Has anybody stayed at Portofino before? Its on the sea front, the restaurant is great but there was no room at Kaloudis this time so we have to stay there. I just wondered if the appartments are okay? Thanks
Melissa
Not stayed there but I do know that owner, Spiros, was putting in a great deal of overtime, during the winter, preparing all his rooms.
I think they are all studio appts with a fridge and kettle but no cooking facilities.
The studios, above the restaurant, on the left and front have sea veiws.
I know Joe has stayed there so heres hoping he picks up this thread.
( I can get a contact e-mail for you if you need to ask them any questions )
Cheers
Negg
Thanks I met Spiro last year when I went for my 1st time hes great! My boyfriends family have been going for years so they know him well. Thanks for your help anyway! 10 days to gooo! :D
Spiros is Roulas cousin from the Kaloudis. So if that is anything to go by the rooms will be spotless. The restaurant is.
riggers.....
Yeah I thought they had something to do with eachother. Is it Roulas husband that works at Kaloudis? Hes kinda moody and nags allot. :)
Roula and her husband (Christos) run the bottom half including the shop. I think you might mean Billy who does the top half including the pool. Don't really know who owns what. Hmmm confusing myself now.
riggers....
No its not Billy who owns it or Billy at the bar. Its a tallish man who doesnt say much he isnt chatty like everyone else there. Do you know if Jimmy still works at the bar? He asked my boyfriend to buy him a snooker cue and take it over for him this year, I wondered if hes still around?
The quiet one is Roulas husband (Christos). Yes Jimmy is still there, well he was last week, so you had better pack a snooker cue. :)
riggers......
Yay! Bless him hes lovely :D Cant wait to see him!
Hi we always stay with Spiro he's like part of our family. My daughter stayed with him and Helen for the full season a couple of years ago. The rooms are spotless but basic. Each room has a fridge but thats basically it but then again who wants to cook on holiday when you have the restaurant downstairs. He has fitted air con for this season also. Got to admit that sitting on the balcony watching the sunsets is fantastic. Spiro will gladly show you around the rooms but 1 word of advise if you book make sure you see him write it in his diary as he is quite forgetful bless him
Jill
They do have showers and plug sockets dont they?? Please say yesss!
I should think so Melissa, but if not there's always the Sea. That will sort the shower problem out. :)
They may be basic, but nowhere has no shower, I think. Ha Ha Ha riggers - to be honest, from the Kaloudis I probably would go and bathe in the sea for preference. might even take my rubber duck....
lol
phil
Ha ha yes they have showers but if you ask Spiro I'm sure he would put the hose on you in the back garden. Plenty of sockets also there and believe it or not coat hangers ha ha ha
I was more worried about the plug sockets to be honest, just bought a pair of 130 pound straightners to use on holiday today! Hope we get one of the front rooms. Thats if, like you said, he wrote us down in his diary, afterall, it was just a phone call a few months ago. Maybe we'll be camping on the beach :D
He wouldn't do that to you Melissa, mind we have stayed in the house at the back before. We always have room 3 as its the larger room and has 2 balconys, the only rooms I dont like are the side rooms that over look the car park at the back of Ammos. You will love it but be prepared for some late nights sitting in Portofino and some BIG hangovers the next day. When do you go, I will be ringing him again this week will remind him ha ha ha
Melissa
As we all know , the Greeks are very laid back. Wegg and I have fitted in quite well with that.
But, business is still business and for all Appt/Hotel owners that is on top of their priority list. You will not be forgotten about.However should you want me to pop in and see Spiros for a gentle reminder, then send me a PM.
Always have time for Spiros and an Ouzo
Cheers
Negg
We go on the 11th July, he knows my boyfriends family - Mark Gill and Wez, it would be great if you could remind him for me and also tell him that a sea view would be greatly appreciated ;)
Do you live in Arillas I take it?
Thanks :)
Just to let you know though, its only a room for 2 only me and Wez are staying there his family are staying at Kaloudis.
I know what you mean about the BIG hangovers too. Last year we went to Portofino every evening for our dinner and he ALWAYS got the Ouzo out without fail lol
bet your so excited melissa
have a great time
Spiro is brilliant you wont meet a nicer bloke. Was speaking to Vicky his daughter last night who is living on a temp basis (she hopes) in New York. He is going to be a Grandad again at the beginning of August and he is going to get the little girl he has been longing for. He is so excited, you will have to ask him what they are thinking of calling her, bet the Ouzo comes out again ha ha ha
We must have misunderstood him last week,thought she had already had baby.He does get carried away sometimes.Will be there Aug so might have news then.
Hi Mellissa
I stayed on one of Sprios rooms in May and it was immaculate the beds were very comfortable and had an amazing view over the beach it had air con at no extra cost and a fridge but no cooker but who needs that anyway when you are staying over a fab resteraunt. Spiros makes you very welcome I'm certain you'll have great time.
Love
Mary
Has anyone got a contact number or e-mail for Portofino please.
Dorothy
Dorothy,
I wouldn't bother emailing them at the moment but you can ring Spiros on 0030 26630 51834
Eileen.
Thanks Eileen. We are staying at the Marina for 2 weeks from 18th August but as my son and family have booked Irenes apartments and could only get flights 4th - 18th we have managed to change our flights and are now flying out on 11th. Am really looking forward to happy family meals in the tavernas and fun times on the beach with my 2 grandsons - 2years and 4years old. Thought it might be quite nice to have the extra week in the Portofino.
Dorothy
LOL...Dorothy...any excuse to squeeze in an extra week! ;-)
A great excuse though!
