Our review of our holiday

[Bristle Boy]

Hope you guys don't mind but i thought i'd publish our review of San Stef holiday, June 2010.

Ab fab time staying at Fedra Mare - a very big thanks to Dimitris and H for their hospitality and generosity - a great place to stay for anyone thinking of staying in San Stef. Superb accomodation and spotlessly cleaned everyday.
So how does Fedra Mare compare to Terezas where we stayed last June. Quieter for sure but just as welcoming. The cleaning is better at Fedra Mare, although evenings are quieter - but that was fine as it meant we didn't drink as much!

The weather was absolutely superb (better than last year) - no rain, hardly any cloud and a surprising lack of windy days - still v.warm on an evening. Brilliant!

San Stef itself is very quiet - esp our first week - seemed to get busier from Monday this last week, but all the bars are v.quiet. Quite a few nights we walked passed Silver Star (at about 10) and it was dead - about 7 or 8 tables occupied. We were in Condor most evenings and it was quieter than last year - in fact, after the tribute acts most people left - one night we were in there until about 1.30 and there was 6 of us in there. The really annoying thing was that most people watched the acts, almost for free, only buying one or two drinks - out of order IMO.
Thomas Bay looked fairly 'steady' all thru' the holiday. the new bar opposite Condor is nearly finished so i guess it will be open v.soon.
A big thank you to Anna at Three W Bar for serving our pre-dinner cocktails most nights.

The beach is smaller than last year and was v.quiet during our first week but got busy the last few days. But no snack van on beach - Leo is missing a trick here, as a lot of people were using the supermarket by Summer Dreams for their ice creams and drinks.

The restaurants we used - many of you will find a couple of my reviews surprising, but i have to be honest i'm afraid:

I'll start with the not-so favourable ones -
Ozzy Oils - sorry guys, but this one failed to hit the button with me and the wife for 2nd year running - we just don't see what the fuss is all about - food is OK, but that's it in our opinion - i had the Meat Pie - the pastry was soggy and the meat uninspiring. Just not for us i'm afraid.
Little Prince - bland serving of food - i had the sizzling steak - meat of poor quality - not real steak IMO.

Beachcomber - Lovely food - great location, but how can they call themselves a 'Bistro' when they didn''t have any desserts, other than ice cream?! - that left a sour taste (people we met in SS also had same experience a couple of nights later)- they didn't even seem to care that much to be honest - a little stand-offish in terms of 'welcomes'

Olympia - didn't use this one last year, but went twice this year - recommended - excellent food and service (homemade chips - yummy!) really good value.

The Waves - used 6 or 7 times on a lunchtime - good lunchtime fare - Sole, Stuffed Toms, Grilled salmon, lamb chops

Zorbas - one of our favourites - Lamb Kleftiko for me, another Lamb dish for my wife. Lovely desserts, followed by dancing; great service and friendly welcome - recommended

Mamma Mia's - next to Zorbas (owned by them) - had stonebaked pizzas on our 'flight day home' - 2 for 1 - brilliant value

Perros Hotel - stumbled across this when planning to go to Paradise - Stefanos had cooked a Beef Madras that afternoon - couldn't resist - superb! Great value as well - 7.50 euros with a free glass of wine (not very Greek i know but a welcome change towards end of holiday)

Mythica - the best in our opinion - warm bread rolls for starters, lovely desserts and great mains - superb service with a smile - very good value - not expensive either.

So all in all a great time; albeit quieter than last year, but weather better. Hope everyone else enjoys their stays this summer, but please use the bars - they need your support - it's tough this year for sure.

EDIT: Forgot to add earlier, but the restaurants at far end i.e. Beachcomber, Mistral, Manthos and Nafsica should add a signpost near Summer Dreams and the Supermarket advertising where they are. When we were in Olympia the number of people we saw walk as far as Summer Dreams and then turn around because they think there's nothing beyond was quite staggering. I know SS regs will know of the far end of San Stef but obviously a lot of newbies do not. On a couple of nights Beachcomber was completely empty - the first meal we had at Olympia, on night 3, the owners of Beachcomber came along on their motorbike looking at the restaurants to see how busy they were! Because there was no one at all in Beachcomber!

[Paulene Dean]

Some helpful comments - thanks. We are staying with Dmitri & Hari at Fedra Mare this year - our first time staying in the apartments so really looking forward to it. It is quiet that end of the village but thats what we prefer - if we want something a bit more lively then not a long walk. Glad you enjoyed yr hols.

