Gainesville

Egyptian Dining Concept Opening in Gainesville

The Egyptian Cafe is targeting a late February opening, bringing traditional Egyptian dining to downtown Gainesville.

Image courtesy of The Egyptian Cafe.

GAINESVILLE, FL — The Egyptian Cafe is preparing to open at 21 SE 2nd Pl, Gainesville, FL 32601, introducing an Egyptian dining concept led by longtime restaurateur Mohey Osman. Osman told Business Debut he is targeting a late February opening, pending final licensing approvals.

The new cafe is designed to offer an immersive Egyptian experience, from its decor to its menu. Osman, who grew up in Egypt, said the furniture and decorative elements were sourced directly from his home country to reflect the culture he grew up with.

What to Expect

The Egyptian Cafe will operate as a casual, table-service restaurant with approximately 68 indoor seats, along with two patios offering additional outdoor seating. The service model is intended to be relaxed and approachable, while still providing full table service.

Osman described the cafe as a place where guests can enjoy traditional Egyptian food in a comfortable setting without the formality of fine dining.

The menu will focus on traditional Egyptian dishes with an emphasis on vegetarian-friendly options. One of the central offerings will be koshary, widely considered Egypt’s national dish. Made with lentils, rice, pasta, chickpeas, crispy onions and tomato sauce, koshary is a staple Osman said many Egyptians grow up eating.

Other menu items will include falafel, hummus, shawarma, tabbouleh and Mediterranean salads. The cafe will also serve fresh juices prepared in an Egyptian style, along with Turkish coffee and mint tea. For dessert, Osman said the team is planning items such as Dubai-style chocolate with fruit, while sourcing baklava from an outside provider due to kitchen size limitations.

Background and Experience

The Egyptian Cafe is not Osman’s first experience with the concept. He opened his first Egyptian restaurant in Indianapolis in 2005, followed by another near Purdue University in West Lafayette. Both locations were successful, leading him to expand further before later transitioning into Italian cuisine.

Osman went on to attend culinary school in Rome, graduating from the Chef Academy, and eventually opened multiple Italian restaurants under the Da Vinci name. Today, he operates Da Vinci Italian Restaurant in Gainesville, along with another Da Vinci location in Bloomington, Indiana.

After years in the Italian restaurant business, Osman said rising food costs and operational challenges helped inspire him to return to the Egyptian concept he first built his career on.