Sasho Bistro: A precious discovery in the heart of crowded Zamalek

My legs move to Zamalek whenever I want a quick bite, for a café with Wi-Fi where I can write while I nourish myself. Last week, due to the protests by most of the district’s eateries against the municipality — most cooks were on strike and food was scarce on the little island that day — my legs led me to a secluded bistro behind HSBC, a few meters away from the hustle and bustle on Aboul Feda Street.

I had never noticed any eatery in this area before, but it seems the gloomy florist has become a cozy eatery. The bistro is small but has a light feel to it — kind of like La Bodega, but sunnier and much less uptight. The simple beige walls are decorated with jolly paintings and murals of people wining and dining. The high ceiling gives the place a jolly air and a brick wall breaks the retro interior design, adding an industrial feel to the place. The bistro feels a bit like your typical Parisian eatery with its outdoor setting and pots of greenery on each table.

The bistro is run by a small family who are the owners, cooks and waiters: Sherine Osama (the eponymous Sasho) takes orders and sometimes helps with the cooking. The menu is simple and concise, a delightful list of comfort classics: salads, soup of the day, pastas, entrees and dessert. The food is international, but it highlights items familiar to the Egyptian market. Italian and French dishes are served free of any unnecessary pretentiousness.   

The mushroom salad does its job right. It is light, with a little vinaigrette dressing which allows you to taste the veggies and enjoy the juicy, flavorsome, chunky cubes of mushroom, stir fried in garlic and lightly oiled… Heavenly. The salad is scrumptious and iceburg lettuce gives a watery bite that compliments the pungent taste of the mushroom.   

The Bolognese pasta is comforting and heartwarming, a little like my mother's homemade pasta but nicely presented. The quantity of the sauce and minced meat is the right ratio to the aldente pasta, which is a huge serving. The chef adds a hint of pesto sauce to create a zing in the saucy plate and compliment the acidic taste of the tomato paste and camouflage the funny, meaty aftertaste of minced meat. My Bolognese was filling and delectable and I was left happy with a full stomach and mouth covered in a thick flavorsome tomato sauce.  

As it opens daily at 10 am, Sasho offers a mouthwatering list of both international and Egyptian breakfasts. Aside from your typical fuul, white cheese and omelet breakfast, the bistro offers a specialty of fried eggs with salmon on toast, served with hash browns. They also make one hell of a cute cup of coffee with little powder chocolate hearts lightly floating on  rich foam.

The food is reasonably priced: LE20 to LE30 for a well-portioned serving of fresh salad, and as for the main courses, prices range between LE30 to LE79 for the beef fillet, which I am planning to try next time I go.

Sasho Bistro is highly recommended for anyone looking for a quiet spot to work or for executives aiming to unwind after a long day at work with a good meal and impeccable service. The only drawback is the lack of Wi-Fi, which should be installed soon.

Sasho has a smoking outdoor dining area, and can accommodate up to 20 people. The management also welcomes private parties, and special settings can be arranged on request.

6G Al Adel Abu Bakr Str. / Zamalek
Tel: 0227351209
Open 10 am – midnight, Sundays off