The Great Filoxenia Barbecue - A Unique Greek Dining Experience

During our stay at the Filoxenia hotel in Rhodes, we enjoyed many sumptuous meals at the restaurant and bar on site. The food was of a high standard and very reasonable in terms of price, especially compared to other eateries at the heart of the island's tourist traps such as the centre of old Rhodes town. However the highlight of our dining experience was the famous Filoxenia barbecue, which for the local villages of Paradisi and Theologos is considered quite an event. For holiday makers whose period of stay includes the weekend it is an entertaining and sumptuous dining event.

The barbecue is open to guests and residents although booking is advised as it is very popular. Dining at Filoxenia is usually fun filled and relaxed, with music playing as everyone enjoys their meal. The barbecue is the same but much more with traditional Greek music echoing throughout the beautifully lit courtyard and dining area. There is a real warm and friendly atmosphere as Evangelia and the boys take orders and serve drinks whilst laughing and joking with the guests at the same time. The meal consists of three courses; a starter of Greek salad (single or for sharing), choice of either pork chop or chicken breast, side plate of spiced potatoes and rice mixed with vegetables, and for dessert a generous serving of watermelon.

Nights on the island tend to be much like the day, warm and dry so a light starter such as the Greek salad is the perfect way to start this meal. Everything you would expect from a Greek salad was presented to us on a big plate for sharing featuring fresh olives, big slices of red onion and green pepper, juicy ripe tomatoes and a delicious hunk of feta cheese all dressed with herbs and Filoxenia's freshly pressed olive oil. The balance of ingredients was a delicious combination of the crunchy onion and peppers mixed in with the juicy tomatoes enhanced by the tasty olive oil. The olives were well received but the star of the dish was the feta cheese, which added that extra bit of creamy and salty character to the dish. It succeeded in whetting the appetite for the course that followed.

When one hears the word barbecue uttered it conjures images of a B&Q bought metal barbecue sadly underused and even then mostly under cooking chicken legs and blackening sausage skins. For Filoxenia's barbecue, whilst the potatoes rice and vegetables are being prepared in the kitchen, Nicos is stationed at the very impressive looking wood barbecue all fired up and cooking the pork chop and chicken breasts, with the smoky smell of the meat permeating the night air. Opting for the pork chop, for fear that even under Nicos' watchful eye, the chicken breast might be a too dry, I was presented with a piece of meat that defied expectations.

Far from the minuscule sizes one is accustomed to seeing in the supermarket chiller, a piece that easily dwarfed my hand was presented to me. The chop was char-grilled to perfection, seasoned well and with plenty of meat with a sliver of juicy fat along the edge. The meat was moist, tender, and each bite as succulent as the next, a true idea of food heaven. The potatoes were soft and well flavoured as was the rice & vegetable mix which complimented rather than overpowered the meat. As an unexpected treat, towards the end of the meal, if there is any meat left over it is offered to the guests and I was presented a piece of chicken breast which was as succulent and tasty as the pork chop.

With the juicy watermelon and a pint of Rhodes local brew washing down the last remnants of the meal, the Filoxenia barbecue lived up to expectations and more. If you're thinking that this was an expensive outing then when you consider all the food (for two people) plus two pints of beer and bread with olive oil, the total cost of just under 40 euros, considerably more reasonable and of higher quality then a top restaurant. Nicos and the Filoxenia family excelled not only with the food but a great nights entertainment, hearty, fun and relaxed as a good barbecue should be.