Abu El Sid

Finally after 4 years of anticipation I was back at my favourite restaurant in Cairo. After a 5 minute walk and a quick turn down a dark alley, we were standing in front of the biggest wooden doors I have ever seen. There were no signs or markings on the doors or the building nor were there any handles. We pushed open one side of the enormous black door and entered Abu El Sid. There was a wait to be seated and the air was filled with the faint smell of apple sheesha.

The decor is truly traditional Egyptian with coloured glass beads hanging from wrought iron chandeliers, marble table tops, Napoleon style furniture, ambiant mood lighting and even some whirling dervish statues to finish it all off. We ate Circassian Chicken (walnut & paprika sauce), shrimp tajne, and tahina with fresh pita bread. I couldn't pass up the apple sheesha and it turned out to be the best apple sheesha yet.

We rolled out of our high back chairs and headed back to the hotel where our full stomachs quickly lulled us to sleep.