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

Restaurants located inside of compounds on the outskirts of Cairo are a solid choice for those who like to dine away from capital hustle and bustle or the unending and insufferable parking dilemma. As one of the very first residential compounds in Cairo, Rehab City was also the first to take advantage of this. City Square is Rehab’s newest dining additions, boasting some of Cairo’s well-known cafés and restaurants, of which, Viking, is one.  

Unlike its Heliopolis branch –  whose Medieval Scandinavian touches clash with the kitschy-futuristic exterior – this branch of Viking, which lies just above Tche Tche Café, has a more subtle, modern setting with leather sofas indoors and a wide outdoor seating area overlooking the entire dining court.

Besides some typical dishes included in most of the international cuisine venues, Viking’s menu aalso offers more interesting dishes such as Coconut Carrot Soup (23.99LE), Irish Cashew chicken (73.99LE), Victorian Oyster Beef (112.99LE) and Maldive Fish (86.99LE).

We began our meal with Coconut Carrot Soup and Chicken Carnival Salad (45.99LE) and we were served a complimentary plate full of small and fresh bread with smooth, creamy and well-seasoned ranch dip.

Soon after we finished what was a nice opener, our soup and salad were served. With an already weak carrot flavour, the soup had a delicious creamy texture, but little-to-no coconut taste to boot.

The chicken carnival salad, on the other hand, was a perfect combination of well-seasoned grilled chicken pieces with a hint of Cajun spice, as well as fresh vegetables, red beans, smoked turkey, cheddar cheese and red tortilla chips. Despite the huge amount of ingredients, it was a well-balanced salad made all the better by a fresh and tasty herb vinaigrette which brought together all the flavours.

Moving on to our mains, we went for Chicken Scaloppini served with Fettuccine White Sauce (69.99LE) and Roasted Herb Chicken (67.99LE).

Hot out of the oven, the chicken scaloppini was comprised of tender-to-the-touch breaded chicken bites topped with dill, chopped smoked beef and tomato, all smothered in buttery and rich in flavour lemon cream sauce. The white pasta was cooked al dente while the white sauce had a thick creamy and consistent texture that surely made the entire ensemble a piece of art.

Our second dish didn’t quite match it, however; though the five large pieces of roasted chicken breasts were well-seasoned and cooked to a perfect tenderness, the accompanying steamed vegetables were close to raw, leaving the dish a little one-note.

Moving onto the desserts, it was refreshing to see some unconventional twists on familiar choices on Viking’s menu, such as Apple Crumble Cake Jar, Chocolate Pearls and Chocolate Pot, the latter of which we ended up ordering.

Featuring hot, moist and tender chocolate cake topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with caramel and chocolate sauce, Viking’s Chocolate Pot (31.99LE) was every bit as sweet and decadent as it sounds; the pot, meanwhile, was more than just a gimmick and it actually keept the entire concoction warm till the very last bite.

We washed away our meals with Kiwi Slush & Smash (29.99 L.E), a blend of kiwi, lemon juice, mint and ice. Even though the cocktail was refreshing, it had an intense citrus taste which overpowered the kiwi. 

The direction that the Rehab City branch of Viking is a welcome one; it can be argued that the previously mentioned Heliopolis branch, for example, is a little lost in its aesthetic and its kitschy medieval Scandinavian aesthetic distracts from what the Rehab City branch proved during our visit: that, despite the missteps in execution, this is a restaurant that serves up big flavours in big portions.