Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (10 June 2003)         

Oh well if you want to be picky, any where in Greece can be good or bad. We have being going to Zante for te last 5 years. The food in the Mermaid is, well trust me, you will never get a meal like that at home. I do have one complaint, there is too much of it. Breafast, well what can I say about that. My husband likes a full English, me a like a bit of something. So at Mermaids I order fruit juice, coffe, and poached eggs on toast, (you will not get poached eggs anywhere in Greece, believe me, we have tried). The staff, well, we made friend with a couple of the staff and they stay with us and we stay with them, infact we are going ovr next Sunday to stay with them for a week. Con and Adelie they own Mermaids) can not do enough for you. If the complainers had made their complains known at the time it would have been sorted. But no the BIG BRITISH WINGERS, (you all know them folks) they come home and slag the place down. Don't listen to me go there and try the place. Look at the other coments and go and see for yourself. If you are not happy, don't wait to come home, ask for Con, Adele, Emma, Miri or anyone else in there. They will make it right for you. The most important thing to remember is you are in a diffrent country. If you want English food, served up English style.STAY IN ENGLAND.From Pat and David, who cannot wait to have beef stiffardo in the Mermaids next Sundy night

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (10 June 2003)         

i just cannot belive the comments i have just read. we have been going to zante for the past 5 years. in fact we are going out there next sunday, to stay with people we met in the mermaid. yes sure in the best of places you get an off meal, we have never had one in 5 years, but so what. remember in greece unless you speak greek your instructons might not be the same as in england. so learn to speak greek or do the other thing. if you send 1 meal back (out of 2) you will eat on your own, or send both meals back!!!!!!! the only problem we have with the mermaid is there is too much of it. we go to greece 3 times a year, the only down side of greece is the english. the mermaid is clean (ask to look round the place) the food is good (too much of it) the staff are great. the owners (take a bow) con and adel. if you have a complaint ask to speak to con, adele, emme or miri. they will sort it out then and there. don't put up with it and then come home and slag the place off. take our word, we have just come back from corfu (great place) and are now going to zante for a meal at the mermaid. i am the worst person in the world for eating out, do not like any one else cooking a meal for me, my husband is worse than me, i i have not cooked it he will not eat it. looking at 7 days eating out in the mermaid. see you next week, con, adele, emma, miri etcxxxxx

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (23 June 2003)         

Well here I am again, just go back from a week in Zakynthos. Right before we go any further my email address is patriciasenior@al.com. yes I admit to being friends with the owners Con and Adele and most of the staff. The reason is we have been going so long and that is the type of people they are. I agree with all of you who say you are entitled to your opinion, and your right to state it. I agree that this site is getting out of hand with it's NAAA NAAA NA NA NAAAA NA comments. So I will just say this. We have just spent a week out there. We came back from Corfu and as I have been off work very ill an will be going back to the job soo, my husband tret me to a week with our friends. Yes we did eat in the Mermaids every night but one, but in the past 5 years we have eaten in many other restraunts in Kalamaki and other resorts. We had good service, and as we had seen so many bad reports about bad service we kept or eyes open to see what the problem was. I tnink one thing might be, the staff in there all have diffrent job. The waiting staff with very good English, (or are English) take the food orders, the least experience staff take orders for the drinks, the ones with very little English clear and set up tables. So some people think they are being ignored when the thing is the waiter cannot help them, due to lack of Enlish, Swedish, German etc. We did hear customers asking for things not on the menu (and the knockers will admit at least it is a big menu)We only order Greek dishes,the cook this year is Demitri, I am sure he does adapt the reciepies to the English taste. But having said that, we do visit other Greek islands (not just Corfu either) and we do drive out to little tavernes, and we do not find that much difference. On the Friday. which is the Greek Night, and is very good fun. When it was over we had a drink with the group who we found were all teachers, they are trying to keep the traditions alive but don't mind entertaining the touists. The dances are traditional but then they entertain as well. If you go there and have a bad meal, service or any other bad experience and complain (at the time) and get no redress yes post your views. I do not say the Mermaids is for everyone. But The staff love children, will try to make you welcome, will do there best to give you a good night. Give them a chance, unless you are like the couple who sat next to us one night looked at the menu for 20 mins then asked for 2 items not on the menu, then asked if the swordfish was the whole fish, it was not just me and my hubby who were laughing at that. So in short if you do not like Mermaids for what ever reason and you have told them at the time what your problem is tell everyone. If like us you like Memaids tell us on this site, but let us all grow up and be honest, I do not think anyone should be afaid to go there,all the Greek Islands are down on visitor this year and MERMAIDS was the only place full every night, and mostlby people going back from the years before or even the night before. rest my case. Oh and by the way we are going back to Zakynthos and the Mermaids for 2 weeks in September. So Con be warned get the UKE ready for the washing machine and the the TV and Elliot get the beef stifardo on now. Pat and Dave

