This was our second visit to Mezzeh – one of the best Lebanese restaurants at Le Meridien Cairo Airport, which offers international open buffet on Fridays. This time around we were in for the hearty extravagant Friday brunch open buffet. Once we walked in, we could already spot some changes in the decoration: the black seats had given way to vibrant colorful chairs, the walls were decorated with beautiful oriental tapestry and regional pictures. The formality of weekdays was totally transformed with live cooking stations, displaying Lebanese, Oriental, Italian and Chinese cuisine, with the soundtrack of a house DJ.
Dishes Sampled
The buffet brunch is displayed throughout the entire restaurant hall while the live cooking stations are place outdoors on the terrace. We started off with two bowls of warm soup: Lentil and Orzo (Italian equivalent of the lisan asfour). The long salad bar displayed a variety of salad mixes, oriental dips, seafood verrines (the trendy appetizers served in shot glasses), along with a selection of salad ingredients so you can make your own.
We opted to make a salad platter and sample a little of the most appealing options: the classic mutabel, muhamara, fattoush, a refreshing beetroot-orange salad and a surprisingly tasty mushroom salad (diced cucumber, kidney beans, corn, crab, and mushroom).
From the cold seafood appetizers, we tried the octopus shrimp chili, salmon mouse with capers and the mussels. We followed the same idea of sharing a platter with the hot buffet display: Fattah beef, Moussaka, stuffed zucchini with minced meat and béchamel sauce, sea bass filet and gratin potatoes. With all due fairness, the Moussaka was outstanding and deserved a second round.
From the outdoor live cooking stations we opted for a platter of mixed grills: chicken shish taouk and shawerma; beef and kofta. The grills were tender and juicy. From the Chinese corner we shared a bowl of noodles and calamari. Even after this feast where we tried to behave ourselves by sharing most meals, the desserts were so prominently displayed in the middle of the hall that you would make a mental reminder to leave some room for the sweets. This time each to his own: chocolate fountain, oriental treats, mini pies, tarts, mousses and macaroons – a patisserie show case. We opted for the classic Om Ali, the cream caramel and the coffee tart.
Clientele Mix: Families, travelers, hotel guests, business diners.
Price Range: Moderate upwards. There are two options, one with soft beverages included, one with local alcoholic beverages included.
Please Note: The buffet has been temporarily suspended but expects to be back with its wonderful array of dishes after Ramadan.
Contact information:
Address: Le Meridien Cairo Airport
Working hours: Friday Brunch from 1 pm to 5 pm
Telephone: 02 22659600
Facebook:@lemeridiencairoairporthotel
Instagram: @lemeridiencairoairporthotel
