Tree Trunk — Restaurant in Cairo

Disappointing Experience – Felt Discriminated Against

I’ve dined here before during previous visits to Egypt and had good memories of the place. This time, I brought my family with me, but unfortunately, the experience was extremely disappointing.

When we arrived, we were told that the kitchen would close in two hours. That was totally fine with us, as we weren’t planning to stay longer than that anyway. I asked if we could sit upstairs on the rooftop, but I was told it was full. I said no problem, we’d be happy to be on a waiting list in case a table became available. The response I got was surprising: I was told that all the guests upstairs would be staying until the restaurant closed, so a waitlist wasn’t possible.

While we were talking, I saw several people leave the rooftop. I mentioned this again and repeated that I’d like to be on the list just in case. Eventually, one staff member told us to wait on the second floor, but he didn’t take our name or phone number—so it was clear to me that this was just a way to brush us off.

When we got to the second floor, there were no seats available on the veranda—only inside in the lounge area. I told my wife we should just leave and find another place. But then, a man who seemed to be the manager suddenly appeared and told us we could have table 48 upstairs.

To my surprise, when I got to the rooftop, there were five empty tables, and three of them remained unoccupied the entire time we were there. People were coming and going like in any normal restaurant. At that moment, I realized we had been deliberately refused seating earlier—and honestly, it felt discriminatory. In my own country.

Then came the poor service. It took about 25 minutes after we asked to order before anyone took our order. We ordered 4 starters, 3 main dishes, and 4 drinks. The waiter even asked if we wanted the starters first—especially since we ordered soup—and we confirmed.

After about 30 minutes, three of the drinks arrived. The fourth came later. Two of the drinks were supposed to be the same, but they tasted completely different. I asked if they forgot the lime in one, as it just tasted like water. They said they would check.

Meanwhile, a pizza randomly arrived at the table—with no plates, no cutlery, no napkins—nothing. We waited about 15 minutes before I finally got a waiter’s attention. I asked how we were supposed to eat without anything, and also asked where our starters were. He told me the pizza came faster, so that’s why it arrived first. Then he asked, “What were the starters you ordered again?” That’s when I realized—he hadn’t even entered our starters into the system, even though it had been 45 minutes since we placed the order.

From my own experience, I know an Italian pizza takes 2–3 minutes in the oven. So calling this “quick service” after 45 minutes was laughable.

That was the final straw. It was clear we were not welcome, and I decided to leave. I told the waiter we were leaving, as it was obvious this place had no intention of giving us a good experience.

It’s a shame, because the restaurant itself is beautiful, but they still have a long way to go when it comes to service and management.

It was pure chaos—no structure, no control. If you’re just there to take pictures and tag your friends, then this might be the perfect spot for you. But if you’re looking for value for money and to be treated with respect and dignity, there are plenty of better options just on the same street.

We ended up going to an Italian restaurant just 100 meters away, and even though we arrived 40 minutes before closing time, we were treated like owners of the place. We received cutlery, our starters, drinks, main dishes—and truly...

You know what's worst than a terrible place? A potentially great place with a terrible service. This sums up my experience in this restaurant.

Positive: The place looks good with its boho style and calm atmosphere, also the music it's pleasant. -You can chose between second floor (inside + balcony sittings) or the terrace on the third floor.

NEGATIVE: there's total anarchy and mess among the waiters (at least 5 different guys attended our table and each time there was a question they disappear having to ask to someone else). got approached by a first server who had to go ask if the salad I ordered was available; after 10 minutes another guy approached to ask for the order again, we repeated what I chose and he said that the salad is not available so I get confused and asked for more time to pick something different, at this point he says that he will take care of it and I will get my salad. The food arrives and while I ordered a vegetarian green salad with quinoa and grilled vegetables with dressing on the side, I receive a green salad with something that taste like ketchup on top of it. We ask for an explanation to a server passing by and he reply that the quinoa is not available. Would have been nice to receive a notice before but we decide to not make a big deal about it and simply add chicken as a protein.

The guy comes back with the salad and the chicken taste like bad quality cold cuts, and together with the "Ketchup dressing" it's just terrible, I can't take more than 2 forks of it and also my mood is totally ruined for the lack of respect towards me as a costumer. Must say that they also added very spicy pepper in the salad which makes no sense at all. I barelyy touched my plate but the waiter doesn't bother asking if it's all okay.

-we order a tea, After 15 minutes the check it's brought to the table but no signs of the tea yet. we ask for it again..

Surprise surprise in the check not only the missing tea is counted but also they charged my disgusting ketchup salad as a cesar salad (wich I expected) and then they charged other 90egp for the chicken.

At this point we ask for clarification to the server whom shows no signs of understanding or apology for the terrible mistakes that ruined my mood and dinner. Eventually this issue Is solved and we pay and ask for the tea for the THIRD time.

10 minutes later waiters turns off lights and music, we ask again for the tea and again we are told that they will ask and they leave (the only constant during the whole sitting) and never show up again.

Eventually we asked for the money back for the missing tea and once more with nobody daring to ask about our experience.

Finally got out angry, hungry and very disappointed for the horrible experience.

Also prices are definitely not...

I went there with my friends on friday. The place is nice with great decorations ( if they can be a little bit reduced would be perfect). The food and drinks were great and very good portions too. The service was a bit slow and we had to remind them about our orders twice. Mr. Badawy gave us some attitude at the beginning but then he decided to like us and act friendly.

Two things I really didnt like about the place: 1- It's very crowded and tables are extremely close to each others. 2- If you are there for the food and company and you don't care much about taking photos. Good luck with that cause you will probably appear in everybody else's photos. An influencer was there and took some photos and videos of the place that were posted in her stories. The restaurant also reshared her story, and we appeared in them without our consent.

We would suggest that they minimize their decorations a little bit around the table and keep a corner away from the guests were people can take photos freely without having everyone else appearing there.

We had to move from our table because the table next to us were taking alot of pictures were we almost appeared in all of them. However this didnt make lot of difference cause in every corner and every lantern there is someone having a photosession.

Also if you are a little bit tall, you might not feel very comfortable sitting there, the decorations and plants hanging from above will annoy you.

Although we enjoyed the food and drinks, but I don't think we will go there again. We were kinda stressed most...