charcos bar and bistro alsancak. Best cypriot resturant around

jessy


Joined: 04/12/2007
Posts: 289

Message Posted:
04/12/2007 18:09

fantastic atmosphere winter and summer. Great food. The best lamb chops on the island at reasonable prices

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
04/12/2007 18:24

jessy



Went there in September, I agree with you it is excellent

Susie


Joined: 06/06/2007
Posts: 87

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 15:52

location please??

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 16:37

Up the road at post office in alsancak bear right at the top of road keep right around the mosque then bear left follow road down one way system turn left at the forge.

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 16:38

I understand that Charcos is run by a Turkish Cypriot and his Greek Cypriot wife.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 18:11

Charcos is run by Cemal( C as in J ) his father is Turkish cypriot his mother Greek cypriot. Cemal's partner is eastern european. This is a very nice little Bistro/Bar. All the food is freshlly prepared & cooked to order, so once it's finished thats it. Cemal is helped by a nice chap ( cannot remember his name) who is Syrian. It has a very Taverna like atmosphere so do not be surprised to hear a bit of Zorba mixed in with traditional turkish music & a splattering of jazz. If you do not know where it is GOOD it was supposed to stay Alsancak's secret, but if you do manage to find it lucky old you. All the main courses this year were 17ytl the desert & coffee is normally on the house.

Enjoy P & J

ZeXsZ


Joined: 10/11/2007
Posts: 33

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 18:39

His name is Celal, not Cemal.



Nice place for relaxing and good food with very nice prices.



Highly recommended.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
05/12/2007 18:41

Yes sorry about that senior moment

P of P & J

dy1259


Joined: 10/08/2007
Posts: 357

Message Posted:
09/12/2007 03:02

Bump it up.

stevie-d



Joined: 13/07/2007
Posts: 1420

Message Posted:
28/01/2008 10:30

Fantastic Resturant and bar, been there quite a few times even bought a painting.

stevie-d

gentle


Joined: 25/01/2008
Posts: 29

Message Posted:
28/01/2008 14:59

Oh i agree about charcos fantastic food. Christinas paintings and ceramics are fab. Got one at the chateau lambousa market and then went to their resturant.

Well worth a visit.

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
28/03/2008 22:28

Hi all



Told my brother to go for a meal but he could not find it, could anyone give me clearer directions please.

ianwfs


Joined: 08/01/2008
Posts: 563

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 08:11

Through Alsancak as if heading for Lapta. After you go through the centre, you will see two schools in quick succession on your left. Take a left turn after the second one. You will feel as if you are going up a farm track, but stick with it (I think any left will get you to the same place).



At the top of this road, take a left at the T junction. Charcos is a couple of hundred yards down on your left.



If you hit another T junction, taking you on to the one-way system, you've gone about 50 yards too far. Either park and walk back, or follow the one-way back to the centre of Alsancak and do the loop again.



Enjoy your meal.



Ian

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
29/03/2008 10:16

Thanks Ian



Much appreciated.



Cooper

norma


Joined: 11/11/2008
Posts: 4

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 13:18

Just joined the forum and the information and tips from you guys will make my visit to Northern Cyprus very interesting....from what to pack, where to eat and what to see.....Thanks.

Any one of you lunched at the Pala in Alcancak ?



Norma

hattikins


Joined: 17/02/2008
Posts: 2793

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 13:29

We went to Charcos in October, nice food, good prices, pleasant surroundings, but the service was really slow, there were only three of us in there and it took for ever to get our meals. As has been said on another thread, one mans meat is another mans poison, it was ok but we probably wouldn,t rush back.

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 14:03

Norma , we have used Pala in the evenings & found it to serve good food & at a very reasonable price. Also very good, just across from Pala, the fast food place. Charcos is noted for its slow service but the atmosphere is good.

Enjoy

P of P&J

joandjelly


Joined: 24/02/2008
Posts: 2953

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 19:46

I'm with you Hattikins. Lovely old building and beautiful surroundings. Just wasn't that impressed with the food and complete lack of a welcome - and we were the only people eating. I wouldn't rush back.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 19:51

I FOUND IT6 VERY NICE BUT A TAD EXPENSIVE.

stellasstar1



Joined: 02/07/2008
Posts: 1519

Message Posted:
13/11/2008 20:22

Christina is lovely, but she is not a Turkish Cypriot as mentioned earlier. I think from Rumania, but can't be sure (memory not what it was). Last New Year's Eve she did a special evening of all her own local recipe's, which were lovely, but unfortunately there was only us and Tom and Di, until about 1 am, when a couple more people turned up. Hope it is better for them this year.



Celal is not exactly the most welcome host of a restaurant, so we hardly ever go any more, but the food is very good, but don't go if you're hungry, because it can be a long wait.

david9


Joined: 09/09/2008
Posts: 358

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 19:47

Very expensive now , twice the price it was earlier in the year and food not so good. Would not go back as they want tourists who wil pay the price!!

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:15

Poor Celal, too many worries. He needs to chill because the punters sense his level of stress. I must admit I have had some good times there in the past and when Celal gets up to dance everyone gets up too. It is a good place but it could be even better. I dont go there anymore. There are far more interesting places to eat and be merry.

