This country is amazing. New places open daily and the best part is that these places are introducing some new concepts in town. Chocolicious, recently opened in Blueberry Square, is one such places. What is it? Do they only serve chocolate? Intrigued as always, I grabbed my cousin, and went down to find out what lies behind the sweet name.
Surprisingly, you walk into a square shaped space, where more than just chocolate is served. They offer a selection of breakfast, appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches, main courses, fruit smoothies, shakes, juices and beverages. Keeping it simple, three choices are available, on average, in each section.
Although their photos on Instagram look amazing, I was a bit disappointed as I walked into this square space within the Blueberry Square. The place is a bit tight and people are smoking inside; Not the best first impression. I didn't like the purple, grey and ugly tables filled with dried petals and more so, the trance music playing in the background made me feel I was at a nightclub.
I grabbed the menu which fell apart in pieces...
Let's discover the place meanwhile:
- A square space covered with white tiles and filled with square white tables under a big chandelier
- Three purple lanterns pend from the ceiling
- To the left is the bar and its fridge displaying some chocolate cakes
- All the tables are decorated with chandeliers without their candles
- The sofas are a mix of white and purple leather
- Look up on the corners where large tablets of chocolates decorate the walls
- It's more of a kindergarten decoration than a chocolate restaurant
On the table next to me, a dish caught my attention. A large piece of bread, emptied from its inside and filled with onion soup. It looked tasty but I didn't feel having it that night: It seems like this onion soup is tasty. So I started asking for a few things on the menu only to be disappointed that most of them were unavailable: No more quiches, no more chocolicious salad and a soda containing vodka with the alcoholic content not mentioned on the menu. Weird so far.
Bearing the headache generated from the music and watching the manager busy chatting on his phone, we ordered:
- The Violet Soda drink: A speciality of the house is a mix of sweeteners and soda. I'll go for a coke next time
- Croque Monsieur 16,000L.L: Slices of pain campagnard, crunchy on the sides and soft in the middle, covered with slices of ham and melted cheese. Homemade style, those sandwiches are really tasty, served with cherry tomatoes, cornichons and lollo rosso lettuce. I took it with my hands and I ate it like I do it in front of the TV at home. Tasty it is.
- The Goat Cheese Salad 18,000L.L: This salad is very interesting indeed with its sweet subtle flavors. A puff pastry circle filled with warm goat cheese and accompanied by figs and cherry confit jam and lots of walnuts, almonds and pine nuts. Bravo, Bravo, Bravo. It might not be the usual salad you eat where slices of goat cheese are layer on a mountain of lettuce but a fine creation that made me smile.A finesse like no other.
It's named Chocolicious after all, so we had to try some of their speciality desserts.
- Biscuit au Chocolat or Chocolate bombs 10,000L.L: That was my least favorite. A faded chocolate taste, condensed s hard into a bomb where bits of biscuits overtake it on the mix. A creamy and buttery feel that's too prominent making it a dessert not up to the standard of a chocolate speciality restaurant. It's a NO for me.
- Chocolate Cheese Cake 11,000L.L: Nice: This cheese cake is tasty even though a background of aromas diminishes from the chocolate strength. I loved the three distinct layers of cheese, chocolate and crunchy biscuit. A piece I recommend.
- Chocolate Tart 9,500L.L: Best was kept for last. The queen of the night as I like to call it was simply awesome! A crunchy fresh dough filled with a strong dark chocolate where every bite is unique. You will close your eyes in amazement. I loved it.
I would change and improve:
- The name for sure
- The old style kids like decoration
- The cheap menus, using one font and adding illustrations
- Change from the violet purple lighting making it simply warm yellow
- Put a detailed description for the chocolate items: It's a chocolate heaven after all!
I left upset, simply because the food and was nice and the operations manager professional, yet the interior, concept as well as the staff overall ambiance spoils the whole experience at Chocolicious. It doesn't make you want to come again.
