I don't usually promote Tavernas etc as the taste of one person can be so different to the taste or expectations of another.
However, I do think some very well rewarded words need to be said about the above.
Firstly , full credit to them, recently opening, in what has been a harder season than the norm.
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/204/helen1.jpg)
(http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/6870/helen2.jpg)
(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8769/helen3.jpg)
Simply called " Helens" it's located on the "B" road out of Arillas and can be found very comfortably nestled on the corner of the first turning to Afionas.
Having driven past it many times, we decided to try it yesterday evening.
A very nice and welcoming family to a very good atmosphere.
( Immediatley comfortable , springs to mind )
The menu's not a "War n Peace" version but more than enough to satisfy anyone.
And ----- The fish dishes looked really good.
And thanks to the lovely family at one table that let me have a good ole peek. This family did not have a bad thing to say about the place. - And the fish dishes looked a cracker. And this was their last evening meal before goung home today
It's a Hubbie and Wife team of Christos and Stavroula with 3 really friendly children, Eleni, Alexandra and Nickos, who were never flustered and, if you had the time to talk then they had the time to listen.
I liked the feel of the open Kitchen area so you can see what's being prepared for you and the decor all around is so well done.
(http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/1393/helen4.jpg)
(http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/2747/helen5.jpg)
Now , the food. Well I think it's a recommendation in itself that, when we were there another party of 5 and 2 came in. Not many tables here folks and all these people had eaten there before.
Anyway. Wegg had the Moussaka which was so light I just had to have some.
( But I don't like Moussaka - Eh? - I did finish hers though - She eats like a bird!)
Christos apologied for the wait of my chicken fillet. ( What wait - I wondered )
Fresh takes a bit longer he said.
Enough - Try it for yourself and report back. It aint a cheapie but on par with most places. Try the specials and the fish has to be worth a go.
( Wish I'd seen it before ordering but one meal a night is enough for me )
All these places , like Armourada, Eftihia, Brouklis and all your other favourites have to be tried. - That's why you have to spend more than 2 weeks in Arillas.
Cheers
Negg
Sounds great will give it a try next week!
It hadnt opened when we were there in June.Will try in Sept as staying at the makris so will be near by.
Noticed this place in July.
As we were walking past a lady came out and went into the field on the otherside of the road, Picked some tomatoes then crossed back and into the field opposite collected some more things and then returned.
FRESH Yes I think you could say that the food is Fresh
Will give it a try if open in October
Great write up Neill :-)
A couple of weeks ago I had a lovely carafe of wine with my late breakfast there!
Eileenxx
That sounds really nice... we have passed those houses en route to Afionas and what a good idea to have a small restaurant there... not far to walk either and in a very quiet place. ~Good one to remember!
Quote from: Eileen on August 10, 2009, 08:47:04 PM
A couple of weeks ago I had a lovely carafe of wine with my late breakfast there!
;) what a lovely late breakfast it must of been Eileen!
But Helens is looking good so I must go and have a look :)
Looks and sounds good. I love the open kitchen look as well. Will give it a go in October, I hope. To many terverna's and not enough time. Viv
So true viv. Our two weeks stay in July was just too short to do it all. We had just eaten at Vavilas when we found Helens just along the road. We never found time to get back but like you it is "on the list." Maybe next time. Looks lovely
Phil
Looks like another place to try in September.
Having never been to Arillas and only the maps as a guide to finding our way around how far does anyone reckon it is from Kaloudis to Helens.
Would love an idea of the distances between places in Arillas but unfortunately none of the maps have a scale on them.
Bytheway Jan and me are not averse to walking the odd K or two.
It is quite a trek. What we do is aim for an evening meal and spend the afternoon lazily getting there. We would stop in the Nut for one or two, stop in the Rainbow for one or two then head for Elena Stella. There is a shortcut through inside the gate, which cuts the corner off. Comes out next to the now closed Artemis (where we used to stop for one or two) Then a right along past Vavilas to Helens. Trouble is we would probably stop at Vavilas....
The alternative is right along the seafront, round past SeaBreeze and Bardis, then you keep walking and find it on the right.
Hope it helps.
Phil
Cheers Phil. Sounds like a great way to while away the hours when going for an evening meal. Set off in the afternoon. I like but don't know about Jan.
Quote from: rothers1946 on August 11, 2009, 02:45:22 PM
Looks like another place to try in September.
how far does anyone reckon it is from Kaloudis to Helens.
Allow a max of a 15 minute stroll, I reckon. And it's all flat , no giant peeks to climb up.
Cheers
Negg
Take no notice of Phil....it only takes him that long because he keeps stopping on the way....lol.....but then, Arillas is that kind of place.
Sandy luvver, no-one takes any notice of me these days! Whichever route Jen and me took to get to Helens or Vavilas we would meet someone in the Nut, wave to Monica and Spiros in Akti, walk in to say hello to Dimitris and crew, share a laugh with Jimmy and Spiros and watch Eggy playing darts in the Rainbow, Meet Olga at Elena Stella, Jo and Perry at Artemis... It takes us at least two hours to get ANYWHERE in Arillas. But did I say I'm bovvered???
You know the score....
love
Phil
Quote from: Eggy on August 11, 2009, 06:52:45 PM
Quote from: rothers1946 on August 11, 2009, 02:45:22 PM
Looks like another place to try in September.
how far does anyone reckon it is from Kaloudis to Helens.
Allow a max of a 15 minute stroll, I reckon. And it's all flat , no giant peeks to climb up.
Cheers
Negg
Cheers Negg for the info. We are very good at strolling, Siga Siga as they say.
I think I am imagining it somewhere else... so I have got it wrong.. cant place it exactly... is it the house on the right they built a couple of years ago, somewhere near the heritage walk?
We tried Helens twice.
Once we had an evening meal, another day we had breakfast.
Both times we had good food and good service from a very friendly family.
Nothing was too much trouble.
The open planned kitchen was a great idea.
Good luck to all at Helens, they deserve it.
John & Janine