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

With Heliopolis considered a gold mine for Cairo restaurants, international fine-dining restaurant, Delano, has opened a second branch in the ever-expanding shopping behemoth, Citystars.

Painted in grey to mimic cement walls, Delano couples an industrial design with countless abstract portraits and luxurious modern furniture. While the atmosphere was quite lively, we found the general ambience to be rather discomforting; the two walkways were constantly being stalked by overly attentive waiters and Fashion TV flashed conspicuously in the background.

Dubbed as Mediterranean cuisine, we were expecting their menu to include rustic dishes and were pleasantly surprised to find a unique mixture of French and Italian seafood options. The menu is straightforward, encompassing various dishes including soups, appetizers, salads, pastas, risottos, main course, and desserts.

Prior to taking our drink orders, the waiter brought over a basket of freshly baked garlic bread alongside a plate of smooth pesto butter. As they arrived on the table, it was clearly noticeable that each drink was faultlessly mixed; we selected one vanilla and orange milkshake aptly named Summer Freeze (20LE), an exotic lemonade blend with pineapple and grenadine called Planter’s Punch (18LE) and a Virgin Mary (15LE) – the ‘mocktail’ version of brunch favourite, the Bloody Mary.

To start,  the tomato soup (29LE) was generously in portion; with the additions of bell peppers and other finely blended vegetables, the soup was incredibly hearty and loaded with the sweetness of the tomatoes, as well as a mild peppery boost. Although the flavours created a pleasant balance, the amount of the tomato paste used in the soup thickened the consistency to an unnatural, gruel-like texture.

Moving to our main courses, we ordered a risotto marinara (75LE) and a mussel bowl (75LE). We were given a choice of sauce and two side-orders for the mussel bowl and decided on a tomato garlic sauce, an exceptionally well-seasoned spinach gratinee and a helping of grilled vegetables. Cooked in their shells, the mussels were beautifully presented and served, again, in a generous portion, retaining an impressive amount of flavour. Incredibly creamy and palatable, the risotto marinara was stocked with succulent pieces of peeled shrimp that complimented the velvety consistency of the dish perfectly.

As a closing to our very enjoyable meal, the raspberry crème brulee (38LE) arrived with a crispy sugar coating that cracked to reveal the delicious mixture of custard and syrupy raspberry pieces.

While the atmosphere at Delano is likely to be a hit or miss for some, both the food and service is undeniably superb and the new branch is likely to be an instant success with diners at Citystars, be it a full-out dinner or a quick lunch.