New Business Initiatives in the TRNC
The Carpenters Restaurant and Bar is a well established and dynamic initiative based near the ever popular area of Karaoglanoglu. The concept of this restaurant is based firmly in traditional Cypriot beliefs, even if the name is very English!
The Carpenters serve a selection of al carte seasonal foods as well as some of the more ethically Cypriot dishes such as manti (pasta) prepared by the mother of the family! Imagine Cyprus in the 1950's and you've got it right, the winter restaurant is a step back in time, where you could easily be eating in a Cypriot dining room! The restaurant is owned by three brothers, Kemal, Ercument and Mehmet. Ercument tells me that the restaurant building was once a carpenters workshop from where his father and uncles would work, thus the name for the restaurant is the family trade. In fact all the woodwork, from the beams, to the bar, windows and doors has all been mastered by the family themselves, which makes the actual workmanship of the interior and outdoor setting spectacular. Inside the restaurant is cosy and warm, heated by the real fireplace and ambiance created by the friendly staff and guests!
Now back to the menu!, The selection is a mouth watering feast of fresh meats and kebabs all with very generous portions of salad, seasonal vegetables and delicious sauté potatoes. All the soup is home made, real chunky vegetables and steaming rice and served with freshly baked village bread and real butter. The garlic prawns for starters were to die for and the lamb borek with sesame seeds was an amazing take on the traditional borek, not at all greasy! But this is not a food review, even though I was indulged to a very filling treat!
When the weather heats up the service will move to the beautifully landscaped gardens. The outside setting is tranquil with ample seating areas and a more than substantial bar with proper pub stalls! You don’t have to just have dinner here either, many people have enjoyed the odd tipple or two, in the summer by the bar, But get in early as all the seats may go!
The Carpenters Restaurant and Bar is a refreshing change to the larger more conventional restaurants that seem to be springing up all over Cyprus, It is a friendly and warm place with a real family atmosphere an one that you should all experience! The Carpenters Restaurant and Bar is open from 11am till late for snacks, lunch, dinner and drinks. The restaurant can be contacted on 0392-822-2251 and is found just outside of Karaoglanoglu, on the main road, towards Lapta. See you there!
Written By Derya Ibrahim-Bahcelerli
Published by Cyprus Times January 2005
