Tutti Fruitti

There are plenty of English eating places in Luxor. Many are run by English people. Although there are differences in price and quality, nearly all of them offer variations on a meat and two veg theme. Tutti Fruitti is different. It is an English tea room, open from coffee time through lunchtime and teatime, but it closes by the time the more traditional restaurants start to get busy.

When we heard about an English tea room opening in Luxor, we envisaged a Victorian theme with dainty tables and chairs and maybe a little lace. We were very wrong. Tutti Fruitti is more akin to a modern theatre coffee bar, in a loud black and white theme, than a country tea room - but it works.

There is a cozy corner with soft couches so you can relax whilst you take your refreshment, or you can sit up to black over white cloth-covered tables and black wooden chairs, black and white seat swabs over black and white tiles floor.

The black and white theme continues to the wall decorations which are prints - black and white of course - of stars of the black and white era, mainly Marilyn Monroe.

The menu offers tea, of course, and also a good range of coffees, shakes, juices and soft drinks. As well as the cakes and pastries (LE16 - LE25) that you would expect in a tea room, there are a couple of quiches to choose from at LE25 and a good variety of sandwiches in the LE25 - LE30 range. It is difficult to compare food prices because there isn't anywhere else quite like Tutti Fruitti, but LE5 for cup of tea is fair enough. At LE13 for a cappuccino, LE15 for a fresh juice, LE6 for a Nescafe and LE7 for cans, most drink prices are around or slightly above average. You can also order food to take away, which is handy if you are flying back and have chosen not to take an optional meal on the plane. Having visited regularly from the early days, before the Tutti Fruitti sign was even up, through to date, we have never had any problems with the food or drinks which have always been excellent. It is a pity, though, that the menu is not more varied. It is a tea room, and tea and cakes are fine for that time of day, but it is likely that people would visit more frequently for lunch if there was a greater choice. Christine will prepare something that is not on the menu if you ask, and if she has what you want, but few people would think to do that or be prepared to order something that isn't pre-priced. It would be better if the extra meals she will prepare were listed and the menu including items such as omelettes, other eggs and baked potatoes. No matter how excellent the quiche, it is not something many people want at lunchtime every day.

Although the notice board outside Tutti Fruitti announces that it is part of the Edris Group (which owns the Tutotel, the four Metropolitan restaurants beside the Nile, jewellery shops etc.), in practice it is run by Christine with UK and local help. It does seem to be a bit of a refuge for British ex-pats, so you may find Christine hosting a group of friends around one of the tables or ensconced on the sofas, but one of them will break away to take orders and provide for guests.

There is a downside for non-smokers. Smoking is allowed and the group of staff and friends seem to smoke quite a lot, so despite the air conditioning, smoke is noticeable. That aside, it is a pleasant bit of Englishness, a few doors from Arkwrights 'British' supermarket, along the road beside the St joseph hotel.

 

Reviewed March 2010
Prices at March 2010