Cyma: My First Greek Encounter

Although I am a slave for food, I have not yet tried a lot of other cuisines apart from the usual Asian favorites and some Western food fare. However after months of convincing my date to go Mediterranean, he finally agreed to accompany me in my first Greek food encounter at Cyma.

Cyma which means "to flourish" is already a famous Greek restaurant in the country, having been established in the Philippines back in 2005. For years now, it has been staying true to it's name and remained flourishing in market, continuously satisfying the senses of Greek food-loving diners.

My date and I visited the flourishing Greek taverna's Trinoma branch one weekday afternoon for a late lunch. With its simple yet inviting blue and white interiors, entering Cyma had reminded me of the clear blue ocean. However, our entrance was not as graceful as we would've wanted. It was actually very awkward as Cyma's crew were having an intimate meeting when we walked in. It took almost a minute before one very friendly crew accommodated us. I guess they have forgotten to put a "closed" sign on their door?

Cyma had regained itself though when the staff cheerfully led us to our table and gave us the menu. And like any other curious soul, I have already done my homework and know what I want to order.

Since I wanted to see a flaming dish, we first had an oretika (appetizer) -- Saganaki Cyma Original (P200) which is a combination of mozzarella, parmesan and extra virgin olive oil.

Honestly, this is only a simple flaming cheese starter with nicely grilled garlic bread slices on the side. What makes it special though is the short but interesting flaming presentation and how all the crew shout "Opa!" in unison.

We also got a solo serving of Cyma's Horiatiki Salata (P250) or Greek Village Summer Salad which has a combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green bell peppers, olives, capers, extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinaigrette, topped with garlic bread and feta cheese.

Although there is really nothing special with this salad, I liked it for what it is. Everything from the tomatoes to the bell peppers were served fresh. The vinaigrette also tied the different flavors together. However, my date was not too happy as he is not really fond of vegetables.

To make up for my date's disappointment over a bowl of his most-hated veggies, I got us a Pork Tenderloin Souvlakia Souvlaki (P345) to share.

Souvlaki is Greek Shish-Kabobs, and Cyma's version does not only include skewered meat with vegetables, but also servings of grilled warm pita bread, parsley salad and yogurt garlic sauce.

I like how the pork tenderloin was grilled. The meat was flavorful and has a nice charring. The grilled veggies in between the meat pieces were also rich in flavor. The pita bread was very filling too that after we have finished a stick each of the skewer, I understood why bloggers always claim that a Souvlaki from Cyma can be good for two. No, it's not that a single skewer is filling. It's the pita bread which will leave you feeling very full.

The parsley salad was also a nice dish to add a zesty and herby balance to the smoked meat and veggies. The yogurt garlic sauce on the other hand, was not only good with the meat but also with the pita bread.

THE VERDICT

Although I pretty much liked everything we have ordered, I don't think we'll be coming back soon since my carnivorous date was not impressed. However, I commend Cyma for serving simple but good food. The ambiance was also quite relaxing and fitting for a casual meal over a good conversation. In addition, the server who attended us was very nice, friendly and alert. We didn't have to ask for water refills since she already initiates.

Overall, I like my first Mediterranean encounter despite the disappointment of my date. I'll have to look for food buddies though who would accompany me to another Mediterranean gastronomical adventure.

Taste - 4/5
Ambiance - 4/5
Service - 4/5
Price - 3/5
Overall Value - 4/5

Cyma, Trinoma
Level 4 Trinoma Garden,
EDSA cor. North Ave.
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Philippines
(02) 915-2859
Official Website
Facebook Page