Pepenero Korba – the Italian hideaway I’ve already eaten at three time

📍 Location Pepenero Korba 18 Baghdad St, El-Montaza, Heliopolis, Cairo Baghdad Street is the spine of the historic Korba district—tree-lined, art-deco façades, and a stone’s throw from Baron Empain Palace and Boghos Nubar Pasha’s mansion. Tourists come for the monuments; locals come for the pizza. 📞 Reservations Call +20 10 1010 1342 Ask for the tiny front balcony (literally two tables). You’ll watch Heliopolis traffic glide by while you twirl spaghetti—book it at least one day ahead. ⏰ Timing First seating is noon, but Egyptians rarely show before 2 p.m.—go at 12:30 if you want a quiet balcony and soft natural light for photos. 🗒️ Menu Decoder (Italian names + quick notes) Pizza • Pizza Margherita – EGP 260 Buffalo-milk mozzarella, thin and slightly soupy center, puffy charred crust. Classic benchmark. • Pizza Golfo di Napoli – EGP 420 Tomato base piled with shrimp, squid rings, and mussels. Tastes like the Tyrrhenian Sea in carb form. Pasta • Spaghetti al Frutti di Mare – EGP 360 Same seafood trio as above, tossed in light tomato sauce. Order extra chilli oil. • Fusilli al Gamberi – EGP 360 Corkscrew pasta cloaked in garlicky shrimp-cream. The butter hit is chef’s kiss. Risotto • Risotto al Funghi e Tartufo – EGP 360 Arborio rice simmered with sliced mushrooms and a restrained drizzle of truffle oil. I’ve ordered it every single visit—creamy, earthy, borderline addictive. Mains • Frittura di Mare – EGP 550 Gigantic platter of crispy fried shrimp and squid, plus grilled veg and a lemon-dressed salad. Built for four hungry people or two very greedy ones. • Filetto Pepe Nero – EGP 500 Local beef fillet in peppercorn sauce with rosemary potatoes. Skip it—meat is soft to the point of mush; save the calories for risotto. Soups (off-menu) • Cream of Mushroom – EGP 120 Thick enough to stand a spoon in. Order one bowl for two and ask for extra cracked pepper. 💸 Damage Report Expect ± EGP 350–450 pp with a soft drink. Add wine (small Italian list) and you’ll still stay under EGP 600. 📸 Photo Pro-Tips • Balcony table at 1 p.m. = perfect side-light on the Margherita. • Hold the risotto spoon against the turquoise art-deco tiles behind you for an instant colour-pop. • Staff will happily box leftovers—ask for the cute kraft bag and you’ve got tomorrow’s train snack. Go hungry, wear stretchy pants, and prepare to debate whether a fourth visit is excessive. (It’s not.) #Egypt #Cairo #Food #Pepenero Korba