Effervescent spot with good food

It was unplanned, but I dined at Limassol restaurant Embers twice in seven days. But doing so gave a more representative impression than perhaps going once only would have.

I verified that both the service and the quality of food, both high, remained consistent. Secondly, it allowed me to contrast an evening where every single seat in the place was occupied with a quieter time.

During my second visit, the main indoor dining area was only populated by another four people, at least until we left.

Embers is a small, narrow-shaped place with a handful of outside tables to complement its interior seating. How you feel about such establishments will largely dictate how you experience this restaurant. The tables are close to each other, the furniture is ornate and dainty, and you will likely be sat close to other groups. If this adds to your enjoyment, you will be very much at home.

If you tend to feel boxed in and claustrophobic in tight, communal spaces, then perhaps dining here may not be for you, at least when it’s close to fully booked, which is quite often. As such, although they accept walk-ins, it is recommended that you book in advance.

The food is largely beyond reproach. You may feel like the prices should correspond to larger portions but that’s somewhat objective and is more of a characteristic of the current cost of operating a business in Limassol than a feature that specifically defines the restaurant.

Among its starters, the restaurant offers grilled bread served with a compound butter made with dates. It is fantastic and I could easily consume several of these things to accompany a glass of wine, of which there is a strong selection along with a shorter menu of drinks served by the glass. Even in the latter, the wine selection is well thought out, and there is nothing cheap or shabby on offer.

Aside from the bread, we ordered a selection of small dishes (think tapas or meze style portions), and one main dish, the gilt-head bream, for the person fasting among us.

These included a small farm salad (green leaves, dressing), potatoes (normally served with butter but we asked for them without), grilled chicken thigh (marinated, with hint of sweetness in its crispy skin, served with green salad) and a dish of sheftalies (you get three of them in a portion) served with mustard piccalilli.

All of these were flavourful and well-cooked. The fish is enough to split among two people, provided there are some starters to complement it. On a previous visit, I also tried their orzo and pork tenderloin, both of which were again very good. We skipped on dessert because all options were non-fasting (note to vegans) but also because we were quite full.

The service was good, with personable staff who came over to our tables multiple times and were happy to help where required.

Overall, Embers is one of the most unique spots in Limassol, where, on its busier evenings, it becomes suffused with an effervescent energy. It resembles spots in Athens or elsewhere in central and western Europe, where young, forward-looking owners made the most with the little space they were given.

VITAL STATISTICS

SPECIALTY Grilled items

WHERE Embers, Gladstonos 94, Limassol

WHEN 12.30-3pm, 6pm-12am Monday to Saturday

HOW MUCH €6-15 for starters, €15-45 for mains

CONTACT: 97 470471