Themistokli Dervi 49, LEFKOSIA (NICOSIA), 22591159
Mon-Fri 7:30-20:30, Sat 8:00-20:30
If you haven’t seen it or heard of it, you will. Cito Express combines a high quality delicatessen with everything the modern consumer needs: all-natural, freshly made and delicious fast food. The “fast-food” I am referring to has nothing to do with the junk chain food you are thinking about, but food that can be taken off the shelf and eaten fast.
It looks huge from the outside but it doesn’t feel as big when you enter. There is a contemporary vibe to it, which I liked. It’s not a restaurant so don’t expect a lot of tables but there is some space to eat-in. There are 3 reasons to visit it: for the delicatessen, for the food shop and for the ready-made, take-away food.
The delicatessen includes cheese, charcuterie and pâtés from Italy, France, Portugal and Greece, all imported by Cito people directly. The colourful cheeses infused with red pesto and green pesto definitely stand out, so as the variety of origin of all the products on offer. Aesthetics are extremely important to the Cito family (or 2 brothers to be exact), so every single cheese and sandwich platter is made with love, care and..beauty. Everyone working there is experienced and trained to do this job to ensure maximum service, knowledge and quality. I wouldn’t categorise it as the hidden gem of delicatessens but rather a great and easy solution to your every day needs.
The shop part although not big includes hand-picked products like a variety of olive oils, spreads and jams and gourmet crackers of all colours and flavours representing bits and pieces of Mediterranean cuisine, – those little extras for them (or us) foodies.
Finally the take-away food part is probably the reason to visit it daily. From ginger shots (a best-seller), to salads, sandwiches and desserts, the variety is enough for regular visits. Everything is made on the same day using fresh ingredients from the delicatessen. All the food that needs pre-cooking is prepared in-house, supervised by Mr Pericles Rousounides (no further intros needed). 
The brie, edam and fig jam sandwich in a bun I tried was spot-on: meat free but enough to keep it interesting (it sounds trivial but it’s not as I always have trouble finding tasty, interesting sandwiches without ham, turkey, or chicken). The ham and cheese in a baguette, although a more common combination was very well prepared, while the chocolate mousse was so light in flavour I devoured the whole pot in one go. The ginger and lemon shot must surely be super nutritious but make sure you sip it slowly. You’ll know what I mean!
The verdict is that it’s a well done delicatessen with great options for the working people. It’s not the epitome of innovation but definitely meets a lot of needs of 2018. The fact that I could find 3 sandwiches, 2 soups and a salad I could have every single day surely means a lot.
