Il Divino Pizzeria answers pizza lovers’ prayers
 
 

After years of food tasting, I have discovered two important food facts. Firstly, Pizza Hut isn’t pizza, and secondly, most pizza chefs in Italy are Egyptians.

Armed with this knowledge, I have learned to accept the passable choices Cairo has for pizza lovers, but continue to hope for a pizza hub to compete with Maison Thomas, Zamalek’s famed pizzeria.

Il Divino was the answer to my prayers. Opening at the same location as the obscure hot dog takeout just off of Aboul Feda in Zamalek, the pizzeria welcomed its first guests last week.

Il Divino is cozy and would comfortably seat 12 guests. The wooden chairs and the brick walls give off an industrial tavern look, and despite the smallness of the space, the white walls create a sense of spaciousness and comfort. The ventilation is perfect and the service is impeccable. The waiter was friendly, helpful and knowledgeable of all ingredients.

The eatery offers a satisfactory salad bar, with a tuna salad and a lettuce mix bathing in a rich dijonnaise. The tuna salad, with lettuce, bell pepper and olives (LE38) is a little salty, but the dressing successfully camouflaged any unwanted fishiness.

The lettuce salad (LE30) was my favorite, though — fresh and rich in flavor, very similar to the salad Charwood’s offers but without the cherry tomatoes.

The menu includes more than 25 kinds of pizza. The Il Divino pizza (LE60) was my first choice, and a fairly successful one. The mixture of pepperoni and Italian sausages is hearty and flavorful. The dough is thin and soft, but a little crusty on the edges.

I always shy away from the fish/pizza combo, but the Ocenta pizza (LE68) was a pleasant surprise, as the tangy seafood taste of the shrimp, calamari and salmon was curbed by an ample amount of oregano (the pizza could benefit from a little extra salmon, though).

But the Diva pizza (LE48) is the real star of this super stacked menu. The ostensibly bland green mix of asparagus, broccoli and spinach comes alive with the punchiness of a generous smearing of pesto that lingers between the tomato sauce and the cheese. The pesto accentuates the savory pie and gives it character. Coming from a carnivore, this veggie mix was one of the best pizzas I had.

The Funghi (LE48) is adequate, but salty; I believe the olives are the source of the extra salt in both the pizza and the tuna salad. 

The dolce section is small but unique. The baked apple pie (LE35) is served upside down with the apples on top of the dough. The Tarta de Mele is just right — the tang of the apples is complimented by a sweet scoop of vanilla ice cream. The lemon tart (LE30) is like a shot of limoncello on a plate, sugary and sharp at the same time.

The beverages menu consists of sodas only, so if you desire a cup of coffee or tea after the hearty meal, you will need to go elsewhere.   

Il Divino operated from 11 AM to 2 AM daily and delivers to Zamalek, Dokki, Agouza, Mohandessein.       

5 Aboul Feda Street/ Zamalek

0101-222-8818 or 02-2737-2551

AD
 
 
Amany Ali Shawky 
 
 

You have a right to access accurate information, be stimulated by innovative and nuanced reporting, and be moved by compelling storytelling.

Subscribe now to become part of the growing community of members who help us maintain our editorial independence.
Know more

Join us

Your support is the only way to ensure independent,
progressive journalism
survives.