Koko Black Chocolate Cafe Melbourne – Poor Mans Lindt?
About a month and a half ago now the world of chocolate cafes opened up to me. Not ever having heard of the idea previously I’ve since grown quite fond of the idea and intend to traverse my way through what Melbourne has to offer.
Having visited the Lindt chocolate cafe just last month, on the advice of several readers I set out this afternoon to Koko Black’s Camberwell cafe.
Once again it was time to gorge myself on a chocolate lunch.
Walking in the door the atmosphere seemed to be more relaxed and less upmarket then the Lindt. The counter looked like a nice wooden bar with cafe style seating running down the end of the store on the right. It was definitely a much more of a warm setting then Lindt’s somewhat sterile white marble style decor.
There were only two tables free in the entire store so we wound up sitting near the back. I sat with my back against the wall facing an empty giant windowed area with two blue slurpee looking machines. I have no idea what they did but they had blue LCD number displays on them that kept ticking over.
This was a far cry from the melted chocolate mixers I’d been treated to whilst waiting at Lindt.
We ordered the ‘Specialty for Two’ which was a Belgian Spoil, one hot chocolate and one iced chocolate.
The service was prompt and our meal was served within five minutes of placing the order. In contrast I waited around fifteen minutes for my meal at Lindt.
The hot chocolate was served in a large low mug and had fancy patterns on the top. Taste wise it was delicious being not too watery or thick and was very chocolatey. It was easily the highlight of the meal.
The iced chocolate came in a giant ‘port’ style glass with lots of icecream and melted chocolate run through it. It was what the rather crappy Lindt iced chocolate should have been like. I didn’t actually taste it but was told it was yum. It certainly looked yum!
Ok so I may or may not have been slightly jealous.
The Belgian Spoil platter was kind of hit and miss. From left to right we had a cup of chocolate icecream, a cup of chocolate mousse, 2 chocolates, a square of shortbread and a chocolate muffin cake.
We didn’t get to choose the chocolates which was a bit meh, we were served an Almond Praline and a Caramel dark chocolate. The waitress did mention what types they were as she set them down which was nice.
I had the chocolate icecream which was nice and chocolatey although it could have done with some topping. Being in a chocolate cafe it’s not like they didn’t have any! The mouse I’m told was good (she couldn’t finish it!) and the Almond Praline was awesome. I’m not a fan of the dark chocolate so I left the other piece for my company.
The shortbread I’m told was ok. I had the chocolate cake and it was very dry and flourey. I ate it in one go and could feel it tear in my mouth instead of break apart nicely like cake should. I had to make a grinding motion with my teeth to separate it. It too could have done with a topping off some kind
Not accustomed to sharing my chocolate I was left wanting more so I ordered a Belgian Chocolate Mousse Martini for er… desert.
The mousse turned out to be much better then the platter experience. Served in a martini glass the mousse was nice and rich and was sprinkled with just the right amount of nuts. It came with a dark chocolate quill (which I passed to my company and a chocolate waffle thing.
I had to stop halfway as my stomach reached chocolate overload but manged to finish it off after another go.
Very, very satisfying.
All up we came in at just over $30 which was $7 less per person then what I paid at Lindt but for a lot more chocolate.
The Lindt chocolate cafe set a pretty high bar for me and whilst I found Koko Black to definitely be more bang for your buck, I was a bit disappointed in the bang.
Koko Black was like a firecracker you light and brace yourself in anticipation. Then five minutes later someone taps you on the shoulder and asks what you’re doing… you then realise there is no bang.
Not sure I’ll be going back there anytime soon but I will keep it on my list of options for future dates, the Belgian Spoil platter works out quite nicely for two and at $11 a head is very attractively priced.
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