Chocolat Fever

When the Dine Out LA restaurants were listed, MLS and I scoured through the menus to find some good eats. And when we came across the name of the restaurant...Chocolat Restaurant and Bar...it was such a tease and we knew we had to go! We brought JOC on board, and the three of us were three women on a mission to satisfy our cravings for some sweet chocolate goodness.

The restaurant had a patio area which we took full advantage of...being outdoors on a warm summer evening. The flower arrangements, trees, and columns of the restaurant did an okay job of masking the LA traffic on busy Melrose Avenue, but the noise and sounds of the city can often be overpowering.

At around 6:30pm, the restaurant was relatively empty except for the few small parties who decided on an early dinner. The decor reminded me of something French, something straight out of the movie with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Romantic sconces, beautiful roses and orchids, the rich velvety brown chair covers all added to this very chic spot in the city. I was somehow thrown off by the upbeat jungle type music in the background, expecting crooning voices of Sinatra or Harry Connick, Jr. But in present company, I didn't mind so much. After all, this wasn't a date. We were on a mission.



We started the $35 Pellegrino prix fixe dinner with some drinks. The complimentary water came, and it didn't take much to convince me to get a special cocktail. Something chocolate was on my mind, but I opted to wait for something that sweet for dessert. Plus I wanted to really savor this dinner out with the girls. Our friendly LA server suggested their specialty Mojito with Guaro Vodka. Apparantly, this type of vodka won't give you a hangover. Interesting. I'm sold. My first mojito and it was refreshingly smooth. Quoted as "better than rum, Guaro is the perfect base for a crisp, delicious mojito made from fresh mint and limes, muddled with sugar and poured over rocks with syrup and soda." This was a drink I could have over and over and over again. Quite dangerous indeed without the worry of the dreaded morning after effects.

With drinks in hand, we were ready to start the feasting and all chose the Albacore Sashimi to start. Sliced thinly, the fish was tender and surprisingly fresh. Served with just the right amount of roasted garlic sprinkles, a flavorful ponzu sauce, and a fiery kick with some jalepenos, it was the perfect blend of sweet, sour, hot, and cool. Usually, I'm not a big fan of the spicy pepper. But that night, I devoured all of them...including the ones from MLS and JOC's plates!

Next up, we sampled two entrees: JOC tried the Chicken and Wild Mushroom Crepe with plenty of herbs and cheeses in a béchamel sauce while MLS and I had to have the Grilled Salmon Filet in a cabernet sauce with sautéed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes. All of which was tasty and quite filling with such large portions.



Then came the finale with what we were looking forward to all night...DESSERT! As night fell upon us, we were full, happy, and delirious with chocolate delight! Both JOC and MLS had the Chocolate Brulee while I had the Combo Chocolate and Grand Marnier Souffle. The Brulee had a nice cool crunch to the sweetness while the souffle was light and warm in the mouth. With a hint of orange citrus along with the chocolate, the souffle was quite satisfying. After just a few bites, I was done (or so I thought). AND...that's when the bill came and I found out why the mojito was so good...it was $14 worth of about 9 ounces of alcohol, labor, or something! I was flabbergasted! JOC and MLS laughed at how my eyes bulged out at the double digit drink. So to compensate, to feel as though I got my dollars and cents worth, I took a deep breath and found some room to finish the souffle and my comped glass of Pellegrino. No crumb, morsel, or drop was left behind. Mission: Accomplished.

Chocolat Restaurant and Bar
Street: 8155 Melrose Avenue
T: 1.323.651.2111