For dinner on the day we watched Maleficent, Louie chose to go for a Greek treat, and Cyma Greek Taverna was the only restaurant that came to mind when in Robinsons Place, Manila. Everyone I know who has eaten at any Cyma branch commented that Cyma’s food taste great however prices are steep. I thought there’s a difference between “expensive” and “value for money” food. Catch my drift? We’re not the biggest fans of Greek food, but we’re interested to check whether or not Cyma’s offerings are worth the price to pay.

“At CYMA, it’s about bringing people together for a flourishing experience that starts with great food then goes beyond by nurturing the soul and the spirit.”

Review of Cyma Greek Taverna (Robinsons Place, Manila)

Ambiance: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

Cyma Greek Taverna is one of the those places that have a high-class and cozy appeal. The interior design screams elegance and sophistication, while the environment was pretty quiet and reserved. The white walls gave a nice contrast to the brown and beige tables and chairs which also matched the color of the floor tiles. Lights were yellow and I thought they contribute to the warm contemporary look and romantic vibe of the room. Behind us was the rich-textured wall with framed mirrors to reflect light and space.

Service: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

There were only a few customers during our visit so I don’t know if customer service would be as efficient in other days. At least in our case, they were fast and helpful in letting us know immediately that what we ordered was out of stock (they’re changing menus). Clad in white uniforms, the waiters shout “OPA!” out loud whenever they serve a flaming cheese plate.

I thought it was unnecessary as it’s distracting to people who are having a good conversation while eating. But others may find the act unique in this Greek restaurant and they’d order that plate only to be presented with the unveiling of the dish plus the loud cheer.

Food: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

The Spanakopita (PhP 350) makes for a great snack or appetizer. The spinach in the pie was so tender and generously filled. Adding dimensions were the leeks and fresh herbs on top of the oil-slicked feta which were made with honest expressions of butter that brought sweetness to balance the tang. I found the crust most impressive; it was flaky but easy to cut through and not too greasy.Β Inhale it in five or so bites, and probably you’d wish to get another. Very nice to munch on! πŸ™‚

If your impulse is to order a gyro when visiting a Greek restaurant, Louie would recommend the Chicken Gyro – Cyma’s Best! (PhP 180). He repeatedly said how wonderful this chicken gyro tasted. There must be really something special with this dish. Made with tomatoes, red onions, tzatziki and wrapped in pita, the gyro sandwich was composed of ingredients that quite build on each other the way they should. I just thought that the chicken slices were a little dry and the taste was not intense as expected. Anyway, the sauce compensated for the miss in flavor as it was pleasantly creamy. I prefer to add an overwhelming dose of basil for overall improvement.

Similar to the chicken gyro, the skewered chicken in the Chicken Souvlaki (PhP 240) was a bit dry, under-seasoned and not juicy for my liking. Simply, the white meat here rendered almost flavorless, as anonymous as a protein can be. The texture, on the other hand, was just okay. With fresh vegetables, parsley salad and the yogurt garlic sauce, the combination was hearty but it’s not be something that would see my fork again.

Price for Value: β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†β˜†

My verdict is that Cyma Greek Taverna in Robinsons Place, Manila has great atmosphere and well-trained staff members. A good consideration is that serving is sizable and definitely for sharing. Other than that, I say I’d have to agree with my friends who have had a meal at Cyma: there’s nothing much to rave about. Generally, taste of food we ordered was average and it’s undeniable that prices are on the high side with not so much value.

Then again, we may not have ordered what supposedly are the best of the house. I’m willing to could come back for another try. Meanwhile, you can suggest what to order next time. Comments are welcome. πŸ™‚

Second Floor, Robinsons Place Manila, Ermita, Manila
For inquiries, call (02) 3543909
Date Published: 06/09/2014
15 / 20 stars

About 

Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.

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65 Responses

  1. Jake

    Nobody metioned the greek pork chops. Hirine Brizola. 495 for two chops with either rice stuff bell peppers or potato wedges. Very tasty. Baby clams with angel hair pasta is also something to try. Skolatina for dessert.