What a lucky lady, 2 grandsons...and aren't they just at a fun and charming age. I love kids...I've one grandson who's five. We can't sneak over to Arillas now without him tagging along! See what you've started...tho' you will never regret it.
Have a great holiday.
Eileenxx
Portofino booked- Spiros sounds a real dear. Count down now!!!!
Dorothy
Our Spiros is a real sweetheart. :-)
Eileenx
Heidi and I have lunched many a time in Portofino and their food is good and the portions good size and they also serve ice cold Royal Ionian :)
Well we got back from Arillas on 25th July and stayed at Portofino for 2 weeks and it was great. We were in room number 4 on the left hand side so had a great view of the beach - theres nothing like waking up in the morning and hearing the waves. The room was clean and just what we needed - we dont do cooking! We only discovered that there was free air conditioning about 5 days into the holiday on one windy day when we shut the balcony door and it came on! Tut! The cleaner was lovely and didnt bother us when we wanted a lie in! And Spiro is just Spiro bless him! Would deffinately stay there again - 340 pounds for 2 weeks! Im booking for next year :D
We didn't stay at Portofino but had the most fantastic meal there one evening. Their take on my favourite meat dish (Stamna) is amazingly good. I ate every crumb which is going some with the generous size of it. Would recommend to anyone.
Phil
We ate at the portofino last year, the meal was excellent but they were short staffed so the meal took a long time, I mean a long time even by Greek standards. was the service okay?
We ate there twice this year. The food was delicious and the service excellent.
riggers..
Ours was outstanding. Perhaps we were little tarts and talked about Arillas a lot so got everyone onside? They didn't know us at all.
The service was special, the food was even better. Agree with riggers - excellent. And repeat - their stamna is to die for....
Phil
Spiro is an excellent host and an amazing friend, he is like part of our family. Think he has organised the kitchen better this year, he is a soft Dad and the family sometimes took advantage of this like all children do, the children are all in New York this season. Hopefully Vicky willbe back to help him next year.
Glad you enjoyed it Melissa, any news on the work front for next year.
Jill
ill keep it short.
;)
portofino
klefitiko lamb,
to die for!
mmmmmm
ash x
Got to admit thats my favourite as well although Spiro does do a mean roast lamb on request. We had enough to feed an army. Does anyone know if he has found out how to make yorkshire puddings on a sunday yet. One year I got a phone call just before we were due to go over, had to take Bero flour and lard over with us but it still didn't make any difference. He gets so frustrated about it and so did Helen his wife ha ha ha
Jill
Ha Ha Jill
Is he looking for someone who can cook a good Yorkshire pudding? I've retired and am looking for work like that. I make a wicked, proper yorkshire pudding, even though I'm from down south and Kent etc. I just can't imagine Klefitko with Yorkshire Pudding! but guess I could eat that....
My CV is available on request....
lol
Phil
Three visits in the last two weeks,
Love the portofino Kleftiko my favourite but the Stamna,The bowl had to be licked clean, Pictures to prove it will post that when I have loaded the picks.
Justphil send the CV. We always laughed as soon as we would come down stairs on a Sunday we had to sample all the experimental yorkshire puds, Helen's always tasted as if they had sugar in them they tasted sweet. By late morning we were sick of the sight of them. I was suprised mind that the lard didn't melt ha ha ha
Jill luvver
We eat all sorts here. Today we made stamna and Jen and me largely eat Greek and mostly because that is what I cook. Surprised? It was fantastic, just like Portofino (well I try.....)
And John, kleftiko is on my list....
Thanks both
love
Phil
Not really Jill, but I know I deffinately want to move over there more than ever now! Or maybe I just want to go anywhere to get away from here? They need a cleaner at Kaloudis - and Im considering it! I think I'll leave it till next year though and go early on for just a week or something, and try and find something then, then go back later on. It seems a waste of time going over there now seeing hows most places shut over the winter but I still deffinately want to do it!
Nice to hear you had a good time Melissa :)
I just love the Whitebait with Salad in Portofino and their Portofino Omelette made Heidi and I very happy few lunch times with lashings of Royal Ionian of course :D
Nonono - their chicken kebab! And a mixed ice cream to finish it off ;)
Think your doing it the right way Melissa leaving it till the beginning of next season, a lot can happen before then. Glad you had a great holiday only 7 weeks till Spiro has to put up with us again ha ha ha
c'mon can i not get a second to the best kleftiko lamb on the island served in the portofina?
ash
Love Spiros Kleftico, tried it in Barbati last year and they cook it with cheese which I wasn't keen on.
In Kostas they cooked it with a mustard topping... didnt expect that but it was very nice.
Portofino is the best place I've ever eaten at but then again Im only 18 haha. Their chicken kebabs are absolutely gorgeous! Its one of the main things I look forward to when I go to Corfu lol and Spearo is lovely bless him he looks like a teddy bear haha x
We'll be staying at Portofino mid July next year, and wanted room number 4 again - beautiful views, does anyone know when would be the right time to book with Spiro? Is he usually busy or are we likely to get that room if we book with him at the beginning of next year?
Hi Melissa
We always ask for room 3 the front one with the 2 balconys (largest room), it seems to be room 2 and 3 that are always popular. I would phone him now and book to make sure your not disappointed, some years he is busier than others.
Jill
Okay Ill get it booked as soon as the flights are booked thanks the front rooms look good and the view would be perfect but theres only me and my boyfriend staying there so room 4 will do just fine - I cant think of any view Id like to wake up to more! Im so excited! :D