Where to go: Dark Side Coffee Roasters
Address: 110 W. Jackson St., Cicero
What to get: Blueberry muffin
Price: $3
Anna’s take: Dark Side Roasters is an adorable café and coffee roaster in downtown Cicero. It has everything I love about a cozy place – exposed brick, a variety of seating options, plants and, of course, impeccable coffee and snacks. My favorite item was the blueberry muffin, which like everything — except for the bagels — is made in-house. It was mighty in size and packed with blueberries. It had a delicious crunch on top but was moist and gooey inside. Other notable items are brownies, which are baked with espresso and are practically the size of a brick, and quiche, if you want something with a bit less sugar. The quiche is fluffy inside with a beautifully browned top.
Suggested pairings: Chocolate-covered strawberry latte. I’m usually not one to order a sweet drink for my morning java, but I couldn’t resist this one. And, boy, was it worth it. Dark Side Roasters can customize drinks to include as much or as little syrup as you want, so it wasn’t overly sweet and allowed the flavor of the espresso to come through nicely.
