The number of restaurants in Cairo has expanded greatly in the past few years, so you'll find eateries in all price ranges. Fresh fish, ordered by the pound/kilogram from a display case and cooked to order, is a local specialty. Dinner cruises on the Nile are also very popular. For variety, you can sample fine Italian, Swiss, French and Asian cuisine or the food of other Middle Eastern countries. Note: Although shrimp is widely available, you may want to avoid eating it. Travelers who do not have a known allergy to shellfish will occasionally have an allergic reaction in Egypt.

Muslims do not eat pork, and few restaurants serve it. Alcohol is also forbidden to strict Muslims, but most restaurants serve at least wine and beer. Some Muslim owners, however, have forbidden alcohol in their properties, so don't be surprised if a restaurant is alcohol-free. In most places listed, major credit cards are accepted, but it's best to call first to make sure.

Most restaurants will open for business around 1 pm. Typically, lunch is the biggest meal of the day and is eaten sometime between 1 and 4 pm. Restaurants remain open through the evening, but the dinner rush doesn't usually begin until 9 pm (and will continue until midnight). If you want to eat fashionably late, reservations are recommended.

Your best bet for anything and everything about Cairo's restaurants, cafes and bakeries is the Cairo Dining Guide, published annually since 1998. It's available in bookstores and hotels for £E 20 with its companion booklet, the Cairo Shopping Guide. Besides the essentials, the Guide tells you which places have Wi-Fi, smoke-free and children's play areas, parking, dancing and everything else. http://www.cairodining.com.