Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but, this year, logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.
MEAL
- "Our Specialty: Chicken Mole: Free-range chicken... braised in our rich chocolate mole sauce, made with bittersweet chocolate and roasted peanuts. Not sweet. Not very spicy. Served with organic baby greens & pepita seeds w/ balsamic vinaigrette, & our gluten-free polenta pie"
- "Our Own Baked Pasta Rosettes: Fresh Pasta Pinwheels stuffed w/ ricotta & romano cheeses served with Artichoke Pesto Cream Sauce (Half Order w/ Organic Baby Greens)"
- Dessert orgy, small:
- Slice, Coconut Cheesecake: "One of our specialties, made with shredded coconut, coconut milk, and white chocolate. Topped with dark chocolate ganache"
- Slice, Chocolate Ecstacy Cake: "light & bittersweet, dusted with cocoa"
- Small serving, Gelato: extra rich old-fashioned Ice Cream, chocolate-minte (with mini mint chocolate bar sticking up, from the top)
- Cream Pies: "Rich custard in a cookie crumb crust with our homemade whipped cream. Dark Chocolate Cream"
- Chocolate Mousse Truffles: Not sure what flavor we got...to me, it tasted a bit like balsamic vinaigrette, but Dawn is not in agreement...the filling was white; "Mocha, Hazelnut, Coconut, White Amaretto, Rich Milk, White Rose, Salted Caramel Dense Dark French, Mexican Spice, Bittersweet Mousse, Dark Rose, Fresh-Mint"
- Optional:
- Glass, Pinot Noir: 2008 Aiena Vineyards, Monterey Bright and rich with aromas of cherry and ornage peel. An excellent wine.
- Glass, Pizzolato Spumante: Cantina “Il Pizzolato” Veneto, Italy Dry with complex and pronounced grapefruit flavor in the finish. This sparkling wine made from 100% Chardonnay grapes has been very popular here at Chocolate for over 14 years.
Underwhelming experience, to say the least, compared with an exceptional 2015 date (note: regarding logistics, not the food or staff--the food, as usual, was delicious!):
- Web site advertised a Valentines Menu, on both Saturday, February 13, as well as Sunday, February 14 (see image, below)
- On Saturday, February 13, at 6:00 p.m., we reserved a table, for two, for later that night, at 8:15 p.m., verbally, via telephone (note: we did not confirm, at the time, whether they planned to serve the Valentines Menu...caveat emptor)
- Arrived on time, at 8:15 p.m., but found our names not recorded, on the hostess' list; graciously, the hostess directed us to an available indoor table (which normally seats 6-8), without missing a beat--kudos, for that
- However, we soon discovered the air conditioning vent, directly above the table, continually dripped condensation, on one end of the table...we scooted down, and, for the most part, successfully ignored it
- We attempted to order the Valentines Menu prix fixe meal, per the web site advertisement, but restaurant staff (note: waiter confirmed, with the hostess) informed us the restaurant was serving regular menu items only, and not serving the prix fixe meal
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| Chocolate, the Restaurant's web site, as of Sunday, February 14, 2016, with text "Valentines Menu...Available Saturday & Sunday February 13 & 14." |
- Why did the web site say one thing, but staff say another?
- We thought this might represent an error with updating web site text, year-over-year, but the Wayback Machine indicates the following web site text, from February 15, 2015--no indication of Saturday & Sunday option: "Valentines Menu: A four-course menu for two to share, with three entree courses to choose from. Discounted bottles of excellent red wine, white wine and spumante will be available. Price includes food for two. Gratuity, tax, and beverages extra."
- Additionally, the 2015 Valentines Menu image specifically lists only February 14, 2015
- ???
So, we made the best of it. Caveat emptor. The meal ended up costing ~$75, including tax, tip, and wine, instead of the ~$75 + $20, for wine, plus tax & tip, for Valentines Day, so...we saved some maybe $20-30.
Differences, from 2015:
- Price increase, from $65, to $75 (+$10, or +15%)
- Baby greens salad lists option, "White truffle & balsamic vinaigrette & romano cheese" (note: may have served the same, in 2015, but menu did not mention)
- Main entree change: from "Tender Shrimp Crêpes, with saffron cream", to "Chile Verde Pork, with organic basmati rice"
- Optional wine changes:
- From "Sparkling Pizzolato Spumante", to "Cremant d'Alsace Sparkling dry French Rose"
- From "Ripasso di Valpolicella", to "Le Gouleyant Malbec"
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| Chocolate, the Restaurant's Valentines Menu 2016 prix fixe menu details |
To conclude: Food was delicious, staff friendly and accommodating, prices not unreasonable, but logistics, dripping ceiling water, and web site mis-communications kind of killed our date.
Takeaway(s):
Previously
Takeaway(s):
- Make reservations online, as telephone reservations seem sketchy, per this Valentines experience and our Thanksgiving experience, at Hoffman's Downtown
- Confirm, verbally, special meal reservations
- Other (?)
Previously
