If you’re looking for a bar and fine dining in Zamalek, an evening out with great food, good music, cocktails and a stimulating vibe, Sass is fast garnering great reviews.
Concept: Chill-out venue with bar plus great food for a high-end clientele
Type of cuisine: International
Signature dishes: All of them! But on the dessert menu, the Sass Cookie Pan, a warm vanilla cookie in a pan with salted caramel, topped with ice-cream.
Dishes sampled and ingredients: The meal began with gorgeously soft, home-baked white rolls and an accompanying dish of anchovy butter, followed by a simply divine mushroom soup. As a starter, we sampled the giant shrimps, oven roasted in almond citrus butter – a new twist on a favorite dish that served to whet the appetite further, and left plenty of room for a substantial main. In this case, a tender Beef Chateaubriand: South African filet steak roasted and served with dauphine potatoes, spring onions, sauce choron (Bearnaise blended with tomato) and beef jus.
We also tried the Parmesan Risotto, cooked in a ‘light’ lobster cream and served with shrimps – quite filling as a main. Choosing from several delicious looking salad choices, we sampled the Quinoa Salad, a mix of quinoa, spinach leaves, avocado, pomegranate and shrimp. With so many competing flavors, the delicately flavored citrus dressing could have had a little more kick, nevertheless everything tasted fresh and the ingredients complemented each other nicely.
Other menu options that appealed: Tea Smoked Salmon: tea-smoked, soy-marinated salmon, spring onion, crispy yoghurt basmati rice and wasabi cream. Lamb Rack: herb-crusted rack of lamb with roast potatoes and lamb jus. Orange Duck: crispy skin roasted duck, truffle mashed potatoes, spring onion, served with orange duck jus. Beef Ravioli: homemade fresh ravioli stuffed with beef stew with cherry tomatoes, basil oil and shaved pecorino cheese. Goaty Spinach Salad: spinach leaves, beetroot, Granny Smith apple, orange dressing, goat cheese croquette.
Beverages: Special in-house cocktails, spirits, a comprehensive list of local wines and beers at very reasonable prices, delicious fresh juices, soft drinks and a full range of hot drinks.
Top tip: Leave room for dessert! Having been pressed to try the Sass Cookie Pan we realized desserts were a must. Could you resist homemade Tiramisu served in a jar, with wild berries and vanilla biscuit? Or molten chocolate cake with peanut butter and cream? Or better still, a pavlova topped with red berries and whipped cream?
Décor: Contemporary and spacious with subdued lighting, mirrors, a mix of regular and tall tables, and a spectacular Nile view from the whole room.
Ambience: Sophisticated but friendly, background music sound track with a jazzy feel; live music on the weekends.
Clientele mix: Varied, from the young and lively, groups, couples, to business diners, all from an up-market segment.
Opening hours: 4 pm to 2 am (with plans to open for lunch soon).
Address: The Imperial Boat, Zamalek
Telephone number: 0120 001 9979
Facebook: SASSRestaurant
Instagram: SASSEgypt
