Sharm El Sheikh Restaurant Tips by mtcowgirl

TGI Fridays: In Here, It's Always Friday!

One night we decided to check out the the newly opened TGI Fridays next to the Hard Rock Cafe. We took a group of around 15 people and had a good experience despite our large numbers. You know sometimes restaurants have a hard time with big groups but the staff at TGI-Fridays did a great job of making sure our order was correct and we all got our food at approximately the same time :)

The restaurant offers a typical TGI-Fridays atmosphere with American memoriabilia and music. The staff wear suspenders or vests with "flair" or buttons with different sayings/pictures.

The bar is complete with comfortable stools and if you are interested in just drinking and having finger foods, it's a good place to sit. There is also an outdoor seating area but when the sun is out, it's way-way too hot out there as it gets sun most of the afternoon.

The food was pretty good too if you miss a bit of back-home food as I do :) People probably thought I was pretty lame eating out at a place like TGI-Fridays as an American but it honestly was not my idea!

Favorite Dish: They serve up some of the best blended cocktails from margaritas to the dessert-like Banana Split. If you want a big drink, go for the Ultimate drink menu...they come in huge glasses! My favorite drinks were of course the Banana-Split, Raspberry Margarita, and the Mudslide.

For food, I'd recommend the chicken wings (hot & spicy!) and the Jack Daniel's menu. If you want to go healthy, try one of the HUGE salads.

Address: Sultan Caboos St.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: TGI-Fridays in on the main promenade near Hard Rock Cafe/Pizza Hut.

Phone: +20 69 360 3111

Price: US$21-30

Rating: 4

Theme: American

Viva Restaurants: Great Seafood & Steaks

My new favorite restaurants is Viva next to the Al Diar hotel or along the beach at Red Sea Dive College. The chain also includes Pomodoro and a few others around Na'ama Bay. I've eaten at three different ones around and they all offer about the same quality and service food.

The restaurant next to Falcon al Diar has a nice outdoor seating area. The two main waiters were always so friendly and after my first time eating there, they were always paying extra attention to me as a repeat customer. They even gave me a coupon for an extra 10-15% off the entire bill when I mentioned that I wanted to bring my friends!

The Viva on the beach boardwalk has a nice beach-front setting with a bar as well as an inside air-conditioned area. They also serve meals inside the Red Sea Dive College which was great for having a snack after getting off the dive boat!

Favorite Dish: They have awesome steaks and delicious sea-food (their signs sometimes read sae-food). You can also get traditional Egyptian fares like hummus or kofta.

The seafood bisque was really delicious and so was the several fish/combo dishes I tried out. Everyone in our group of 20+ were impressed with the quality and size of the steaks.

For a quick snack, I'd recommend the pizzas. There was one pizza with tomatos and olives which was quite nice. If you like your pizza with a lot of sauce make sure to ask for extra as the pizza is served up on thick bread crusts with just a little bit of sauce.

But my favorite thing to order in Egypt isn't food but rather tea with mint. There is just something really nice about having a couple fresh mint leaves in your tea :)

Address: King of Bahrian St. & Na'ama Beach Boardwark

Comparison: about average

Directions: There are several locations. Two I'd recommend are Viva next to Falcon al Diar Hotel and the one next to Red Sea Dive College.

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 5

Theme: Local