Plubis Studios - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

We have been going to Zakynthos twice a year for the last 8 years, these have got to be the best value for money on the island. Air con. Safe dep. box's in the room. All new and spotless, and I mean spotless. New extra large pool, snack bar and small shop. (these were not completed when we went, but the family did tell us and offer us our money back. When we arrived the whole family met us, Dimitris, Dennis Mr and Mrs Plubis. In our room a card introducing the family and a bottle of Mataxa and a bunch of roses, to say sorry for lack of pool. Tha family live on the premisis so are there to help at any time. And what a great family they are. We spent 29 days there, we ate in a few times and managed to cook a meal with no problem. Oh forgot to add smoke detectors in all rooms, and mains based so no battries to run out. It is in the heart of Kalamaki, but just down a side road so no noise at night, but you don't need a torch to find them in the dark. We did invite a few people we met to look at the apartments and all of them said they would be booking them in the future. The picture on the web site does not show how good they are, but the rooms are really that clean. Check out their prices and find better if you can.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (21 June 2004)         

Well just come back from a month in Kalamaki. that's it untill September. Mermaids well as ever the best place to eat and drink and well what ever. Greek night stops the traffic. The new menu (Con stop it I cannot cope with anymore choices). I did learn a new trick this year, do as the Greeks do, instead of a main meal order 3 or 4 starters or as my husband and I did 6 or 7 and share. It is great fun and you get to try more diffrent things. The new bar was not ready but should be any time (PLUS SODA) plasma screens the job lot, well con does not do anything by halves. Oh and by the way Christine Eduart works in Mermaids but he is very much married, she is a doll, sorry girl but Yanni and Lully are single. See you all soonn Pat and Davexx

Dionysis and Tonia Studios - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

Stayed twice here, this year we went for a month and booked our own travel, so could not stay with the 3 Brothers.We did spend a lot of days and a lot of nights with them over the month. We would always recommend them, if you want to be part of a family you have picked the right place. You will allways meet nice people there and Spiros,Dennis and Yannis (not forgeting George,Dad,) will get the pary going. One word of warning, over the last 8 years I have picked up a bit of Greek. When Yannis found out I do not swear he took great delight in teaching me to swear in Greek. Thanks Yannis very helpfull at home. See you in September when we are over for another 4 weeks

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (23 July 2004)         

The debate about mermaids goes on. I will just say this, we have gone to Zante for 9 years, we have gone to Mermaids for that long. We are now friends, I will admit that but I will say this you either like the food or you don't.That is fair enough, but don't doubt how fresh the food is. Go in for breakfast and you will see all the food being deliverd. Ask Con last thing at night if you can go into the kitchen and you will find all the food (not a lot) that is left over being dumped (or Emma and Miri takeing it to feed all the dogs on the way home) The only frozen stuff I have ever seen in 9 years is McCann Chips. I know the Yorkshire puddings are for real as I had to go over and show the Chef how to make them. Love it or hate it but don't knok it. If you want good food at value for money got to Mermaids. If you want a Greek taverna with all that goes with it, well go somewhere else. If you are not happy with the food, the service talk to Con, Miri or Emma. If you want your kids to be catered for go to Mermaids. Don't come home and complain if you have not complained over there. See you in September Con. Pat and Dave

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (27 August 2004)         

hi there con, glad to see people still love mermaids. bad news, good news. good news we are not over there yet, bad news is 4 weeks and will be with you. i need the beef stiffardo, david is missing grandma's chicken hot pot. only 3 weeks this time. cannot wait to see the new club, we saw it being built and now i can do. 1 mataxa, 2 mataxa, 3 mataxa, floor. how are you fixed for the hospital? lots of love. pat and dave.xxxxx

Plubis Studios - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

we liked it so much we are going back, no not next year this year, we love kalamaki and we cannot wait to go back, so we are off to the Plubis again.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (17 October 2004)         

hi there con adel and team. we are back home in the wet and the cold, what i would give for a beef stiffado and david says can he have a chicken hot pot. thanks again for a wonderfull 3 weeks. by the way good new guys i have put on a stone, my doctor will be thrilled. just been reading through the comments and had to chuckle, we have had 7 weeks over there this year, taught your chef how to make yorkshire puds, spent more time in the kitchen than i do in my own. anyone who knocks the place take con's advice and go and take a look. better still go for breakfast about 9.30 to 10.30 am and watch the fresh food being delivered. go in there about 1 am and watch the left overs getting slung. i am not going to get in to a row about mermaids. people grumble because it is busy and the staff are in a hurry, well does that not show how good it is. some of the knockers should read what they have wrote before they send them off. they do not make sense. anyway gang thanks for everything. love to you all, see you soon. pat and davexxxx

Plubis Studios - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

Thank you Plubis family for another great holiday. We have just stayed there again. We were the 1st in the apartments this year and now we have been the last. They were just as clean this time as they were at the beging of the season. Mrs Plubis keeps those rooms so clean and the sheets etc. are spotless. They family are really great they do not bother you, except to check all is O.K., but they are on hand if you have a problem, I belive they will be with Cosmos next, we wish them well and hope to see them next year.

