The Sicilian in Dover

A very pleasant relaxed atmosphere. The food was tasty but a little expensive for what is was. Much more authentic than the large Italian chain restaurants.

You can always rely on the scicilian for a warm welcome and authentic scicilian food

A Little Italian gem for Deal. Doesn't look like anything at all outside. Inside you have the little cafe restaurant run by such a lovely local family. The food is fresh and authentic and delishous!!! The wine choices are exceptional for such a small place. Highly recommend you visit ( but please book) as its a tiny space.

I want to share my extremely unpleasant experience working at Sicilian in Deal and warn potential employees and clients. I worked there for six days, and it was the worst job experience of my life. From my first day, the owner, Pino, barely greeted me. At one point, he loudly accused me of taking a customer’s latte—when he had placed it with the dirty dishes himself. Communication about my responsibilities was almost nonexistent, and instead of giving constructive feedback, I was told to change my clothes because my dress could supposedly knock over a cup. When people in wheelchairs visited Sicilian, I tried to rearrange the chairs to make it more comfortable for them. While I was doing that, Pino walked past me irritably, slightly pushing me aside as he made his way to the front door to smoke, without even trying to help us. I was paid in cash at £10 per hour, even though we agreed on at least minimum wage (£11.44). When I was leaving, Pino said that he had EVEN PAID me for quiet days, as if he wasn’t supposed to. Just so you know, I pay taxes, and it’s the owner’s responsibility to handle cash wages properly too. The working conditions were chaotic and unsanitary. The coffee machine was leaking, and I had to keep mopping the floor while making drinks—without access to a working sink to wash my hands. The same milk in jug was reused multiple times throughout the day, which is completely unhygienic. On my last day, during a rush, Bino stood in my workspace, preventing me from making coffee. Every time I tried to speak, he rudely cut me off with “Wait,” leaving me standing there while orders piled up. The workspace was so cramped that we had to squeeze past each other, making everything inefficient and uncomfortable. I came to the UK from Ukraine after the war and was deeply moved by the kindness of the British people. I tried my best to work efficiently and treat customers with respect, but the treatment from the owner was shocking. If I had known what working there would be like, I never would have accepted the job.

Hidden gem serving authentic pasta dishes. Really enjoyed.

Never been in here before but will definitely be back! Lovely welcome from Santo. Cosy, clean table. Loved the Godfather posters! Had a spicy sausage and grilled pepper panini and husband had a porchetta one. Both gorgeous! My peppers were sweet and delicious, sausage wasn’t as spicy as I expected. Husband thought his was the best tastiest panini he’d had. Lovely coffee. We treated ourselves to two canolicchi, a occi de bue (bulls eye) cake and another cake and they were delicious! Pino (the chef) made a lovely lunch for us and we’ll be back to try the pastas and the tarta de Nonna/tirimasu!

Quaint little cafe food good especially the mixed seafood pasta. Enjoy having cakes annd coffee in there too. Children are made welcome xxenjoy

If you visit The Sicilian, you will never be disappointed. They do excellent food and the service is brilliant. Just like being in Sicily. We will be back very soon.

Had a wonderful, authentic experience today. Pasta was exceptional. An unpretentious, cosy eatery.

A slice of sublime Sicilian food. What an amazing authentic menu and great friendly atmosphere. I think this is excellent value too.

Popped in for a panini and it's the first time we've been here. Very friendly service. Ordered the paninis and waited while they were freshly made. After a few minutes, they were ready and absolutely delicious. I would highly recommend here. We'll be going back!

Great Sicilian food with an authentic Italian atmosphere.

Italian homemade food. Best of the best 🙏

It's not authentic Sicilian food. And it doesn't even taste good. Avoid

Grubby little cafe that served the worst pizza I’ve ever had.

Lovely food, excellent service, very reasonable prices.

Simple and quick dinner in Deal

Best espresso outside of Italy. Banging pasta arrabbiata , proper bowl of pasta.

Charming, unpretentious café/restaurant in centre of Deal. Lovely coffee, spotlessly clean premises and my friend really enjoyed her Torte della Nonna (lattice tart with ricotta cheese and dried fruits) with an extra of tiramisu ice cream. Two tables outside if you can brave the sun!

Delicious food reasonably priced

Excellent, local authentic Italian.

Loved the entire experience of dinner at The Sicilian. We enjoyed some of the best pizzas we’ve ever eaten. The dough was exceptional! The staff were really friendly and passionate about what they did. More people visiting Deal should make sure they go here. Also loved trying the amaros on offer - a proper authentic Italian experience.

Truly a gem in Deal! Food was really great! Felt like I was back in Sicily! Highly recommended!

