Writing this & posting new review quickly on a ferry between North & South Island, New Zealand. Norm...
Writing this & posting new review quickly on a ferry between North & South Island, New Zealand. Normal service will be resumed upon my return! Stand by for lots of NZ info ...
Member since:23.05.2007
Reviews:112
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INTRODUCTION
There are only 2 Greek restaurants in the centre of Breda, and I must confess that previously I was no big fan of Greek food. I found it a bit bland to be honest. However, thanks to trying this place out a few times, I have found many dishes to my taste. You can usually get a seat quite easily too here, which is a good sign, as it means the Dutch aren't obsessed with it, and you can't pay any restaurant a higher compliment than that. You can already see this is going to be a favourable review! This will be the last one from Breda for the moment so I hope you know more about the place now!
THE RESTAURANT
I really like the layout here, as there is a big non smoking section to the left of the entrance, and this consists of several tables for 4. Some floor space separates the 2 sections and so you won't be bothered by this.
The restaurant has for the most part partitions between tables so that you are able to have a conversation in peace without the annoyance of an open plan. The larger partitions are made from an arrangement of wooden beams. On top of the beams are some vases, some with plastic flowers. The sides of the beams are decorated with some nice plates containing some sort of Greek scenes. Smaller partitions are sort of big honeycombs (not the best term I think but the only one that comes to mind. It gives the restaurant an enclosed feel, so if you're coming on your own, you will feel quite separate from the other diners. Believe me, this is a big plus, as when you are eating on your own, the last thing you want is to feel trapped in a big open space with everyone able to see you. Seating is provided mostly by comfortable benches, with some tables in the middle having wooden chairs.
Some plants line the white plaster walls and a few big earthenware pots sit around acting as partitions. Dotted around the walls are some pictures of the motherland, and one intriguing picture of what looks like a man smashing plates at a wedding.
On the floor it's either a blue carpet in the slightly raised non smoking section or grey slate flooring. The white tiled fake ceiling has some chandeliers that caught my eye; arrangements of 5 ceramic balls holding the lights with another ball hanging from the bottom. I bet hardly anyone notices them but they really are something, There were also similar ceramic balls holding lights on the walls. I also spotted an air conditioning unit on the ceiling, which further helps keep the smokers at bay.
At the back of the restaurant is the
bar, where I saw some people standing and chatting to the staff. It's a little bit on its own so there is plenty of room around it, and a TV is there which appears to be a good conversation point between some of the diners watching it and the staff.
Greek music was played throughout at a reasonable volume and I'm sure I recognised one of the tunes, it's one of those that you just know.
The toilets are smart and clean, so no problems on that score. Distinct from the usual restaurants here, it was well lit, but not too brightly. In the summer you can sit out at the back where there is a nice garden.
Overall, there is a very relaxed and friendly ambience here; a genuine symbiosis between restaurateur and customer, which is really nice to see, especially here.
THE FOOD
The large menu has all sorts of Greek delights on it. Cold starters include classics like feta cheese, Greek salads and grilled red pepper. Warm starters include fried anchovies, fried shrimps, fried meatballs and grilled fresh octopus. 2 soups are on offer - a simple veal broth or bean soup. You can order sides such as chips and rice, and looking at the main courses there are 3 vegetarian dishes, heavy on cheese and eggplant (great!) There is even a special mains section for kids which has plain things like chicken with fries and apple sauce which the kids should love. Onto the main fish dishes, we have things like swordfish, squid, salmon and shrimps. Traditional Greek mains include rabbit, mousaka and veal. There are some house specials such as lamb fillet and beef fillet. Barbequed meat mains include lamb cutlets, pork and chicken. Last but not least there are plenty of desserts, with Greek yoghurt with nuts and chocolate cake standing out for me. Oh and a range of liqueur coffees and digestifs. So quite a menu indeed!
When you sit down to order, you each get a small glass of Greek spirits, which I assume is ouzo.
One time I ordered a Stifado (I thought that was a Greek porn star, but is actually "a traditional meat casserole with marinated mutton, shallots, potatoes, a little bit clove and cinnamon, seasoned with red wine") and this came in a pot. The lamb was succulent, the vegetables melt in the mouth. You could really taste the difference the marinating had made.
On another occasion I ordered the unpronounceable Thrakiotiko ("a typical Thracian dish. Veal, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, a special Greek cheese and french fried potatoes. This dish owes its tang to the special way it is cooked and served: in an earthen pot") and it was just as excellent. It came in a big pot, which contained chunks of lamb topped with potato and melted cheese, in a mind, tomatoey sauce with peppers, courgette and onion. The sauce was quite thin and plentiful with plenty of flavour. The lamb was tender, lean and very very tasty; it was offset excellently with the soft, marinated vegetables. This was also served with French fries, which were crisp, dry and flavoursome. A side salad of sauerkraut like stuff was also excellent, and I found it useful to mop up some of the sauce.
Another time I had the salmon, which was very nice grilled to perfection and served with a side sauce and some salad. Quite plain I guess but nicely cooked nevertheless.
Another time I had Mosgarino, which was grilled veal fillet with mushroom sauce. This was served with green beans, which were well cook, tender and very tasty. The veal was very lean, quite well but not over cooked, and melt in the mouth. The mushroom sauce was also good, with some mushroom chunks and a thick, creamy sauce which mopped up the meat very well.
The Mousaka that someone else had once looked interesting. In fact it looked more like a shepherds pie, but I am assured it was very tasty.
