The sudden decline of Farah’s Fata Restaurant has rocked Cairo in the recent few months. From a hot local dining spot to a failing street restaurant, Farah’s irrational management has been one of the main causes of its rapid fall.

Originally founded as an authentic barbecue restaurant, Farah transformed in the past few years into a modern restaurant, serving Fata (an Egyptian dish consisting of white rice, chunks of lamb, thick tomato sauce and bread soaked in spiced soup) to customers seated in the middle of a busy street in Cairo.

Fatta- The Stuff dreams are made of!

After the success of its experiment, Farah quickly became a Cairo titan. Its cheap prices and fast service, coupled with the popularity of its waiters, ensured that its success continued till the beginning of 2009.

However, this soon came to an abrupt end as Farah’s management committed one fatal mistake after the other. Higher prices were introduced, turning away most of the working class-consumer base. Furthermore, most of the seasoned waiters who represented familiar faces were fired, with younger workers filing in. This, with a few health violations, ensured that the owners’ hubris would be punished.