Lovely food only knocked down one star as portions need to be abit bigger x

This is a small, friendly, traditional, family run Italian eaterie that I have just discovered after moving to the area. Well priced, good, freshly cooked food and in a convenient location in the centre of Deal. I will be back.

Nice wine & coffee. Service is a little grudging in my opinion. Food average. Value for money is good.

The most amazing meal last night. My favourite cuisine is Italian but this was the best I have ever eaten. The cannelloni was 10/10. Service was great, couldn’t ask for more friendly staff. Will definitely be back.

Absolutely the best pizza! Staff are lovely, great authentic Italian deli restaurant

Good customer service, good food, highly recommended. Amazing pastries. Love the music that they play. Very clean and tidy.

Best spaghetti bolonese I had for a while and delicious 🎂

A real delight to visit this small place in Deal. The food is fresh and full of flavour. Today we were lucky enough to get a table outside in the November sun. We will visit again for sure.

Unfortunately the lady spilt extremely hot coffee (whilst serving) over my partner, including her trousers and shoes, which stained. I spent ages cleaning up with blue tissue. Accidents happen and we were happy to help wipe up, the lady was apologetic at the minimum level, and could have been more helpful with the cleaning. The bare minimum I would have expected would have been an offer to knock off the price of this coffee, especially as we were a group of three that also ordered food, but everything was charged!

Authentic Italian family run business that is a cafe by day and a reservation only all restaurant at weekends. Very popular locally and easy to see why. Real Italian experience. Great value.

Shrewd diners should not be phased by this unpretentious and informal cafe-restaurant. Rewarding finds like this used to be fun particularly in the 1960s in London's Soho, of which there is similarity.

We had a lovely meal and then ordered another bottle of wine. From then our experience went downhill. The main man decided this was a good time to hoover the carpet and do any other cleaning. We could not hear ourselves speak over said hoover. No apologies. If you need to do this please either ask your customer or at least let them know. Will I go again, maybe because the food was great and the lady serving us could not have been better

What a nice place! Artisan feel with quality food but not too expensive. Did lunch with a friend on a Friday. Was busy and had a nice buzz. Food was excellent and staff were really nice. Couldn't ask for more.

Stumbled across this place on a random drive through Kent. I knew from those sitting outside in the sunshine with smiles and large glasses of wine that it was gonna be good. Ended up with the roast pork panini, the sausage and green pepper panini, lots of sliced cured meats the mortadella was incredible. I even had an ice coffee while I waited. (Pizzas served later in the day) It's very simple. I wish I had ordered twice as much. I will be back to sample the entire menu. Which i am certain will be delicious. The staff were polite and helpful. Easy 5☆☆☆☆☆ I'm hungry thinking about it!

Called in for a coffee and pastry Both were good and good value Would have loved to book an evening meal unfortunately they are only open Friday and Saturday evenings . (What a shame) if we are ever in Deal on a evening that they are open we will without a doubt make a reservation

A nice little Italian cafe, I would have liked to give more stars for the food as we ordered the spaghetti bolognese and the chef special and they were both lovely unfortunately my son ordered the spaghetti carbonara which was not very nice at all. It was so bad he did not eat it and we both tried it and it was horrible Shame as it is a lovely cafe with a nice atmosphere.

A long over due visit to this sweet little establishment. Heard so many great things and we were not disappointed. Outstanding “real” Sicilian food good from the heart with passion and the most wonderfully fresh ingredients. Front of house managed by the wonderful lady owner so do hospitable and welcoming g whilst her husband created the most wonderful food.

Lovely as always. Dinner for four.three course,two bottles of wine and coffee for £120. Service polite, friendly and not rushed. Eaten here several times and never disappointed. Food is so good, dessert to die for. Little gem

Charming staff. Family run. Authentic food. Amusing clientele!

Just popped in to have a coffee and snack if possible, early afternoon. Delicious coffee - husband had a panini which he enjoyed and I was delighted to be able to have a gluten free chocolate cookie (coeliacs don't go out expecting to be catered for really). The cookie was so light, lovely texture. I'd have loved to have selected from all the other homemade treats on display, Italian/Sicilia specialities. Husband rubbed my nose in it by having 2 mini cannoli to take away. Spotlessly clean throughout. I can't bear crumby, sticky tables and these were gleaming clean. I will be back.

Writing this quickly to make clear that The Sicilian IS still open. Before visiting we felt uncertain based on their online info, as that hadn't been updated for a couple of years. But definitely trading as at March 2023 and offering a delicious menu of authentic eat-in and takeaway options, with friendly service.

A quaint and authentic Italian restaurant. Owner and staff are very friendly and helpful. Food is freshly made and tasty and coffee too. Also allow our cockapoo inside.

