Black Cat Café, 19, Triq Vajrinġa, Victoria, Gozo (+356 21569240)
Hidden away in the backstreets of Victoria, Gozo, Black
Cat Café is the ultimate spot for a mid-morning brunch or a quick coffee and
dessert break in the afternoon.
Upon entering the doors of Black Cat Café, you are
greeted with vibrant purple walls adorned with chalk boards and peculiar
ornaments and picture frames. Situated opposite Gozo’s National Library, the
artisan coffers an intimate and cosy atmosphere which might be appreciated by
some, but is not ideal for those who suffer from claustrophobia as the café is
quite small in size and space.
Paula, the Maltese-Australian owner, and her daughter took
great care of us from the moment we arrived, recommending us a delicious cup of
tea from the wide variety of natural organic loose teas on offer, including
Jasmine Blossom Green Tea and Scottish Breakfast Black Tea served in a
traditional Kyusu (Japanese teapot). As we are not big fans on tea, we opted
for a cappuccino, a caramel latte and a chai latte with almond milk, as we were
made aware that they offer alternative diary free options, such as almond or
soya milk – which if you are lactose intolerant like myself, would be grateful
for like I were.
As we were given the menus, we were also informed that
she would be more than happy to adjust the menu to suit each individual’s
preferences. Whether you are gluten intolerant or following a vegan diet, you
will definitely find something to satisfy your cravings. For the Aussies in
Gozo, at the Black Cat Café you will also find some snacks to make you feel
right at home, such as the traditional vegemite on toast and homemade sausage
rolls. Also, do ask for the specials, as Black Cat Café is known to have both
daily and seasonal specials!
We settled on the chilli ginger salmon on rye bread, the
poached egg and smashed avocado on multi grain toast and a bowl of spicy tomato
soup. As we waited for our food, soft jazz played just at the right volume. In
the meantime, we could also hear the owner, who is also the cook, in the
kitchen, beating the eggs which made the experience all the more homely and
made the lack of space in the café even more noticeable.
The food oozed the warmth of homemade food, and you could see that the owner has a clear passion for food, both in terms of quality and taste, as it is quite perceptible from the care put into preparation and display. Everything was genuinely fresh and delicious; the home style spicy tomato soup was served with an accompanying soft bread roll and was subtly spicy yet strong enough to warm you up on a cold winter day, the poached egg and smashed avocado on a thick piece of multi grain toast served with rocket on top was beautifully presented and quite appetizing, and the chilli ginger salmon on crisp rye bread was mouth-watering.
We could not resist not having a piece of cake after
our scrumptious lunch, and I am sure you will be tempted too as Black Cat Café
is known for its homemade cakes and pastries, including vegan, sugar free and
gluten free varieties. There were various desserts on display, such as Anzac
biscuits and lamingtons which are originally Australian, however, we settled on
the ricotta and lemon cake which was flavoursome, the banana cake which was
deliciously moist and perfectly flavoured and the raw chocolate cheesecake
which was rich, creamy and irresistible.
Wondering about the bill? Fear not for your pockets!
The food is great value for money as prices at the Black Cat Café are
affordable; snacks and mains range from €3 to €8, with the tomato soup and
bread roll priced €3 whilst the poached egg and smashed avocado on thick multi
grain toast priced at €3.50. Prices of drinks range between €1 and €3.20.
If after reading so far, you are already planning on a
trip to Black Cat Café, you need to keep in mind the following. Unfortunately,
the café is not easily accessible for wheelchair users as there are a couple of
steps to enter, as well as the size of the café makes it a bit of a problem to
enter the premises. The second downside is the opening hours; Black Cat Café
opens Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm, with the kitchen closing at 3pm, which
one might find slightly odd as 4pm is the perfect time for someone to pop in
for tea and cake. Regrettably, I was also informed that on Sundays they do not
open.
Despite the few shortcomings mentioned, the good
exceeds the bad, and the warm and welcoming staff as well as the fresh and absolutely
delicious food, drink and dessert options definitely make Black Cat Café a
hidden gem worth visiting whilst in Gozo!
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