There’s nothing more British than a generous portion of fish and chips saturated in salt and Sarsons vinegar and for that reason Lambros Restaurant has become something of an institution in the south east, especially for expats seeking a taste of home.
For longer than I can remember it has been serving up a variety of quintessentially British traditional meals, with the most notable being its famed cod and chips. But, if you fancy a nicely battered sausage or a Steak and Kidney pie, you’ll be alright here.
Located on the Dhekelia beach, along from the local sailing club, it sits on the eastern edge of the sweeping Larnaca bay and offers fantastic views of the Mediterranean.
Entering Dhekelia, you really can feel that you have been beamed into a slice of Britain abroad – behind the fences which protect the base you can spot churches, a golf course, tennis courts and cinema as you drive along the aptly named Waterloo Road.
Before coming here make sure you have a decent appetite because before your meal arrives you’ll receive a complimentary half loaf of bread, hummus and a small salad.
The ladies in the kitchen are visible as they toil away behind the enormous fish counter, stacking up the cod and haddock behind the glass straight from the fryers – almost identical to a scene from a dockside chippy in Grimsby.
The decor does leave much to be desired and may be in need of some updating as it has a very canteeny feel, but people really come just for good food without thrills – and when your hunk of battered cod and chips (€8.45) arrives on the table, there’s not much chance of you noticing the surroundings.
Few can resist the mouth-watering combination of moist white fish served with a generous portion of thick-cut, hot chips and washed down with a pint of Keo, so it is little surprise that cod remains the number one choice of most people I know that come here.
The mushy peas (€ 1.35) were a bit bland, but OK – thankfully, nothing was greasy.
My dining partner plumped for the steak and kidney pie with chips (€6). Apart from a slight grumble about a shortage of kidney, he was well pleased with the pastry and beef, and he’s a man who knows his steak and kidney pie.
A pot of gravy will cost you an additional €1.15. For true lovers of the chip shop, you can also plonk a pickled onion or egg on your plate. There is a decent selection of local wines, beers and soft drinks – a large bottle of water will cost you €1.80.
For many expats, British forces personal and locals in the south east, Lambros is a favourite, and as a result is known to get quite busy at peak times, but a separate covered area on the beach has eased the congestion. The staff are always cheerful, even during busy periods and dash around the restaurant floor with computerised pads in hand.
In the main restaurant it can feel buzzy, noisy and somewhat cramped due to the long tables arrangement in part of it. A few years ago, British DJ Chris Evans was talking about how fabulous this place was when broadcasting from Dhekelia – and I agree, if anyone out there does know a better place to get fish and chips please let me know!
The fish could be fractionally cheaper, but the price includes chips and they are excellent portions – our evening tallied at just €18.75. My biggest niggle is that during the early evening there are sometimes lots of people queuing for take-aways right next to people eating at the front counter.
Note that the restaurant is not open on Sundays and only accepts cash (no cards). Parking is not a problem, there are two large car parks on either side of it.
VITAL STATISTICS
SPECIALITY Fish and chips
WHERE Lambros restaurant, Dhekelia Beach, Larnaca
CONTACT 24-723206
PRICE Fish and chips €8.45
