Saigon Bleu at Fairmont Nile – Cairo, Egypt: Having just visited Vietnam a few months earlier and always loving French cuisine, we were anxious to try the fusion of the two together. The Saigon Bleu at Fairmont Nile in Cairo serves nouveau Vietnamese-French cuisine in a spacious and elegant hotel atmosphere and we were psyched to try it out.

Located on the second floor of the Fairmont Nile, Saigon Bleu looks out to a beautiful view of the Nile onto Zamalek. A glass wall divides the cooking and the dining area, allowing the guests to watch as the chefs prepare their culinary fusions in a spotless and modern kitchen. The dining area is predominantly contemporary Asian in design using materials such as handmade bamboo chairs, combined with European luxury aesthetics, fine china, crystal, silverware, and dim romantic lighting. Pastel colors give the restaurant in Cairo a relaxing ambiance.

The staff was well trained and very attentive. The moment we stepped in the restaurant, the hostess sat us right away and gave us the menus. I found the chairs quite uncomfortable, as it was set too far from the table and I couldn’t move it to get closer.

The menu was extensive and innovative, below are only some of the options:

Cold appetizers:
Sautéed King Prawn Salad
Snow crab avocado and mango salad
Spicy green mango salad
Plus a few others

Hot Appetizers:
Prawn, mushroom and fried shallot ravioli
Open faced Crisp Saigon Crepe
Hanoi beef spring roll
Calamari fritter with dill

Main dishes:
Seafood (about 10 to choose from)
Cod fish
Seared lobster tail
Shrimp croquets
Sea bass with red chili and dill

Meat:
Crispy fried marinated chicken leg
Beef tenderloin
Rack of lamb
Veal chop
Pan fried duck

Rice and noodle side dishes:
Sautéed egg noodles
Ginger and garlic fried vegetable rice
Steamed Jasmine rice

Soups:
Clear lobster bisque
Galangal and lemongrass-scented chicken coconut soup
Pho

We started off with some Vietnamese soup. I had the Chicken Pho while my dining partner had the Galangal Coconut Soup. Both soups were savory and sumptuous. Homemade rolls were also served, but they tasted rancid as if they were made weeks ago.

For our main fare, I had the Beef Tenderloin, which was served in quite a nice portion and an artistic presentation, but the taste was another matter. It was dull and boring. My partner had the Crispy Sea Bass. It was so fishy that he had to send it back to the kitchen.

For our dessert, we had a Lemon Soufflé and Caramel Banana. It was delicious but not really spectacular to be unforgettable. Overall, we were simply not impressed with the restaurant in Cairo. Our rating for the Saigon Bleu at Fairmont Nile: Between Bombastic and Not.

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What I liked: Soups, view, service

What I didn’t like: Main dishes, old rolls, uncomfortable chairs

Rating: Between Bombastic and Not

Address and Telephone Number:
Saigon Bleu
Address: Corniche El Nil
Landmark: Inside Fairmont Nile City Hotel
Ramlet Boulak, Cairo

Telephone: 02-24619494