The flatmates and I have been slowly getting in to chess. At the thoughts of spending a nice rainy afternoon in a café, sipping coffee and putting our minds to work at chess, we decided to spend it in Café Sicilia. It has been about two years since I first visited this café and I did remember their coffee being quite nice. My coffee experience in Italy was phenomenal and I had very high hopes for this café, considering it was Italian. I visited on 15th November 2020.
Fun fact; Café Sicilia was initially started by three Sicilian men. The café was eventually taken over by one of their wives who, is Polish and not Sicilian! They also serve a different type and variety of soup everyday. This depends on the chef’s mood and helps keep the customer’s visit fresh.
Ambience
You are bathed in warm air as soon as you walk in. This effect is exacerbated by the dim lighting and orange coloured walls. It was raining very heavily and I was grateful for this good heating. There is a lot of seating available but only two with a comfortable cushion. A lot of the food is also on display so you have an idea of what you are ordering if you are not used to an Italian menu.
7/10
Aroma
Classic scent of coffee beans that is not overwhelming. This smell almost guided me to what the coffee would taste like.
8/10
Presentation
A nice multi-layered heart. The colours of the cup match the slightly rustic colours of the cafe.
8/10
Body and Taste
Medium bodied with very little acidity. Slight hints of hazelnut and milk chocolate. Lovely sweet tones that linger. This is a good cup of coffee to introduce new coffee drinkers to as the taste is sturdy yet subtle.
9/10
Cost
The flat white was priced fairly at 2.65.
7/10
The Verdict
The coffee here did remind me of the one I was served in Italy. We ended up staying for three hours, having ordered two coffee’s and two lunches each. I had a large Cappuccino for my second cup and that too was delightful. The café feels homely and is a good escape from the modern looking cafe’s dotted around Dundee. The café is cash only, so remember to take out some money from the cash machine which is just around the corner.
Overall score = 39/50 or 78%
(Read “My Review System” to interpret the score)
Fact Sheet
Coffee beans – Café Carraro, Tazza D’Oro blend
Origin – Italy
Roast – Medium roast
Dairy-free/Vegan options – Available
Wifi – No wifi
Charging ports – Available
Accessibility – The café is right next to a bus stop so it’s easily reached by public transport. There is also parking along the road (75 mins at a time except on the weekend) and also parking further along the road.
Tasty but small portion
Address
123 Perth Road
Dundee
DD1 4JD
Contact details
+77 1382 665454
Opening hours
Closed on Monday
Tuesday
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Wednesday to Saturday
9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday
9:00 – 4:00 pm
Social Media
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/cafesiciliadundee/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cafesiciliadundee/
