At 9 pm on a Wednesday evening, this forgotten Mohandiseen bar may seem like the watering hole of a ghost town. However, as the manager will tell you, “just give it an hour”; and Bull's Eye turns out to be quite the popular hang-out. This friendly neighborhood pub recently got a facelift this past Ramadan. The venue is small and decorated in dark wood with bright red upholstered furniture and soft lighting. Playfully named after the popular pub game darts, the bar has a single dart board hanging near the entrance, while place mats on the tables and high tops feature the rules of various versions of the game. An English pub atmosphere is clearly Bull's Eye's aim, and in certain capacities, they pull it off; but the dance floor in the center suggests that the late-night crowd is a little less of the chatting-over-a-few-beers type. Early in the evening, though, Bull's Eye is perfect for just that. You may wait a few minutes for a menu and then be expected to decide on your order pretty quickly, but other than that, the service at Bull's Eye is quite good. Drinks come quickly, and in addition to local wine and beer, such as a Heineken for LE 23.75, Bull's Eye has a nice selection of cocktails available. After sampling the Blue Lagoon (LE 35.75), we recommend their mixed drinks over the beer and wine, which don't give you the same value for your money. A strong pour of Absolute and Blue Curacao was served in a Martini glass with crushed ice. Although the menu promised lemonade in the mix, we received a slice of lemon floating atop the nonetheless tasty beverage. The food at Bull's Eye is nothing fancy, but still quite appetizing. Chicken liver (LE 27.75) can be served either grilled or in a thick, creamy gravy with just a bit of a kick. Cheese paprika (LE 15.75) is presented with a drizzle of olive oil and finely diced fresh tomatoes and green peppers. The dish is light, refreshing and fortunately not too salty. An order of vegetable curry (LE 24.75) was unfortunately disappointing. Although the curry was nutty and rich, the mixed vegetables didn't meet the sauce until after being overcooked and waterlogged. Pasta salmon (LE 33.75) fared much better. A lightly flavored creamy sauce balanced out the salty, smoked salmon over penne. Strangely absent from this menu were burgers, a staple of pub food everywhere. However, a long list of mezzas, seafood dishes, pastas and steaks more than make up for this absence. Had it not been for the fact that we hadn't made reservations to stay for karaoke night, we could have stayed at Bull's Eye all night long, or at least long enough to have a turn on the dart board. Best bit A crowd of regulars and some well-mixed drinks make Bull's Eye a great night spot. Worst bit Compared to the liquor options, beer and wine is not good value for money. 360 Tip Karaoke nights are every Wednesday; so be sure to make a reservation or you will have a tough time getting a table. This article was contributed to Daily News Egypt by Cairo 360 http://www.cairo360.com/
