When in Rehab, do what the Romans do

? Sometimes in life, you’ll find yourself suddenly filled with a certain urge only an Italian restaurant can fulfill. When said urge hits you in New Cairo, you might want to head on over to Il Ciliegino at Rehab’s The Yard Mall. Serving authentic Italian cuisine, this newly-minted Mediterranean eatery rids itself of any pretense and unnecessary complications, dishing out well-beloved Italian classics and the whole Roman shebang.

Il Ciliegino, Italian for cherry tomato, makes its love for the coastal Mediterranean country clear. The restaurant itself is clad in wooden accents, boasts high ceilings reminiscent of Roman tavernas, a wood-fire oven, and tables adorned with red square runners — the kind that has come to be synonymous with Italian alfresco dining establishments. The eatery hums with Italian tunes (including the Godfather theme, naturally), evoking a sense of being thrust into a late ‘70s Mafia movie.

The menu? Short, sweet, and to the point. Il Ciliegino offers a breakfast menu comprised of calzones as well as a number of egg-based dishes, a selection of Italian salads and sandwiches, few but interesting appetizers, a slew of pastas and risotto dishes, signature Neopolitan pizzas, and main courses catering to all sorts of tastes. For dessert, you’ll find Tiramisu, Panna Cotta, and other Italian sweets.

A few minutes of contemplation later, we opted for Palline Di Riso, deep-fried Italian rice and cheese balls, as our appetizer of choice, followed by veal Milanese with a side of pink penne, and pollo alla griglia — grilled chicken with lemon sauce, served with a side of grilled vegetables and mashed potatoes. Some twenty minutes later, the dishes made their way to our table.

An unlikely hero: The rice balls, or the arancini, were the first to stand our tests, passing with flying colors. Each arancino held itself together, with a consistency that was neither too rigid nor falling apart. As far as flavor goes, we had no complaints — yet it was the house-made pomodoro sauce that truly stood out; fresh, flavorsome, and hearty. Perhaps we should have seen it coming, seeing as the restaurant is named after tomatoes after all.

The main dishes fared well, too, particularly the grilled chicken with lemon sauce. The sauce managed to maintain an ideal balance between being incredibly flavorful without overwhelming, and the chicken was tender to the touch. The grilled vegetables were a much welcome addition, especially when dipped in the sauce, which we had opted to have on the side. The veal Milanese, on the other hand, proved a point of contention. While it delivered on both flavor and portion fronts, we felt the dish was somewhat lacking — perhaps in presentation or garnish. That said, if you appreciate a classic take on the dish, you’ll have no qualms with it. If you were craving some form of innovation, you’ll find it somewhat lacking.

Our verdict: Il Ciliegino excelled at crafting an atmosphere that complements its cuisine, and yes, while the food succeeded at satisfying our cravings, we couldn’t help but feel something was amiss. The restaurant’s location at The Yard Mall, surrounded by a number of fast food restaurants and coffee shops, felt odd, and took away from the experience to an extent. Though if we were seated indoors, perhaps we’d feel differently. It’s also a little on the expensive side, which we felt was somewhat unjustified given its location and uncomplicated offerings. Nevertheless, it’s still an Italian eatery that holds its own. If you find yourself in its vicinity with the thought of authentic pasta on your mind, we’d say do give it a shot.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Il Ciligieno at The Yard Mall in New Cairo. You can also order by calling through Talabat.

? Per person: EGP 1.1-1.2k

? Outdoor seating: Yes

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: Yes