The Unexpected Dinner. . .

My friend and I went out to dinner tonight.  It was at her invitation and it all sounded grand until . . .

 

What time and where?  I text.  The Chocolate Pavilion at Southbank she texts in reply.  Hmmm, doesn’t really sound dinner-like I think to myself, but what the heck, surely there will be something ‘proper’ on the menu.

Firstly I can’t find the cafe.  I walk up and down Little Stanley Street and it just isn’t there.  And then on my third pass I spy it – I was looking for a sumptuous and alluring facade but what I find is a bright lighted venue with little visual appeal.  My friend arrives and we um and arr about whether it is open or not.  We can see a lone figure sitting at a table and a fellow sweeping the floor but that is it.  We try the door, yep it’s open, we are feeling conspicuous (well I am anyway), so we walk in and take a seat. 

The lone figure rises, the fellow puts down his broom, we are the only customers, the service should be great shouldn’t it? 

Menus arrive - our eyes agog with a list a mile long of nothing but chocolate (that may be a slight exaggeration, but quite close to the mark).  Chocolate sauce, chocolate pudding, chocolate mousse, chocolate... chocolate... chocolate!!!

I knew I shouldn’t have done it!  But I did anyway. 

I did however choose the least chocolaty.  Pancakes with banana and bacon (we have no bacon the waitress informs me), oh well, just as it is minus the bacon then – there goes my attempt at making this meal fit into the dinner guidelines.  I really am just skipping dinner and having dessert - what was that about there being some ‘proper’ food on the menu?

My friend orders a Dark Chocolate Truffle Affogato – is it a drink or not?  Your verdict I ask her – “mmm I’m not quite sure” she says lifting a spoonful of the chocolate/coffee concoction to her lips, “it’s different”.   I observe her observing the elegant glass with little bobbing chocolate balls swimming in coffee surrounding a dollop of chocolate gelato.  Interesting indeed.

The waitress delivers cutlery – plonked on the table in a noisy pile along with the napkins and turns and leaves – still no other customers, where is the good service we were expecting?  The cutlery is spotted with watermarks – the waitress could have been making herself useful by polishing it to a shiny gleam instead of sitting at the table on her mobile.

 

Dinner for my friend is a Signature Waffle which arrives with little fanfare on a huge plate surrounded by strawberries, banana and caramel sauce and yes of course... little balls of chocolate with a scoop of chocolate gelato planted right on top. 

 

 

 

My pancakes arrive – I think to myself “what have I done?”  The caramel sauce is a hit, the pancakes tasty with the sweetness of the maple syrup and the bananas blending together – oh this would have been heaven if only for the bacon J

Should I have an Affogato too?  Yes, yes... a Cappuccino one please I tell the waitress.

It arrives and I take my spoon, dip it deep, taste it slowly and cappow!  The shock of it jolts my brain – coffee so strong - it spirals down my throat and I feel my heart instantly beat faster.  I will get no sleep tonight.  Chocolate and coffee, chocolate and coffee – what was I thinking????

My friend’s plate is empty – she liked it.  And mine, well it is close to empty too so I must have liked mine as well.  Our Affogatoes sit unfinished – so rich, so full of flavour, so coffeeish – we must put a stop to it and now!

This place is worth a visit but maybe for dessert only or afternoon tea – definitely not for dinner.  The cook did good but unfortunately the waiting staff left quite a bit to be desired – why do people choose to work in this industry if they do not like what they do?  At least pretend, put in a bit of effort, a smile and some courtesy go a long way. 

I’ll give them another chance, and if they don’t come up to scratch than that will be it for me!