There is nothing better than ‘Pizza & Cocktails’ as the sign at the bar says. Padrino is the perfect combination of tasty Italian food and good cocktails, along with the right kind of ambience transporting you to the heart of Italy.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signature dishes include the Involtini di Zucchine Grigliate e Salmone, Vitello de Tonato, Ravioli, Spaghetti Frutti di Mare, Gnocchi, Dilizia Pizza and Panforte. Espresso Martini is their signature cocktail!

Once we arrived, the staff at Padrino had everything ready for us. We sipped on the Sweet Rosé Sangria, made with seasonal fruits; lemon, grapes and plum, it was delightful.

As a starter, we opted for Vitello Tonato, an original and tasty combination especially for tuna lovers; thin slices of roasted veal fillet with tuna mayonnaise and capers. Then we dove into the Involtini di Zucchine Grigliate e Salmone, smoked salmon wrapped in grilled zucchini with chilli pepper cream cheese.

Halfway through the appetizers, the waiter brought us the signature cocktail, Espresso Martini, and it was the right palate refresher with a bit of a zing!

As a main dish, we went for a tasty trio: Ravioli, Gnocchi and Dilizia pizza. The Ravioli, freshly made, was filled with spinach and ricotta cheese with a white fresh herb sauce. The Gnocchi was homemade and exquisite, with tomato basil sauce, one of the best we have tried ever!

While we enjoyed the homemade pasta while the Dilizia pizza was on its way, the Red Snapper came; it was a chilli -fusion Bloody Mary cocktail, perfect for those who love spicy cocktails.

The Dilizia pizza; fresh tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, blue cheese, mushroom, garlic and oregano, was thin and crunchy. The mix of the cheeses added a distinct flavour.

For dessert, we tried the Panforte; spiced fruit nut cake, homemade and perfect for the Christmas season.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

On a return visit we would sample the Padrino Frito, Insalata di Avocado, Penne con Pollo e Funghi, Diavola Pizza, Buffalo Pizza and Torta di Mele. Long Island Ice Tea and Pink Panther cocktails.

Beverage options include cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, shots, energy drinks, hot beverages and soft drinks.

Décor & Ambience

Modern décor, spacious and with a good ambience; a really good choice for an outing with friends or for a date. Like a good Italian restaurant, the pizza oven is outside for your viewing pleasure. The bar is wide enough for a group to enjoy their night out.

If you like to order everything to share, the tables are the right size for that. The ones right at the entrance are a good option for a casual dinner, while the ones inside are cozier and comfortable. Something for every mood! There is an area with couches, perfect for a drink with friends.

Tip!  Most of the dishes on the menu are suitable for vegetarians.

Clientele mix: Couples and groups of friends.

Price range:  Affordable considering the quality.

Contact information

Opening hours: Daily from 4 pm to 2 am

Address:  Cairo Complex, Ankara St. Heliopolis

Tel:  0122 776 7722

Facebook:  Padrinoeg

Instagram: @padrinoeg

While we have always been willing to make the drive into town to Pier88’s Nile-side Zamalek venue, and been firm fans forever of the flagship El Gouna restaurant, we admit we were head-over-heels with excitement about the launch of the new gem in Pyramid Hills Compound off Cairo-Alex Desert Road. Our visit more than exceeded our expectations.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Expect creative food pairings, contemporary twists to traditional elements, an accolade to global cuisines, created by Michelin-starred chef Giorgio Diana. The set-menus with wine pairings created by Chef Giorgio encompass the passion and inspiration that goes into his cooking, so are definitely a ‘must try’. They are more of a dégustation, a journey of the senses. We know, we lived the experience and will be back for more.

We had decided to leave the choice of menu for our dinner in the hands of Chef Giorgio. Smart call, as with so many intriguing options we would not have known where to start.  Our palates were primed with an aperitif of elderflower syrup, sparkling wine and soda with a muddle of fresh mint, accompanied by yucca chips, to be swiftly followed by a tempting selection of fresh bread, with a trio of savory butters. The amuse bouche that came alongside was picture perfect. A dainty cube of tuna sashimi resting on tiny green beans, accented with champagne foam. Before we had time to delve back into the irresistible bread basket we found ourselves sipping a Canadian lobster and pumpkin soup. Served inside a scooped-out baby pumpkin, the Hokkaido Pumpkin Soup was rich in flavour and a delight to delve into.

Course after course arrived, scallops served on oven-charred celery root, complemented by lavender and tonka bean foam and caramelized pumpkin seeds, followed by King Crab tortellini, the squid-ink pasta in carefully formed little ears and resting in a truffle infused oil and flavour-packed espuma. Just at the right moment we found ourselves dipping into an intense lemon sorbet which cleared our palates for a new adventure. Wild grouper with both white and green asparagus, baby broccoli, grapes and saffron foam preceded the meat course of the evening. Our Pistachio Crumbed Lamb was just the right shade of pink, melt-in-the-mouth tender, with lilac carrot, parsnip purée, spring onion, baby green beans and a superb, deep flavoured port wine jus.

