Owners of the high-concept Egyptian restaurant Casa La Femme are hoping the third time's a charm for their palatial new home in the West Village. The original location in Soho was famous for its grass floor, among other things; it then moved uptown in 2004, and Casa's now settling in on Charles Street, in a space that's twice the size of the original restaurant, with room for 200 diners.
A wood-burning oven for fresh sesame pita bread is just one of three fireplaces in the house, which also include a six-feet-high custom-made limestone fireplace in the lounge, and a fire pit in the center of the sunken dining room. The romantic Middle Eastern vibe is further enhanced by the dark, hand-carved rustic woodwork, and the floor is composed of hand laid glass tiles. But the real eye-catcher here (besides the belly dancer) are the organza tents, where guests can linger over "a lavish and intimate" 5-course prix-fixe dinner for $55. (In case you're wondering, on Valentine's Day the two-person tents are available for $100 per diner.)
Owners Medhat Ibrahim and Anastasios Hairatidis say almost all the materials were imported directly from Egypt, from custom-made chairs and tables to the hand-carved bar. They also insist that while the atmosphere is opulent, the prices are not (though it's all relative, depending on your income, or lack thereof). The menu spotlights cuisine of Northern Egypt and Alexandria, with small-plate appetizers ranging in price from $8.50 to $12, and include Warak Enab, traditional vegetarian Egyptian grape leaves wrapped around rice, dill and coriander; and Golash Bil Gibnah, stuffed phyllo pastries with wild mushrooms and gibnah domiaty.
Entrees are an assortment of seafood, lamb, and chicken in the neighborhood of $20. Options include Gambari Mashway, giant grilled whole prawns; Riash Mashwaya, natural grass fed lamb chops; and Firakh Mashwaya, grilled sumac seasoned half free range boneless chicken. The menu also features a vegetarian Tagine Khodar, consisting of a mélange of market vegetables braised and served with homemade couscous.
Casa La Femme // 140 Charles St between Greenwich and Washington Street // (212) 505-0005
