Pals

Pals restaurant

Pals is in the southern part of town, in a road that runs parallel with Khaled Ebn El Walid St, where most of the hotels are. The easiest way to find it is to go down El Mahdy Street, the road beside the entrance to St Joseph hotel, and turn right at the bottom.

Pals is where the Lantern restaurant used to be. The location is not all that Pals has in common with the Lantern. Ann, who used to help Debbie when the Lantern was here, now runs Pals. The decor is the same, there is still a canned drink dispenser, there are still the same wrought iron tables and chairs, the same counter is still inside the door and there is even the same blackboard with today's specials - still unpriced. The Lanterns are still outside. In fact, apart from the name change and the absence of Debbie, you might think you were still in the original Lantern.

Pals restaurant

Pals has an Egyptian chef who has a knack with local dishes, so the tajine is excellent. Ann looks after the traditional English dishes, such a the pies and crumbles. The mix of talents produces a varied menu with no major weaknesses.

The restaurant has a different lunchtime menu, until 4 pm, and also sells some foods to take away, so there can be a bit of coming and going over and above the normal traffic associated with a restaurant of this size.

Prices are about on a par with higher priced restaurants such as Lantern. Most lunchtime omelets are LE30, large pizzas LE35 and soups LE20. This really is quite a lot for lunch in Luxor.

The evening menu has several chicken dishes and pies around LE40. Other meat alternatives include steaks at LE50, with sauce, again at the higher end of the Luxor price range. Local dishes are better priced, with beef tajine at LE35. You can also pre-book a two-course Sunday roast meal for LE40.

There is lots that is good and nothing especially wrong with Pals unless you don't like the idea of take-away visitors popping in. It has some good dishes, well cooked. If you are missing home, you will especially enjoy Ann's traditional English apple pie. On the other hand there isn't anything that makes it extra special. It has some very stiff competition from nearby restaurants, many of which are less expensive and in a better location.

It is worth a try if you like to try different restaurants, but we can't help thinking that the prices need to be a little more competitive if customers are to be drawn away from the better known, better located and excellently reputed alternative restaurants selling meals for about the same price or less, just round the corner.