Brunch has become one of our favorite weekend activities in Cairo, perfect for gathering family and friends together over a leisurely meal. We sailed through the empty roads at noon on Friday to the InterContinental Hotel at City Stars. Down a flight of stairs, by the outdoor area, a crowd of waiters and kitchen staff were putting the final touches to their respective stations. An abundance of food was displayed on the expansive buffet, cold and hot, savory and sweet. All Intercontinental City Stars restaurants were well presented, each one showcasing its’ best cuisine. You might want to check this option out the next time you’re looking for brunch or breakfast in Cairo!
Dishes Sampled
With so many options ahead of us, we started off at the bakery section where a selection of different types of breads, buns and bagels were neatly displayed in baskets; we picked a slice of French seafood terrines. The following section had countless salad items and dressings, followed by a beautiful cheese platter. Next came fresh smoked salmon, then a colorful antipasti vegetable selection of grilled bell peppers, thin sliced zucchini, eggplants and marinated red onions. Just by the leafy green salads we found a 3 layer-shelf of verrines – small glasses – filled with layers of salad ingredients – we tried the lettuce with beetroot cream and a slice of white cheese, which made a very refreshing combination. Still in the salad buffet we had small samples of the mushroom salad with cheese and cherry tomatoes, and also the sweet and sour mix of an apple radish salad. As we moved on to try out the respective restaurants’ food stations, we began with Shogun displaying two types of Japanese maki rolls. From the Lebanese restaurant Fairuz we delved into a mouthwatering Beef Shawerma and succulent, warm Vine Leaves accompanied by a serving of yogurt cucumber salad. From Indira the Indian restaurant – the one that caught most of our attention – the chef prepared a Shrimp Salmon Curry dish right in front of us, which we teamed with a potato and chick pea salad, topped with a cilantro dressing. We also loaded on special puffy crackers, as we filled our plates with all the familiar Indian aromas.
We could have spent the whole afternoon between the salad bar and these first food stations, but alas, we moved on to the dessert tables, where myriad types of sweets were meticulously arranged. Ice cream cones held a fruit stick; oriental sweets, mini cookies, pastries, creams, and mousse. With a Dark Chocolate Mousse in hand, served in a glass topped with cherry sauce, we also went for an ice cream cone filled with vanilla cream and a fruit stick. Overall, it was an experience of diverse flavors – the idea of hosting the hotel’s main restaurants gave us an overview of their eating options for a lunch or dinner on another occasion.
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
We would have loved to try the pasta at Maestro’s station, but we had to leave it for the following Friday.
Cold and hot drinks, alcoholic beverages are also available.
Photos
Décor & Ambience
Set by the pool area, the buffet area is completely shaded and big fans located on the sides create a pleasant breeze. You can sit anywhere along the pool area and enjoy the fresh air. We sat along the upper deck next to the buffet area, where our table was shaded by a generously sized umbrella. The atmosphere is lively, as you would expect in a hotel on a Friday over the weekend.
Clientele mix: Families, couples and hotel guests.
Price range: Reasonably priced, considering it is an all-you-can-eat-buffet.
Worth noting: The hotel has set up an entire kids’ entertainment area with a bouncing castle, face painting, and crafts activities. A DJ makes the atmosphere even livelier.
Contact Information
Opening hours: Every Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Address: InterContinental Cairo City Stars, Heliopolis
Tel: 02 2480 0100
Facebook: @ICCairoCitystars
