Review: Sequoia

Name: Sequoia

Type: Outdoor Restaurant

Location: Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt

Ambiance: 10/10

Food Freshness & Quality: 7/10

Food Taste: 6/10

Service: 8/10

Value for Money: fair, expenisve

Vegetarian Friendly: yes

Photo from here.

Sequoia is a gem. I would not consider it so much a culinary place but a place to take people to enjoy the view, relax and have a great time. The unofficial dress code of Cairo does not apply here, and many young women prance about in outfits common to a club in New York City. The restaurant is located at the North tip of Zamalek island, and consumes the entire tip to provide a panoramic view. The whole restaurant is located outside and is covered by large swaths of white fabric overhead. It is like being on a beachside paradise, all of the plush chairs and couches are covered in the same clean white fabric. It is packed most of the time so I highly recommend reservations. Having an attractive young lady can be persuasive even if the restaurant says that they are "full" because they are famous for have attractive Western clients.

Food is definitely a bonus to Sequoia, not the main feature. The menu is somewhat small, although allows for a wide range of dietary needs. They offer everything from mezze (which are delightful) to meat entrees to pastas to gigantic salads. Nothing is really outstanding or terrible, but I recommend starting with a round of mezze and be sure to have drinks and dessert. This is a go big or go home kind of place. To really impress guests order the fruit salad dessert. It comes in a giant cocktail glass on a bed of ice. The real gem as far as food is concerned is the sushi. Sequoia offers the full menu for Mori Sushi, the best sushi in Cairo, made on the spot and delivered by special sushi waiters. For the perfect experience I would recommend ordering the main course from the sushi menu. Even if you are not presented with the sushi menu, just ask for it. Finish off the night with some delightful sheesha, plentiful, inexpensive and well-tended to, it is a must-have. Sequoia has three types of servers, one for food and drinks, one for sushi, and one for sheesha. All the sheesha guys do is run around refilling coals and making sure you have an optimal sushi experience. I recommend tipping LE 5 at the end of the night for good sheesha service. A night at Sequoia will run you on average LE 60 -200 a person, but if you intend to order alcohol, this number can go way up. Worth the money spent.