This review was a totally different experience, we were coming to try food from five completely different restaurants. We were in for a culinary journey through France, Italy, Mexico, the seven seas and the motherland, Egypt.
The very first idea was to open a chic café/tea room/restaurant on the molds of Parisian Ladurée. Then the idea developed into a bigger venture and a very bold move. Five distinguished and completely different restaurants, interlinked by a passage, where the experience, décor, cuisine and music, change as you enter each separate space.
Our adventure covered Amelie, French patisserie; Pipa, Italian pizza/pasta; Bonita, vibrant Mexican; fresh catches of the day at Sailor’s Catch; and Teta’s representing Egyptian comfort food. All five restaurants sharing a single, huge outdoor area.
Dishes Sampled
We loved that you can sit outdoors and order from any of the five restaurants. So if you are in a group that cannot decide what to eat, you would come, enjoy everyone’s company and still please everyone’s food cravings.
From Amelie we ordered Camembert crisps, fairly good bite sizes of cheese served with fig jam and small baby leaf salad with vinaigrette on the side. We also had Smoked Salmon Rillettes, similar to the more commonly known pate. Along with that, we were served a basket of freshly baked bread and herbed butter.
From the Mexican, we opted for a trio of tacos served with soft and hard tortilla. Our three options were: Beans and Cheese, BBQ Chicken, and Slow Cooked Beef Brisket. The tacos were instantly gone. Special mention to the tenderness of pulled beef.
The Italian brought us a sizzling wooden fire Quattro Fromaggi Pizza with a drizzle of Black Truffle Oil. Divine texture, aroma and taste. To follow, the Spinach Ravioli with white sauce and Linguine Frutti di Mare hit the spot.
Pipa’s, the Italian restaurant, makes its own dough quite evident from the freshness and softness of the pasta. This had to be our evening’s winner. Portions are quite big so it might be a good idea to order a few and just share them.
We couldn’t leave without trying the Beef Tenderloin. Pan-roasted beef tenderloin cooked just right that you can cut it with the fork alone. This dish is served on a bed of potato puree, smoked butter sauce and asparagus on the side.
Chapeau! As much curiosity as we had for the other restaurants, we definitely needed to book another day. Sailor’s Catch and Teta’s are to be reviewed in the near future. We happily left carrying a charming little box of lovely éclairs. The next morning’s coffee had a pleasing French feel.
Other Dishes that Appealed: The gloriously messy Sailor’s Catch experience.
Clientele Mix: New Cairo residents, young and vibrant college students and families.
Address: O1 Mall, Mohamed Naguib Axis, New Cairo
Walk-in only
