woman said “let’s go, they’re not very professional”. I could only laugh when I heard that.
Now about Mattheos… The food quality is very “average” there. The quantity is very little. Prices are too high for a place like that. The people working there are generally slow-moving. And I do not tend to choose to eat at some place so that I’ll have a free desert after a dissapointing meal.
It surprises me that Evroulla’s place is being overlooked by the media, food guides and in general everyone who thinks they “know” the Old Town Center of Nicosia. It is the only place really worth mentioning. All other “magiria” have seen their quality deteriorate with time, they’re aiming for easy money coming from people who don’t really apprecciate good food.
proud cypriot
Really you think? I thought both the food and the location were quite ok but not exceptional, even though good prices. Regarding the media you know how it works in Cyprus: the minute it opens is it at everyone focuses as there is nothing else to write about. I ‘ll make sure to review it soon! My favourites are Vassiliki for value/money and food, Mattheos for location and Siantris for food (even though slightly overpriced compared to what would have been fair)
stella
I went to Evroulla’s and I was very disappointed. The place in the alley is alright, but the food is average. Not to mention that we waited for 20 minutes for someome to come and tell us the day’s menu. I agree that it’s cheaper but for 1.50-2€ more you can eat much better food at Vasiliki
Elena
I’m sorry, but Mattheos should not be in ‘Cypriot and Proud’.
And if we are to trust this site, i think u should take into consideration peoples’ comments as well.
I could be ‘Cypriot and Proud’ for Evroulla, not only cooks the best food in town, but she also remains faithful to Cypriot ‘filoxenia’ : good food, combined with generosity and ethical stand for what she does. She and her husband, really enjoy cooking and serving people, it’s like you are in the house yard of a relative, and they are ashamed to cheat you as Mattheos does…
proud cypriot
Hi Elena. This is why the comments exist, so readers can see Cypriot and Proud’s opinion, as well as the readers’ opinion. It is, of course, possible that they differ.
In any case, for Mattheos, I think the food varies but it has the best location, probably why it is so attractive to tourists. On Evroulla as I thought the service was quite bad as our drinks never came and I had to get up and get salt and napins myself. Nevertheless, if we disregard the service, I liked the pasticcio but the koupepia were watery and cold.