Bittersweet is a versatile social house for the casual, the fancy, and the in-between

🍴 Restaurants that make room for your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all those casual in-between plans are true godsends, making scattered going-out options a whole lot easier. Bittersweet is one of them — offering an all-day menu, the right mix of drinks, and exactly the kind of easygoing vibe you want for any occasion.

First impressions: Bittersweet embraces a striking red interior, contrasted by playful branding and a light atmosphere. We tried our hand at the EDNC branch, which offers ample seating both indoors and outdoors, opting for an outdoor table to make the most of Cairo’s nice, breezy autumn weather and the more casual vibe. From the outside looking in, the indoor area takes on a moodier, cozier atmosphere that feels more fitting if you’re after a fancier vibe.

The Bittersweet all-day affair: The brasserie offers two separate toothsome breakfast and lunch & dinner menus. We were visiting for a hearty dinner and were in for quite a few options: a selection of the usual, mostly fried starters, a line-up of hearty salads, brunch-leaning sandwiches including their signature burger, a familiar selection of pizzas, four main platters, and a “pasta-your-way” section boasting homemade artisan pasta alongside a list of sauces and toppings. Rounding things off is a sweet dessert assortment, the classic hot and iced caffeine fixes, and a line-up of fruit “chilled house mixes.” Their Levantine and Turkish-style breakfast menu seemed tempting but will have to wait for another visit.

What we ordered: We opened with their staff-recommended BBQ chicken bites starter. They offered a nice, flavorful bite and tasted relatively fresh but didn’t seem too out of the ordinary. For our main meals, we opted for their newly added Popeye chicken platter and the guest-favorite Philly cheesesteak sandwich. The Popeye chicken came out as the night’s favorite, offering a delicious combination of tender grilled chicken breasts, spinach, and feta cheese. Our choice of fries and sautéed vegetables as sides was similarly satisfying, with the veggies proving exceptionally well-seasoned.

As for the Philly cheesesteak sammy, we’ve definitely had better. It was a solid enough meal, with flavorful crispy wedges on the side, but the filling itself didn’t stand out much. The seared beef and not-so-generous helping of melted provolone made for a somewhat dry bite, while the beef itself could have used more seasoning. The white bread, however, was fresh and nicely crisp. Overall, it wasn’t a sandwich we’d be tempted to order again given the better options.

We wrapped up our meals with their fruit smoothies — another favorite of the night — going for the two standouts: the Sweet Beat and the OMG (orange mango madness). The Sweet Beat came in a bright maroon color, with a refreshingly cold and balanced blend of beetroot, pomegranate, strawberry, and orange. The orange mango mix was similarly refreshing and pleasantly bittersweet (pun intended).

The verdict: Bittersweet serves up the perfect menu-and-atmosphere mix for casual family lunches, quick professional catch-ups, or nicer, reliable nights out. The menu might fall short in some instances, but it’s nonetheless a worthy addition to your social-house rotation — a spot you can visit at any time of day, whether you’re craving a hearty meal or something on the lighter side.

WHERE TO FIND IT- You can find Bittersweet at EDNC in SODIC Eastown, Sheikh Zayed’s Arkan Plaza and Westown Hub, and the Grand Egyptian Museum.

💵 Per person: EGP 600-900

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes

🍺 Alcohol: No

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes