When you enter Five Bells restaurant, you are transported into another world. The terrace is surrounded by trees, a fountain surrounded by five cherubs bubbles in the background, and the candles give the terrace a soft, warm glow. Situated on the corner of Adel Abu Bakr and Ismail Mohamed Streets, Five Bells is an established restaurant in Zamalek, open since the 1970s.

You can dine inside the villa, where there is also a bar. We opted for outside dining, and on a humid summer night, we were cooled down by the outside fans. The menu described itself as international cuisine, and it also included many Egyptian specialties. I wouldn’t recommend this place for vegetarians, as the non-meat options were very limited.

For starters, I was feeling adventurous so we ordered the veal brain panne (41). This was my first time to eat this traditional Egyptian delicacy. I enjoyed the breadcrumb coating and delicate flavor, but the squishy texture was a little off-putting. My Egyptian friend, however, enjoyed it, although she did note “it’s not as good as my mother cooks it” as it was under-marinated.

The main of fried shrimps (105LE) was served with creamy mashed potatoes and vegetables on the side. The shrimps were fresh, and it was a satisfying meal. The menu had a great feature where main dishes were paired with wine matches. I loved this, until I found out the only wine available was Omar Khayam (35LE), an Egyptian wine which I tend to avoid. I opted for a bottle of Heineken (25LE) instead.

The background music was schmaltzy pop (Celine Dion et al), until we were pleasantly surprised later in the evening, when a pianist started playing the baby grand on the terrace.

It was an enjoyable dinner, but the overall bill (250LE) for an appetizer, main and wine seemed expensive. Open 11am – 2am, Five Bells could also be enjoyed for a daytime coffee or an evening drink.