[johny rebel]

hi bristol boy must agree with you mythica best taverna in san stefanos brilliant menue great service great people in jenny and leo and the best food we had in our fortnight 3 weeks ago

[loftyscot]

Thank you for the report Sir. We love Zorba's, like your comments on Olympia and will go there in a few weeks, cheery

[tonyco1]

Nice report B B!
I suppose it depends on what you order in any place!
We always liked the Mythica, in our top 3, but some people last season didn't like it at all - but it gives a balanced view.
I thought that S S would be getting busier by now, but this credit crunch has hit hard, lets hope it improves.
I see that them entire Sunset Taverna, Apartments, travel business and even the mini-bus are up for sale as a going concern.
Has anyone been there this time???
I wonder why thy are selling up??

[Gillywoo]

Great report, but have to disagree about the Taverna's which of course will always be a subjective subject.

The Mythica we found to be bland and boring, that applying to the food as well as atmosphere, however, I know its popular so maybe we chose a bad night.

If we all liked the same restaurant we would never all get in would we!

Andy

[carole.mike]

when we were there in may this year we went to yannis taverna most night food was excellent three course for 9 euros a litre of village wine 5 euros  23 euros tip 2euros total 25 euros , the lamb is fantastic and the fish also excellent ,[a must try taverna 8 out of ten in my book] also went to the mon-more taverna very good food and the night owl  both in afionas but you will need transport to get there well worth the journey. yammas mike .

[shellbell]

Thanks for the report Bristol boy.....glad you enjoyed yourselves.
Its good to have everyones take on the places to eat and Im sure we will be trying places that we didnt get round to last year.
I think its all about consistency when you are dealing with the public and eateries can not survive on their name alone....the service and food must be kept to a high quality for people to go back again and again. I hope the people at the Beachcomber have not become complacent and are hoping the excellent sunsets carry them through the summer months  . Ill let you all know in a couple of weeks 

Shell

[Bristle Boy]

Thanks for your replies - you are right about the restaurants, people have their own favourites and sometimes we will never agree on which are a 'hit' or a 'miss'. The world would be v.boring if we all liked the same!

One other aspect i forgot to mention was the absence of the Czechs compared to last year - they helped 'make' The Condor last June, but there were very few in SS the last couple of weeks.

Tony - don't know about Sunset - didn't venture that far along - i remember last June they were quiet though.

Plus, San Stef travel are moving (from Summer 2011) to a building past the supermarket (near Summer Dreams) down the little beach road - i suppose they want to grab the beach trade, but i would've thought they've a great position already.

[joan]

Plus, San Stef travel are moving (from Summer 2011) to a building past the supermarket (near Summer Dreams) down the little beach road - i suppose they want to grab the beach trade, but i would've thought they've a great position already.


[/quote] That sounds like the Simple Bar which is opposite Margaritas Supermarket. That will be a relief to all who stay down there including us.There is a lot of traffic to and fro so will get the trade.

[Gordonc]

San Stef appear to be moving to a shop unit below the apartments opposite from what was the Simple bar. Looks like a larger office but I don't know if the passing trade to the beach will make up for the numbers that must pass the present location.

[tonyco1]

They are moving into the shop next to (sister) Paula's gift shop, (which is next to Margarita's Supermarket), on the road down to the beach.
Vassilis and Margarita own all the land there and have developed it - but some units remain empty.
It's empty and is owned by Mum and Dad - (by Margarita's Apartments).
This must be because it's Credit Crunch etc,
I expect it's a free rental or a gift as Mum and Dad set up the kid's in business - which makes sense!
Only worry is maybe the loss of the prime position she now occupies, but well still go there!
It's just around the corner from the original S S Travel.

[ianandsarah]

San Stef travel are moving (from Summer 2011) to a building past the supermarket
I would think this is a shrewd business move for Noula as her family home is down there and I would think she is moving to one of the buildings. This should not cause her any problems as she has a good name for her travel business.

[ianandsarah]

Tony how about that....we were thinking the same thing at the same time.....ooooh

[ianandsarah]

carole.mike
when we were there in may this year we went to yannis taverna most night food was excellent three course for 9 euros a litre of village wine 



you mentioned yannis taverna.....which one is that?