After hearing all the buzz, we popped down to the new Lebanese Diner, located on the busy 26^th of July Street in Zamalek. Offering Lebanese food in Zamalek, options like sandwiches and grills, this social spot is cozy yet modern.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signature dishes include the Homemade Kafta, the Samkeh Trabolseye Sandwich, a grilled fish fillet wrapped in Lebanese bread topped with tahini and Lebanese Diner’s very own house tomato chili salsa, and last but not least, the succulent Chicken Wings smothered in Lemon Garlic or BBQ sauce.

We started with a Taboulleh Salad, Halloum Meshwe, Batatta Harra, and Arayess Kafta. The Tabbouleh salad is cut extremely thin; it was light, fresh, and seasoned with a dash of lemon to bring all the flavors together. If you love Arayes, wait till you try these, Lebanese Diner adds its own twist with melted cheese. Finally, the Halloum Meshwe, topped with mint and seasoned with olive oil and a sprinkle of mint, was the star of the first part of our meal, and we highly recommend this vegetarian-friendly dish.

For our main course, we shared two of their specialty sandwiches to understand what all the fuss was about. And boy did we understand. We took a shot at the Beef Shawarma Sandwich and the famous Samkeh Trabolseye Sandwich. As we took our first bite of the delicious fish sandwich, we instantly fell in love. We had never tried a Samkeh Trabolseye sandwich before, but it is definitely one we will now look out for in the future. Our second choice was the Beef Shawarma sandwich, which we admit is not very original, but we had to try it out after hearing some great things about it. It was a good choice though, as it included high-quality shredded beef served in delicious warm bread.

Lebanese Diner also offers burgers in true diner style, as well as a kids’ menu.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

The grills and mezze platters for big groups looked very tempting and are definitely on our bucket list for the next time around.

Lebanese Diner offers a wide variety of (non-alcoholic) fruit cocktails, milkshakes, fresh juices, soft drinks and hot drinks.

Décor & Ambience

Lebanese Diner has the feel of an American diner blended with an Arab touch. The light wooden tables and white walls make the first floor of the restaurant feel spacey in an area of town where restaurants are usually tight. There is also the option to sit downstairs at the bar, or upstairs at the bar facing the busy Zamalek street.

The playlist included relaxing instrumental beats played just at the right volume, quiet enough that we could hear each other comfortably.

Clientele mix: All ages, couples and groups of friends.

Price range: Affordable.

Contact information

Opening hours: 24/7
Address: 118, 26^th July St, Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt
Tel:  0111 900 0585
Facebook/Instagram: @lebaneseDiner

El Gadaa (loosely translates to ‘the chivalrous, stand-up person’) brings all Egyptian street-cart food in Shiekh Zayed under one roof and backs it up with a franchise operational system, ensuring we enjoy all our street food favorites without any of the street’s unwanted extras… you know what we mean.

Owner Sherif Zaki wanted to fill a gap in the food market by providing quality, clean Egyptian street food at affordable prices. His ambition is not to charge you an arm and a leg for a plate of koshari or a taameya sandwich, rather he wants to make El Gadaa’s high quality offerings accessible to all for very reasonable prices.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signature dishes include Koshari El Gadaa, Hawashi El Gadaa, Pasta with Egyptian Sausage, all breakfast items.

Heading in on a Friday morning, the staff was all smiles. We went ahead and relinquished all ordering control to Zaki and sipped on our free drinks as we waited. A pour-it-yourself station with three glass dispensers neatly lined up offered karkadeh (cold hibiscus drink), sobia (a sweet and starchy coconut-rice milk), and kharoub (carob drink), drinks you would typically find street vendors offering in plastic bags with straws. Best part? You get free refills as you eat!

