Another suburban chocolate café , another international origin (Australia), more chocolate pizzas, pastries, muffins, mountains in the shape of the Taj Mahal – The Chocolate Room is the latest in a string of eateries (San Churros, Chocolate Affair) that focuses on chocolate and its many excesses, with varying levels of success.

Dessert Storm

Take for instance Coco Loco, a chilled coffee and chocolate blend that kicked off our meal, which comes with lots of cream and chocolate sauce but a refreshingly small amount of sugar. Rich and satisfying, it hits the spot on a sweltering summer day. Also awesome are Death by Chocolate pancakes (chocolate chip pancakes, chocolate ice cream, chocolate sauce), the kind of breakfast that guarantees a coronary, which you’d eat when you’re very young and resilient or on the last day of a long, well-lived life.

Choco Rum from the shots menu is dense and silky with hints of coconut but unfortunately no alcohol. A pesto sandwich with side of salsa is strictly average. Blah.

Eye Candy

The arrival of fruit fondue, loaded with strawberries, bananas, chocolate chip cookies and marshmallows however, generated much excitement among our group. This could also have been because it coincided with the arrival of a bunch of cute guys in shorts who dropped by after a game of football and greatly improved the interior of The Chocolate Room, which, laden with white and red booths, a chocolate fountain and average art, is on its own predictable and boring.

Also cute are hug mugs and Belgian chocolate balls in several avours that can be assorted into a box.

Going Down Under?

Despite a few highlights, The Chocolate Room is strictly average, and seriously needs to up its game if it wants to rise above the glut of Mumbai cafes and attract a steady stream of customers. Better savoury options and a resident football team might be a good start.

Getting there: The Chocolate Room, North Avenue Road, Santacruz (W), lane opposite Kotak Mahindra Bank, call 226619797/ 226619898, Rs 900 for a meal for two.

bpb reviews all restaurants anonymously and pays for its own meals.