It has been a good year for food in Egypt. With several new restaurants opening and established ones revamping menus, gastronomes and oenophiles have had a considerable list of venues to spend evenings enjoying dinner in the city. Our friends at Cairo 360 have done a thorough job this year of dining at (almost) every restaurant in the city. Daily News Egypt and Cairo 360 list the restaurants that, for one reason or another, we feel offer superb food, a great atmosphere or good value for money and thus became must dine at spots for 2010. Kamala: This pan-Thai restaurant in the Conrad Cairo Hotel was the recipient of Cairo 360's third perfect score for its superb service, excellent Asian fusion cuisine and an atmosphere “of majesty and tranquility.” Recommended dishes include their delicious fried shrimp dumplings, the flavorful pad Thai, and the steaming roast duck curry. Be sure to ask for their flowering white tea. –Cairo 360 Kamala: Conrad Hotel, 191 Corniche El-Nil, Cairo. Tel: 2580 8003. Nawab: Why do we love this tiny Indian restaurant in Zamalek? Because it has won over even the most cynical of Indian cuisine enthusiasts for its authentic and truly spicy Indian food. With incredibly modest prices and dishes prepared by an Indian husband-and-wife team, Nawab has gained quite a following around town. Recommended dishes include hare bhare kabab, chicken butter masala, sweet lamb korma and their delectable fried naan. –Cairo 360 Nawab: 21B Baghat Aly St., Zamalek, Cairo. Tel: 2736 0433. Floor Ten: Perched on the tenth floor of the Kempinski Nile Hotel, this French contemporary restaurant serves a stunning fusion of flavors prepared by their Michelin-star chef in an impeccably elegant dining space with a great Nile view. Recommended dishes include their scallops in jasmine-soaked raisins, the lentil and foie gras soup and the rabbit terrine. –Cairo 360 & Daily News Egypt Floor Ten: Kempinski Nile Hotel, 12 Ahmed Ragheb St., Cornish El-Nil, Cairo, Tel: 2798 0000. Steak Out: While Charwood's has reigned supreme for years as the ultimate steak restaurant, this relatively new restaurant in Mohandiseen is proving to be worthy competition. The service is quick and courteous and the steaks are both tender and delicious. Be warned though; reservations are highly necessary on weekends. Recommended dishes include the fillet with creamy mushroom sauce, and the grilled steak with shrimp. –Cairo 360 Steak Out: 16 Mohamed Kamel Morsy St., Mohandiseen, Cairo. Tel: 3337 9079. Blackstone Bistro: This place gives Maadi's American haunt Lucille's a run for its money. Blackstone Bistro opened up suddenly without any hint or warning late in the year, and our wallets and stomachs are forever indebted to the people at Blackstone. With a proper breakfast and dinner menu that includes a variety of American breakfast dishes and more continental dinner options such as steaks, pizzas and pastas, prices are reasonable and Blackstone's menu offerings are plentiful. Located in Zamalek, we finally don't have to trek out to Maadi every time we want a waffle or good burger. –Daily News Egypt Blackstone Bistro: 22 Taha Hussein St., Zamalek, Cairo. Tel: 2735 5875. Osmanly: This Turkish inspired restaurant at the new Kempinski hotel has reintroduced us to the cuisine of our Ottoman cousins, with a few notes of inspiration from Lebanese and Egyptian cuisine. The food is flavorful and the menu has a great variety of traditional Turkish dishes that have left us satiated and eager to come back again. Though pricey, the restaurant is perfect for almost any occasion be it a family get together or a romantic dinner for two. –Daily News Egypt Osmanly: Kempinski Nile Hotel, 12 Ahmed Ragheb St., Cornish El-Nil, Cairo. Tel: 2798 0000. Le Marché: This pseudo-delicatessen is the perfect lunch spot in Heliopolis and a great place to pick up sandwiches and salads to go. Salads here get a gourmet treatment and their pastries here are top notch, some of Cairo's best. We highly recommend their Salad du Marché, a duck salad with figs, almonds and aged balsamic vinegar; and their Opera cake. –Daily News Egypt Le Marché: Fairmont Heliopolis and Towers, Oruba St., Cairo. Tel: 2267 7730. Nola's Cupcakes: Though not a restaurant, this new cupcake store in a short amount of time has kicked off Cairo's cupcake craze. With traditional vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes on offer, the young female duo behind the new brand have also introduced flavors like lemon meringue, tiramisu and peanut butter. Regular sizes and mini sizes for calorie conscious patrons are available. –Daily News Egypt Nola's Cupcakes: 4 Brazil St., Zamalek, Cairo. Tel: 011 112 7738, 2736 6494. Portions of this article were contributed to Daily News Egypt by Cairo360 www.cairo360.com
Kempinski's Floor Ten restaurant is one of Cairo360 and Daily New Egypt's top restaurant recommendations of the year.