As familiar smells wafted through the air, our stomachs began to grumble. Soon enough, relief arrived in the form of Shakshouka, Foul Eskandarani, Foul Bel Zeit El Har, French Fries, Pickled Eggplant, Messa’aa, Taameya sandwiches, Baladi Salad, Fried Haloumi Cheese Sticks, Cheese and Tomato and Baladi bread, freshly baked in an authentic baladi oven right where we can see it.

A hearty and filling Egyptian breakfast with all the trimmings, everything exceeded expectation! Especially the Messa’aa, which tasted just like home, and the Cheese and Tomato, made with Feta cheese and a surprising addition that took this traditional breakfast plate to another level: tehina!

We hardly got through all the dishes; much to our dismay, there was plenty left over despite the reasonable serving sizes, but everything was incredibly filling. We were then served tea in individual-sized traditional teapots accompanied by fresh mint leaves chilled on ice. After a few soothing sips, we were ready for dessert. Again drawing on street-cart food culture, dessert was none other than sweet potato; it came in oven-baked form with béchamel.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

Everything! Although on our next visit we will pop in for lunch to dig into Koshari El Gadaa and a traditional Liver Sandwich!

As for the beverage options, they keep it simple with the drinks in the glass dispensers (karkadeh, sobia, kharoub), tea, and sodas.

Décor & Ambience

Fresh and clean, with traditional ahwa chairs in oranges and greens. The open kitchen is lined in shiny white ceramic tiles, exuding an air of cleanliness and freshness. A brick baladi oven is complemented with a brick wall on the opposite side. A street cart acts as the counter, giving an authentic feel to the theme.

Clientele mix: During our visit, we saw dads on early morning breakfast runs, and families with little ones enjoying a homey breakfast that mom doesn’t have to slave over on a Friday morning.

Worth noting: The freshly baked baladi bread is available to buy alone as in a bakery.

Takeaway and delivery: Delivery available from 8 am to 12 am in Sheikh Zayed and Palm Hills.

Contact information

Opening hours: From 8 am to 12 amAddress: Exit 14 Mall, on the same road as Fresh Food Market, across Greens Compound.
Tel: 0103 022 9000
Facebook and Instagram: Al-Gadaa

Italian palate pleasers at your service! Ristorante Tuscany’s new menu adds to the ever-evolving array of cuisines offered at our go-to hotel, offering tasty and traditional Italian dishes made fresh to order. From risotto to rich grilled meats, appetizers to desserts and everything in between. Ristorante Tuscany is considered one of the best Italian restaurants in Zamalek for and and option for a romantic dinner night.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

We began our foray into Italian cuisine with a fresh bread basket that came with an impressive and unique oil and balsamic vinaigrette topped with fresh cheese. Our starters, Carpaccio di Manzo, Caprese Salad, and Arancini Balls, were grand in both size and flavor, giving us a true taste of Italy right off the hop. From the thinly sliced beef tenderloin with Parmesan cheese and olive oil, to the pesto and fresh mozzarella, each bite was filling and flavorful. For mains, we chose the Mushroom Risotto, Shrimp Pasta, Mixed Seafood Grill, and Grilled Lamb Chops. The risotto was adorned with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese and exceeded expectations! The pasta came with a healthy portion of shrimp and the mixed seafood and grilled lamb both perfectly hit the mark when it came to taste, quality, and authenticity. We then happily moved on to dessert, a Panna Cotta topped with fruit and Tiramisù that came in a martini glass, tying in all of the amazing flavors of Northern Italy.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

Next time we would definitely try the Salmon Ravioli, Lasagna, and the Veal.

The beverage menu is separate and extensive, giving guests a wide range of hot, cold, soft, and alcoholic beverages to choose from.

Décor & Ambience

The décor takes you right into the heart of Northern Italy: rustic, comfortable and inviting. Charming and romantic ambiance, complete with mood lighting and intimate dining space. The windowless restaurant is very quiet and quaint, perfect for a couple’s night out or a work dinner.

 Clientele mix: The clientele is 100% cosmopolitan with guests from every part of the globe dining together.

