A Luxurious Taste of France in Cairo: A Review of Paul Bakery and Restaurant
Welcome to our detailed review of Paul Bakery and Restaurant, a classy French establishment nestled in the heart of Cairo’s Citystars Shopping Mall. This review will take you on a culinary journey, exploring the menu, atmosphere and overall experience at Paul Cafe Cairo Citystars. Whether you’re a Francophile, a Cairo foodie, or just planning a visit to Citystars Mall, this review is a must-read.
Introduction to Paul Bakery and Restaurant (Citystars branch)
Paul Bakery and Restaurant is a renowned French establishment that has made its mark in the bustling city of Cairo. Known for its luxurious and classy ambiance, Paul offers a unique blend of traditional French cuisine and the vibrant flavours of Egypt. Whether you are a fan of freshly baked bread, exquisite pastries or a hearty French meal, Paul has something to offer for everyone.
Price Range: $$ – $$$
How to Get to Paul in Citystars Shopping Mall?
Paul Bakery and Restaurant is conveniently located in the Citystars Shopping Mall, Heliopolis, Cairo (www.citystars-heliopolis.com.eg/en). The mall is a popular destination for both locals and tourists, boasting a wide range of shops, restaurants and entertainment options. Paul is located within Level 3 of the Mall.
What Does the Menu at Paul Offer?
Paul’s menu is a delightful mix of French classics and innovative dishes. From hearty soups and salads to delicious sandwiches, cakes and pastries, the menu offers a wide variety.
You can find their Breakfast Menu (2023) here.
You can find their Lunch Menu (2023) here.
Our Order: A Detailed Review
During our visit, we tried the Chicken Tagliatelle, Crunchy Slaw Burger and Fresh Mango Juice. Each dish offered a unique taste experience, which we shall delve into in this section.
Atmosphere: What to Expect?
The atmosphere at Paul is a blend of elegance and comfort. Despite being located in a busy shopping mall, the restaurant offers a peaceful retreat where you can enjoy your meal. We will share our experience of the atmosphere at Paul.
Quality of Food: Has it Changed?
In this section, we will discuss the quality of the food at Paul, comparing our recent experience with previous visits. We will also touch on the presentation of the dishes and the portion sizes.
Service at Paul: A Premium Brand Expectation
Service is a crucial aspect of any dining experience. At Paul, we had certain expectations due to its reputation as a premium brand. We will share our thoughts on the service we received during our visit.
Vegetarian/Vegan Options: Are There Any?
For our vegetarian and vegan readers, we shall explore the options available at Paul. We will discuss the variety and quality of the vegetarian and vegan dishes on the menu.
Accessibility: How Convenient is it?
Accessibility is an important factor to consider when visiting a restaurant. In this section, we will discuss the accessibility of Paul, including facilities for special needs individuals.
Value for Money: Is it Worth it?
Is dining at Paul worth the price? We’ll discuss the cost of the dishes we tried and share our thoughts on whether the dining experience offers good value for money, especially in light of the recent Egyptian pound devaluation and Paul’s updated prices as from May 2023.
Final Verdict: Would We Recommend Paul?
To conclude our review, we will share our final thoughts on Paul Bakery and Restaurant. We will discuss whether we would recommend it to our readers and what to keep in mind if you plan to visit.
Stay tuned for a detailed exploration of each point in our outline. We will share our personal experiences, insights and tips to help you make the most of your visit to Paul Bakery and Restaurant in Cairo.
Our Dining Experience at Paul Café
On our recent visit for lunch, we ordered the Chicken Tagliatelle pasta, a Crunchy Slaw Burger and a Fresh Mango Juice drink. Here’s our review of the food, service, and overall dining experience:
Food Quality
The tagliatelle was tasty, with a creamy sauce and chicken. However, the portion of pasta and chicken seemed a bit smaller compared to our previous visits. The crunchy slaw burger was of good quality and also had good flavour, but the side of chips was surprisingly small. Both dishes were served warm, but not piping hot. The fresh mango juice drink was the highlight. It had nice sweet mango flavour and refreshing chilled temperature. They also have a selection of hot drinks such as their signature hot chocolate and cappuccino. As with all Paul Cafés, we were provided with a complimentary selection of bread accompanied with Paul’s soft butter and crushed olives.
