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

In mammoth-sized Cairo hotels, private, quaint eateries are often difficult to find. Secluded at the end of a long corridor inside the Dusit Thani LakeView Hotel in New Cairo, Dusit Gourmet is a spotless cafe, complete with a small, charming garden area with a second entrance from outside.

The indoor seating is limited, with dark furniture contrasting nicely with white marble walls. The majority of the space is taken up by glass topped cabinets, displaying an almost endless collection of delicious looking pastries, cakes, macaroons, delicate chocolates and truffles.

The menu offers a selection of both salads and sandwiches, making gourmet more suitable for a light meal than a heavy one. The drinks menu is decidedly sufficient, with a range of hot and cold drinks including fresh juices, sodas, coffees and flavoured tea.

When we requested an apple juice (40LE), the bilingual waiter was quick to tell us that this was the only non-fresh juice, so as to avoid disappointment. Not wanting to pass up on the delicious fruits of Egypt, we went for one fresh orange juice (20LE) and a cappuccino (18LE). The orange juice was indeed fresh and delicious, served chilled, whilst the cappuccino disappointed with its scanty layer of froth and average tasting coffee.

For food, we opted for one Caprese salad (50LE) as well as a beef burger (70LE) which was listed under their sandwich section. The food took a little while to arrive and our complimentary bread basket didn’t materialise until our mains were delivered – even then, no butter or dips were offered. The bread rolls however, were both fresh and fluffy, some sporting sesame seeds.

The Caprese salad was made up of fresh mozzarella and tomato slices, lined up on top of one another, drizzled with a generous amount of pesto but a very small line of oil and balsamic syrup, making the dish a rather bland one. On the opposite side of the plate, the rocket salad was rolled in a tasty, tangy vinaigrette.

Our beef burger was substantial; the good quality, well-cooked, juicy meat was encased in a soft white bun with plenty of fresh salad inside. Disappointingly, some of the thinly cut fries were over-cooked and crunchy, whilst the small handful of pickles were well-marinated and delectable.

Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying one of Gourmet’s desserts. We handpicked the most chocolatey slice of cake we could find (18LE) and even though we might not have wanted to, it was big enough to share. This pastry really was as good as it looked; the layers of chocolate sponge were airy, the mousse layers were creamy whilst the chocolate sauce on top was rich and sticky. The whole chocolate decorations on top were also a delicious and an attractive addition.

The Dusit Gourmet provides a fanciful setting to indulge in a light meal, an afternoon snack or a cup of coffee, coupled with an excellently baked sweet treat. As the Fifth Settlement area becomes more and more popular, if the prices of their chocolatey creations stay reasonable, we expect Dusit Gourmet will too.