Yet another time I had Pastitsada, which is "a dish from Corfou: mutton, peeled tomatoes and Greek spices, marinated in mavrodaphne wine and bay leaves, with Greek paste (kritharaki)". I assume they actually mean pasta, as it was small, almost rice like grains in a tomatoey sauce with some chopped red and green peppers. The pasta was lovely; al dente so retaining a bit of bite, melt in the mouth and creamy. The lamb was well cooked and marinated, so the big chunks were tender, lean and delicious.
The final time I went I plumped for Kotopoulo, fillet of chicken in curry sauce. The curry was akin to the sweet, mild curry sauce you get with chips (or if you're posh, the one you get in Japanese katsu curries). The chicken was well cooked, tender and plentiful.
My usual dining companion, Barcelona Boy, always goes for the Rhodos which is "souzouki, souvlaki, schnitzel, lamb cutlets and giros". On this occasion, the lamb was well cooked; crispy on the outside but tender on the inside. The pork was tasty and a little bit dry, I am told. The beef was soft, well cooked
Pictures of Rhodos, Breda, Netherlands
Restaurant from outside
and slightly spicy. Again, it was tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. Each meat had a sprinkling of some spices and had been grilled.
Most dishes are served with fries and a side salad. The fries were thin, crispy and tasty. The salad is some sort of sauerkraut, with some chopped carrot and cucumber mixed it, and I like this slightly acidic, crunchy concoction.
His espresso was served with a small white chocolatesquare, which was filled with dark chocolate. The coffee was slightly bitter, which he really likes, so full marks there again.
Every time I have been there, there has been no bread in sight for us which is an enormous plus point, as it indicates the total lack of Dutch food culture - hooray! I did see another table served with a baguette though, so maybe they realise that we have some taste. Or maybe you have to ask, but who cares.
SERVICE
Quite simply, excellent, up there with the very best service I've had in Breda. Admittedly the competition isn't particularly stiff, but even taking this into account, it's great. The staff are friendly attentive, and the senior ones are often looking to have a joke and some banter with you. On one occasion someone in our party said it was their birthday, and I'm sure they knew he was having them on as they came over with a sparkler singing happy birthday to him. The service is unique here as they leave you alone but are very very easy to get hold of if you require something. They are also full of useful suggestions. My usual dining friend, Barcelona Boy, always has to order a glass with ice cubes and an espresso to approximate a Spanish ice coffee. The manager (I think he is, anyway), who is Macedonian, listened intently to his request and suggested he tried a Greek ice coffee, which was a bit creamy but more or less what he was looking for. He also wanted to know whether or not my friend liked it, which I think was brilliant, he was genuinely interested if this met his requirements. He is always chatty with us now that he recognises us and we have a nice joke about something or other each time. He also recommended a nice Macedonian wine that we had one time.
One thing that I really liked was that I asked what meat was in the Mousaka and he knew immediately it was mixed pork and beef. Well he said, he was often asked this kind of thing, and having been there for about 10 years he had already asked the kitchen many times as he knew the customers would ask. This is compared to the usual indifferent shrug I usually get in Dutch restaurants which translates to "don't know don't care", after which I never listen to what they say anyway. In fact I wouldn't even bother asking usually as they'd probably lie anyway, but here I had such confidence in the staff I knew I would get a straight answer with an understanding of why I was asking.
But let's not just give all the credit to one chap (although he does deserve a lot). All the staff there are friendly and helpful and actually look happy. This never varies according to who is working that night.
One time we went at after 9pm and when we asked if they were open, the waitress said "of course" as if it was a silly question and perhaps it was as these people aren't Dutch. Even funnier that night was when we were there until quite late and were the last to leave. We asked if we were holding them up and the waitress laughed and said no, they were watching the football on the TV at the back of the restaurant!
Another time when I ordered the veal, the same waitress asked me why I'd ordered that rather than another dish which she thought was better. When I said that a waiter had recommended it she said "oh don't listen to him he doesn't know what he's talking about!" Brilliant.
And just to top this all off, when I went a week before leaving, I mentioned to our friendly manager (who may well be the owner, according to a Greek friend this is usually the way) that I was leaving for England soon. He returned with a framed picture of some sort of Greek religious scene, which he told me is from Greece and he wanted me to have it to remember them by! What a lovely, touching gesture, I didn't know what to say. Or, as Barcelona Boy put it "well, he isn't Dutch!". I was already going to say these are some of my favourite restaurant people in Breda but they have now moved undisputed to the top of the list!
Well you'd think that topped it all off. I went again a week later and this time he gave me a small bottle of spirits "well this is for your girlfriend".
FUN WITH BABEL FISH
But what do the yokels think? A couple of reviews I found on www.dinnersite.nl:
my man Paul and myself Conny will eat certain 2 time per month at Rhodos, and for which, because eating is always excellent, the service fantastic, pleasantly and the ambiance a sociable, in short real must.
Yesterday evening eaten at Rhodos. We had ordered the verassingsmenu with 4 persons, and that has very well pleased.Moreover, and is the service hangs a delicious environment sincerely pleasant there. Absolute must!
CONCLUSION
After a gushing review there, how can I do anything other that say go to this place as soon as you arrive in Breda. You will find a friendly welcome, great food and a laugh to cheer you up. You really are made to feel like a guest in this place rather than just a mouth to be fed. In my experience it's quite rare to be able to find a place where you know you will always be made to feel welcome and where you feel totally at ease, and here is one in the most unlikely of locations. The price is good too, you can feed yourself pretty well for about 20 Euros. You can't say fairer than that!
exceptional by (56%):
very helpful by (44%):
