The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Favilla Lounge is located in the heart of Sheikh Zayed, in Plaza 34; one of Sheikh Zayed’s countless malls. It is a two-storey restaurant with a huge outdoor ground floor, where people usually prefer to sit. The overall atmosphere is inviting and lively, which automatically makes you feel comfortable. Favilla has been open for quite some time, but we decided to go back to see how it’s faring in 2020.

We went during the afternoon, and it was packed; we could barely find a table, but, luckily, there was one couch available. It wasn’t the most comfortable, but we moved in and got our menus. Since the place was extremely crowded, we understood that everything would take more time than usual, and it took quite a while before the waiter came to take the order. After some time, we were served a complimentary basket of garlic bread that comes with olive paste and tomato with pesto. The garlic bread was sensational; however, the pesto on the tomato had a confusing, off-putting taste. Starting our meal with a fresh salad, we got Insalata Di Rucola (48.95LE) – arugula leaves, cherry tomatoes, mushroom, grated parmesan cheese, and balsamic vinegar. The dish was delicious; all the ingredients were fresh, the parmesan was of good quality, and the portion was sizable.

We moved on to the main dishes, and ordered the Beef Stroganoff (139.95LE) – shredded steak, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and sauce, with a side of white rice and vegetables. The meat itself was cooked properly, and the rice was spot-on. Conversely, the vegetables were undercooked; not even al dente. We also ordered one Scaloppine Al Milanese (154.95LE) – breaded veal escalope, with sides with mashed potatoes, and French fries with extra cheese sauce. This veal is usually covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, but we decided to get it without toppings to have a real taste of the meat; it was well worth it. The veal was delicious, but on the other hand, the mashed potatoes were bland, and the French fries were oily – this didn’t negate the fact that the cheese sauce made everything better! We didn’t want to return anything, but, slightly unsatisfied with our sides, we decided to get a Spaghetti Bolognese (73.95LE) – spaghetti, basil, tomatoes and minced meat sauce, served with grated parmesan cheese. It was definitely a wise choice; the minced meat was of decent quality, and the pasta was cooked to perfection – if anything, we would say the tomato sauce lacked seasoning, but that’s it.

To end this filling meal, we opted for a dessert – by the time we were ready to get the menu to choose, the staff had already served us a complementary Favillas Cookie Pan (57.95LE) – home-made cookie dough, served with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. This dessert is amazing in every sense of way; the warm cookie dough was melt-in-your-mouth heavenly, the ice-cream was not overly sweet, and the chocolate sauce brought the elements together perfectly.

Our experience was a delightful one for sure; the staff was courteous, despite the rush and the crowd, the food was tasty and sizable – the few comments we had were nothing to fuss over –and the dessert was just delicious. The fact that the prices are quite reasonable makes everything even better.