? Craving a taste of nostalgia? Newly-minted dining establishments are not difficult to find anywhere in Cairo. From Italian and American cuisines to Lebanese and Thai, Egypt’s food scene has never been more alive. But what of the good ol’ oldies that still welcome their patrons in 2026? This week, we paid Heliopolis’ Cortigiano — one of the country’s first Italian eateries — a visit to see how it still fares.

Like stepping into a time machine. What immediately stands out about Cortigiano — at least its Heliopolis branch — is its determination to retain its spirit. The eatery is clad in chunky wooden furniture, booths that have gently borne witness to years of conversation, aged light fixtures, and walls filled with Italian paraphernalia. There is a certain bliss in visiting a place that remains unchanged, and we experienced that fully. That sentiment carried over to the menu.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. The menu is a combination of international staples and Italian classics: all sorts of soups, pastas, deep-fried appetizers (and baked counterparts for the health-conscious), burgers, pizzas, rissotos, and a variety of mains. Which is to say, you’ll spend quite a bit of time perusing it. You won’t find innovative, high-end concoctions, but what you’ll find will be hearty and home-cooked.

A trip to Cortigiano would be criminally incomplete without sampling their Four 4 all appetizer platter — onion rings, sweet sesame chicken bites, deep-fried mushrooms, and mini jacket potatoes. While the platter delivered on freshness and flavor, we found the portion size a tad underwhelming, enough for just two. For mains, we went for the country fried chicken and Alfredo pasta. Both quickly made up for the appetizers’ modesty, with generous portions making their way to our to-go back.

Service was a little slow, the food arrived sizzling hot. The fried chicken was the star of the night — succulent cuts with golden-crisp coats. The Alfredo was also delicious, though it could have used a touch more sauce in our humble opinion.

Our verdict? Cortigiano is still a solid choice in 2026. Could you find better Italian at the same price point? Yes — but bear with us. Long after our food was savored and our to-go bag packed, we lingered. What Cortigiano still offers after all these years — if no longer primarily top-notch Italian cuisine — is comfort and a sense of slowness. The restaurant’s patrons filled the place with laughter and conversation, and we felt inclined to do the same. That makes it a worthy dining experience.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Cortigiano at 14 Samir Mokhtar St., Ard El Golf,Heliopolis, at New Cairo’s Downtown Mall, and at Mall of Arabia.

? Per person: EGP 700-800

? Outdoor seating: No

? Alcohol: No

? Accessibility friendly: No

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