Portions were just right, delicate but satisfying, as the diverse flavors gave our taste buds plenty of excitement. Visually, every dish was a delight, frivolous at times, but never too self-important.

Which left dessert. Who could say no to a combination of pistachio biscuit, salty vanilla caramel, caramelized cashews, Caraïbe Cream Chantilly and milk chocolate Cream Chantilly?  A combination made in heaven. Just as we had settled back to relax and reflect on our amazing four-hour gastronomic experience, we found yet another temptation in the form of miniscule macarons.  Brightly colored and infused with a whirlwind of flavors, they were savored unto the very last crumb. Our thanks to brilliant Chef de Pâtisserie, Johnny. It was a fitting end to an exceptional dinner.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

We would make a trip back in a heartbeat to try Insalata Gamberi E Avocado , with black tiger prawns, avocado guacamole, mustard green leaves and raspberry sorbet, or Filetto Di Tonno , a black sesame crusted tuna fillet with green peas and 18- year- old Aceto Balsamico di Modena. Just thinking about it makes our head spin.

Beverage options include amazing cocktails, full bar and an impressive wine list, with plenty of soft options also available. Great mock-tails.

Décor & Ambience

The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, with a touch of art-deco edginess on the ceiling adding visual appeal. Colors are subtle, and large picture windows invite the surrounding greenery in. Seating in plush velvet adds a luxurious feel, and tables are arranged to allow maximum privacy while still enjoying the view of the verdant greenery outside. The service was spot-on, seamlessly smooth and unobtrusive, as would be expected by any venture with Giovanni Bolandrini at the helm. In short, the whole feel was magical, and so romantic we would make Pier88 top of our list for the ultimate date night.

Clientele mix:  Chic, cosmopolitan, 30s upwards. Definitely a good choice for discerning diners who also appreciate being able to converse over an exceptional meal.

Price range: Upscale, but well worth the splurge.

Contact information

Opening hours: 7 pm till 1 am on weekdays and till 3am on weekends. Sundays closed. Brunch and lunch are both planned for the near future.

Address: Pyramid Hills Compound, Cairo – Alexandria Desert Road

Tel: 0127 480 0011

Facebook: Pier88 Group

Instagram: @Pier88egypt

TripAdvisor: Pier88 NileRiver

Website: http://pier88group.com/

We’re always pleased to hear about new dining spots in the heart of the city, so we were delighted to hear that a new gastro-bar was open in Zamalek’s cozy President Hotel. With a menu devised and helmed by a French chef, Monkey Bar & Grill is a welcome addition to the central Cairo dining scene.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signature dishes include the Moules a L’Escargot, Pate Fois De Poulet, Boeuf L’Entrecôte, Fondue De Fromage.

We opted to start the meal on the seafood side of the spectrum, choosing the Moules a L’Escargot and Salmon Tartar. A novel take on mussels, the dish consists of mushrooms stuffed with moules, baked with herb butter and served with bread and hand cut French fries. It’s a perfect little appetizer to whet the appetite. The diced Salmon Tartar was layered on a bed of avocado mash mixed with horseradish and mustard sauce, resulting in a creamy taste – not as tart and citrusy as other salmon tartar offerings we have tried in the past. Both were the perfect portions that left us ample room to move on to our mains: Boeuf L’Entrecôte and Poulet Tarragon. Our beef arrived as ordered, medium rare, and was incredibly tender – melt in your mouth tender. Monkey Bar & Grill’s special entrecote sauce tastes like a fantastic chimichurri sauce and complements the beef very well.  The Poulet Tarragon was also very satisfactory, a sliced chicken breast resting on a bed of tarragon and mushroom sauce. Each main dish comes with hand cut French fries and a garden salad, also some dishes would better suit a mashed potato in order to make better use of the remaining sauce… only because the sauce is too delicious to leave behind! We ended our meal with the Marron Brûlée, a lovely light crème brûlée made with chestnut purée – the perfect ending to a very taste-bud-tantalizing meal.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

Monkey Bar & Grill intends to expand its’ menu very soon, so there will be even more to choose from next time. On our next visit, we would love to tuck into the Warm Goat Cheese Salad, Pate Fois de Poulet, or the Saumon a la Crème de Tomates Sechees – baked salmon with a lemon, butter and sun-dried tomato cream sauce. Yummy!

Beverage options include a fully stocked bar is available with special Sangria jugs to share, a selection of wine and beers, and soft drinks and hot beverages are also available for non-drinkers.