AJ

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
14/11/2008 20:26

Hi AJ - hope you're well. Last visited Charcos in September on Celal's birthday. He gave those of us who were there (not too many, admittedly) complimentary mezes, sparkling wine and some very good cake. I feel sure also that our bar bill was somewhat lower than it should have been. Having said that, I don't think he's a "natural" restauranteur -I've always felt that naturally he is a bit shy, but you've known him a lot longer than I have! I'm sorry to hear that he's under a lot of stress.

Incidentally, where do you go these days to eat and be merry?

Kind regards.

J

ricky


Joined: 26/01/2009
Posts: 294

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 13:55

a was already 5 times in alsancak, I don't know where Charcos is. can somebody give me more details please?

The-Wicks


Joined: 27/05/2007
Posts: 2279

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 14:07

Ricky do you know where Dolmaci supermarket is? or Fast Food?

P

northernsole


Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 15

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 17:06

Was there on Sunday, just the 2 of us, main meals around 20tl which includes lovely home made soup with loadsa chicken in it, lamb chops and chicken, chips n salad, fruit for afters followed by coffee, i glass of wine and a coke..... 52tl.

We go there regularly and always find Celal and Christina very welcoming and the surroundings are lovely.

Check the photo book out next time you are there and see how many satisfied customers they have. Our favourite by a mile.

northernsole


Joined: 28/10/2008
Posts: 15

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 17:13

52tl = £22, value for money me thinks.

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
27/01/2009 19:30

Norma,

Like all the other good ones Pala is now finished. Newly opened yesterday under the name of Neptune. Haven`t tried it yet thougn.

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
29/01/2009 02:53

Spent 3 weeks in Asancak in Dec thru Jan, Visited Celal and Christina nearly everyday at least 19 of the 21. They were great hosts, the food was great and at a good price too. They both became quite good friends and Celal helped us quite a lot with property advice as we bought a home whilst we were there (the deal will be comleted this week). Christina's paintings are very good too we bought a large one from her for the new place. We had a great time with Celal, Christina oh and Louise (the pooch) and a lot of the customers too who where very friendly and also gave us good advice we look forward to taking up permanent residency very soon.

A big thanky goes to Celal, Christina, Jim & Jill, John & Barbara, Tom and his wife, Stevie, Danny and his wife and everyone else we met in Charcos, thank you all for making us feel welcome.

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
29/01/2009 08:41

Been here since early Dec & finally got around to visiting Charcos last night. Went straight to the top of my favourite restuarant list! Lamb chops to die for! Lovely spicy lentil soup to start and complimentary fruit for afters, My friend even had a free brandy! Prices, I thought, were very reasonable - the wine cost more than the food! lol

The other thing I loved was it was so lovely & cosy in there - normally when I eat out I'm so cold I daren't take my coat off!

11 out of 10 from me!

Maggie

Whistler


Joined: 28/07/2008
Posts: 1332

Message Posted:
29/01/2009 15:13

Norma, my apologies. I told you the old Pala restaurant is now called Neptune.

It`s actually now called Dolphin !!!

The_Big_Man


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 18:45

Afternoon all!



Has anyone been to charcos recently? Is it still holding its own?



Thinking of trying it out next week.



Ace!

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 18:50

Ace,



We are regularly in Charcos in fact we will be there again tonight, must say though you will probably have to book as they have been very busy........



Mike & Vinera

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 18:54

The Big Man

It is still quite busy and I would recommend booking just to make sure. I have not got the phone number to hand but if you want to book then I can get the number for you tomorrow.

AJ

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 18:58

Telephone number for bookings



05338763007



Regards



A Saint

The_Big_Man


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 19:57

Thanks everybody! We are going to try it on Tuesday, so will give them a call tomorrow to reserve a table!



Ace!

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
14/06/2009 20:50

We went there tues day night and ihave to sat i just love the rustic charm. The food is what we all expect only I think does a better version. Christina I beleive does it all. The pictures to me dipicates sad women and one day i asked why. Well what I really said was to christine you smile with your lips and no your eyes and your pictures say the saME. However its a beatiful place

The_Big_Man


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
18/06/2009 23:53

The missus hasnt been well, so weve booked to go tomorrow night.



Is it right that they dont take card??



If so, whats the price guide so I know how much too take ;o)



Ace!

The_Big_Man


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
19/06/2009 15:59

Anybody know?



Thanks



Ace!

The_Big_Man


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 112

Message Posted:
20/06/2009 11:32

Finally got round to visiting Charcos last night!



Review:



From the arrival, you never would have known it was open. We had booked a table for 7pm, and the door was still closed when we arrived at around 7:10.

We looked in the door to see a stunning lay out hidden inside, very impressed.



Menu was minimal, but I consider it to be sticking to what you do best which isnt a bad thing.



Within 30mins I felt like I was in a cafe on Brighton Pier, the brits were falling over themselves to pack the place out.



Food was very good, yet minimal. We all ordered a mixture to get a good feel for the menu.



What started off as a fairly good experience slowly went down hill as the lack of service creeped in. We were left waiting for 20-30min intervals between requests.



Would we go again? Maybe. More likely as a lunch time stop when perhaps you dont mind sitting in the beautiful surroundings whilst the day passes you by, and so you still have an evening meal to satisfy the hunger. ACE