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

Lebanese restaurants in Cairo are in no short supply, so what could one possibly have to offer to stand out amidst the pool of generic restaurants? Do it better, of course!

Located in New Cairo’s quickly expanding restaurant complex, Concord Plaza, Caracas seems to have attracted the Eastern Cairene crowd’s attention.

A pleasant waiter greeted us with the news that he’ll have to jot us down on the waiting list, but we were, surprisingly, seated and handed menus within five minutes. Caracas offers two floors of indoor seating alongside a semi-outdoor seating area, all boasting a classic Oriental playlist comprised of Om Kalthoum and Fayrouz hits. Low-hanging blue and purple lamps, plant pots and a generally contemporary Oriental design make up the restaurant’s lively interior.

Offering all the Lebanese favourites, including hot and cold mezzas, soups, man’ousheh, sandwiches, grilled specials, Kebbeh in all its forms and Fatteh, alongside some sweet delights including an interesting-sounding Chocolate Sushi (35LE), the menu does the Lebanese cuisine justice.

A second amicable waiter was quick to take our order and come back within a few minutes with our appetisers. The Falafel (18LE), comprised of five pieces of fried Hummus falafel accompanied with a bowl of Tahini and a bread basket, was crisp, non-greasy and a pleasant start to the meal.

The Lebanese pita bread was freshly baked and steaming hot and was promptly refilled the minute we finished it. The Stuffed Vine Leaves (25LE) were drenched in olive oil and bursting with flavour despite lacking an ample amount of stuffing. Next up, the Labnah & Zaatar Manousheh (31LE) and the Halloumi Cheese Manousheh (31 LE) were both light, fresh, and adequately covered with toppings.

The minute we were done with the appetisers and were contemplating unbuttoning our jeans, our main courses arrived looking as enticing as possible. The Mini Shawerma Djej (35LE) platter boasted five mini chicken shawerma sandwiches alongside a handful of crisp, non-oily French fries. The Shawerma was heavily herbed, and to say it tasted heavenly would be an understatement.

Tasting just as delicious was the Shish Tawouk (65LE), which was comprised of six chunks of chicken, well-marinated in Garlic dip, enveloped in a thin Lebanese tortilla, with a side of fresh sautéed veggies.

To wrap up, Caracas has given us more reason than ever to revisit it, with its scrumptious food and friendly, efficient staff. It’s also worth noting that our cheque arrived the minute we ordered it and that the overall level of service remained exceptionally high all throughout our visit despite the fact that the place was overflowing with customers.