Décor & Ambience

A super cozy cellar-like environment, with colorful art adorning the walls and jungle motif wallpaper, creating the perfect space to escape from the hustle and bustle of our city to enjoy some mood music and great food. There’s an open kitchen where you can watch the chef at work, and plenty of low and high tables for groups of friends to catch up. There’s a lively vibe in the space, and the service is impeccable.

Clientele mix: The late 20s to early 40s segment, with a few famous faces wandering in. This is pegged to be the next Zamalek haunt, so reserve well in advance

Price range: Pricey, but the cuisine is worth it. Also, you will be dining for a cause – a portion of your check goes to the Banati Foundation to help street children.

Contact information

Opening hours: 8 pm until late

Address: 22 Taha Hussein St. – Zamalek

Tel:  0103 349 3330

Facebook: @monkeybarandgrill

There’s a lot more to being a serious ‘foodie’ these days. You can even roll up your sleeves and get involved in the cooking! Two eager volunteers from our team headed over to Maadi to enjoy the Mamushka experience first-hand.

The Concept

The ‘mamushka’ or mother in societies around the world has traditionally maintained and passed on culinary and cultural traditions through the daily preparation of food for her family. So it is at Mamushka. This culinary gem is the creation of sisters Marwa and Meriam Magdy. Fuelled by a vision in which food was an idea, grounded in values, in touch with its origins, certified chef Meriam above all needed a place where she could have fun experimenting with food, using local ingredients in innovative ways, and communicating with people through food. Not merely a restaurant, Maadi-based Mamushka takes things to a new level by offering an immersive experience where diners also have the option of being part of the process. Chef Meriam enthusiastically shares her knowledge and loves encouraging others to develop their skills. An added pleasure, the cozy environment invites you to relax, kick back, grab a book from the library, browse the Internet or simply chat and make new friends while your food is being prepared.

The Kitchen Experience

Aprons on and keen to start, Louby and Mariam from Cairo East Magazine learned the process of making homemade pasta from A-Z. Step by step, they mastered the gentle mixing of the ingredients, learning how to knead the dough and form it into the correct size balls, the light rolling and careful feeding of the dough through the pasta-making machine. They produced sheets of lasagna, strands of fettuccine, spirals of fusilli, dainty bow-shaped farfalle and even ravioli. Impressed by their own efforts, they also went on to learn how to make three basic but tasty sauces to go with their pasta. Now they can turn out an accomplished tomato salsa, a creamy garlic sauce and a divine blend of the two. Their verdict, “An amazing experience with wonderful people. We felt right at home, like part of the family”.

The Dining Experience

It’s up to you. Plan your dinner party menu from an enticing range of creative dishes with Chef Meriam a few days in advance, then sit back and let her take charge, or opt to make it a personalized experience where any or all of your party can choose to learn more about culinary techniques by assisting in the meal preparation. The end result is guaranteed to be a mouth-watering gastronomic adventure in a warm, lively atmosphere, whichever you choose.

Décor & Ambience

The open-plan kitchen flows into the lounge and dining areas, bringing a cohesive and inclusive vibe to the space. A large wooden table and chairs with comfy, colorful cushions provides a convivial dining spot, which can seat up to ten persons. The outdoor terrace offers simple bench seating amongst a profusion of greenery and well-tended plants. While you are waiting for your meal, the relaxing lounging area has a temptingly packed bookcase and casual seating for chilling out over a coffee or tea. The interior was created brick-by-brick by Marwa. Every element has her personal touch, and you can positively feel the love that has gone into it.

Catering:  15 – 50 persons. 7 days advance notice.

Events: Birthdays, special anniversaries, kids’ parties and more.

Cookery classes: The schedule is posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Clientele mix: It’s never too soon to instill a love of good food in your children, so classes are available for juniors as well. Everyone is made to feel welcome at Mamushka.

Price range: Very reasonable for an experience you will want to repeat on a regular basis.

Contact information

Opening hours: 11 am to 11 pm.

Address:  Corniche El Maadi, Diplo Street, Othman Towers, Tower #7

Tel:  0100 661 4746

Facebook: MamushkaTheFeedlot

Instagram: mamushkathefeedlot

The Burger Factory’s newest addition totally lived up to our high expectations already set by its Zamalek and Americana Plaza branches. The burger experts offer a great range of burgers, sides, desserts and shakes, from classic combinations to some stellar innovations.

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signatures include the Cowboy burger, Hui Huli burger, Volcano burger, Chicken Burger, Oreo Cake and Chocolate Molten Cake.

