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

This
Ramadan, the Fairmont Heliopolis has spared no expense in creating
the beautifully decorated Meshmeshya tent in their Jasmine ballroom. With
elegant fabrics draped over the windows and ceilings, mimicking that authentic
tent feel, the venue has also invested in a number of Khan Khalili-style lamps that
hang from the ceiling and grace the banisters.

Large sofas
covered with black and cream crushed velvet provide seating in the raised area around
the centre of the ballroom, while a small set of stairs leads to the low tables
and seats set in the centre. Meshmeya’s huge tables and sofas aren’t equipped
to take groups of less than four people; so coming with a large group makes
more sense. A stage in front holds the DJ and the nightly oriental band, who
take turns in providing the evening’s entertainment. If you need more than just
music to make it through the night, a series of large TVs are placed around the
room and four of them are even hooked up to Playstations.

Meshmeshya
offers three set sohour menus, the largest of which is not for the faint of
stomach as it serves both a mixed grill and a hearty shawerma sandwich. Set on
a price ladder of 140LE, 180LE and 210LE, all set menus come with a series of
both hot and cold appetisers. The hummus, motabel and cheese platter are
excellent, but at the time of this reviewer’s visit the labnah tasted as though
it had been left uncovered in the fridge overnight. The kebbeh were some of the
best that we’ve sampled and the sambousak lacked nothing except a little
crispiness around the edges.

Though Meshmeshya
offers different varieties of foul, it is unclear what they are or how you go
about ordering them; we were haphazardly served two different kinds and all we
know is that one didn’t taste very good. When it comes to the eggs, you will be
given a clear choice, and we recommend you avoid the hard-boiled variety; ours
were overdone and nearly impossible to peel.

Except for
the tough bits of beef kabab, all the items on the mixed grill were juicy and
delicious. The shawerma was also good, but the restaurant obviously took no efforts
to dress it up; we just received two large halves of a plain shawerma sandwich.

Meshmeshya
serves up a decent dish of oriental pastries and the om ali offers nothing to
complain about. Playing some of the many games scattered around the room while
sipping tea or a vanilla shisha is a pretty good way to finish up a sumptuous sohour at this
oriental tent.