Mawlawiyah in Cairo Festival City
This restaurant and lounge is a welcome addition to the New Cairo scene. Situated in Cairo Festival City, it is a handy spot for anyone who has worked up an appetite from browsing the shops and wants to kick back with some traditional fare in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. We visited on a weekday for an enjoyable dinner and left satisfied.
Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled
Mawlawiyah cuisine inspired on the Ottoman Empire and classic international favorites like Veal Chops and Duck à l’orange.
Upon arrival, we scanned the well-rounded menu of traditional and international fare and opted for a hearty oriental meal full of classic and reliable dishes. Oriental Salad, traditional Lisan Asfour soup, Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup, a platter of assorted cold and hot appetizers, Oven-baked Rice Tajine and the Mawlawiyah Mixed Grill plate.
Our soups arrived steaming hot and did not disappoint. The classic Lisan Asfour is instantly familiar, a well-known Egyptian soup packed with mini pasta cooked in a hearty chicken broth – you cannot go wrong with this choice! The Cream of Chicken and Mushroom soup gave off an enticing aroma and was packed with flavor. After contentedly finishing our bowls of soup, we were served a platter of warm appetizers consisting of a small selection of their extended appetizers menu. We delved into small round Mombar – sausages stuffed with a spicy rice mixture then deep fried; Sambousak, another traditional appetizer, arrived in two versions: cheese and meat, and the Spring rolls filled with cheese and spinach. There are plenty more appetizers to choose from on Mawlawiyah’s extensive menu, but we did not have the stomach space to spare! With what little room we had left, we eagerly awaited our main courses, but first, the healthy portion of the meal The Oriental Salad arrived in flourish, neatly presented in a wooden bowl. A plentiful mix of tomato, cucumber and bell peppers marinated on a lemony sauce, we enjoyed the brief but well-needed dose of fresh crunchy greens.
For our two main courses, we opted for the appealing Oven-baked Rice Tajine and the Mawlawiyah Mixed Grill. The Tajine, which we had been eager to try, was incredibly tasty, comprising of creamy rice and meat combined in one dish and proving to be the true winner of the meal. The dish is rich and extremely filling, so we advise sharing. The Mixed Grill is the choice for any meat loving carnivore. This selection of meat cuts; kofta, shish taouk, kebab and marinated quail, is accompanied by French fries seasoned with paprika and garnished with grilled vegetables and quarters of oriental bread filled with a very spicy mixture of potato and chili – not for the faint-hearted.
Both traditional and international desserts are available for those who have an inch to spare, which we unfortunately could not bring ourselves to indulge in, but we recommend you plan ahead and end the meal on a sweet note.
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
Couscous with Meat and Molokheya with Duck sound appealing.
Beverages available include the Mawlawiyah Cocktails, Fresh Juices, Frappes, Smoothies, Milkshakes, and a selection of hot beverages are all available.
Décor & Ambience
Mawlawiyah is true to the origins of its Sufi name, and the decoration echoes that theme. The restaurant interior seating area is refined, boasting a red velvet back wall, beautiful floor tiling, oriental paintings and a large metal carved Sufi figure. The outside is more relaxed but as comfortable. You can enjoy the view of passers-by while enjoying a shisha.
Top Tip: A breakfast menu is available including both traditional and western favorites.
Clientele mix: Mall goers, friends and families.
Price range: Average prices for a nice evening out.
Contact Information
Working hours: 9 am to 2 am.
Address: Cairo Festival City, New Cairo.
Tel: 0111 599 9885
