Egyptian Fare, Entertainment & Originality are on the Menu at Lailaty Cafe
This South Side restaurant, which blends traditional fare and modern technology, is a welcome addition in an area dominated by chains.
The South Side’s Lailaty Cafe Blends Tradition with Modern Technology
By Andy Dehus
I’m a big fan of the improbable and the unexpected, and Lailaty Cafe, the South Side’s new Swiss Army knife of an Egyptian eatery/entertainment space, delivered more of both than just about anywhere else I’ve been.
My daughter and I were met at the entrance of Lailaty by a boy of maybe 12 years of age carrying a swaddled infant. “Would you like a tour?” he asked, adorably. Though I could imagine little need for an orientation, it seemed impolite to decline. I said sure.
Arabic readings streamed from a TV in the dining room as he beelined to the back and gestured towards a threshold. Inside was a room with a projector for movies, a Microsoft Surface-style digital table and some toys. He explained that this space was for young kids and was “free.”
His sister joined us as we moved on to a larger room filled with a row of PlayStation 5 setups and a pool table. “You have to pay for this,” the boy said, characterizing it as “for older kids,” and he noted that the whole room could be rented for parties.
As we were taking it all in, the sister interjected with a plea to look at her handicrafts; colorful coasters and bracelets neatly laid out on a card table near the kitchen. She spoke of her work with pride and pressed on in steely determination to make a sale.
Two adults, whom I took to be the mother and father of the children, emerged from the kitchen and greeted us warmly. We’d come in search of a few particular Egyptian dishes, and there was much discussion about which ones they were able to prepare. The easy flow of conversation gave us the impression that we might place our order with them, but we were instead led to a touchpad to complete the transaction.
Within moments of taking our seats, a whirring noise announced the approach of a server robot carrying our drinks. It asked us to push a button to signal that we’d removed our items. There was a big red button on top. I pushed it. Wrong button, as the eagle-eyed daughter was quick to point out. She activated the correct one and it trundled off.
Our server on wheels returned shortly with koshary, a delicacy often referred to as Egypt’s iconic national dish. In a crescent bowl lay a generous mound of the signature mix of pasta, rice and lentils, topped with a tomato puree, vinegar sauce and crispy fried onions. Sometimes referred to as “the food of the poor,” Lailaty’s version of koshary, with its complex mix of textures and bright flavors, led me to think that, at least in this one respect, it’s not so bad to be of humble circumstances in Egypt. Here it cost a reasonable-seeming $11.99.