Service
The service was very poor and disappointing for a premium brand like Paul Café. Used plates were not cleared promptly between courses. However, a 12% service charge was still added to the bill.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is what you would expect for a café located inside a busy mall. Lots of families, teenagers and shoppers stopping in for a break. It has a classic French café vibe with dark wood furniture, mosaic tiling and ornate light fixtures. The outdoor balcony overlooks the mall.
Vegetarian/Vegan Options: Yes
Paul Café has at least one vegetarian or vegan option for every menu category, except main dishes. There are salads, sandwiches, pizzas, soups, breads and desserts suitable for vegetarian and vegan diners.
Accessibility: Average
Those with mobility issues may want to use the elevator to access Paul Café on the third floor. However, the elevators in Citystars Mall are notoriously slow and crowded. There were no visible accessible restrooms in the vicinity. Menus were digital only (QR code).
Value for Money
With our chicken tagliatelle costing 259 EGP (US$ 8.40), the crunchy slaw burger 189 EGP (US$ 6.10), and fresh mango juice 69 EGP (US$ 2.25), plus a 12% service charge, I felt the prices were quite high compared to other cafés in Cairo. Also, the prices have increased significantly from our last visit just a few months ago which is not surprising considering the 60%+ devaluation of the Egyptian pound over the past year. However, it is particulary good value when comparing the prices to Paul in the UAE for example, as shown in the table below.
| UAE | EGYPT | ||||
| Menu Items | Price (AED)** | Price (EGP)* | Price (EGP)** | % Price | |
| Steak Sandwich | 69 | 578 | 259 | -123% | |
| Crunchy Slaw Burger | 56 | 469 | 189 | -148% | |
| BBQ Steak & Avocado | 69 | 578 | 289 | -100% | |
| Corn Ribs Chicken Bowl | 64 | 536 | 299 | -79% | |
| Smoked salmon | 69 | 578 | 299 | -93% | |
| Healthy Grilled chicken | 59 | 494 | 299 | -65% | |
| Shrimp Burrata Rosé | 72 | 603 | 329 | -83% | |
| Veggie Pomodoro | 64 | 536 | 229 | -134% | |
| Truffle Cheesy Rock | 41 | 344 | 189 | -82% | |
| Avocado Shrimp Basket | 49 | 411 | 279 | -47% | |
| Horseradish Salmon Pizzetta | 64 | 536 | 229 | -134% | |
| Apple Tarte Tatin | 42 | 352 | 169 | -108% | |
| Steak & Eggs | 99 | 830 | 449 | -85% | |
| Miso Avocado Toast | 46 | 385 | 159 | -142% | |
| Acai Bowl | 42 | 352 | 129 | -173% | |
| * Conversion to EGP at 1 AED = 8.38 EGP | |||||
| ** July 2023 prices | |||||
Recommended: Yes, with caveats
Compared to Paul Cafés in Europe and the UAE, the Cairo branch generally meets expectations in terms of food quality and sophistication. However, for the price, local competitors deliver better value for money in our opinion. We would still recommend trying Paul Café Cairo Citystars, especially if you appreciate the classy French café ambiance. Just do not expect a 5 star service. If you feel that you are not getting the service you have paid four (such as your food is served cold, the absence of a reasonably fast service or the poor food quality), you can choose to provide your feedback to the manager – after all, Paul as a premium brand should care more about customer service and adverse restaurant reviews.
Food
Service
Atmosphere
Value for Money
OVERALL
Craving French pastries in Cairo? Read our Paul Cafe review, explore their menu and plan your visit!
Beyond Paul Cafe, what are your must-try Cairo food experiences? Share your bucket list below!
