Caprice at Londa

Londa Hotel, George I 72, Potamos Yermasoyias, 25866540, LEMESOS (LIMASSOL)
Mon-Sat 12:30-23:00. Sun 13:00-23:00
Food: [rating:3] 3/5
Service: [rating:4] 4/5
Ambiance: [rating:3.5] 3.5/5
Small and modern with minimalistic décor and high quality service, one of the best hotels in Limassol: I believe this is a good description of Londa Hotel. I would not call it a “boutique” hotel (although in Cyprus we tend to call any modern hotel a “boutique”), but it still ranks in the higher end of the hotel list. However, the only thing that Caprice restaurant (wh found at Londa Hotel) has in common with the hotel’s reputation, are the prices. Although some aspects of the whole experience (such as the view and the ambiance) are worth while, one thing it most certainly is not is value for money.
I ‘ll start with the positive comments. The hotel was and still is one of the few stylish and high quality places to go by the beach. Apart from the restaurant, café and bar on the first floor where the lobby is, you also have the option of dining by the swimming pool. White and beige colours prevail creating a peaceful and tranquil ambiance. The comfortable chairs go well with the ambiance making it easier to enjoy a relaxing drink or meal. I particularly like the fact that it is equally nice during the winter and in the summer, as well as the fact that there is a proper bar with comfortable stools, as a hotel should have, where one can enjoy an afternoon or evening drink.
The selection of food is not bad as it includes a broad international menu sort of on the “safe” side. It doesn’t go “too creative” and offers dishes such as grilled chicken, steaks, burgers, sandwiches and a selection of salads. I guess such a large selection could be an indication that it is difficult for everything to be of the best quality. In fact, what is strange is that, in meat and fish dishes quality is kept high but it was ruined in simpler dishes, like pasta. I didn’t always have this opinion but after a couple of recent incidents I am comfortable in saying the below:
Firstly having a full proper menu for the more formal restaurant by the lobby and a shorter, more “casual” menu for the pool restaurant makes sense, but the prices have to be lower as well. It seems that in this case the only thing that went down was the selection.
Secondly 19€ for Mozzarella di Bufala with less than a handful of cherry tomatoes and even less rocket is in anyway you see it, excessive especially in the pool restaurant. So is 19.50€ for a very small fresh tuna salad that consists of a tiny tuna fillet sitting on a small bed of spaghetti-like carrots. Just to be clear: I don’t mind small portions in a three-course meal at a proper restaurant, but I wouldn’t expect a pool bar to be such a place. The taste itself wasn’t bad at all, but this is where low value for money comes along.
Where I was more disappointed was my 13€ tomato and basil spaghetti that was actually bad. The spaghetti was not al dente, but rather the opposite making it sticky and gooey. The dressing was a bit tasteless, hence the excessive amount of cheese, salt and pepper I added on top.
It is only fair to say that the grilled chicken at 17€ with a side salad and a small portion of grilled vegetables was quite tender and flavoursome even though it was a simple dish, and so was the grilled seabass.
While writing this I am saying to myself: what did you expect, it’s a restaurant in a hotel…they are by definition, overpriced! The devil’s advocate in me however responds by saying that, in fact I never complained about the high prices until food quality and satisfaction had started deteriorating.
Despite the above experience what’s worse is that I am sure I will be going again as unfortunately we lack pretty places by the beach. Instead of getting ripped off somewhere I don’t want to be, at least here you get a nice sea view. Having said that I will definitely not order anything else but a club sandwich or a burger: at least I know that that will leave me satisfied.

http://www.londahotel.com/restaurant-bar/