Café Domenico
- Food served: Mon 10am–3pm; Tue/Wed 10am–3pm, 6–9pm; Thu/Fri 10am–3pm, 6–10pm; Sat 11am–10pm; Sun 11am–4pm.
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 3
- Also offers: Children's portions, Children's high chairs, Wheelchair access, Free wi-fi
- Music on stereo: Chamber pop/indie
- Capacity: 24
- Largest group: 24
- Open since: 1998
Tell us more about this place.
- Average price:
£9 (lunch)
£15 (evening meal) - House wine: £12.50 per bottle
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the current (2012) edition.
Tucked away behind the Cameo Bar in Leith, it’s easy to pass the small entrance to the Café Domenico by. Don’t make this mistake, though, as, housed in this tiny bistro with its eclectic decorations, scattered wall tiles and red and white check tablecloths, is a gloriously simple and satisfying menu and a genuinely warm welcome. Space is at a premium here, but the L-shaped room doesn’t feel over-crowded, instead giving the place the air of a dinner party at a well-heeled bohemian’s flat. Specials change regularly, and sometimes more frequently than the listings on the blackboard do, but can include some classy arancini, golden and crisp on the outside and filled with a garlicky ragu, and plenty of melted cheese. There’s a strong range of pasta dishes available, meaning that you can choose between the surprisingly light and spring-like penne with cheese, asparagus and spinach, or pile straight into a full-on spicy sausage, red pepper and cream sauce that genuinely packs some heat. Either way, try to leave enough room for the homemade brownie – a rich, chewy treat.
- High point: You could easily become a regular here
- Low point: Affogato is normally served with less than a pint of ice-cream
Reviews of Café Domenico (30 Sandport Street, Edinburgh)
- 7. Andie M, Glasgow – 23 August 2010, 1:43pm
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Went with a load of friends on a Saturday night for a chilled out meal, loved it, had a great night, nice staff, gorgeous food - the breaded prawns with home made tartare sauce OMG - delish!!!! I said to the waiter how good they were as I stole them from my sister's plate and he brought me my own little portion served in a pretty scallop shell. Would def return.
- 6. Kiki Dee – 17 July 2010, 3:00pmCafé DomenicoReport
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Went last week and it was amazing. Going back tonight. Fantastic food, great atmosphere, reasonable prices and very good service. I had a lobster and ricotta ravioli that was superb.
- 5. Lizzie T, Leith – 1 February 2010, 3:31pmCafé DomenicoReport
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As a party of 6, we visited this restaurant just before Christmas and as the service and meal were a complete disappointment, I wrote to the Manager with our concerns - and have yet still to receive a reply. The starters were tiny, the main course of the penne salmone was tasteless and bland with very little salmon, the seafood risotto was undercooked again with very little salmon and 2 prawns (at a cost of £15.50 !) and there were hardly any desserts left to choose from. I could go on . . .
I have visited the restaurant before and always enjoyed the meal but this recent visit was a huge disappointment - especially when it was at my suggestion we go there - needless to say, we won't be going back.
- 4. william35, Edinburgh – 5 February 2009, 12:52am
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We went for a late family lunch last sunday.
After reading the above reviews and expecting the restaurant to have a great atmosphere I was very dissapointed to find we were the only customers in the place, however we couldn't fault the service as a consequence.I ordered the days special of steak and was very let down when it arrived. It had been prepared in a Milanese style but very overcooked thus losing all of the flavour of the steak, then "dumped" on bed of undercooked supermarket penne piccante with a single leaf of parsley. The steak was so overcooked it didn't go well with the piccante, it felt very dry to eat. We spent £80 on lunch and didn't have any alcohol, frankly the food didn't justify the prices.
We won't be back.
- 3. keith, edinburgh – 29 November 2008, 5:32pmCafé DomenicoReport
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A truly authentic Italian experience. We even picked up a travel brochure for Italy after our amazing lunch.
Great value for money and the nicest pasta dish ever!!
We will be back soon.
- 2. Paul, South Lanarkshire – 2 September 2008, 8:52pmCafé DomenicoReport
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As a regular for a few years at La Favorita, where he was manager, I was very curious to pay Stefano a visit in his new surroundings. I was not disappointed. Informal, relaxed atmosphere and good, hearty, unpretentious food. We were well looked after by Dellita and Franceso (another friendly old face from La Favorita), with Stefano, manager-turned-chef, emerging from the kitchen at quieter moments to chat with his guests.
Stefano probably won't thank me for saying this, but the portions were so large that ordering bruschette and mixed antipasti followed by a main was simply too ambitious. Nonetheless, the risotto ai funghi porcini that we took home in a doggy bad tasted even better the next day!!!
Speaking as someone who has lived in Italy for five years, and as someone who has often been disappointed by the quality of food and the atmosphere in Italian restaurants in the UK, possibly the best commendation I can give is to say that, when I visited Osteria Di Domenico, I felt as though I was in Italy again.
This place is a little gem. It may be off the beaten track in Edinburgh, but for those wishing to enjoy the small, intimate, genuine Italian family-run restaurant experience it's an absolute must.
Already looking forward to my next visit!
- 1. Pauloboy, Edinburgh – 25 July 2008, 11:04amCafé DomenicoReport
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Relaxed, informal and intimate. Fantastic food and great staff. Salute!
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