Oldish ( Restaurant & Cafe )

I always wanted to visit Oldish after watching all those reviews on social media, and finally I had the chance to go there and experience it myself, and I have to say it was way better than I thought. The atmosphere and vibes here were absolutely amazing. You will be surrounded by people from different countries, hearing so many different languages in the same place. The food was really delicious, and I'll absolutely come again to try different dishes. The vibes at the group floor were way better, so I recommend reserving before arriving, or else you won't find a good spot to sit.

24/1/26 Saturday early evening meal We three middle aged guys from London had toured the Coptic centre of Cairo, headed back to our hotel near Taria Square and needed a meal before heading our back to the Opera House later. We had passed this restaurant the previous evening much too late after the Opera had finished. The kitchens had closed by 11. The boards promised vegetarian dishes and we voted to come back earlier to sample them. This time we arrived around 5:30 to find a quite busy courtyard with locals and groups of Chinese students. We had a look at the menus better entering and found the vegetarian options limited. We decided to stay and try it out. A waiter showed us a table in the far right corner by the stairs leading to the internal dining room. We hoped no-one would smoke near us. We were presented with more menus and separate drinks menus. Prices seemed reasonable. We chose two mains - Moussaka without meat (110), Penne Arrabiata (130), Lentil Soup (60), Beet & Yoghurt Salad (95), Caesar Salad (92), Banana with Milk (90), Lemon & Mint Juice (71) and a Sahlab (88). The menu started a 14%VAT would be added. There was no mention of Service at all. The drinks came in good time and were tasty and generous. The Sahlab looked like a cross between. A babychino and zabaione topped with sliced nuts, interesting and hot. My lemon and mint was good as was the banana and milk. A team of waiters then dressed the tables and presented the lentil soup which included half a lemon and croutons. My friend liked it. A selection of salt, pepper, mustard and two spicy sauces were provided. The salads came and were generous. My other friend is an expert on Caesar Salad (traditionally NEVER had chicken in it!) and found it tasty but lacking in real parmesan (that might have increased the price a lot!) and anchovies. It did have a quartered on it which is a no-no. We shared the salads as the main courses arrived. My Penne Arrabiata was also generous and with a lot of sauce. It was mildly spicy though. I could have spiced it up with a hot sauce but did not get round to it. The single slice of garlic bread helped. Our friend's meatless Moussaka was tasty but not a proper moussaka as there was no layer of béchamel sauce. The aubergines were good though. We enjoyed our meal and as we needed to get changed for the concert at our hotel nearby we could not hang around. I added up the bill on my phone, asked the waiter for the 'cheque' as they say and it arrived at the correct amount of Eg 841.32 inc the tax. The waiter explained service was not included. We paid that by card and left a 100 tip hopefully to be shared between the many waiters who served us. The large Chinese group nearby seemed to have a few issues with the bill. I hope they resolved it. The larger the group the more complex the bills.

We visited for breakfast. The atmosphere and the garden are lovely, making it a perfect place to sit down and enjoy coffee or tea in a relaxed setting. We ordered an English breakfast and a bean dish, both of which were quite satisfying. The staff were very polite and attentive. A special thanks to Ahmed, who took great care of us—his good English was a real advantage for us. The only small downside was that the table was not wiped before placing the service paper. Other than that, it’s a place I would happily recommend to anyone looking to spend a pleasant and relaxed time.

Had dinner here last night. After taking my order, the waiter didn’t even print out the ticket. By the time I finished all my food, the guava juice I ordered earlier still hadn’t arrived. The Japanese couple at the next table waited for almost an hour and still didn’t get their food,completely forgotten. If the staff don’t have a good memory, please just use pen and paper to jot things down 😅 🍗 Shish Taouk – The grilled chicken skewers were fragrant, flavorful, and tender. But only two small sticks, served with fries and rice (you can choose two sides). 🍝 Chicken Alfredo – Rich, creamy, and cheesy. Big portion and really tasty! 🤤 Perfect comfort food on a windy day. 🥙 Hawawshi – Crispy on the outside, packed with juicy minced beef inside. Very satisfying.

What a great spot! Choose between sitting in the courtyard or outside. Either is great although if the weather is good, sit outside. Every dish was tasty and well presented. Service was efficient and quick. In an area dominated by fast food options, this place stands out from the rest. Highly recommended for a delicious meal.