**LEFKARA, CYPRUS** – In the picturesque village of Lefkara, nestled within the elegant confines of The Agora Hotel, lies Novél, a restaurant aiming to elevate the humble breakfast into an artisanal experience. Seeking a more discerning start to their day after a leisurely morning, anonymous reviewers ventured to Novél, eschewing the predictability of a hotel buffet or the expediency of on-the-go fare. Their late-morning visit, just as breakfast service was winding down at 10:30 am, revealed a culinary landscape that, while largely satisfying, presented a few nuanced observations.
Novél, discovered through online exploration and chosen for its perceived sophisticated ambiance, presented an appealing alternative to the typical breakfast scene. The reviewers, having confirmed breakfast hours via telephone, arrived to find the restaurant appearing quite occupied. However, a closer assessment indicated that seating was indeed available, allowing them to settle in and peruse a menu that, it transpired, was notably concise and heavily oriented towards egg-centric creations. Notably absent were more robust, traditional breakfast options, or specific nods to Cypriot culinary heritage, a point that would subtly inform their overall impression.
The culinary journey commenced with the ordering of three distinct dishes: Eggs Benedict, avocado toast accompanied by bacon, and a highly anticipated order of ricotta pancakes. The decision to order the pancakes, despite an explicit warning from their waiter about their substantial portioning, was driven by an undeniable curiosity. This foresight from the service staff extended to a thoughtful request made to the kitchen to stagger the delivery of the pancake order. "Thoughtfully, the waiter said he would ask the kitchen to delay the pancakes so they wouldn’t arrive alongside our mains and end up cold by the time we got to them," the reviewers noted, highlighting a service gesture that demonstrably enhanced the dining experience.
Upon arrival, the food was presented with commendable promptness. The Eggs Benedict were lauded for their high-quality, generously applied bacon and a hollandaise sauce that struck a pleasing equilibrium. The eggs themselves were cooked to perfection, yielding beautifully runny yolks. The avocado toast, while featuring a substantial amount of bacon, presented a minor deviation from its menu description, arriving adorned with chives which had not been explicitly listed. This small discrepancy, however, did little to detract from the overall positive reception of the egg-focused offerings and the evident commitment to quality ingredients.
The experience at Novél offered a breakfast that largely met expectations for meticulously prepared egg dishes and premium components. While a minor inconsistency in menu accuracy was noted, the service, particularly the waiter's proactive management of the pancake delivery, was a standout element, ensuring each dish was enjoyed at its optimal temperature and timing. Novél, therefore, positions itself as a destination for those seeking a refined breakfast, albeit one that prioritises a specific, egg-focused interpretation of the morning meal over broader, more traditional or regionally specific fare. The restaurant's curated approach to its breakfast menu suggests a deliberate focus, leaving patrons to ponder what further culinary nuances might be unveiled on its forthcoming brunch offerings.