Zamalek's 26th of July Street has loads of dining options, at least until you reach the intersection with Brazil Street, at which point restaurant choices basically become non-existent. Until recently, Coffee Roastery was the lone option on that side of the tracks, but its light menu and dark ambience were always missing a little something for hungry diners. Luckily, Roastery has gotten a serious makeover, emerging as La Taverna Restaurant and Café: the new and improved dining option east of Brazil Street. This hotspot is the new concept by the management of Spectra and Coffee Roastery in an effort to create a restaurant-café hangout that appeals to all tastes and needs. Post-makeover, La Taverna managed to strike the perfect balance between café and restaurant with its variety of offerings and options. An expanded outdoor terrace protected from the street is the perfect place to enjoy shisha and hot drinks on a pleasant evening, while La Taverna's bright, comfortable interior offers the ideal setting for a casual lunch or dinner with friends. With its cushioned banquette-style seating, wireless internet and inviting coffee bar, La Taverna is also a good option for a solitary afternoon of work and espresso. When I visited around 5 pm on a Saturday, the tables inside were occupied by a combination of couples, professionals sitting alone working, and groups of friends enjoying lunch. It was chilly outside, but a few groups were enjoying shisha and tea on the terrace. My friend and I were greeted by a friendly staff that graciously accommodated our desire to change tables after trying out a few different spots inside. We settled into a comfortable banquette table next to the window in the non-smoking section and started to peruse the menu. Familiar with the menus of Spectra and Coffee Roastery as I am, I was delighted to find that La Taverna's offerings combined the best of both, including pasta dishes, Spectra's famous combo platters, salads and a wide selection of desserts. After much pondering, we chose to go simple with the cheeseburger and the chicken enchiladas. Our attentive server brought us water and sodas in a flash, and a flat screen TV playing music videos kept us entertained as we waited for our food. Chatting away, we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly our food was served - and how beautifully it was presented. My cheeseburger came heaped with fresh vegetables and pickles along with a crunchy side salad and crispy ridged fries. I was impressed by the freshness and presentation of the entire plate, but especially happy to see this variety of French fry, which I hadn't known existed in Egypt. My friend's chicken enchiladas were equally well plated, with a side salad, sour cream and salsa and red rice arranged on the plate. As Americans, my friend and I are always wary of ordering American dishes and being disappointed because they don't taste like home. On this occasion, the chicken enchiladas could have come out of any good Tex Mex place in the US, and the cheeseburger was more than respectable, if a little overdone for my taste. Unable to resist ordering dessert, we decided to try the Oreo madness, and chocolate fudge brownie along with some espresso to cut the sugar. As usual, the Oreo madness was cold and delectable, a lovely combination of rich vanilla ice cream and crunchy Oreo cookie topped with chocolate sauce. The fudge brownies were moist, intensely chocolate, studded with nuts and accompanied by whipped cream and fudge sauce - a perfect way to end the meal. The espresso was above average, served strong and hot from the coffee bar. It goes without saying that I wouldn't hesitate to cross the Brazil Street line for a bite to eat, or a dessert and shisha at La Taverna. The laid-back café atmosphere, excellent service and delicious menu offerings are a great addition to Zamalek's dining scene. La Taverna Restaurant and Café140, 26th of July StreetZamalek, Cairo