    Reply
  2. Romila Marie

    Hi Roch! Haha random, but saw your post on Facebook kasi – thought I’d check your blog out πŸ™‚

    Try their Roka Salata, Hirine Brizola & Bifteka next time! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Hey Romzs! Haven’t heard from you in a while. Thanks for the recommendations! Oh wow, 2 points already for the Hirine Brizola. Now I’m getting curious. πŸ˜›

      Reply
  3. Mindy

    Hmmm… Greek food is yet something i’ve never tried (okay, i think i’m making it sounds like we don’t have much varieties of international food in Indonesia, LOL) but is on the list of things to try! Especially keen on that spanakopita!

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Hehe nice choice. I haven’t been to Indonesia so I wouldn’t know. Maybe I should research more on the variety of restaurants there so we can go food tripping. πŸ˜€

      Reply
  4. Joyful Gifts by Julie

    I love gyros. We used to have a gyro place where I lived and my boyfriend at the time became friends with the owner and he let my boyfriend take his whole meat cutting machine home with him to have a big gyro party. It was really fun and a bit wild. We had a great with great food.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      This was my first time to try a gyro so I can’t compare it with anything else. From your story though, I can tell that you really had a great time.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Oh well, I’m no Greek food connoisseur so it may be unfair for me to really judge how a chicken souvlaki should taste like. But yeah as mentioned in the post, the juiciness was stingy.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thanks, Paula! I just used my iPhone 4 cam to take photos that time. I should have brought my dslr I know. Anyway, I appreciate that you like the pictures despite that. πŸ™‚ Yup, the spinach pie is a must-try!

      Reply
  5. Samantha Angell

    I am similar to you in that I always have my review somewhat based off the price/value! If a place has just average food and high prices, I don’t think it is worth the additional money unless there is a certain ambiance to the restaurant.

    Reply
  6. Jien

    Great review but I prefer other restaurants because I think it’s expensive because Greek restaurants are rare. I can eat more quality foods with the price.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yup, thanks, Jien. πŸ™‚ We rarely eat at Greek restos. I think this was only our second time to try. My first encounter of Greek food was probably Greeka Kouzina – read my fantastic review here. πŸ˜›

      Reply
  7. Kungphoo

    I love Greek Food.. We had a Greek Festival this weekend near my house.. I go every year and it gets bigger and better every year! Nice review!

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Thanks, Rena. πŸ˜€ In any case, they are improving the menu and I’m looking forward for the new items they’ll offer soon. It takes a special business to stay around for years particularly in the metro, so I’m interested to see how Cyma Restaurant has been around for this long.

      Reply
  8. Liz Mays

    Mmmm, I would just love to taste that spanakopita. It looks pretty remarkable, and the restaurant itself looks very inviting.

    Reply
  9. Maria Oller

    I love Gyros, chicken, lamb, pork or red meat are great for me one of my favorite fast food dishes in the world.

    Reply
  10. Ann Bacciaglia

    I love Greek food. Your photos are amazing and make me want to eat some right now!

    Reply
  11. Rebecca Swenor

    I have never went to a Greek restaurant. I think I will wait to hear about your next time before I would go. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Yeah. I haven’t seen this restaurant really packed with customers so it’s a good setting also if you have something really important to discuss like a business transaction or proposal.

      Reply
    • Rochkirstin Santos

      Oh you should try some more to have a better familiarity with Greek or Mediterranean dishes. They’re pretty different from all other cuisines we’ve tried so far. It’s a good difference. πŸ˜€

      Reply
  12. Rosey

    Looks like you picked the perfect time to go for not having a crowd (I love when we luck into something like that too). Everything looks very tasty!

    Reply
  13. Paula - Buenos Aires

    The place looks nice and spacious. Good to know the staff was pleasant. Some days are better than others, even at the same restaurant with the same chef.

    Reply
  14. Kristen

    YUM! I LOVE greek food! This makes me want to go home to Chicago and eat at the Greek Isles!

    Reply
  15. cococute life

    I love their best offer, the Chicken Gyro and I wonder how good it really taste but the pricing was a little bit higher maybe they have to watch for the consumer’s budget first especially they are just newly established restaurant. I love the photos as well.

    Reply

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