Price range: A bit pricy but very reasonable for a major international hotel and a fine dining experience.

Contact information

Hours: 6 pm – 12 am
Address: 16 Saray El Gezira Street Zamalek
Phone Number: 02 2728 3000 ext. 4661
Facebook: Cairo Marriott Hotel & Omar Khayyam Casino
Instagram: cairomarriott

If you haven’t discovered the cooking of the good ole’ USA, then indulge yourself with a visit to this fun new addition of American food in Sheikh Zayed dining scene. You might imagine it could be a fried-food, carb overload, and you are partially right. It could all go seriously wrong. But Country Hills has nailed it. The food is well-prepared, and beautifully presented. From the minute you walk in the door, you can’t help but get swept up in the ‘y’all feel right at home here’ vibe. We loved it!

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

It’s all there. Soups, salads, wings, wedges, burgers, sandwiches, chicken, prime American beef steaks, casseroles, mac ‘n’ cheese and deep crust and thin crust pizzas. As a true blue American diner, the Deep Crust Pizza and Mac ‘n’ Cheese are ‘must try’ items.

Virtuously opting to start with a salad, we soon found ourselves digging into a bowl brimming over with fried chicken strips with ranch sauce, tortilla chips, sweet corn, black beans, tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, onions and spicy jalapeno. This should have forewarned us…

It’s always good to check out the starters, so when the Hills Country Combo arrived we found generous portions of Buffalo wings, chicken and meat balls, onion rings, bacon mac ‘n’ cheese balls and tortilla chips. With the addition of three yummy dips, we were in our element. Before we could blink, a huge bowl of Smokey BBQ Mac ‘n’ Cheese arrived. Think along the lines of smoked beef bacon in original BBQ sauce with pasta, pepperoni and hot dogs, all mixed in creamy sauce laden with cheddar and mozzarella cheese.

Moving swiftly on, we opted to share a Pizza Burger. Yes, you heard it right. A giant juicy beef burger topped with mozzarella and pepperoni, all melted in a rich pizza sauce. Not to forget the divinely seasoned wedges and dip that accompanied it, may we add. Then came the star of the show. The famed deep dish pizza. Our Bacon BBQ Chicken pizza combined original BBQ sauce and, chicken, beef bacon, and balsamic onions, along with a huge amount of gooey mozzarella cheese. It takes a hearty appetite to clear the plate, it is so filling. Something to share, please note. After all that, could we squeeze in dessert? Only just. A plate of Molten Brownies with Fudge Sauce and Ice Cream did the trick.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

There are so many to choose from, we wouldn’t know where to start. Based on what we had tried, the quality appears to be consistently good. The breakfast menu looks excellent as well, not that we would be in the mood for tackling work after indulging. Best kept for a weekend foray.

We tried the Monkey Business Shake, a combination of chocolate ice-cream, peanut butter and banana and the Passion Mojito. The shake was a meal in itself, any kid’s dream, and the mojito, although virgin, was top notch. Country Hills offers a great range of non-alcoholic beverages, so be adventurous. There are hot beverages as well.

Décor & Ambience

It doesn’t get any more atmospheric than this. With both indoor and outdoor seating, everything echoes the feel of the menu, and creates an authentic American Diner experience. Never big fans of country music, nonetheless, by the time we were ready to head home we found our feet tapping along to the well-curated playlist. Consider us converted!

Clientele mix: By 6 pm we found a lot of tables filling up with groups of friends and families. There can’t be anything more ‘aw’ inspiring than the expressions of pure delight on little ones’ faces as they dig in to these kid-friendly dishes.

Price range: Totally affordable, with large, shareable portions.

Worth noting: Takeaway is available, and delivery is planned for the near future.

Contact information

Opening hours: 9 am to 12:30 am daily. Breakfast is served.

Address: Majarrah in Sheikh Zayed

Tel: 0100 905 5900

Facebook and Instagram: CountryHillsEG

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