Is Taboula the best restaurant in Cairo?
We had dinner last night at Taboula, which is in Garden City not far from the well-fortified US Embassy. It was quite a delicious meal with some unusual and different menu items. Although it is essentially a Lebanese restaurant, many have opined that it is the best restaurant in Cairo. I am not yet ready to make that declaration, but I do feel that the food was as tasty and well-prepared as any that I have had in Cairo during the some 12 weeks that I have been here over 3 years. Does anyone know of a better restaurant in Cairo?
By roxlet
on Aug 12, 2009 05:35 AM
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Our second visit was not as inspiring. I recommend that if you go here that you first order your appetizers and then have them come back to take the order for the mains. I had the feeling that the main courses were pre-cooked since they were dry and cold. The first time was fabulous, but maybe because we were with a recognized regular?
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Taboula is hit or miss. I recommend the Fattoush Salad, Hummous bel Lahma, and Lamb Chops (Reyash Dani). Some days it is excellent, others only so-so.
As far as other good restaurants, there is the Lebanese restaurant in the Intercontinental (Saraya or Sabaya), the Italian restaurant in the Four Seasons Nile Plaza (Bella), the Grill in the Intercontinental, and the Italian Club for the best pizza in Cairo. Charwood's in Mohandiseen is also nice for steaks.
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Where is the Italian Club? Is this the place I heard about that is near the Italian Embassy? Can you just walk in? Also good is Au Petit Bistro in Mohandeseen, and La Trattoria in Zamalek, both owned by Omar Sharif's son who also owns Charwoods. Charwoods is good, but the sauces they serve with the meats are really just so-so..
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We have recently moved to Cairo,(from Dubai) and we are in a hunt for good food in the city. according to my husband, who is of Lebanese origins, the best Lebanese restaurant in Cairo is Dar al Amar on the boat Blue Nile in Zamalek, and I must agree with him. The chef is Lebanese as well as maııtre dııı and the dishes are very close to its originals. We ate few times in Taboula but it was disappointing.
We settled for few restaurants we like and trust: Dar al Amar, Charwoods (former owner was french), Trattoria, Au Petit Bistro.
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Agree with Charwoods, Trattoria and Au Petit Bistro which I've written up here:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6973...
There's no doubt that the chow scene in Cairo is extremely limited. I do not know Dar al Amar however, and since we are leaving on Wednesday, it is unlikely that we will get to try it. For Egyptian food, I always think that Gad has the best fuul, tamaya, and schwerma. Taboula was great the first time I ate there, but terrible when I returned. The other place I had a good Lebanese meal was in the restaurant at the old Fairmont in Heliopolis. I forget what it's called now, but four years ago when we ate there, there was a woman just outside the door of the restaurant in the lobby of the hotel making these delicious breads on a griddle. We have not had much occasion to go back to Heliopolis this year, and I will regret not going to see if that place is still there. Please post on this board and let us know if you find any other good restaurants here. And if you are in need of a driver, I have a great one with a car...
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A small group of independent travelers from Nashville go to Cairo in January. So these posts are most helful, Would someone please share Gad's location? We'll be staying at Zamalek, and since one friend is of Lebanese descent, the Blue Nile suggestion is great.
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Gad is a chain, so it has many locations around Cairo, although I am not aware of a branch in Zamalek. Zamalek is lovely, but tends to be generally be more upscale, whereas Gad is kind of a local joint, if you know what I mean. Since hifana was referencing a few places in Mohandeseen (Charwoods and Au Petit Bistro), I mentioned Gad since there is a branch down the street from Charwoods. I've posted about a lot of places in Cairo, so if you check this board, you'll find many of my suggestions,
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