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

When in
Heliopolis, do as the Heliopolitans do; go shopping in Korba, enjoy the
afternoon sun on one of the area’s terraces and have dinner at Petit Palmyra. This Lebanese
restaurant has been around for more than sixty years and is a famous Heliopolis
landmark. Back in the day, people from all over Cairo came to here
to enjoy its fine cuisine and elegant setting. Unfortunately, Petit Palmyra seems to have lost its grasp on quality cuisine, and is now overshadowed by nearby trendy dining chains with flashy neon signs.

Upon passing
through the wooden entrance, you will walk down a corridor that separates the
restaurant into two sections. We recommend that you sit in the section on your
left, which hosts a piano that is regularly played throughout the night. Tables
are laid out in green and white linen with flowers and tea light candles
floating in glass bowls. The restaurant
is kept clean but feels a little run-down compared to the glitz and glamour of
the new venues nearby.

The menu
at Petit Palmyra serves standard Lebanese cuisine with a few international
dishes, and includes appetisers such as kobeba, stuffed vine leaves and vol-au-vent.
All starters are priced under 20LE, so Petit Palmyra is relatively cheap
compared to other restaurants. Main
courses include dishes like beef fillet (60LE), escalope cordon bleu (47LE),
grilled chicken (24LE), stuffed pigeon (22LE) and sea bass (around 60LE).  Alcoholic cocktails are also available such
as a screwdriver or a bloody Mary for 31LE, while Grand Marquis is the only wine on offer, and is only sold by the bottle
for 135LE.

This
reviewer sampled baba ghanough (7LE), sambousak (16LE) and Greek salad (16LE) for
starters. At the time of our visit, the baba ghanough was heavily spiced and
didn’t taste fresh; a disappointing choice. The Greek salad arrived without the
very necessary onions, and the feta cheese tasted surprisingly bland, which is
quite a feat for feta cheese. The sambousak
arrived appropriately crunchy and hot but a bit greasy and low on cheese
filling.

For our main
course, we ordered lamb with fresh mushroom sauce (56LE) and fried fish and
calamari combo (48LE). The lamb was dry and was a bit tough to bite through, and
it tasted more like mutton. Although made with fresh mushrooms, the sauce
itself tasted more like instant gravy.

Luckily, the fish and calamari combo fared better. The cod was well-seasoned and spiced, although it would have tasted better with
less salt. The calamari was equally well-seasoned and easy to chew on while maintaining its flavour and texture. The portions of
cod and calamari were very generous and fish lovers will definitely enjoy it. Both
meals came with vegetables and French fries on the side.

If you
still have room afterwards, the dessert menu includes dame Blanche (16LE),
fruit salad (17LE) and homemade cassata (16LE).

The best
part about Petit Palmyra is undoubtedly the impeccable service provided by its
waiters clad in old-school uniform. Petit Palmyra might be a landmark and is
worth a visit, but the Heliopolis area now offers better dining options.