Yummilicious is a modern, family-owned and operated business right here in Utica. 

They offer a wide variety of European desserts such as baklava layered with honey and nuts, light sponge cakes soaked in sweet milk called tres leches and chocolate “ice cube” cake known as ledene kocke. Their menu also showcases a variety of coffees, teas, refreshing beverages, and breakfast and lunch options. 

Entering the cafe, you’re immediately greeted with smiles from the staff who are eager to make your day. The cafe is bright and modern, decorated with flower walls and neon lights. Upbeat European music plays in the background and there’s even a little library of books to borrow. It’s an aesthetically pleasing environment, perfect for your next Instagram photoshoot. 

My typical order is an average iced latte with some sort of flavor shot. At Yummilicious the options are more than average. They serve a variety of specialty coffees, so I chose to venture out and order the Cinnamon Toast Crunch latte. It’s topped off with sweet cream and Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. The pink heart shaped straw was my favorite touch. The drink is the perfect combination of cinnamon spice while being savory. 

The dessert case is full of European desserts you can’t find anywhere else. I’ve tried most of their sweets such as their various tres leches options and specialty cakes. My favorite dessert is their cupavci, a vanilla sponge cake dipped in cocoa milk and covered with coconut shavings and whipped cream. It has the perfect amount of sweet without ruining the overall flavor. It truly has a sponge-like texture that melts in your mouth. Paired with an iced latte, it’s a delectable treat. 

Everything the cafe offers is handmade from scratch daily. This cafe is unlike any other. They use high quality ingredients, keep away from artificial food coloring and have gluten-free alternatives. Turkish and Bosnian breakfast options are also available.

On my latest visit, I decided to order french toast. For $10 you get three thick brioche slices soaked in cinnamon spiced eggs, with the option of adding strawberries, blueberries, bananas, Nutella or whipped cream as toppings. Needless to say, brunch exceeded my expectations. If you find time in your weekend adventures, I highly suggest stopping in for their unique brunch, available on weekends only.

The cafe is located at 1600 Rutger St, less than a 15 minute drive from campus. The five star cafe rated by Google is open Thursday – Friday from 4 – 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.