Gourmet burgers at Le Garage

? At Le Garage, burgers aren’t an afterthought, nor an easy way out. They’re treated with the reverence a true burger connoisseur knows they deserve. After all, Le Garage is one of El Gouna’s hottest dining destinations for a reason, and now that they’ve driven all the way to Cairo, it was only a matter of time before we got our hands on their signature patties.

At New Cairo’s Le Garage, all you need to do is sit back and enjoy the ride. You might mistake the burger destination for a dining establishment of a different nature. From its rustic ambiance to its wooden accents and dim lighting, burgers aren’t perhaps the first offering that comes to mind upon first glance — but these aren’t your average whoppers.

Come for the burgers, stay for everything else. At its core, Le Garage is an American diner with a menu brimming with all sorts of elevated — yet still hearty — diner classics. If you’re going for breakfast, you’ll find benedicts, bacon, hash browns, and French toast. If you’re craving a health-conscious meal, you’ll find goat cheese salads and creamy vegetable soups, and if you’re not down to get your hands messy, you can take your pick from a slew of mains — think schnitzels, salmon steaks, and prime beef cuts.

But let’s be real here, you’re there for the burgers — as you should. Le Garage’s burger menu leaves no craving unsatiated, whether on the portion or flavor front. There are the can’t-go-wrong-with classics, and then there are the ones you order when you’re feeling a little adventurous. Naturally, we opted for the latter. Quiet deliberation and a conversation with our server later, we ended up with the special truffle burger, the Hawaii burger, and the goat cheese burger. Needless to say, we weren’t disappointed.

Truffle takes the cake. It was a close call, yet truffle eventually reigned supreme. The burger bun was incredibly soft, the patty thick and juicy, the mushrooms fresh, and the truffle aromatic and flavorful without the downside of being overwhelming. Paired with a french fry (or five) between bites, it’s safe to say we felt as though we had hit the jackpot. The fried egg and pineapple-topped Hawaii, on the other hand, was somewhat of a polarizing choice — at first bite, we didn’t quite know how to feel, but we were quickly sold on the idea by bite number two.

When it comes to the goat cheese burger — topped with carmelized apples — you’ll either love it or hate it. If you ask us, it was a hit. But if you’re not used to goat cheese, which can often overpower, we’d suggest sitting this one out.

Our only regret? Not perusing the chicken burgers menu. With that said, we’ll definitely be going back for more. If you happen to be vegetarian, you’ll be glad to hear Le Garage serves up plant-based patties as well. While we haven’t tried them ourselves, we’re confident they’d be worth a shot. A friendly tip: do end your meal with an apple crumble cake — you’ll thank yourself.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Le Garage has two branches; one at New Cairo’s U Venues, and the other in Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna.

? Per person: EGP 900-1K

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: Yes

? Accessibility friendly: Yes