It is always a pleasure to find and support local Egyptian ingenuity and entrepreneurship, and BRIX for international food in New Cairo is not another international franchise or borrowed idea – it is 100% Egyptian. Lots of hard work has been poured into selecting an international menu, creating attractive presentation, and training pleasant staff. We visited for a weekday evening dinner and left charmed.
Type of cuisine: International dishes with a BRIX twist, an extensive menu with items to please a variety of tastes.
Signature dishes: Sweet Peas Guacamole, Salmon Tartine Sandwich, and the Lamb Shoulder.
Dishes sampled: We were pleased to learn that bakery (and desserts!) are baked fresh on-premises, so we indulged in the delicious bread basket while we perused the menu. After savoring a Peach Iced Tea (with sugar syrup on the side to sweeten as you wish, always appreciated), we opted for the BRIX Bites Platter, which included Curry Fried Potatoes, Chicken Liver Pâté, Sweet Peas Guacamole, Grilled Eggplant Tartine and Rice Arancini. A very generous portion to feed 2-3 persons with different tastes to savor – the paté was especially creamy and flavorful with a light tang of pomegranate seeds, and the eggplant tartine was absolutely delicious – whipped herby feta spread on freshly baked slices of bread and eggplant slices. Definite must try. The arancini balls and fried potatoes were served resting on a bowl of dipping sauce, and would be have been nicer with the sauce on the side, but the flavors were still well-balanced and the stuffing in the arancini was creamy. We sampled the fried calamari next, presented with gribiche dipping sauce, a mayonnaise-based sauce with capers and gherkins. The panko coating was crispy and golden, but unfortunately we found several of the calamari sticks to be too rubbery for our liking.
For mains, we chose the Salmon Papillotte, oven roasted salmon fillet marinated in herbs and served with organic Egyptian rice and the Grilled Beef Tenderloin, served with potato gratin and pepper sauce. The steak arrived perfectly cooked to order and the pepper sauce was just right. The potato gratin could have benefited from more cream and cheese in between the layers, but overall, a filling and generous main dish. The salmon was delicious, with an assortment of julienne sliced vegetables and moist brown rice on the side. Our side of creamed spinach was delicious, but more of a dip or soup consistency rather than hearty spinach to accompany the salmon fillet. The side of Patatas Bravas consisted of baked potato cubes served with chili mayonnaise and was well-flavored and crispy.
Without much room to spare, we opted for the BRIX Wild Berries Cheesecake, a fluffy oven-baked New York style cheese-cake topped with berry compote which was big enough for two easily. Delicious and fresh, it was accompanied with one of the best cappuccinos and espressos we have had in a while. We will definitely be back to sample the breakfast menu!
Other menu options that appealed: Where to begin? The Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast, Pan Seared Fish Fillet, and pretty much all the pasta and sandwiches items looked appealing. They even have Vietnamese inspired options. Where else do you find that?! The salad bar also looks very inviting.
Beverage options: Soft drinks, fresh juices, iced teas, smoothies, as well as hot drinks.
Décor: A lot of thought and careful planning has been poured into the interior to create a calm and welcoming modern-styled dining establishment. Wooden tables and chairs with comfortable and attractive designs and colors, it gives you a fresh clean-cut feeling of an international bistro. There is also outdoor patio seating for smokers that overlooked a relatively quiet side of the mall plaza.
Ambience: BRIX has a good location in a mall that is usually pretty busy. The service is impeccable and the presentation of each dish is pleasing. It serves as a good restaurant for any occasion, a meal with friends and family or a nice date night.
Top Tip: An extensive breakfast menu is offered from 9 am to 1 pm, so head there for breakfast or brunch and enjoy an afternoon of shopping after.
Clientele mix: Couples, groups of friends in their 30s, and families are all happily enjoying meals.
Price range: Reasonable and affordable.
Opening hours: 9 am to midnight.
Address: The Village – Cairo Festival City, New Cairo.
Tel: 0122 400 8980
Facebook/Instagram: brix.egypt
