Review: O Kypros 'Steakhouse', Mournies, Chania

O Kypros 'Steakhouse', El. Venizelou 2, Mournies, Chania

O Kypros first opened its doors in 1953 and part of the charm of the place is that it probably hasn't changed that much since it first opened its doors to the public. The pure rustic charm oozes from every crack as you are ushered inside by the owner to choose your cut of steak from his walk in cold room and grocery store that looks like Arkwright's Store from 'Open All Hours'.

The huge wooden block that takes center stage shows the scars of thousands of cuts, and as the chunks of beef fillet, sirloin and pork are placed on the surface you are looked up and down as if to gauge how much you can eat as you tell him what cut you want.

The light catches the keen edge as it comes expertly swinging down to slice through the flesh and bone to give the perfect cut of meat each and every time.

We chose beef sirloin and a pork chop for our meat feast and after cutting off two inch thick slices our host cuts the connecting bones in each steak, spraying slivers of bone in the air and adding great spectacle to what is already a lost part of the restaurant process that customers very rarely see. As he does this he also runs through the menu to offer tsatsiki, potato fries, graviera saganaki, toasted bread and salads with feta or mizythra cheeses and a load of other dishes from his kitchen.

The four of us were gently advised on what to share with our steaks and as he flattened out the meat with his gavel he took our drinks order and asked us to take a seat outside in the small village square and he would be right out.

The square in which O Kypros has its tables is shared by a stunning monument to a war torn historic past. The history also continues with the fact that the village of Mournies is the birthplace of the charismatic former Prime Minister of Greece, Eleftherios Venizelos, one of the most respected statesmen of the 20th Century.

We found a table under the spreading branches of the trees that offer shade during the day and which twinkle with lights at night to turn the square into a lovely little area to spend a few hours as you enjoy your meal. We ordered a couple of Mythos beers and a litre of white wine which arrived promptly along with some toasted bread and tsatsiki. The wine was nice and smooth with an interesting aroma that we just couldn't place and two bottles of cold Amstel. The owner explained we could have Mythos if we wanted but as he had only just had a delivery they were still warm, whereas the Amstel was nicely chilled...a good call in my opinion.

O Kypros is one of those rustic gems that divide opinion, just like Marmite! Some people will love it because of its charm and authentic style of foods, service and character, and it is precisely this rustic charm that some people just cannot enjoy. When people have become too sensitive on seeing where our meat really comes from and only see it prepared and wrapped in sterile plastic in a supermarket to see a 20 Kg hunk of meat on a hook in a cold room can cause a little shock.

When the steaks arrived they were cooked to perfection and even after cooking were still juicy and huge with a thickness that defies belief. Joining the meat spectacle was a village salad with myzithra, two plates of potato chips, a huge slab of saganaki with delightful and delicious crispy edges and of course the toasted bread and tstatsiki.

After the food was demolished by our hungry appetites we were treated with a plate of sliced nectarines and a 500ml bottle of chilled raki...what other way is there to finish a meal?

O Kypros is a great value restaurant that if you want to step back in time and taste authentic, delicious food in a setting that hasn't changed in decades then you will love it. If you are expecting fine dining, haute couture diners and modern surroundings then you may be in for a shock...but it could be a pleasant shock as long as you accept what O Kypros is offering its customers. And there are many customers, not just locals, but also from all over the world. Last night we heard a couple from Holland tell the owner they were last here five years ago and just had to come back; this is the type of place that O Kypros is. It makes you want to come back again and again, not just for the great food, but for the overall experience.

PROS

Size of steaks are out of this world

The friendly character of the owner The history and charm of the restaurant and the village

Great Value (e.g. 3 x huge sirloin steaks, 1 x enormous pork chop, appetizers and side dishes as described and drinks, all for under €15 per person) CONS

You will either love it or hate it, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground. OVERALL

If you have never visited O Kypros at Mournies before then you need to go with an open mind and no expectations. Take it as you see it and enjoy the spectacle of choosing your steak, and size of steak portion that you don't get in many other places. Personally it is a place that we return to again and again and we love to introduce visitors and new people to whenever we have the opportunity.

O Kypros is open all year round from 6pm every evening.

#Review #Traditional #steakhouse #OKypros #Chania