Zaffron
Ladies (and gents) who lunch
At last, a decent place for midday that is not in a hotel
IN Paphos, you could probably count on the fingers of one hand the places that serve a quality lunch at decent prices as the vast majority of good restaurants open only in the evening to satisfy the tourist trade.
But, where to go if you want to meet up with girlfriends for a ‘glass’ and a gossip, talk business, take visitors, celebrate a birthday, flirt safely (hey it’s only lunch after all) while enjoying a tasty, savoury lunch? These activities can now be carried out splendidly from noon onwards at Zaffron.
For those who have previously dined at Zaffron, there might have been a bit of a moan about the high cost of dinner but that’s always going to be one of the headaches for a restaurateur who decides on quality ingredients no matter what. And at Xaffron, that is certainly the case, along with consistent excellent service and a top-notch wine list (do try the excellent South African produced Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz).
The reason we returned to Zaffron again is purely because it now offers one of the best lunchtime value-for-money menus I have tasted in a long time. Sitting running through the list of dishes, I was reminded, for the first time in years, of long, lovely lunches in Soho with comfort dishes such as cheese and spinach ravioli in Gorgonzola sauce (£5.75) or a thumping big a salad of Parma ham, Chorizo sausage, beef pastrami with mixed greens and sun dried tomatoes (£5.50).
Then there’s a variety of seven types of open sandwiche, which range in price from £4.25 to £5.25. These include a super sarni of smoked salmon, cream cheese and lemon caper dressing.
Or what about the special Zaffron club (£5.25) packed with chicken, avocado and Parma ham; or warm pastrami with a good hit of finest Dijon mustard mayonnaise plus a decent garnish of salad.
Popular branded burgers I personally loathe but Zaffron make their own version, and very nice they are too. In this usually
unimaginative culinary area, Zaffrom offers half a dozen different burgers with a taste combination available to suit almost everyone. These include chicken, pork, beef, seafood and vegetarian (all £5.95). The pork version is served on a bed of hummus, topped with tabbouleh and roasted red peppers. The chicken burger, a mix of cheese, bacon and minced chicken also comes partnered with a creamy avocado sauce. The seafood burger was very good: salmon is blended with crab, prawns and chopped dill then served with a really piquant chilli sauce.
Potatoes still clad in their jackets are filled with quite an exotic combination of ingredients. Strips of duck with orange sauce, chicken pieces in a tikka masala sauce, or a creamy mix of wild mushrooms and gorgonzola cheese (£5.50) are among the fillings.
Omelettes are, to my mind, one of the most abused dishes on a restaurant menu; they are considered to be the food equivalent of lift music and most come with all the texture and taste of a mattress. So it’s good to find a place where one can order a wild mushroom and Parmesan or fresh spinach and stilton cheese omelette – these fully restored our faith in the imaginative use of the simple egg.
Outside the front veranda has tables for those who prefer al fresco dining. Shaded by wide umbrellas, there are large, comfortable basket chairs and sofas so you can sit and wait in comfort for your guests.
Zaffron is one of those special places that we desperately need in Paphos; it’s a reminder that yes we can still enjoy good quality imaginative food in lovely surroundings without always being forced to go to a five-star hotel to experience comfort both in the venue and in the food.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALITY Imaginative lunchtime menu that won’t break the budget
SEATING 50 plus
WHERE Tombs of the Kings Road, near the Venus Beach Hotel
CONTACT 26 933026
BOOKING not essential for lunch but advised for dinner
PRICE Less than £10 a head without drinks
