🍴Finding a great restaurant in Maadi isn’t too hard, so we weren’t necessarily surprised when we stumbled upon Don Paolo. Cairo may be awash with Italian options, but finding one you can rely on for just straight good food — no traffic, no reservations, no pretension — is a rare thrill.

The restaurant is small, but cozy. An outside seating area and a couple of tables inside allow you to enjoy the fresh smells coming from the open kitchen and pizza oven. We perused the fully Italian menu and weighed our pizza and pasta selections, deciding to skip starters in favor of the familiar classics. The gnocchi alla sorrentina and the funghi tartufo pizza caught our eye — and later, our hearts.

The Neapolitan pizza bianca arrived first, and it was just what we had hoped for. The flavors of the crisp, warm dough, the fresh mushrooms, the delectable truffle paste, and the shredded mozzarella were all our hungry, Italian-craving selves could have asked for. Our only gripe was that the bare crust extended a little too far toward the pizza’s center, which meant less of that savory heaven we so enjoyed. The gnocchi hit all the right spots for a red-sauce pasta dish; the tomato sauce, mixed in with the parmesan and mozzarella, was the uncontested star — another rich, savory treat that had our taste buds dancing.

The intimacy of the place prompted us to be honest with the (very friendly) chefs about our minor critique of the pizza. A few minutes later, an on-the-house tiramisu landed at our table — an unexpected but warmly welcomed gesture. Unapologetically Italian, the tiramisu was light and sweet, the perfect way to wrap up an already satisfying meal.

WHERE TO FIND IT- Don Paolo is located on Street 218Degla, Maadi. They also deliver in Maadi — you can head to their Instagram for more information.

💵 Per person: EGP 400-600

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes

Tags: