6 Promachon Eleftherias, Agios Athanasios, 25321500, LIMASSOL, Mon – Sun 9am – 2am
The most talked about arrival of Limassol for two reasons: it’s owned by Columbia Group, known for their high quality food and service and it’s the first proper beach club in Cyprus. A lot would love to hate it (and similarly love to love it), but one thing can be concluded for sure: food is of the finest quality and very good flavour and service is excellent. The rest, I guess it depends who you are.For the beach, swimming pool area and bar: if you are a mid-twenties poser slash model or gym freak, go to the swimming pool and its surroundings. Enter the swimming pool at your own risk. If you are in your late twenties to early forties, go to the grass area with sun beds. If you are a family with kids, go to the very front or don’t go at all.
Do put your Sunday best in all cases and make sure you use suntan oil carefully and thoroughly. If you are an early thirties foodie with two small kids who likes the good life and is passed the poser years, go to the restaurant only. You can guess which group I belong to.
The restaurant as all venues by Vakis Architects, is carefully done with a commercial convenience and generally looks the opposite of cheap. I don’t think it’s the epitome of avant-garde design, but more timeless and elegant.
The menu is international with everything I was craving for on a Sunday lunch (although I didn’t try everything): truffle burger, cacio e pepe with bottarga pasta (my two favourite pastas combined into one), schnitzel and a refreshing goat’s cheese salad. I am not going to go through every single dish, but the truffle burger was truly amazing, moist and delicious served with a soft brioche and delicious truffle mayo. The papardelle with lamb were surprisingly good, cooked al dente without being drowned into sauces.
The kids’ chicken strips to quote Mr Proud Cypriot were “the best nuggets he’s ever had”, full of herbs and super soft.
My least favourites were the baby chicken with Middle Eastern flavours which was a bit too sweet for my taste buds and the veal schnitzel which wasn’t bad, but does not in the best schnitzel category.
The goat’s cheese salad was refreshing, a bit strong in sourness, but I only had a bit as we shared it so I didn’t mind.What was most shocking was that everything arrived extremely quickly, served hot and excellent in flavour, practically the definition of efficiency.
Although outside was packed, I liked how inside in the air-conditioned area it wasn’t as loud and hectic. I would definitely return for lunch and would like to try it for dinner too. We paid 40€ each with a bottle of wine and water (4 adults and 3 kids).