Restaurant review: A 'Rainforest' found In the summer heat, Mona Abouissa searches for the opposite In the dusty shade of Cairo's concrete jungle the heat rarely drops below 35 C and cubic metres of greenness only belong to the private parks. Greenery is a luxury commodity for a country blessed with the Nile's silt but which has a desert climate. Taking the aforementioned into account, the Qatar-based Wataniya restaurants decided to deliver a rainforest option on 1,800 square metres. The zest of the Rainforest Restaurant is its ambiance; Wataniya borrowed the tangibility of the real rainforests. As soon as a friendly waiter escorts you to your table, your sense and sight are immediately wrapped up by the green around; trees and overhanging flora. Rainforest animatronic animals move every 15 minutes; green iguanas, African elephants, jaguars, pandas, gorillas, crocodiles, scarlet macaws, orangutans, and a red-eyed frog make their way alongside the tables to entertain diners. A curious animal lover can find facts about all these creatures on the first pages of the menu. For instance, the African elephant, we are told, is the largest land animal which can weigh up to eight tonnes. The scarlet macaw can live up to 50 years. Everything is full of animal sounds. While eating I couldn't stop myself from turning around and searching for the source. By the entrance, there is a gift shop that sells T-shirts and animal toys. I found the idea of attaching a gift with the food as quite a tactical ploy in restaurant marketing. We, my sister and I, were situated on the second floor for non-smokers, overlooking the hustle of families and curious kids who surrounded the two- metre-tall aquarium -- definitely a place for a family. On the upper floor you can experience a thunderstorm every 30 minutes. Food was served within 10 to 15 minutes, which actually came as a surprise, considering they had a busy evening. My 'Blue Nile' cocktail was literally blue, a blend of a blue Curacao syrup, lemon juice and 7-up. It reminded me of those energy drinks from Japan. Coralling three cherries from the bottom of the glass provided a pleasant experiment with the cocktails. My sister's drink was chosen for its name 'Pink Parrot', orange juice with grenadine and cream. Though the drink tasted of the smooth balance of its ingredients, a sour aftertaste wasn't its plus. The cocktail prices ranged from LE14 to LE18. Food-wise, "Tuscan Chicken" was chosen from the main menu: chicken breast char-grilled, dressed with cucumber, Kalamata olives, tomatoes and garlic, and served with mashed potatoes. The chicken was surprisingly soft like its neighbouring mashed potato. Obviously the chef invested time in marinating the chicken. Honey Dijon mustard dip was a suitable touch. But there was no evident trace of garlic. 'Coastal Calamari' was "a real treat from coast to coast!" The fine line in cooking calamari wasn't violated, and my calamaris were happily crunching and melting in my mouth. Three homemade sauces -- marinara, spicy soya and blue cheese sauce -- were a genuine gourmand. Dish prices range from LE30 to LE120, depending on whether you choose chicken, beef, sea food or the special summer options. Their summer special is a 400-gramme "Texas Style T- Bone Steak" served with fresh grilled vegetables, a loaded potato and BBQ sauce, for LE95. Our nearby table occupants ordered steak, and from its looks, it was a promising choice. One point could be taken against Rainforest: behind the overall amusement of the restaurant's ambiance, I was expecting more choices on the menu. But they definitely mastered what they had to offer. Rainforest Restaurant Fifth floor, Phase 1 CityStars Mall, Nasr City Tel: 2480 2560/1 Lunch for two: LE170
