Cavo Island — Restaurant in Cairo

We visited Cavo Island by the Nile and it started off great with a lovely setting and atmosphere, but the night was unfortunately let down by an issue that could have been resolved so easily if handled better.

We began at a table away from the view but asked to be put on the waiting list for one with a Nile view. While waiting, our starters arrived, so we decided to eat. The plan was to move after eating, but when our mains came, the staff told us to move right then and said they would sort everything.

When we got to the new table, most of our plates with food we were still sharing didn’t arrive, only the main plates, and most of our food had been thrown away. We tried speaking to the waiters, but the response was to “wait.” After another 5–10 minutes, we asked again and were met with a defensive response claiming there was barely anything left, which wasn’t true.

We asked for the manager and waited again, but no one came until my wife went over to Ahmed, the manager, who had been watching but not approaching and told him to come to our table. Instead of listening, he became defensive, kept checking his phone and told us he had already ordered a new plate without discussing it with us. I tried to speak calmly and privately to explain, but his manner remained dismissive.

Eventually, a replacement arrived, but it was just one plate of Taouk, ignoring the rest of our missing food and the fact we were waiting for my wife’s meal, which we weren’t going to eat without her so the rest of our food became cold. This completely ruined the experience. It’s a shame, as the location is nice, but the way this was handled, especially by the manager, was defensive, unprofessional, and unnecessarily escalated what could have been solved with a simple...

Poor Execution – Not Worth the Price

I visited CAVO Island with my family expecting a premium experience, but we were met with poor service, disorganization, and serious management gaps.

Our host, Ahmed, promised us a Nile-view table. Moments later, the waiter Omar tried to give that same table to another group — even though they already had one. It was awkward and embarrassing. I had to insist we either take the table we were promised or leave. The other group backed off, and we stayed — but not a single manager showed up to address the incident or apologize. That silence speaks volumes about the lack of guest care.

The host area was messy, with employees lounging in the guest waiting zone. The kids’ play area had water leaking from the ceiling, yet no staff seemed to notice or care. Multiple employees were smoking openly near the kids’ zone, and several were wearing suits doing absolutely nothing — no structure, no supervision, no sense of responsibility.

The food? Cold. The bread? Not fresh. Most dishes looked good but tasted average. Desserts were okay. Service was inconsistent.

And then comes the 1500 EGP minimum charge per person. For what? A broken system, cold food, and an identity crisis. The place is trying to attract families, kids, couples, singles, and influencers all at once — and ends up delivering a confused, chaotic atmosphere that satisfies none.

The view of the Nile is gorgeous, and the decor is Instagrammable — but that’s where the good stops. The restaurant lacks basic hospitality standards, trained service staff, and operational control. It’s all style, no substance.

I expected much more, especially at this price point. CAVO Island has potential, but right now, it’s not worth your...

Deeply Disappointing and Unprofessional Experience

My recent visit to Cavo Island Restaurant was one of the most frustrating and disappointing dining experiences I’ve ever had. We had reserved a table for 10 people several days in advance and specifically requested a Nile view, which was confirmed over the phone. However, upon arrival, the staff acted unaware of any such arrangement and claimed that specific tables couldn’t be reserved — despite several Nile-view tables clearly being available. Instead, they tried to seat us near the bathroom, insisting those better tables were “already booked.” How can that be, if they don’t allow reservations for specific spots?

After a tense and uncomfortable argument, they begrudgingly allowed us to sit at the table we had originally requested. But the poor treatment didn’t end there. A man who introduced himself as the owner came over, rolled his eyes, made sarcastic remarks, and behaved in a way that was not only unprofessional but outright racist.

To make matters worse, we were then informed of a 1,000 EGP per person minimum charge — something that was never mentioned when we made the reservation. It felt like a thinly veiled insult, as though they were implying we couldn’t afford it. Still, we decided to stay and tried to order, only to be rushed and told a power outage was expected. Within 15 minutes, they claimed the electricity had gone out and said the only available option was "Mashawy."

At that point, we chose to leave. The entire experience was disrespectful, humiliating, and discriminatory. It’s clear that Cavo Island Restaurant does not treat all guests equally, and I strongly recommend avoiding this place entirely. No one deserves to be...