Sequoia: Scenic Nile-Side Sohour in Zamalek

Published On: 01/08/2012

Sequoia piqued our interest once again only this time instead of partaking in their indulgent fetar buffet, the later hours of the night took reign where the dimly lit Nile side restaurant offered its version of sohour.

The design by Eklego takes the all-white decor that’s characteristic of the place and breathes colour into it. A lattice fence borders the restaurant and is painted in blocks of vibrant, mostly primary, colours. Lamps of caged bulbs hang high and the surrounding drapery has been accented with more hues. The lighting was subdued but leaned towards lifeless where a few extra mood lights would have rounded it out nicely.

The menu, set as a placemat, offers a range of hot and cold mezzas, foul, taameya and egg dishes, as well as a grills section, desserts and a full list of hot and cold drinks. Their shisha options include regular, flavoured and special, with prices between 13LE and 25LE.

Arriving in three crafted dollops on a plate, the hummus’ (25LE) appealing presentation did not match the taste; the paste required more seasoning to bring out that tangy yet smooth flavour associated with the dish. In a similar presentation, the white cheese and tomato (30LE) fared better with cheese that held itself nicely. The yoghurt salad (20LE) was crisp and palette cleansing, the vine leaves (40LE) stuffed with perfectly moist rice.

The mini chicken shawerma (50LE) had the right flavours but was on the dry side; one bite even produced a small piece of bone, though, which didn’t win it any points. On the other hand, the plain taameya (20LE) and the foul with butter (20LE) were impressive; the former was crispy and fluffy, capturing the correct mix of bean and herbs and the latter was rich with a wonderful buttery backdrop.

The fresh watermelon juice (25LE) was served in a small decanter with a glass, its freshness coming through with every sip. It is best to ask for ice since the temperature of the juice is quickly effected by the evening heat. For a more adventurous beverage, their Long A’antar Iced Tea (22LE) and Vimtohito (22LE) suggest something original to say the least.

Considerably crowded for sohour, the service was a bit haphazard and all over the place. With a single waiter allocated to any given table it requires some patience for your order or request to be fulfilled.

Sequoia is one of the most cherished spots in Cairo; the expansive Nile that literally curls around the restaurant has made it one of the most preferred places to spend an afternoon or an evening. So if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate Ramadan in style, while feasting on a lavish view, then this is the place to go.

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Near By

Tofaha Ramadan Tent: Fruity Sohour on the Nile in Zamalek

33 Abul Feda Street, Zamalek

You can’t drive through Zamalek without seeing at least a dozen signs pointing you to the Coffee Shop Company on Abu El Feda Street. But what’s also hiding behind this address is sure to be one of the hottest Ramadan tents this season. Scattered on tiered platforms right next to the Nile and sporting all kinds of fruity décor, Tofaha might not have the widest selection of dishes, but its incredibly relaxing atmosphere and excellent shisha leave you concerned with little else in the world. . Though there’s always the chance that you’ll show up and be seated immediately, we have a feeling it would be best if you make a reservation here. If you are forced to wait, there is an assortment of tables and chairs just outside the apple-shaped entrance where you can relax and watch TV until your table is ready. No matter where you sit inside, you’ll have a good view of the TVs that are liberally scattered around the place, screening Ramadan serials and football. Tofaha’s plush white couches and heavily cushioned wicker chairs only add to the cool, lazy ambience of the place. The flowing waterfalls near the centre walkway are constructed to compensate for those who weren’t lucky enough to be seated right by the Nile. You’ll naturally be craving a shisha at this point and in the spirit of Ramadan, this reviewer highly recommends the karkadeh (23LE): it’s very strong, very delicious and served on ice to ensure the smoothest and coolest smoke possible. There is no set menu offered for sohour and the à-la-carte items are nothing extraordinary. All the Ramadan drinks seemed to have been consumed by the time we got there, but the fresh juices (16LE) were a fine alternative. The baba ghanough (10LE) was especially good – this reviewer always appreciates a smoky, chunky version – but could have used some bread of a much higher quality than the tough baladi kind that was served. The mixed cheese platter (21LE) was also a pleasant surprise even though it didn’t contain any particularly exotic samples – roumi and cheddar were a couple of the options. It’s usually hard to complain about foul, but for those that prefer this Egyptian staple a little chunkier, Tofaha’s fine bean purée will come as a rather unpleasant surprise. At 13LE a dish, they could have left the tomatoes and onions out of the blender. Other than the mint and cucumber yogurt (10LE), which came out a little watery and tasteless, the rest of the mezza dishes were average, but good. What Tofaha might lack in exquisite dining it more than makes up for in its relaxed but fun atmosphere and Nile-side location. If you’re not feeling the traditional sohour dishes, you can always just order from the Coffee Shop Company’s regular menu which includes burgers and iced lattés.

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Sequoia: Scenic Nile-Side Sohour in Zamalek

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