We visited Francisco for great American cuisine in Almaza on a quiet Sunday evening, eager to try the American cuisine. The menu had exciting new items we’d never seen before, and were quite keen to try!
By Mariam Elhamy
Signature Dishes & Dishes Sampled
The signatures are the Grand Florida Burger and Shrimp Gratin. We were lucky to have someone recommend dishes for us since the menu has a huge variety of items. We started with the Potato Wedges and Sweet Potatoes, which did not disappoint. The potatoes were crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside with a herby and mildly spicy cheese dip.
For the main course, we opted for the signature Grand Florida Burger, which is HUGE! A hearty, filling, house-made Angus beef burger. The buns were a bit tough but the toppings of beef bacon, onion marmalade and arugula more than made up for it.
Next came Andy’s B.B.Q Grilled Chicken with pecan and peach chutney. We could not be happier with the outcome of this dish, the pecan and peach chutney was the star of the whole dish. We then decided to give the Grilled Steak a try.
We like our steak well done so that’s how it came and again, the sauce took this dish to a whole other place. It was a mix of beef bacon slices and sweet caramelized onions. The sides for all main dishes are mashed potatoes and charcoal-grilled vegetables.
We had to try one of the gratin dishes, so we went for the chicken gratin. Even though it said “hot” on the menu, ours was very mildly spicy. This saucy dish included chicken, potato cubes and vegetable slices, topped with a perfectly golden layer of cheese, making a nice balance of sweet, salty and spicy flavors. The portion was large and it came with white rice on the side.
To end the meal on a sweet note we went for the nice summery Raspberry and Strawberry Cheesecake and the Chocolate Fondue Cake, which had a very rich chocolaty middle. We washed it all down with a Chocolate Coffee Milkshake and a Blueberry Milkshake.
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
On another visit, we would love to go for the breakfast menu. The beverages menu had a full hot coffee and tea selection. Milkshakes, smoothies, ice tea, cocktails, fresh juices and soft drinks are also on offer.
Décor & Ambiance
Velvet pale pastel seating arrangements of blues and pinks pervade in this contemporary space, a wood-paneled ceiling creates warmth and intimacy. A virtual fireplace can be spotted in the background, adding to the cozy vibe.
Flat screens play matches or movies, but the sound isn’t too high for those who just want to have a meal in a relaxed setting.
Social Distancing and Hygiene Standards: We only saw hand sanitizers on each table but we didn’t spot any of the staff members wearing masks.
Clientele Mix: Friends coming in for a chat or to watch a match.
Price Range: Reasonably priced.
Contact information:
Address: 131 Omar Ibn El-Khattab, Almaza, Heliopolis
Tel: 0111 706 6669
Opening hours: 10 to 12 am
Facebook: francisco.egypt
Instagram: franciscorestaurant.eg
