If you dream of a traditional Sunday roast without having to cook it yourself, the Elysium in Paphos is the place for you
I WAS recently offered, as part of a Sunday lunch menu, a starter of fishcakes served with Parmesan custard, which I thought was rather strange.
Sunday lunch should be a proper roast affair, with lashings of Horseradish sauce and loads of perfectly cooked fresh vegetables, enjoyed with friends and family, lasting well into the late afternoon, then home for a short siesta: perfect!
Cyprus certainly abounds with places that offer such a repast. Some are very good value with no nonsense nosh, others still have to master the art of Yorkshire pudding, and, importantly, how to keep everything hot rather than luke warm.
You can dine well from £7.50 for three courses at the Anavargos tavern in Paphos and leave the table feeling that the tradition has certainly not been abused, or you can swank it up a bit and treat the family to a real pig fest at one of the grand hotels. The best to date has to be the spread laid on at the Elysium Hotel. Here I was joined by Christallo, Sheila, Adrian, and Gordon. They didn’t stint in their duty, with each of us making sure we sampled almost, and I mean almost, all the dishes. Due to the vast array on offer, we would have had to have called in the Paphos Tigers Rugby team to assist in properly test driving this quite sumptuous Sunday buffet spread.
The starters were numerous, in fact too numerous to mention, except for the smoked salmon, scallops, home-made rich pate, perfectly-battered prawns cooked on the spot to perfection. There was also an abundance of salads and mounds of home made bread and tasty nutty and seeded rolls.
I gave up when I counted 25 starters but, whether a vegetarian, carnivore or a piscatorial inclined diner, there is something delicious for all, including tureens of winter warming soups. Be it fish, veal, beef, lamb, pork or chicken take your choice, even go back for more, or try more battered prawns and pig out on those, there’s even your own combination of sauces available to accompany the pasta dishes that are made to order in front of you.
The prime rib of beef was cooked to perfection, the entrecote was a bit dry for my taste but others were hoovering it down, along with the roast pork partnered by a deep layer of proper crackling, then, there were arrayed a long line of warming dishes filled with succulent lamb chops, chicken, veal, delicate medallions of fish cooked with dill, lashings of vegetables, and creamy potatoes, in a word all were voted excellent.
The myriad of puddings on offer had us stretching the old digestive juices, but who could not have been tempted by a creamy yogurt terrine, apple pie, or the delicious warm chocolate soufflé. Then it was the turn of the cheese board: a proper display of good quality imported and local cheeses requiring, of course, another bottle of the excellent Shiraz from the local Nelion winery.
The Elysium Sunday buffet is exactly double the price you would pay at a regular taverna and to my mind, and purse, it is stunningly good value.
So, go on treat yourself, and rest assured this isn’t one of those places that insists you get dolled up to eat there. It’s smart, casual, no ties needed, but an expanding trouser band would be a blessing.
Speciality Traditional Sunday roasts
Kids Ideal for them
Seating 150plus
Where Queen Verenikis Street Paphos
Contact 26 844444
Booking advisable
Price £15 per person(excluding drinks)