Scorpio Bar - (Bars in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

The cleanest pool on the island. Every thing is well kept, we have stayed there twice but we always go in for a drink when we are over there. Hve had 7 weeks in Kalamaki this year and had a great time, my Greek is getting better thanks to the lads. Those that say they have to be part of a clique to get on with the lads have not made the effort. If people don't talk to them they leave them alone chat with them and it is a laugh a minute. If you go in there say 1 mataxa 2 mataxa 3 mataxa floor and they will know you have heard of me.

Michaelos - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

We have used this taverna for years this year it is awfull, my husband was sick and the other 3 of us had upset stomaches because we had not eaten all the meal. We spoke to many people while we were over there for 4 weeks and nobody had a good word for it. One of our Greek friends told us that the chef had left and they were doing the cooking for themselves. AVOID THIS AT ALL COSTS111111111

Pandesia - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

Great meal, great price. staff great. one place to go.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (14 June 2005)         

well what can we say. had breakfast every day and some meals at night. the only reason we did not eat every night was my husband got sun sickness and we had friends we had to see. thanks con and addel. once again you made us feel at home. grub fantastic. service great. shame about the albanian. (con knows, in joke). back in september for 3 or 4 weeks. lots and lots of love to you all. hope luries dad is better, give him our love. pat and dave xxx

Parthenon Restaurant - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

Went back there this year took neice and husband in. The meal was as usual great, service fantastic. See you in Sept.

Kalamaki - (Exchange Rates in Zante)

Patricia S           

take pounds use deposit box and go to Sophies best rate on the island. we have just come back and been all round and you will not beet her.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (21 June 2005)         

bad news con, we are coming back. cannot say much about it at this time as it is a suprise for the albanian. anyway get the stiffardo ready we gave booked our flights. love to all pat and dave xx

Vanessa Hotel - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

  came back from there last week, guess what we are off again for another 2 weeks on sunday. it is so clean, so welcoming it is unbelivable. my husband loves his cup of tea and asked  daniell if she did a mug of tea and so she did. he was addicted. the snack meals are such great value for money. the maids were fantastic. we gave one of them a tip and she bought me a present. don't all expect this, but that is how nice they are. dimitri best barman in town. fortis is magic. in fact only 5 sleeps and we will be there again. much love to you all. ps don't tell petros, it is a suprise.xxx

Parthenon Restaurant - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

WE have always been happy with the Parthenon. but this year find they are trying a dirty tricks tactic. They have always been in competion with Mermaids but this yearthey are standing just about outside Mermaids and offering free wine with their meals. This to us was not nice. By all means look for custom but by fair means, we did not go over there this time because of this.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (18 July 2005)         

thank you to cond adel and all the staff. thank you for the breakfast every morning while i was in the hospital. i had to spend 6 days in the hospital in zante and every day my husband brought me hot food from mermaids. thank you to all the staff for their support and best wishes and the food. hope to see you in september, if you will have us, lots of love to you all from pat and davexxxx

Vanessa Hotel - (Accommodation in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

Stayed there again and had to have 6 days in hospital. They could not do enough for us. Hope they will have us back in September. The bar is great the snacks aregood value for money. The family are wonderfull.

Tazies Menu - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S           

If you wanta burger go here good service and fresh food. all home made and tastes like it.

Fire Club - (Bars in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (18 July 2005)         

LOve you Daren. just go in there and watch him he is more fun than the turnes.

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (08 August 2005)         

hi there con and adel and staff. i hace been fine since i got home. had a nasty enail from the parthanon they thought you had been feeding us bad comments on the place. thank you for the food in the hospital and the care i had when i got out.  love you all lots watch out for the albanian.??????? see you soon we hope. pat and dave xxxx

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (02 June 2006)         

  hi there guys hope the season is going well. we mivht get over at the back end of the year, cannot get insurance untill i have behaved for 12 months, which is in july and it is a bit hot for us then. hope to get over in sept. i will say only one thing to the ones who knock you. you kept me alive for 6 days in zante hospital. not knocking the doctors etc. they were great to me, but david was bringing me food in from mermaids every day, otherwise i would have come home in a box. look forward to seeing you all soon.love to all who remember us and a special thanks to con and adel  we love you lots thanks for 11 years of friendship and service, and help when we needed it. tell con not the albanian is in england everything is under lock and key.

all the best have a great summer and look forward toseeing you soon. please get in touch. pat and dave.xx

Mermaids - (Restaurants in Kalamaki)

Patricia S  (08 September 2006)         

HI there yuo guys Pat and Dave here, sorry not been over this year but doctors would not let me fly, maybe next year. Hope you have had a good season, good reports from friends we have sent to you.

What about the good news Emma and Petros are going to have a baby.We thought she had enough on looking after him, but I am sure she will cope.
We  have had apretty good summer here for a change, but I do miss Zante and  those fab meals at Mermaids, maybe you could send me some over.
Anyway love to you all take care.  Maybe you could find a job for Petos , Emma and baby next year.
Lots of love Pat and Davexxxx