Dido’s Al Dente has always held a special place in our heart, right back from its beginnings as a bijou pasta spot in Zamalek. The quality and portions couldn’t be argued with, and the prices were unbeatable. Now Dido’s has come with it’s Italian specialties in Sheikh Zayed, with a much wider range of dishes, but retaining the same friendly vibe.
Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled
We already knew that the pasta and pizza are great, but you can add Dido’s take on Chicken à la Kiev, stuffed with cheese, garlic and parsley, to the list as well.
Why, we pondered, have beetroot, white cheese and arugula salads become so ubiquitous in Cairo these days? Because they are so darned good! Dido’s version comes with feta cheese, walnuts and an olive oil balsamic glaze. The addition of raw mushroom seemed superfluous, we loved the combination as it was. With a plate of mozzarella-laden bruschetta on the side, it was the perfect way to kick off our meal. We opted to share a pasta dish, and going with the maître’s recommendation, went for fettuccine with calamari and shrimp. There was a choice of a tomato or a cream based sauce, as well as a choice of pasta types. The tomato sauce worked well for us, it had depth of flavor and a spicy kick that set off the generous amount of tender calamari and juicy shrimp.
Torn for choice when it came to pizza, we went for the Quattro Stagioni, always a handy cop out. Mixing it up with Quattro Formaggi, Pepperoni and Chicken BBQ, we made short work of it, in spite of the size. When dessert time came around we were going to pass, until we found the day’s special was Chocolate Volcano cake. We shared, of course.
Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available
We would happily go for any of the pizza or pasta dishes, or even the same again. Beverages offered are mainly soft drinks and hot beverages, plus the fresh juice of the day.
Décor & Ambience
The setting is great, with an elevated position on the edge of Majarrah. Dido’s Al Dente has an indoor to outdoor flow; even the covered space has glass sliding doors to keep a garden vibe. The terrace area has comfortably arranged tables with huge umbrellas, and copious greenery. The whole feel is relaxed and pleasant, with extremely comfortable seating. Once the out-of-season Christmas music had given way to some excellent blues and low-key jazz we could have stayed for an hour or two longer, just for that.
Clientele mix: A perfect dining spot for the Sheikh Zayed crowd: from couples and groups of friends, to families. There is a well thought out kids’ menu as well.
Price range: Affordable.
Worth noting: This is the only branch of Dido’s to serve breakfast. We took a peek at the menu, and liked what we saw. Takeaway is available, along with delivery to the Sheikh Zayed area. Shisha is also available.
Contact information
Opening hours: 8 am to 2 am.
Address: Majarrah, Sheikh Zayed
Tel: 0103 000 4007
Facebook: Didos Aldente Restaurants Majarrah
Instagram: didos_aldente_restaurants
