Zitouni

Zitouni is the Egyptian restaurant of the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza in Garden City. The 120-seat dining room overlooks the Nile, and it is one of the most comfortable places in the city to try traditional Egyptian dishes cooked to a high standard. The kitchen serves halal food and offers vegan and vegetarian dishes, with gluten-free options on request.

The menu celebrates both everyday and festive Egyptian cooking. Signature dishes include stuffed pigeon with rice and chicken livers, a fried lamb shank with cinnamon rice and spicy tomato sauce, and stuffed vine leaves served with grilled lamb chops. Lamb fattah, molokhia and generous spreads of mezze with baladi bread also appear, and desserts include maamoul filled with keshta, a rich clotted cream. The restaurant runs buffets at lunch and dinner, with main courses also available à la carte for an extra charge.

Zitouni suits couples, families and business travellers who want a polished introduction to Egyptian food without the noise of a street restaurant. The Friday brunch buffet, served between 13:00 and 17:00, is popular with local families and groups of friends and makes a relaxed weekend outing. The dress code is casual chic, so smart trousers or a dress are appropriate, though jackets are not needed.

Breakfast is served from 06:00 to 11:30, the lunch buffet from 13:00 to 17:00 and the dinner buffet from 18:00 until midnight. Booking is advisable for dinner and the Friday brunch, and can be made by phone or through the hotel. Allow around two hours for a buffet meal. Prices are at the top end for Cairo, in line with the hotel.

The Four Seasons Nile Plaza stands on the Corniche in Garden City, a few minutes by taxi from Tahrir Square and the Egyptian Museum. After dinner, a walk along the Corniche gives views of the river and the lights of Zamalek. Other restaurants in the hotel include Mediterranean and Chinese dining, and the hotel's terraces are pleasant for a drink after your meal. If you are new to Egyptian food, the buffet format is a good way to sample many dishes at once, and staff can explain what each one is and how it is traditionally eaten, which makes later meals at local restaurants easier to order.