Probably the Best Restaurant in North Cyprus?

Seeing as what it was like a special occasion yesterday (mine and Andy’s wedding anniversary to be precise) we decided to splash out and go to the self-proclaimed ‘best a’la carte restaurant’ - we assume they mean in North Cyprus though of course they could mean in the world - or, seeing as it’s located in Ozankoy - in Ozankoy?  But then it would be the ‘only a’la carte restaurant’ wouldn’t it?

Well, anyway, it’s called Patina and it’s located in Villa Citrus which is/was a pretty impressive house with v. nice garden and pool and the like - though seeing as yesterday was a wet and windy day in January we made the sensible decision to dine inside...hmmmm.

Right, so, anyway, first impressions on the phone when I called to book were not too good…so I was slightly dreading it!  Anyway, I am glad to say I was most pleasantly surprised…the place is AMAZING!  God only knows what it’s doing here it is WAY too sophisticated for Northern Cyprus.  BUT if the buzz on the street is anything to go by this is the face of things to come here and it’s true, some serious investment is being made into the leisure, pleasure (oooerrr) and tourism industry – so that’s a good thing.

Oh, gosh – diversification – off on a tangent.  Where was I?  Well, there were three – yes 3 while people standing at the door to welcome us in and usher us up the beautiful stairs to the dining room – in fact there were about three waiters on hand per person which meant your every whim could be catered for – but neither Andy nor I are particularly whimsical so their attention fell on deaf ears.

So, right, well – you know me I have to touch on the negative – I’m Welsh, it’s in our genes…the chairs were sooooo low so you felt like you were five again and you couldn’t quite reach the table – I wanted to ask for a booster cushion but Andy gave me a look, so.  And the menus were comically HUGE – and what with all the silver and crystal all over the table I was afeared of an accident.  Luckily none transpired – until later - but more about that in a mo.

So - the food was FABULOUS, the wine was good and the service was bloomin’ exceptional.  The décor was stunning, the music gentle and unobtrusive, the fellow diners were particularly odd for me to partake of sufficient people watching in between courses and finally the bill was surprisingly small for such a fantastic evening.

So – now, moving swiftly on to the accident.  It’s been raining in Northern Cyprus for the last four million days – or so it seems – so everywhere is sodden, water logged, mud encrusted and SLIPPERY…so off I set down their precariously polished marble steps and twisted my flaming ankle – MAN was it painful – but that wasn’t the worst bit – gutter mouth bird that I am I instinctively swore rather too loudly…so as Andy says, we can’t go back there again in a hurry.  Which is another one to strike off our list after Le Jardin – which we can never return to after the incident involving Andy, a cat and the ladies loo…what?  Didn’t I tell you about that?  Oh, another time maybe!!