With the summer heat beginning to set in a restaurant, like the Syrian Restaurant in Limassol, becomes an ideal choice for your dining experience. Formally known as the Syrian Arab Friendship Club, the name is shortened to the Syrian Club or the Syrian Restaurant by locals.
The Syrian Club is located in the heart of the tourist area yet the exact location is a tad obscure, which distances it from the hustle and bustle of the busy area without alienating it at the same time.
In Limassol you will happen to come across a few great Arab dining options. Thus, one may think what does the Syrian Club have to offer that rises it above the rest?
First of all, let’s start with the restaurant itself. Shying away from any exaggerated Arab décor that seeks to establish and enforce the Arab ambience, the restaurant lets its minimalist attitude speak for itself. It has no need for the expensive beady feel of other restaurants that aim to provide an air of authenticity. The authenticity comes to them quite naturally.
The restaurant is engulfed by nature. Trees come to surround the restaurant making it especially cool – and humid free – during those tedious summer nights when the option of eating outdoors seems unbearable. The furniture remains understated and fairly simple. However, the restaurant does boast a beautiful fountain within a gazebo, which is ideal to dine in. It additionally has a fantastic artificial waterfall that makes your dinning experience all the more delightful.
Now, the food. Anything that I could say about the food would not do it justice.
The ideal thing to order at the Syrian Club is the meze with the choice of two, three, four and five people. More people equals more food and food selection. The basic meze for two consists of humus, mutabbal, mouhamarah, kishki, falafel, shandawar, fatayer bil jobn, tabouli, fatoush and mixed grill.
It starts with the dips: humus; mutabbal which consists of aubergines, tahini and yogurt; mouhamarah made with red peppers, walnuts and pomegranate molasses; and kishki made from strained yogurt, wheat and walnuts.
It moves on to the falafels that are just about the tastiest you can find in Limassol. Always fresh, they are a great addition. Here they are brought out with shandawar, made from beetroot, tahini and yogurt, and fatayer bil jobn, a mature cheese pie wrapped in pastry leaf.
With all these meze offerings, you are also served two delicious salads, tabouli and fatoush. Fatoush is made from mixed vegetables, fried Arab pitta and pomegranate molasses, and although fatoush is my favourite, the tabouli salad offers a tasty break from the conventional. Made from parsley, tomatoes and bulgur wheat, it is the perfect salad to accompany your meal.
Last up is the mixed grill. This includes kabab, the shukaf and the shish tawouk. The kabab is charcoal grilled minced lamb, the shukaf consists of charcoal grilled pieces of lamb and the shish tawounk is charcoal marinated grilled chicken breast. All options are incredible, and something that you can’t come across in any other restaurant.
What makes this meal even better is the great service the restaurant has to offer. All waiters are friendly, polite and utterly professional. They are what you would call the ‘cherry on top of your meal’. The food always arrives promptly and with a smile. It is also worth mentioning that while you are enjoying a delightful meal, you can enjoy narghile at the same time. If after all this you find yourself still in need of something more, the mouthwatering desserts are a must.
All in all, the restaurant is a dining option that has to be experienced. Compared to other similar restaurants, the Syrian Club is the best and also, the most affordable option. The meze is €15 per person, which is more than reasonable for the amount of food you are getting. The desserts run at €2 to €5. And the narghile is among the cheapest you can find in Limassol, at €8. So if the Syrian Club becomes your dining choice for the night don’t forget to call in for reservations – as it does get busy during the weekend – and for directions.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALITY Arabic
WHERE Syrian Arab Friendship Club, Iliados 3, Limassol
CONTACT 25-328838
PRICE Around €20 to €25 (including your meal, dessert, narghile and drinks)
