Bringing Something Special to Mohandessin
We visited this impressive new venue just after its’ opening and found it already buzzing with queues for a table by mid-evening. “Don’t call us a café,” stressed entrepreneur owner Ahmed Eid, meaning there’s more to Bocca than a place to drop in for a sandwich and a shisha. And he’s absolutely right; we were blown away by the quality of the food. Everyone’s favorites are here, from irresistible starters you’ll want to sample and share, to steaks, pastas and sophisticated main dishes, and desserts to die for. Even the breakfast menu is pretty sumptuous.
Concept: The clue is in the name; this is a cool, social hang-out of a place with an amazing menu that lives up to its promise and a lively congenial atmosphere where you’ll want to meet with friends, relax with a shisha, but most importantly satisfy your appetite!
Type of cuisine: International
Signature dishes: “All of them!”
Dishes sampled: We kicked off with Loaded Potato and Cheese Balls, which were crispy, breaded and fried with a homemade Thousand Island dip. This was followed by an Artichoke and Spinach Casserole, satisfyingly creamy, topped with melted cheese and home-baked potato chips and Mediterranean Goat Cheese Salad, made up of tossed Rocca leaves, seasonal grilled vegetables, roasted, chopped crispy beef bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh mint and pomegranate seeds, all drizzled with a goat cheese, pesto and balsamic dressing. For our main dishes, we opted for Lime Shrimp Risotto with leeks, fresh herbs, Parmesan cheese and a creamy lime sauce, and the Lamb Shank Bouillabaise, slow cooked tender Australian lamb shanks with pan juice glaze, baby vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes. And yes, we made sure we had room for dessert of Chocolate Soufflé, a super-rich chocolate cake with a molten center, served with vanilla ice cream.
Other menu options that appealed: Sea Bass served over a rich tomato sauce with a side order of roasted vegetables, grilled bok choy and hot peppers, and also the Wild Mushroom Soufflé, and Salmon Teriyaki.
Beverages: Really delicious fresh juices, soft drinks, smoothies, full range of hot drinks.
Décor: Industrial chic over two floors, functional but with a touch of elegance.
Ambiance: Bright, spacious (takes 300 covers), well lit, quite loud and buzzy. Sound system in the process of being installed; expect a chill-out music mix. The lunchtime, teatime and after work crowd gives way to sophisticated older diners as the evening goes on.
Clientele mix: Young and lively, groups, couples.
Price range: Moderate
Opening hours: 10 am to 2 am
Address: 10 Midan Gomhoreya (off El Thawra St.) Dokki
Tel: 0112 230 0000
Instagram: @boccaeateryandsocialhouse
