After an extremely busy March I had a lot of catching up to do with one of my besties, which we decided to do over a weekend brunch… Which posed the dreaded question: “Where can we get a good brunch in Aberdeen?”. We investigated a few options but decided to go with the suggestion of another friend, her personal favourite – the Sand Dollar Cafe.
Before that morning I had only been to the place once before, and just for a coffee and cake – the beach-front location is not particularly convenient, especially on a weekend when it’s always a struggle to find a parking space. In fact, I did attempt another visit after that, but the place was packed out the door, so I ended up going elsewhere.
Another observation I had about the place was that both of those times the weather left a lot to wish for – and also this particular Saturday morning the rain rendered sitting outside impossible. Inside, the place was full, but thankfully there was only one other couple waiting to be seated ahead of us when we joined the queue, and five minutes later we could relax at a table.
With so much talking to do, the menus became a secondary distraction, so the first time a waitress came over to take our order, we were only prepared to get our coffees – which was probably for the best, as I was going to appreciate it that much more before my grumbling stomach got fed with something more substantial.
As our brews got delivered we ordered our food; I decided to be a bit naughty, adding to my traditional scrambled eggs not only bacon, but also haggis. This duty out of the way, I could focus on the conversation again, and my mocha – nicely presented in a tall, elegant glass.
My companion, being a supporter of my coffee mission, gave me the time to savour those first few sips. I could tell from the look of it that it would be tasty – the flat and shiny surface of the milk on top spoke of professional steaming, while some undissolved bits of chocolate visible through the glass suggested authenticity… and I wasn’t disappointed.
The coffee was rich in cocoa flavour and caffeine punch, both harmonious in a smooth, luxurious concoction. The cherry on the top was a chocolate bean served with it (and any other coffee as I noticed, which gets extra points in my book) – it wasn’t needed to improve the taste of the coffee, but it did not affect it when you returned to drinking after chewing through the bean, which proves the superiority of the brew.
I would have easily had another of those if not for the ample brunch, that was as tasty as it was generous. All in all, I can understand why this is becoming a foodie favourite among my friends… and once the sun starts shinning on weekends, I can see myself stopping by the Sand Dollar more often, and enjoy my coffee outside, staring at the sea…
Mocha: £3.30
Verdict justification: Lovely coffee on top of great breakfast… And the beachside location is a bonus on a weekend.
A Black Spot 