Too thin it almost tastes like cheese-topped Lebanese bread, too thick it’s more of a pie, too cheesy, too bland, topped with canned mushrooms or costs a hefty sum for fresh ingredients—getting the right pizza at a reasonable price in Cairo is a quest that often ends in disappointment.
For a vegetarian, a pizza is about the only fast food to indulge in, and after having had my fair share of pizza pies, today I can safely and honestly say that I have come to the holy grail of pizza places in Cairo: Crust Pizza. Perfectly baked, the authentic pizza made with fresh ingredients is delivered to your home fresh, hot and simply delicious. It was also a nice surprise to see that the premium pizza and fresh ingredients are not overpriced.
If you’re a Maadi resident, you’ve probably either ordered Crust Pizza or seen their old branch, complete with swings and an outdoor area. The new branch off Nasr street is small and cozy; tucked in a side street, the place has three benches and a wooden bar, funky pizza-inspired graffiti on the wall and a heavenly smell of freshly baked dough. It’s not meant for a night out: Primarily a delivery and pick-up place, the branch is made for a quick, casual bite.
We started off with the chili salami Stromboli (LE 44) and the soft pizza rolls (LE 30). I opted for a salami-free Stromboli piece and it was perfectly crispy on the outside and softer on the inside with a sweet kick from the chili jam and melted cheese. The soft pizza rolls were a crowd-pleaser, featuring tomato sauce, cheese and olives.
I then went for the Italian vegetables pizza (LE 52) while my friends ordered the oriental sausage pizza (LE 65), two Chicago deep-dish pizzas; hotdog (LE 90) and cheese lovers (LE 95). The Italian vegetables pizza was unlike anything I have tried within this price range; perfectly baked, the right thickness (not too American, not too crispy thin) and perfectly cooked veggies that are neither too well-done nor too crispy. The pizza came topped with homemade tomato sauce, peppers, zucchini, eggplant, roasted tomatoes, fresh mushrooms and chunks of yum goat cheese. We were sold on the fresh mushrooms alone, but the gourmet goat cheese was definitely a bonus in our books. The oriental sausage pizza, I was told, was a welcome change from traditional options and the sausage was well-spiced.
One of those guilty pleasures you can’t resist even if your scale disagrees is the Chicago deep-dish pizza. In traditional Chicago style, the pizza has a thick crust to surround the incredible amount of cheese and tomato sauce inside and is definitely not for the faint-hearted. We would recommend you share this dish with a minimum of two people; do not attempt to finish it on your own—you’ve been warned. A quarter of the pizza was enough for me, but I did have a whole medium-sized pizza to gobble on my own, so that’s not really a fair judgment.
Although we were full to say the least, we couldn’t resist the temptation of their Reese’s wrap (LE 55), a calzone stuffed with melted Reese cups, to satisfy our sweet tooth.
Overall, we would definitely be coming back for more next time we’re around Maadi. Bonus tip: Crust Pizza has a branch in the North Coast this summer at Lake Yard, Hacienda Bay. et
Pizza Crust • 6/5 Shawky Abdel Moneim Street, off Nasr Street, Maadi •Tel: +2 (010) 1866-1771.
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