Sit back and enjoy the sunshine
Ammos Kitchen Bar
The day was flooded with sunshine. Driving along the south coast from Dhekelia towards Larnaca, it being such a beautiful October’s day we were determined to eat by the sea.
We soon discovered that our mission was harder than we first imagined, as we stopped at various places only to find them closed or deserted. Eventually we reached the heart of town, drove around the one-way system along Phinikoudes’ palm-lined seafront, and decided, as it was difficult to park, we’d just keep on driving. We followed the sea road and ended up at Makenzy beach. One of the plethora of restaurants here would be bound to provide us with somewhere to chill and fill our hungry tummies.
Ammos stood out for us. The bright day was enhanced by the beauty of the place. White was everywhere, interacting with the sunlight, causing shadows to dance on the white furniture. The senses are brought into play here with white-washed wooden furniture, white marble table tops, white leather upholstered chairs and numerous four poster beds inviting visitors to lounge and take in the relaxed ethos. White decor is enhanced with soft throws, cream fluffy rugs, white linen, and calming white lilies and gladioli standing elegantly in a tall vase and blending in perfectly with the occasional flash of soothing light. I hoped our sense of taste would be as satisfied as we chose starters of Ammos Quesadilla (€12) and Bello Salad (€11). A smiling waiter took our order and duly set the table.
We sipped our drinks enjoying the freshness of the orange juice, the view within and towards the sea. Our starters arrived, the quesadilla was a tortilla filled with chicken, sautéed vegetables, stuffed and topped with cheese and a sprinkling of parsley, cut into sections which we eagerly tucked into. The salad tasted divine. The rocket leaves were drizzled with a strawberry balsamic glaze and overlaid with grilled portabello mushrooms, goat’s cheese, and grilled red bell peppers. We were also brought a complimentary basket of toasted Greek bread with a fresh tomato and oregano relish.
Soon my main course arrived – Mango Sobe Salmon (€15) which was a grilled fillet topped with mango sauce, served with almost cold wild rice and grilled vegetables.
My partner’s Cowboy Steak (€20) was cooked slightly longer than medium and came, with “reggae mashed potatoes”, a house mustard sauce, dark berry coulis, and grilled vegetables which were the same as mine. I was enjoying the Bello Salad starter so much the salmon dish had a hard act to follow. But the well-cooked fish was moist, and the mango sauce added a balance of sweetness which complemented the dish perfectly. We weren’t sure what reggae had to do with the mash but it tasted good, smooth and creamy. Sade rather than reggae music played in the background, which is a shame, but you can’t have it all!
I wasn’t too happy with the taste of the grilled vegetables so I supplemented my food with the remainder of the delicious salad instead. Portions were good and the atmosphere had us relaxed and laid-back, enjoying our food alongside the fresh sea air, and occasionally plane-spotting as jets approached low over the sea to land at Larnaca’s airport. The menu includes a selection of pastas and cold platters including sushi, oysters and a fish catch of the day.
A nearby table was served a platter of glamorous pineapple, large grapes, and chocolate delicacies. Earlier, I’d noticed the menu listed an Ammos Dessert Platter (€9) saying “just order and let us surprise you”. But before we had a chance to take the plunge our waiter brought us a complementary dish of our own chocolate cake delights. Who needs fruit anyway? We savoured the free chocolate treats with our coffee and ambled over to take a walk along the sandy beach.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALITY Fish dishes, sushi & salads
WHERE Makenzy Beach, Larnaca
CONTACT 24 828844
PRICE 2-course meal for two from €60 incl drinks