Our appetites were primed and ready, so we ordered a couple of starters to keep us busy while the burgers were being prepared. Fried food is always a good test of the quality of a restaurant, and our Fried Mushrooms with Garlic Dip and Fried Mozzarella Sticks with Honey Mustard Dip ticked all the boxes. The Fried Mushrooms were fresh and succulent, with a light, crunchy casing; the Mozzarella Sticks were a perfect size for dunking in the tasty dip. A good start to the evening. Our choice of a raspberry milkshake was also a winner. It was cool and refreshing, without being heavy. We opted for the popular Cowboy burger, with cheese, beef bacon, fried onion rings and garlic mayo added to the prime Angus beef patty. Now we understand why it is such a best-seller!

The Huli Huli was every bit as good, with its addition of grilled pineapple slices, jalapeño, beef bacon, cheese, lettuce and BBQ sauce. The freshness of the pineapple and spicy hit of jalapeño complemented the beef to perfection. Portions of both burgers and fries were generous; the fries alone were worth the visit. It was handy to know that vegetarian options are available as well as a kids’ menu.

It was sheer gluttony that urged us on to share a dessert, so we quickly demolished a serving of Oreo Cake before hitting the road for a (very) short drive home.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

On a return visit, we’d try the Burger Factory appetizer platter; The Mexican hot dog; Hot Chicks burger with fried chicken, lettuce, beef bacon, cheese, jalapeño and spicy mayo.

A good choice of fresh juices, milkshakes and soft drinks are on offer.

Décor & Ambience

Contemporary and casual, with grey mural decorated walls and simple bench style seating and wooden tables. The vibe is upbeat and relaxed.

Clientele mix: All ages, families, friends – in short, burger-lovers!

Price range: Totally affordable for great quality.

Worth noting: Delivery service is available for the surrounding Wahat Road and City View area, and we are definitely top of the list. Kids of all ages will be happy to discover two Play Station booths where they can amuse themselves while munching.

Contact information

Opening hours: 1 pm – 11.30 pm

Address: Flags Mall, on the Wahat Road just before Gate 1 of Dreamland.

Tel:  0122 1011222

Facebook: theburgerfactory

Instagram: @theburgerfactory.official

Sometimes it is rewarding to get off the beaten track and hunt down new spots. It is not always about fine dining, although that admittedly is a draw. It is fun to investigate what each place has to offer and who it is tailored to. Kimzy is a good match for sports-loving shisha fans who really value a good fast WiFi connection. Sounds like you? Read on…

Signatures Dishes & Dishes Sampled

Signatures include the Beef Stroganoff, Kimzy Mixed Grill.

In all fairness, Kimzy is still in a soft-opening phase, so a few of the menu items were not available at the time we popped in. We kept it simple and shared the Kimzy Power Salad, a fresh concoction of avocado, iceberg lettuce, garghir, cherry tomato and shrimp as a starter. The citrus-y dressing suited it perfectly. Our main dishes arrived promptly, Chicken Oregano and signature dish, Beef Stroganoff. The stroganoff came with herb accented mashed potato and sautée seasonal vegetables, although we could have opted for noodles or rice instead of the potato. The chicken breast was served with fresh chopped tomato topped with grilled cheese, sprinkled with a dusting of oregano. It also came with sautéed vegetables and was in a manageable sized portion. At this stage desserts were limited to brought-in cheesecake or chocolate cake, but a wider homemade selection is promised for the future.

Other Menu Options that Appealed & Beverages Available

We would love to try their soups when available. The Mushroom Cappucino sounds divine. And, in keeping with the mood of the venue, a serve of Hawashy.

Beverage options include juices, soft drinks, mocktails, tea and coffee. We tried the strawberry and apple-based Kimzy cocktail and mango with kiwi cocktail, both were fruity and filling. Shisha is served throughout.

Décor & Ambience

There is a cosy mountain chalet feel to Kimzy. Wooden-paned windows and a wooden ceiling set off the feature brick walls and huge open fireplace. Seating is both indoor and outdoor on an enclosed terrace. The overall look is no-frills and practical, the indoor tables were a good height for either dining or whipping out a laptop to take care of a few emails or social media updates. Each area has several TV screens strategically placed to enable customers to enjoy the Bein sports channels pumping out the top sporting fixtures of the day.

As mentioned, there is an unpretentious atmosphere at Kimzy. Tables are well spaced so there is ample privacy. It was not surprising to learn that it has already become a popular spot for early breakfast meetings. The service team is efficient and unobtrusive, meaning that you can work, enjoy a leisurely shisha or watch the match with minimum fuss.

Clientele mix: Couples, groups of friends and singles catching up on their emails.

Price range: Moderate

Contact information

Opening hours: 9 am to 2 am or later.

Address: Adjacent to Green Heights Compound on Gamal Abdel Nasser St., behind Mall of Arabia.

Tel:  02 3821 0556

Facebook: Kimzy by Azur