Great food and experience. Real Sicilian in Deal

Wonderful, friendly place. Great food.

Great Italian restaurant, good value, dood food and friendly staff.

Where do you go when you come home from a trip to Italy? Well, straight to The Sicilian of course for some authentic Italian food. Fabulous little restaurant. Be adventurous and try the daily specials.

Visit this amazing little cafe regularly and every time has been an amazing treat. The food is to die for, the service and friendliness of the owners is second to none. We have tried everything on the menu and have never been disappointed!!! Lovely atmosphere and such good value. Cannot recommend enough !! One of the best places to eat in Deal.

Excellent. Lovely food, great service.

Ice cream was good but very grumpy serving teenagers and the smallest ice cream portions in Deal.

This place is great. I try to pop in as often as I can to grab a freshly made panini to take away for lunch. We've also had pizza from here at the weekend and it's up there with the best pizza we've had anywhere. Nice and friendly, family-run and authentic. We're lucky to have this sort of thing in Deal.

The Sicilian is a handy, family-run restaurant in the seaside town of Deal (Kent) offering delicious food, cheaper eats, from snacks to meals, and some of the best and reasonably priced wine in town. Located just off the High Street, the Restaurant is small (bijou), with additional seating outside for your morning coffee or one of their home-made ices. I dine here once a month, for lunch with friends. We usually each opt for the simple range of Panini to Antipasti & Pasta and (collectively) a bottle of their local (Sicilian) wine. Time permitting (priorities) perhaps we’d start with a shared plate of ‘antipasto misto’, cured meats or cheeses, not to forget ‘pane e olive’, a trusted and fine accompaniment to the wine. I have always felt that the judge of a good restaurant is the soup, and have never been disappointed, but various pastas are on offer, the ‘Cannelloni Ricotta a Spinaci’ delighted my friend, the ‘Lasagne’ was among the best I have ever sampled. The baked aubergine with tomato and mozzarella ‘Parmigiana’ is another favourite. There is also a selection of pizza to suite many diverse tastes. Although we have often commented on the lovely deserts and pastries on display, we have yet to take the plunge, but ‘watch this space’ The service is friendly, we feel at home, loving the mix of authentic tastes. At the weekend The Sicilian offers evening dining, the ‘specials’ board giving an extended view of this cuisine from southern Italy.

Superb food, excellent service and an amazing atmosphere. My husband and I eat here regularly and have never been disappointed. Authentic Italian cuisine, freshly cooked and then served by the wife and daughter of the chef, such a lovely Italian family restaurant. Hand made pastries, gorgeous Italian cheeses and wine not to mention desserts to die for. If you want truly delicious Italian food, warm and friendly service and want to feel like you are in Italy itself then you must eat at the Sicilian in Deal

Excellent Italian coffee and very friendly owners. Definitely recommend!

What a gem of a place to eat. Don't let the outside of the business put you off. The proprietors are FANTASTIC, as is the food. Definitely one of the best places to eat in Deal and the surrounding area.

Great coffee. We didn’t stop for food but liked the look of the menu and planned to come back. What was not very nice unfortunately was twice in a 15 minute visit being smoked over by the chef, at the open air tables. I and my mum were sat outside because I’d just had transplant rejection treatment and am now completely immunesuppressed, and that was the safest option. Felt I had to leave. Perhaps the smoking could happen slightly further away from the outside tables - that would be considerate and hospitable.

We ate here before going to the theatre. The food was excellent. Being Vegetarian we can't remember anywhere saying choose what you want and we'll make it vegetarian, leave room for the puds, they make them as well. This is a family run restaurant and is very small so I'd recommend booking. The best meal out we've had in a long time. They deserve all the success they get. We look forward to returning!

I make a point of each month visiting The Sicilian for lunch with friends when we are performing at the adjacent Astor Theatre.

Great food and service here on my first visit. Had a pork rib ragu, followed by bread and butter pudding, while my wife had a lasagne. The lasagne was the creamiest I'd had but tasty nonetheless, while my two plates were delicious. Also took a few snacks from the counter, which I'm looking forward to tucking into over the next couple of days. Will return soon.

Really authentic place and well kept secret

Lovely authentic Italian food, well worth waiting a few extra minutes for.

Having been advised by dentist not to eat anything too crunchy today after two fillings, I contemplated where to have lunch. The word mash eluded me on menus, then I thought the Sicilians will have something. Their ricotta and spinach fills the bill and was interesting contrast to the wrapped boil in a saucepan version in Aldi. The pastries are unique to Deal and low threat to fresh fillings too. The cafe is close to the sorting office and bright red and yellow on a dull autumn day. Run by proprietor and wife Angela with some evening extensions, and has its own following.

