The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Away from the posh Westown Hub, and located on the somewhat forgotten side of Beverly Hills, La Piazzetta Ristorante seems to have the name and location of an upscale restaurant. The mall is ever so hippily called, The Walk. And just like “hippily” isn’t a word, La Piazzetta Ristorante is not an upscale restaurant.

At first glance it looked like it boasted a stereotypical design for an Italian restaurant without the fancy parts, and we felt that the designer has chosen an economical approach for this project. But a few touches of industrial lighting, and a nice couch accommodating three tables, forces us to take it back; it’s not so bad after all.

Very much like the restaurant’s interior was plastered with figurines of Italian chefs, we found similar characters on the huge and diverse menu. We decided to go authentic Italian for the starters, with Fried Calamari (56 EGP), and the Eggplant Parmigiana (35 EGP). Their salads also looked inviting so we opted for the Nicoise Salad (50 EGP).

The Calamari was crunchy and the crust was quite tasty. Unlike most calamari dishes we see, this one had thick chunks of calamari instead of thin strips. Mayonnaise is not the obvious choice of condiment with this dish, but it was quite refreshingly different. As for the Eggplant Parmigiana, we were pleasantly surprised by how well it tasted. Cheese, pesto, and tomato sauce worked perfectly together; they mix well without overpowering each other, allowing you to taste every individual ingredient. We thoroughly enjoyed the Nicoise Salad, it was full of colour and taste. Thin strips of coloured pepper and lettuce worked well with the tuna and anchovies, and the delicate French dressing brought it home with an excellent, but not too overwhelming, taste.

Baffled by the pizza choices on the menu, we could not decide on what to order. After much deliberation, we were stuck with four options, and the folks at La Piazzetta were kind enough to make us two half-and-half pizzas to put an end to our confusion. We ordered a half-Salami/half-Bolognese Pizza (75 EGP), and a half-Buffalo Mozzarella/half-Quattro Formaggi Pizza (80 EGP).

Generally, the tomato sauce was delicious and not too similar to ones served in other restaurants: it wasn’t abundant but is definitely there. What was interesting about it is that you could taste the tiny bits and pieces of tomato and onions. The crust was a bit thicker than most Italian places, which works well for those who like some meat on the bone. Perhaps the best part about the pizzas was the air pockets in the crust, which were few yet quite sizeable.

Now for the pizzas themselves. The Buffalo Mozzarella, being one of the most expensive pizzas, did disappoint a bit. The mozzarella was a bit thick, and didn’t really stretch like the cheese we’re used to. The pesto added a nice touch, and the sun-dried tomatoes exploded with flavour. Its counterpart, however, was quite amazing. The blend of cheeses made our tongues dance with flavour, and those air pockets were a much welcome bonus in texture and overall experience.

As for the meaty pizzas, we were quite disappointed by the Salami. On the menu, air-dried salami sounds like a tasty bite, but in reality it was just like any store-bought Salami. The Bolognese, however, was quite the contrary. Authentic Ragù was spiced, diced, and much more than nice. The meat was slow-cooked, and marinated with the delicious tomato sauce that complemented it very well.

While we were thoroughly satisfied by the food and service, we have to say that something is off about the whole experience. The outdoor area is far too windy, and the indoor area is too stuffy. Not to mention the horribly annoying AC sound. There was no restroom inside the venue itself, but they did invite us to use the restroom of the supermarket right next to them.

La Piazzetta Ristorante may lack a lot of what makes an upscale restaurant, but it doesn’t lack the good food. Luckily enough though, it also lacks overpriced menu items.