If you want one meal that introduces you to Cypriot food, make it a meze. Rather than choosing a single main course, you sit down to a succession of small dishes that can turn dinner into an event lasting much of the evening.
What arrives at the table?
There is no single fixed meze menu. You might begin with olives, bread, dips, salads and vegetables before moving towards cheeses, grilled foods and other hot dishes.
Some restaurants specialise in meat meze, while coastal tavernas may offer seafood versions. The exact selection varies, which is part of the appeal.
Do not fill up immediately
The classic beginner mistake is eating too much bread and dip during the first ten minutes. More food is probably coming.
Pace yourself, taste everything and remember that meze is designed for sharing rather than speed.
A social meal
Meze works best with company. It gives everyone something to talk about and removes the pressure of choosing one dish from an unfamiliar menu.
It is also a good opportunity to try ingredients or preparations you might never have ordered individually.
Make an evening of it
I would choose meze on a night when you have nowhere else to be. Sit outside if the weather is pleasant, order drinks and let the dishes arrive.
Ask the restaurant what its meze includes and how it is priced before ordering, as formats differ.
For a first-time visitor to Cyprus, few meals provide a better introduction to the island’s generous approach to eating.