Restaurant Review - The Monkfish Paphos

April 17, 2019

A friend whose gastronomic opinion I trust implicitly told me that there were only two excellent fish restaurants in Paphos, so I wondered if The Monkfish, which has recently opened on the coast road, perhaps could be a third option?

The restaurant is sited one floor up in a large white development on the road between Paphos and Coral Bay and to serve everyone’s needs is accessed by stairs or a lift. Once upstairs there are extensive terraces with direct sea views which will be wonderful in the summer months. The inside area has a very smart vibe and reminds me of a trendy London restaurant. Wooden tables and very comfortable rattan chairs mix with art all centred around a huge fish chandelier. The tables were all set with sparkling glassware and exquisite cutlery.

The Monkfish is a lifelong dream of chef George Halkides and his wife Jaana. They have worked together for the last 18 years running the restaurant at Secret Valley Golf Club. Over the years with his passion for cooking fish, he has longed for a place by the sea where he could be known for his seafood. The charming Janna works front of house. The menu is extensive but with one very strict rule: all the fish is fresh and never frozen. George has been a keen fisherman since childhood and fishes in his spare time off the Akamas but most of his fish are bought locally from just two fishermen.

We were surprised to be presented with a beautiful basket of seeded bread and complimentary fish soup to start the evening off. 

To read more https://cyprus-mail.com/2019/03/29/restaurant-review-the-monkfish-paphos/