Most hotels in Protaras have adopted an all-inclusive system, and about every other establishment has its own restaurant or cafe. However, many tourist reviews express dissatisfaction with such restaurants in Protaras, citing small portions, limited variety, frozen ready meals, and issues with sweets. To truly experience Cypriot cuisine, it's advisable to venture beyond the hotels and explore local trattorias and restaurants!
A great way to start your culinary journey into Cypriot cuisine is with meze, or ΜΕΖΕΔΕΣ, which you can find in almost any restaurant in Protaras. Meze is a selection of appetizers (sometimes up to 20-30 items), served in small portions, following the tapas-style concept. There are both meat and fish mezes, and they invariably include olives and other accompaniments like pickled mushrooms or capers.
Meat meze options may include lucanica sausages, dolmades (small stuffed cabbage in grape leaves), souvlaki (chicken and pork kebabs), fried halloumi (goat cheese), and pork loin. Seafood or fish meze typically includes mussels, shrimps in sauce, octopus stewed in wine or marinated, fried fish like mullet, and baked dorado or sea bass. Meze prices typically range from 18 EUR to 25 EUR per person (sometimes specified for two persons).
For meat enthusiasts, there's a delectable array of dishes to explore in Protaras. Consider trying souvla, which consists of large pieces of meat roasted on a spit with orange juice. Moussaka is another delightful option, resembling lasagna but made with minced lamb, eggplant, and tomatoes, omitting the dough. Tavas is a savory dish featuring roasted lamb with onions and tomatoes. Fish lovers should consider savoring the local trout in addition to the sea meze.
Inexpensive restaurants in Protaras also offer grilled seafood infused with herbs and vegetables, fried calamari, and taramosalata (a blend of mashed cod roe, bread, milk, boiled potatoes, and olive oil). When it comes to "hot drinks," you can indulge in aniseed vodka ouzo (priced at about 10 EUR per bottle) and zivania (moonshine made from grapes, humorously referred to as "Cypriot Viagra," typically priced at 12-15 EUR per bottle). It's worth noting that many restaurants in Protaras offer menus.
Cypriot delights include loukoum with almonds, suzoukos (local churchella), doughnuts soaked in honey syrup (loukoumades), finger cakes infused with cinnamon and nuts (daktila), and candied fruits (glico). What's particularly noteworthy is that pastry chefs in Protaras exclusively use local, natural ingredients!
