Review: Eclipse Chocolat
There's a new chocolate cafe in North Park, University Heights, and after reading the Eclipse Chocolat blog, I had to try it. So after work last night, the honey and I stepped into the ultra-loungey Red Fox Room for a quick dinner. Side note: if you want the ultimate in dark 50s loungey steakhouse, this is it. Go on Fridays or Saturdays so you can hear the band, complete with accordian player! There's even dancing. Oh, and the grilled cheese is great.
After our grilled cheese & steak kabob dinner, we stepped into the light once again, and walked about a block over to Eclipse Chocolat to satisfy my Exotic-Choclate-Brownie-Craving.
O.M.G. So Good.
Seriously, read the Eclipse Chocolat blog. I chose the muscovado brownie and chile burnt caramel (there are also espresso brownies and walnut brownies, and a blood orange olive oil chocolate sauce). This comes with vanilla bean gelato and their house-made vanilla bean marshmallow, toasted with one of those little blow torches.
The muscovado brownie has a sort of chewy texture with a hint of molasses taste. Spectacular. The chile burnt caramel was really delicious, although I think they could have upped the chile amount to make it stand up to the fairly heavy brownie flavor. (But on something lighter, perfect as is).
If I wasn't about to explode from my steakhouse dinner + brownie sundae, I would have bought one of their cupcakes, maybe the pink peppercorn creme fraiche cupcake, which looked beautiful. Btw, I never say something looks "too good to eat". "Good enough to eat," maybe. They also have a dessert sampling plate which would be nice to share with the honey (and by share, I mean that he gets to lick the plate after I'm done).
I'll be going back.
Comments
Oh, yes, there is much red meat and seafood, if you sit for dinner. It's a very basic, very 50s, steakhouse menu. Filet mignon, New York strip, etc; king crab legs, shrimp. It's a little difficult to actually see your food and read the menu because the whole place is kept rather dark. The ceilings are painted dark brown, there are no windows, and just small candles at each table. Mmmhmm, romantic!
In the lounge area, there's an old keyboard with silver glitter letters on it. The band members are in their 70s or 80s, real crooners. I think the accordian player will even start dancing a little when ladies get on the dance floor.
Only bad thing is, it gets stiflingly hot inside the Red Fox Room on summer nights. I don't think they have air conditioning. And they have vinyl seats, so your legs will stick if you're wearing shorts. But really, air conditioning might take away from the delightfully tacky ambience.
For x-mas gifts to Tim's mom & dad, who are epicures in their own right, I included a box of chocolates from Eclipse Chocolat. Always meant to go back to try one of their tasting menus, you should try them and post a blog.
My chiropractor, Dr. Beau, is in the building across the side street on Louisiana St, he is really awesome. The waiting room is all massage chairs, so you're nicely tenderized for the actual adjustment.