Bringing Saudi Hospitality to St. Thomas at Zesty Dessert Cafe
When the Alsindi family opened Zesty Dessert Cafe in St. Thomas, they weren’t just hoping to serve coffee and desserts. They wanted to create a gathering place inspired by the hospitality and warmth deeply rooted in Saudi culture. Brothers Soliman, Yousef and Adam Alsindi now run the cafe together, building a business focused as much on atmosphere and connection as the food itself. “We’ve been trying to introduce Saudi hospitality first of all,” said Soliman Alsindi. “We wanted people to have a place where they can sit for as long as they want with whomever they want. It’s like a third place. You have home, work, and then here.” That welcoming philosophy became the foundation for Zesty Dessert Cafe. The brothers wanted to create a relaxed environment where families, students and friends could gather comfortably, something they felt was missing from many coffee shops. Their father originally inspired the concept after moving to Canada with his large family. “He has 24 children, 12 brothers and 12 sisters,” said Yousef Alsindi with a laugh. “When he first came here, he didn’t really have a place to take everybody. He always had the idea to open a cafe or a kid’s area where families and friends could hang out together.” The menu itself reflects a blend of cultures and flavours. Alongside espresso-based drinks and European-inspired desserts, Zesty also offers traditional Saudi and Turkish coffee. “The Saudi coffee is very different,” explained Yousef. “It’s roasted very lightly, almost blonde, and we add cardamom, saffron and cloves for
YOU ASKED, WE ANSWERED We install For the Alsindi brothers, the cafe is ultimately about more than food. “We don’t treat customers like customers,” said Yousef. “We treat them more like family. We want people to feel at home and connected to our culture.” The brothers say quality is something on which they refuse to compromise. “We try to make people enjoy at least one or two things here,” said Soliman. “We’re not trying to cut corners: for our mango smoothie, we use mangoes.” the aroma and flavour.” Even the way the coffee is served reflects Saudi traditions. “In our culture, if I pour you a huge cup, it means drink it and leave,” he said. “But if I pour you a little bit, it means stay as long as you want and I’m happy to keep serving you.” Desserts have become one of the cafe’s biggest draws, particularly their crepes, croffles and over-the-top specialty creations. Their most popular dessert is the Fruit Feaster crepe, loaded with Nutella, white chocolate, strawberries, bananas and blueberries. Other creations pile cakes, cookies, ice cream and toppings together into large shareable desserts.
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Page 48 Hometown St. Thomas • June 2026
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