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

In the age of social media, the best way for new restaurants in Cairo to get the word out is to invite media, bloggers and foodies to a lavish opening – something that AEON did when it opened. We were on hand to get a little taste of what the Korba restaurant had in store, but found the food well below the hype. Unlike much of the media and foodies in the city, however, we don’t review based on invites or events, instead doing it anonymously on a ‘normal day’; so AEON still had the chance to get into Cairo 360’s good books – and it certainly has.

As a venue, AEON is designed as an apartment with five different spaces; a bright dining area with traditional restaurant seating; a casual lounge with living room-like couches and tables for a gathering; a more private yet bright dining area; a very elegant bar with low light; and, finally, a VIP-like room with large, wide high-table for a private gathering located right next to the bar. The whole design is on the classic side with some hip and modern touches like the lighting fixtures and the choice of colours.

While checking the menu, the waiter arrived with a delicious bread basket and butter. The menu has a decent variety of items whether you’re going for a drink with some snacks or for a full-blown dinner.

We kicked things off with a Mare Monte (220LE) as an appetiser which is a creamy, rich and perfectly-seasoned risotto with a spot-on al dente texture. The risotto was mixed with a generous amount perfectly cooked shrimp and fresh mushrooms that absorbed the flavours while adding a great earthy flavour to the dish. We loved the overall sharp, nutty and salty flavours of the creamy parmesan sauce.

The first main dish we tried was the Salmon Steak Dijon (290LE). The centrepiece of the dish is a very moist and flaky salmon steak, steamed to a tender pink, lying on a bed of very smooth mashed potatoes, drizzled with Dijon sauce and served with simple sautéed vegetables. The sauce lacked the sharpness of Dijon, but we can easily say that this was the best piece of salmon we’ve had in Egypt – and it’s guilt-free, too, which is always a plus.

We also tried the beautifully presented Beef Rossini (350LE). Cooked to a perfect medium, the tender, beef tenderloin was served with a rich and buttery bernaise sauce, instead of the traditional red wine sauce. It’s a very simple but perfectly executed dish, and the quality of the beef was a showstopper. The dish was also served with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables.

We finished our meal with an Apple Strudel (90LE). We loved the mild sweetness of the apple strudel, the spot-on texture and bold cinnamon flavour of the apple filling and the flaky and crunchy crust of the dough. The accompanying vanilla cream brought the whole dessert together, but left no need for the vanilla ice cream that came with it.

And so in the end, despite underwhelming us during its opening, AEON is an excellent new addition to Korba. If you’re looking for a place with an elegant ambiance, fantastic service and simple but perfectly executed food, then look no further. Yes, it’s very expensive, but you get what you pay for – quality food with quality ingredients.