Does a chocolate affair have enough Cacao for a strong bond or will it prove to be no more than a mere flirtation?
Does a chocolate affair have enough Cacao for a strong bond or will it prove to be no more than a mere flirtation?
Located in Pali Naka, A Chocolate Affair is the country's only chocolate lounge.
But with the owners threatening to cave in to 'popular' demand, their alleged USP is likely to change within the next fortnight. Soon, you too can breeze through the entrance and ask for bread (Yes, bread.
Not a chocolate crossisant. Not a bagel. Bread. Possibly multigrain), and not walk away disappointed. Provided you're okay with assorted fillings slapped between them. That's right, sandwiches will arrive shortly.
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| Spanish Churros with Dark Belgian Chocolate |
For those used to having their favourite part of every meal, relegated to a corner on the last page of every menu, having entire pages of options might prove thrilling. Choose from 'classic', 'icy', 'fruity', 'sweet' and 'group' 'affairs' or something from their range of coffees and organic teas.
We chose marshmallows, dates and the delightfully squidgy Turkish Delight as our weapons of chocolate demolition in The Chocolate Fondue For Two (Rs 280). There's no traditional earthenware pot or burner, so it's really a fondue only in theory, and maybe a little practice.
The Spanish Churros (Rs 225), made from a recipe using flour, eggs, and butter, and dusted with icing sugar is a treat. We recommend you have it with the traditional serving of dark chocolate. If your tastes veer towards the sweeter side, then request for the milk chocolate instead.
The dessert of the evening was the Cherry Delight (Rs 225). Sweetened cherries enveloped in chilled custard with generous bits of Belgian (which they keep referring to as 'Belgium' in the menu) chocolate, proved an unusual, but satisfying combo.
The service at A Chocolate Affair might border on the over-enthusiastic, but for the most part is friendly. The guys behind the counter are well informed, even though you might have to specially request them for a glass of water.
Surprisingly, the split-level restaurant with warm milk chocolate walls and dark chocolate furniture has a long way to go before it can find its place on the Mumbai foodie map.
Quality that borders on inconsistent (as a second visit a few days later to the restaurant proved) and hot chocolate at a chocolate lounge that doesn't have enough 'real' chocolate, is not the stuff restaurant history is made of.
At A Chocolate Affair, Dheeraj Arcade, Pali Naka, Bandra (W).
Call 26425287.
A Chocolate Affair didn't know we were there. The GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for its meals.
