Authentic
I recently grabbed the chance to pop in to catch up with Pambos at one of my favourite finds in the past few years. ‘To Steki tou Boss’, is right in the heart of Paralimni. Literally translated it means ‘Pampos’ Steak House’, but in this case, the ‘Steki’ is not taken literally as it’s not just a good steak here, because you’ll primarily find many traditional and authentic Cypriot dishes all cooked fresh to order, and much, much more …
Dreams come True
Over a lovely coffee, Pampos told me how it all started “I always wanted my own place, I’d worked in hospitality at top-name hotels in Protaras, like The Odessa, Capo Bay and Crystal Springs Beach hotels”. He continued; “I wanted to keep it traditional, launching my first taverna back in 2015, then we added a takeaway and delivery service, and then I found this lovely traditional village house and we moved here in 2021”
Dine In
It’s Cypriot Taverna style, a cosy restaurant offering that ‘Home from Home’ feeling! Inside the décor, in one part designer influenced bespoke wooden tables and chairs made really comfy, patchwork high stools up at the bar, blended with cafe-style seating, lots of wood, village artefacts everywhere, plants and really cool lighting.
Alfresco
During the days and warm evenings, the sliding doors open up around the curved perimeter blending the single-line terrace so you can sit outside alfresco style, or just inside like a covered terrace.
New Terrace
Pambos has also just added an extension to the restaurant creating a lovely terrace across the road. I have to say the ambience here is on another level, just check out their Reviews on their Facebook page and TripAdvisor
Fresh
One of the things I really love about this place is nothing is pre-cooked, everything is freshly homemade and mostly, traditionally grilled to order over real charcoal in a way that only the Cypriots can, and btw, Pampos’ wife Maria is in the kitchen to make sure everything is cooked perfectly, often as not using her yia yia’s recipes! … Just wait til you try their traditional Homemade Bread omg!
Your Meze
The ordering system is really cool too … it’s a tick list of everything that’s in the kitchen, you just tick the boxes with how many portions you want of each dish! 2 of those, 3 of them, none of these. Choose from a selection of salads, traditional dips and finger food then the main dishes. So, if there’s a few of you and you’re creating your own Meze, you’ll only pay for exactly what you order by the dish, and so on … Quite Brilliant!
Different
When I asked Pambos “Is there anything else that makes your eaterie so popular? he said, “We like to do things a little different here so we serve things like traditional lambs liver, oven-cooked sweet red pepper with feta cheese, homemade meatballs, lamb chops grilled with fresh herbs and olive oil and the very special Rabbit in Lemon Sauce”, I’ve tried it and if you like rabbit its a must!
Lunch Time
He continued; we are also open for traditional Cypriot lunches … you’ll find lots of different things like healthy Osprea, White and Tomato Beans, Loufkia, Bamia aka Lady’s Fingers, Broad Beans, Pisselli aka Black Eyed Beans keeping prices really low to make it affordable for local workers to buy a good healthy lunch, and you can Eat In, get Takeaway or Home Delivery
Favourites
Some of my favourites on the charcoal include the traditional beef liver with herbs, the huge pork chops and the Caramelised pork belly slices in grape syrup. And of course, their souvlaki, served in Cypriot Pitta. Plus the homemade Burgers and some really tasty Vegetarian Dishes and a really cool Kids Menu.
Cheesy
Pambos also mentioned “Many of our clients’ favourites are the specialities side dishes like, the Saganaki Cheese, just delicious, so to the Feta in Clay, the Zucchini with eggs and rocket, in fact, lots of things with an egg cracked on top” … oh and, he said, “you really must try the Halloumi fried in batter, I have, and you really must!
Rain food
This place is truly Cypriot and seasonal, so Snails of all sizes are on the menu, so too wild mushrooms and many other Cypriot delicacies, all you have to do is see what specials are on the blackboards or just ask what surprises they have on the menu today? … I love surprises!
‘O’ Meze tou Boss
I highly recommend you try a full traditional ‘O’ Meze tou Boss’ … it’s Pambos’ selection of over 20 seasonal dishes, so make sure you go hungry and btw, there’s no rush here, so your meze will be served nice and slowly or at your pace, coz Pambos will always ask you if you’re ready for the next few courses!
Platters for 2
Pambos has introduced a Platter for 2 and it’s a lovely way to pass an hour or two with a cold drink and a cool ambience
Seafood
Most Cypriots love their seafood and it’s no different here. Pambos has lots of fishermen friends supplying him with a lovely selection of locally caught fresh fish, like sea bass, sea bream, calamari, prawns, smelt and whitebait and the much sought after Fried Kourkounes, aka the Spiky Fish.
Summer Nights
Every day in the summer months Pambos also serves a traditional kleftiko, selected cuts of lamb on the bone, cooked in a sealed clay oven for over 10 hours, until the meat just falls off the bone … seriously it’s OMG! … And Pambos told me “every Thursday Night we make our Kleftico Karpasitiko Style the baby lamb cooks on Tarragon leaves in the clay oven
Nice Treat
After your meal, you’ll always finish off with a complimentary dessert of vanilla sorbet ice cream with Cypriot sweet cherries … or seasonal fresh fruit
Behind the Bar
Here you can buy all your favourite spirits sold by the 5cl shot, quarter bottle, half bottle or whole bottle. There’s a fantastic selection of Cypriot wines, by the glass, small bottle, carafe or whole bottle.
Beers & More
Plus a selection of local Beers, including Keo, Carlsberg, Guinness, Hoegaarden, Corona, and my favourite larger Stella Artois. They also serve Kopparberg, Thatcher’s and Somersby Ciders, Ice cool mixers, soft drinks and a selection of coffees hot or frape style!
Parties
Another really cool idea if you’re hosting a party here is that Pambos allows you to go in early and decorate the place for the party yourself and he’ll even give you a hand! … And if there’s a few of you Pambos can sort you a taxi at a special price!
Events
Mostly in the winter months, Pampos presents the occasional live band and local musicians to entertain you while you dine and the Tzaki aka lovely Open Fire, is lit on those chilly evenings and inevitably someone will get up and dance … Oppah! Ellah!!
Sports
2 Big Screen TV’s show all the live sports, with a swing towards football, Cypriot at that, showing up to two matches simultaneously, but if you ask Pambos to put your match or your favourite sport on he’ll do his best to find it.
Nice Surprise
I’ll just say it’s always best to book in advance to avoid disappointment, coz this place gets really busy with lots of locals popping in regularly, international visitors and tourists, especially on the weekends … oh and, if you mention What’s On You’ll be in for a nice surprise! … Check out their Videos here.
Your Choice
I highly recommend you try this authentic eaterie to appreciate Pambos’ traditional Cypriot hospitality. It’s delightful to eat inside or outside on the terrace or if you want to eat at home, get a takeaway, but Pambos also invites you to order home delivery. Alternatively order via Foody or Wolt Delivery service. For their menu just click on the icons below
Open all year
Daily: 11.30 ’til late
Free Wifi
TripAdvisor Reviews
Directions
You’ll find To Steki tou Boss at 21, Nikou Psara, Paralimni, 5280 … It’s on the one way system, on the corner, just past Seven Street Clothing and before the municipality’s traditional house museum … There’s plenty of off-street parking in the free car park across the road opposite the entrance.
See Google map below …
GPS: 35.036828, 33.982249
It’s Like Home from Home!
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