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

It seems that new venues in Cairo fail to realise that exposure is vital, tucking themselves away in obscured spots – as is the case with newly opened Senzo. Located in the Sheraton Heliopolis area, this newly opened pizzeria has serious claim to making some of the best pizza around.

Senzo is a relatively small place. While the menu may be Italian-inspired, the interior is modern with a distinct American style. It’s characterized by a high dark wood ceiling, blue chandeliers and white bookshelves filled with books and magazines. The walls are a  cool beige with a greyish tint.

The restaurant serves shisha indoors and outdoors, but because of the small indoor area, it can get suffocating in the evenings when it’s more crowded and smoky. The outdoor area is well prepared for the season and is full of water-mist fans helping to alleviate the summer heat.

We started our meal with the Insalata di Pollo (26.95LE)  which came in a generous portion and had lettuce, tomatoes, black olives, fresh mushrooms and chicken breast slices with a honey vinaigrette dressing. All of the ingredients were fresh and we enjoyed the salad immensely on a warm summer’s day.

Now for the pizza! We ordered a large pizza with smoked roast beef (46.95LE), which was too big for even two people. With a satisfactory pizza crust, it comes topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, thin cuts of smoked beef, onions, baby corn and pineapples. The combination of the fresh ingredients made for a heavenly pizza. We will definitely be going back for more.

Like any self-respecting Italian restaurant, there are a also a variety of homemade pastas that include Lasagne alla Bolognese (34.95LE), Lasagne Ricotta e Spinaci (33.95LE), and gnocchi (26.95LE).

Another noteworthy item, this time from the drinks menus, is Café Senzo (11.95LE); a blend of espresso, milk, chocolate, hazelnut, and topped with foam – it’s a must try.

The staff at Senzo were pleasant and their service was efficient. All of our orders came quickly and we didn’t have to wait long – an impressive feat considering how well prepared everything was.

So next time you’re in the area and feel like giving yourself a treat, head over to Senzo and get yourself one of the most delicious pizzas in town.