We always come here for coffee and tea we once had lunch and it was lovely! Best tasting food I’ve had in a long time ! They also do the best coffee in town as we have tried them all this is the go to place !! Lovely little bites as well in their counter you have to try them !

Good, fresh Italian food, the best in town. Brilliant for a last minute lunch or something you have booked, with different daily specials on offer from the Italian chef. Full of flavour, with the freshest ingredients. The tiramasu is the best I've ever tasted.

The food its nice and its a family inviorment

Absolutely superb food with excellent wine at an affordable price. We got in on a last minute cancellation and now understand why it is so popular. A little Italy with superb cuisine

Very ambiant with friendly and efficient owners.

Brilliant and authentic food, lovely staff and reasonably priced.

Can't beat sitting outside on the sun, coffee with homemade Italian pastries, watching the world of by...

Wonderful food. Wonderful home style cafe/restaurant. True sicilian experience. Thank you from London visitors 🥰

Great place place to eat or drink, food is fantastic genuine Sicilian food.

Second time visit to this lovely Italian family run restaurant in Deal. Nice menu choices and lovely owners . Prices reasonable too. All in all, a good experience.

very nice little restaurant. Top quality of the food and drinks. Staff is nice too. However, a star deduction because the waiting times until the food comes are a bit too long.

A small quaint establishment & needed to pre-order from the menu on some choices however, food was absolutely delicious. Service was perfect & hospitality exceptional. Highly recommended.

Delicious authentic Sicilian food; reminds me of my holidays in Palermo.

Deal may have gone a bit hipsterish and Farrow & Ball but the Sicilian conjured up memories of the sort of no-nonsense Italian cafes that used to be common enough in Camden and similar capital spots but have now mostly been overtaken by the corporate...

Lovely place. Excellent home cooked authentic food. Nice vibe

Nice sunny seats outside the front and great gelato.

This is a often overlooked gem, excellent food and service. The smells coming from there kitchen are more than tempting. Today's pastries look fabulous. The ice-cream is mmmmmmmmmarvelous.

Good food, good wine and an affordable price. 👌

Splendid temptations go with excellent coffee; don't have the cannoli; well don't unless you have a yen to indulge in the best sweet treat in town.

Small perfectly formed classic Sicilian family run bistro great food and coffee...and very special to the locals.

Simple cafe with just great fresh dishes and takeaway food. Cakes, cheeses and meats from deli are excellent. Worth a visit and just delicious.

Great little local. Family run and tasty food

The chicken sandwich was nice. Very crispy and flavoursome. Good chicken coverage It had good pasta and beer.

Excellent food. Lovely owners and staff. Just a bit small.

I have eaten many seafood pastas in my time , but this was undoubtedly the worst , it was as though he got it out of a tin

I visited this cafe for lunch. Pannis were really tasty. It was a bit surprising to find such good Italian food in a small seaside town in Kent.

What a find! From the outside you would never know just how good this restaurant is. Food was absolutely delicious and the couple who own and run the restaurant were warm and welcoming. I wish this restaurant was closer as it would definitely be my...

The food is out of this world - the little cafe is charming and the owners delightful Authentic food - great wine and a good night out

We Visited for a business lunch they have lovely coffee lovely fresh pastry and cakes -all home Made a real taste of Italy, We had a lovely fresh pasta for lunch, they even had gluten free options for myself, We took home some cakes for...

This was recommended as somewhere relatively cheap to eat but with excellent cooking. It is more a cafe than restaurant but don't be put off. The Italian couple that run it are charming and it has a real Italian authentic feel. Pizza was delicious -...

Some friends of ours have been recommending us to go to The Sicilian for a while now and it didn’t disappoint! We had a wonderful couple of hours there yesterday for lunch. We shared a delicious bottle of wine, bruschetta & carbonara (cooked the proper...

This is a must to visit for a coffee and lunch if you are visiting Deal. Superb Italian coffee is served here and the food is delightful. The paninis are very innovative and tasty with a make your own option. Best cafe in Deal.

This is a must to visit for a coffee and lunch if you are visiting Deal. Superb Italian coffee is served here and the food is delightful. The paninis are very innovative and tasty with a make your own option. Best cafe in Deal.

I had a pasta lunch here last week it was very tasty coupled with a decent red wine. It is a small cafe so best to book for evening food. It is described as a Deli coffee shop but think they are much more than...

Popped in here for a take out lunch on the off chance - just wow! I’ll be back 👌

It's like walking off the pavement in Deal, straight into Palermo. Brilliant food, owner is excellent chef , he and his wife make us very welcome, we lunch there often. Also a great deli with authentic meats and cheeses. Friendly haven, and reasonably priced.