🍝 What even is healthy food? Some might argue it would be the kind that avoids carbs, and others may say that the greener the dish is, the healthier it must be. But we’d suggest that what makes food healthy isn’t just the amount of calories its ingredients contain or the greenery of its garnishings, but how fresh those things are. And at that, Lokali takes the cake (and eats it too).

A farm-to-table eatery, Lokali is all about sustainable comfort food, sourced from Egyptian farms all over the country. It’s not just PR speak either, sustainability shines through in every aspect of Lokali, and its menu makes sure you know it, with the stories behind the signature dishes detailed in the menu. Speaking of signature dishes, Lokali has quite a few. The menu is packed with a number of appetizing dishes, from breakfast staples and hearty sandwiches to short ribs and smoothies and everything in between. It’s the kind of menu you’d need to dedicate some time to, and we’d recommend you do.

For our latest Lokali excursion, we attempted to order a curated selection of “healthy” dishes — we failed, being tempted by the deep-fried cheesy balls. But again, if it’s fresh, it’s healthy — humor us. We offset the cheesy appetizer with a lentil burrata salad, and for the main dish, we opted for the caramelized onions pesto pasta. Food in tow, we got to feasting.

Two bullseyes and one fatal miss: Our meal started off on quite the high note with the six golden-fried cheesy balls, presented atop a bed of house-made roasted tomato sauce — perfectly seasoned, and thick enough to dip your cheesy bites in. The appetizer checked all the boxes, and primed our appetites for the main event: the pasta. Creamy, perfectly spiced, and further complemented by a side of Armenian sausage (which were a tad spicy, so be warned), the pasta was undoubtedly the star of the show, and was surprisingly generous in terms of portion. We ate and then we ate again, and we somehow still managed to take home the leftovers.

It was all smooth sailing, until we hit the burrata iceberg. The lentil burrata salad was unfortunately not our favorite dish, to say the least. Perhaps our own taste buds were unaccustomed to the lentil stew that formed the base of the salad, or mayhaps the amalgamation of ingredients (lentils, sundried tomatoes, arugula, dukkah, and others) wasn’t as harmonious as intended. In either case, we didn’t let the burrata dim the pasta’s light, which we swiftly returned to.

An unlikely combination we did find ourselves enjoying was the coconut lemonade. A perfect balance of tropical richness and citric brightness that felt both indulgent and refreshing. The coconut added a creamy, subtly sweet undertone that softened the lemonade’s tartness without overpowering it, creating a smooth, almost velvety texture.

Our verdict: Lokali’s love for nature shone through in every dish we tried (and every other we witnessed flying out the kitchen). It’s the sort of dining establishment that has become a rare sight to see, one buoyed by a particular commendable ethos, and a team that sees it through. If you’re looking for a wholesome, homecooked meal that draws from all sorts of global cuisines, we’d recommend treating yourself to Lokali.

WHERE TO GET IT- You can find Lokali in Maadi. You can also order through Talabat.

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