? Mandarine Koueider dives into the deli scene. The undisputed king of oriental desserts has taken a bold leap into the savory world with the launch of its first deli — trading kunafa and basbousa for cold cuts and greens. The deli offers a lineup of wraps, sandwiches, and salads — including the ever-trending warm bowl salads.

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We ordered right away: We started with a Chicken Pesto Sandwich, a combination of roasted chicken breast, a generous slather of pesto sauce, avocado, tomato, a few pickled onions, and mayonnaise, all encased in sourdough bread. The sandwich delivered on every front: tasty, fresh, and filling. While the sourdough was a bit of a workout for the teeth, the taste of the sandwich was worthwhile.

Next up — the green bowls: We opted to go with the Chicken Caprese Salad, which featured a vibrant mix of greens topped with grilled chicken, tomatoes, baby potatoes, avocado, and radish, all drenched in a zesty Italian balsamic sauce. All we can say is that it held its own against the sandwich.

Unfortunately, the Mexican Chicken warm bowl didn't rise to the same standard. While the lettuce, grilled chicken, mexican rice, jalapenos, guacamole, kidney beans, and sour cream seemed to offer bold flavors, the result was underwhelming. The guac and rice portions were sparse, and the overall taste leaned bland. A sauce swap might rescue this dish, but as it stands, it left us wanting more. A theme for both bowls was the chicken (or lack of it) — it disappeared too quickly amid the other ingredients.

For those eager to explore the menu further, the deli is available for orders via Rabbit. For a personalized experience, drop by their branch at District 5 and build your own bowl.

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