🍽️ Cairo, a Mediterranean city, is hardly short on Mediterranean cuisine, yet Maze Roof Resto still manages to offer something different. Sitting high on the second floor of Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza, Maze makes for an exciting dining experience with a familiar cuisine.

The menu isn’t your average Mediterranean venture — think Arabic flair meets Italian boldness, with an international touch. Mezzes make up most of their starters menu, with other inventive fried appetizers also available. The pasta, risotto, and gnocchi concoctions are a strong presence, with limited but innovative chicken, beef, and seafood plates. You’ll also find burgers and pizzas, albeit with a Mediterranean twist as well.

It was a little hit or miss, but we trusted the process… and it paid off. Served on ornate, delicate plates, our starters arrived hot and fresh — halloumi black honey poppers, Pomme Bravas, and their kibbeh laban. The halloumi black honey poppers materialized as a glazed trio with a flimsy fried coating, even as the halloumi inside remained blazing hot. Unfortunately, only the garlic black honey sauce left a lasting impression. The Pomme Bravas tasted simple and homey, but the coriander and fried onion topping didn’t quite pair well with the fries. Then came the standout: the kibbeh laban. The unexpected combination of pesto and crispy kibbeh was marvellous, and we found ourselves repeatedly dipping our spoons back into the warm garlic pesto oil yogurt.

For our mains, we gravitated towards their chicken-based plates. The chicken parmigiana was a scrumptious plateful of tender chicken breast, softened by melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. The veggie orzo side, however, felt somewhat out of place. The risotto cordon bleu was also a delight, with tender chicken bites laid atop creamy risotto in tomato sauce. The risotto was the star of the evening, also proving delectable in the brisket parmesan risotto dish.

Our verdict: Despite a rocky start, Maze soon charmed us. While some dishes failed to make the right first impression, the ones that did will likely have us coming back for more. Beyond the food, Maze offers an entirely new dining experience — one that’s heavy on the whimsy of it all. The eatery works with all the right colors: olive greens, deep oranges and reds, and warm yellows — adding warmth to the Alice-in-Wonderland-esque establishment.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Maze Roof Resto at Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza, and you can book your table by calling +201070232190.

Tags: