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

Happens to be an all-time favourite for many, it’s not surprising to see such a huge number of restaurants that offer Italian cuisine in town and Porta D’Oro is one of them. Having managed to form a wide fan base with its first branch in Mohandiseen, the restaurant is following its success with another branch in Sheikh Zayed’s Americana Plaza, which we decided to check out.

As a venue, the restaurant is divided into three areas; a cosy indoor area, to which the bustling exposed kitchen adds an energetic vibe, a small glasshouse, which, when busy, tends to be quite uncomfortable and noisy and a narrow outdoor area with limited seating options that overlook Americana Plaza. A busy day for Porta D’Oro and an unlucky one for us; the lengthy waiting list had us finally seated after an over-30-minute wait in the noisy glass house, which was slightly annoying.

But that never hindered us from carefully checking the extensive menu, from which we opted for Pollo Cordon Bleu (115LE), Risotto Di Funghi (60LE) and Pepperoni Pizza (80LE). Served 20 minutes after we placed our order along with the mains, we had to ignore the complimentary breadbasket and enjoy the latter while they’re hot.

Generously stuffed with mushrooms, cheese, smoked beef and turkey; the two fried chicken breasts of the Cordon Bleu were tender and juicy. The hugely portioned dish comes with the sides of sautéed vegetables and fries, which were simply flawless, unlike the cream sauce that was served in a separate bowl; it was bland with a runny consistency and, comparing to the size of the dish as a whole, scarce.

As for the Risotto Di Funghi; despite being slightly overcooked, it was delicious, rich and creamy. We loved the generous amount of fresh mushrooms and the nutty, salty flavour of the parmesan cheese that complimented yet another hugely portioned dish that, for only 60LE, can actually feed two persons.

Meanwhile, the pizza boasted on-point simplicity. Formed of a thin, crispy dough with a topping of classic tomato sauce, olives, a sprinkle of thyme for an extra herby kick, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese; it was delightful as a whole.

Just as delightful were the perfectly executed Profiteroles (40LE) that we had for dessert; Stuffed with light and airy cream, the slightly crispy choux pastry were served on top of each other in a bowl, under a layer of fudgy chocolate cream and a dollop of whipped cream.  

With the dessert being a successful closing number to a delicious feast, we can say that Porta D’Oro offers quality food at very reasonable prices. Yes, it might not be the ultimate spot for an authentic Italian experience, but it’s good for what it is; a perfect place for a nice, wholesome dinner, where there’s definitely something for everyone.