Coriander & Paprika - disappointed with both :(

[AlisonD]

Having mulled over where to pick for a first night and eventually decided on Paprika ( based on some hugely encouraging blog posts) I have to say we were very disappointed with our meal. The service was very  very slow and with most of our party having fillet steak, the steak meals were overcooked and shall we say rather sparse on the plate with just a side of limp roasted veg and fries.
Second night we thought we would try Coriander, a new place for this year and a somewhere that everyone seems to be raving about. Sadly a big miss again, the sea bass wrapped prawns for 3 of the 7 of us saw overlooked dry fish and rubbery prawns. Also a little strange to give your order for one dish and be told ' oh no I wouldn't recommend that this is a much better option'!
So - having raved over our food on both trips last year we are not off to the best of starts

Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=12899.0

[onelove]

To change the subject very slightly......I'm not going to comment on food. What I have noticed in a fair few restaurant reviews lately is people saying that the service was slow etc.

Now I wonder if with the poor numbers of tourists in Kalkan this year restaurants have cut back on staff...or more to the point on waiters ......

[KlknBtrc]

Hi onelove

My friends numbers of restaurant owners they said their biggest problem they cant find new quality stuff anymore,That is why they hire more than necessary,They all have good chef good waiters but behind of them they cant find ,

[MartynE]

Fi and I have always found this a problem...other people raving about their new favourite restaurants/bars/beach club...  so we try them... and almost always end up disappointed. 

Tripadvisor is a minefield too - we never, ever, look at it now because we almost always disagree with the reviews.

Now, we just tend to stick to our old faves... maybe we are just getting boring in our old age

[antler]

Hello AlisonD.
I do hope I was not one of your "hugely popular posts" that encouraged you to have two less than enjoyable meals.  My blog, if it WAS referred to, was a very personal post, based upon my experience. It seems that choosing a restaurant is also a vey emotive subject in Kalkan; mine was a purely pesonal view and not a recomendation.
At least, it seems, your meals can only get better and maybe we look forward to hearing you share that.
Antler

[Charlie]

Have to say we had a very enjoyable meal in Paprika last month.  Hadn't been in the restaurant for a year or two and really enjoyed it.  Sorry you didn't have the same experience.  That said we went to Corianderr for lunch one day, was fine but not enough to make me return for an evening meal.  I suppose we all can have an off day.  As they say......things can only get better, I hope!

[Tyros]

All I can say is that I hope you shared your opinions with the restaurant staff as I know that they would welcome your comment as they would wish to improve. I know that Jan and Dionne at Coriander would certainly welcome your comments.

[kalkan4eva]

Like antler, we too enjoyed meals at Paprika and Coriander - and similarly, we did not recommend either place put posted on our own experience.
On both occasions, we were amazed at the price. Our meal at Coriander rated highly alongside similar priced establishments Ali Babas, Oz Adana etc...Paprika was incredible value - just 115tl for Chateaubriand which was perfectly cooked for us.
Its horses for courses...
I have tried many restaurants in Kalkan after reading reports on here and they have not always been to our taste or we were disappointed with the quality of the food/service/price. I dont believe I have ever posted later that the blogger was at fault for the choice I made....! As Tyros says, I hope you told the staff at both restaurants how unhappy you were and gave them the opportunity to put things right for you.

Here's hoping your dining experiences improve for the rest of the holiday

[DRBD]

Friends of ours tried to get a table at Coriander  few weeks ago only to be met by a very brusque lady who was most unhelpful possibly English, they didn't get a table & after their experience didn't bother to return, & quite likely will  not bother again.  Have to agree with the slow service, on the occasional times we go out to eat have  found a certain lethargy in some places.

[pattaya]

I have some really lovely meals in Coriander when I was there in April & June I found the English lady very attentive. I think they've really worked hard to get this place up & running given there location. Not exactly romantic views !
I have no problem recommending this restaurant. Cant say I found service slow anywhere with the exception of one restaurant..
but I'm on holiday who wants to rush ... wish I was there now moaning about slow service with a cold glass of wine in hand  !! On second thoughts if the drinks were slow that would be just unacceptable.. 

[Mayday1]

I have eaten at Coriander 4 times.........twice in May and twice in July.I am happy with the meals but they need to get more consistent.Two out of four meals,the wrong items were put on the plate.....ie veg instead of the rice and chips the meal should come with.....they need to learn their menu.

We had two meals that really cried out for more sauce and were very dry without it.We should have asked for more sauce and next time in October we wont make this mistake.The quality of the meals is very good,and provided that they come with the correct things,you will have a lovely meal.

........In July,one man ordered Lamb and was given King prawns instead.When he questioned this,Jan,the owner said that he decided to upgrade his meal and that the prawns were better than the lamb.

......................I was wondering if this was Jan's way of diffusing an obvious mistake,by making a joke......................or if he had actually decided to give him a different meal instead.


I am still not sure !!!

[DRBD]

When they first opened we visited Coriander several times as did many others,  but lunch times, no complaints at all. The location is good for those who want a change from the harbour area.

[onelove]

Me & the wife eat in Coriander umpteen times during the winter, albeit, only at lunch time, and never had a bad meal. Great food, value & service.

[keith]

I can't comment on restaurant experiences this year as I've yet to start my holiday to Kalkan. I would just say that we've taken note of what forum members have said  about restaurants in previous years but have always made our own judgement on quality of meal, service and price etc . A meal can be effected by you mood, what kind of day you've had, how tired you are amongst other things and can also be influenced by  your expectations. For me the sheer choice of restaurants and the general ambience of Kalkan makes every meal a special experience especially when shared with your loved ones and friends. ☺

[AlisonD]

Just by way of an update we ate at Baharat last night and had a tremendous meal. I had the same dish - ish that I ordered at Coriander and there was simply no comparison.
It wasn't my intention to ruffle any feathers by suggesting that I picked either restaurant because they had been recommended on the forum. They were spoken of highly in a number of posts and naturally that led me want to try them for myself. I should add Antler that I particularly enjoyed your holiday blog.
As a few posts have commented some places may be better for lunch, and everyone has an off day occasionally.
BBQ of seabass, prawns and chicken at the villa this evening - I shall have to be on my toes to beat Baharat (maybe I should get the family to post a review)
 

[Mayday1]

I think its swings and roundabouts and some meals are better than others.We went to Baharat about 3 years ago and the food was fantastic, as was the service and atmosphere.

Who ran Baharat at the time ?................Jan and his chef was brilliant !

Who now runs Coriander ?.........Jan and the very same brilliant chef.

I think Coriander does produce quality meals at a very reasonable price,but as I said earlier,they do need more consistency so that their menu is reproduced time and time again,as simple mistakes could be so easily eradicated

[samson]

just for the record , my wife and i had a fabulous meal in coriander last night 

[DRBD]

Like all kitchens, either commercial or domestic there are good & bad days, poor ingredients, the chef  having a bad day ( I often have one)  or just grumpy eaters

[michiganstar]

We went to Coriander last night despite being unsure about the atmosphere - a look at their current FB page suggest some issues where one partner has kept the business and the other two partners are out along with all the original staff.
Still we shouldn't have worried as the food was excellent as was the service. I can highly recommend the 'Coriander Lamb' - a very well cooked dish where the lamb is so good it will have you back again.

[Mayday1]

Great to hear that Corriander is still serving up excellent cuisine.The facebook page makes it clear that there are issues which need resolving.I have my opinions as to exactly what has happened,but I know that this case is going through the courts so it is best not to speculate as to what happened.

I wish Jan and Dee all the very best in their future endeavours and hope things work out in court for them.