Koko Black, Claremont
After our burger lunch at Grill’d in Claremont Quarter, we went next door to Koko Black for dessert.
It was busy and we had to wait for a table – thankfully, only five solid minutes of impatient chocolate envy. It is when you’re standing there on the threshold of the dining area waiting to be seated that you feel totally in everyone’s way – the staff trying to politely squeeze past while making awkward apologies, customers lining up to pay at the cash register and getting cranky with all these random people just standing there, people choosing truffles from the display case, people trying to look at the chocolates and gifts on display along the wall, all creating a traffic jam… it’s not a great way to begin or finish your experience at Koko Black. The salon desperately needs to be wider.
As we settled into our seats at last, we were thrilled to see a tray of Alice lamingtons (AU$3.50), freshly filled with cream and sour jerry jam, being placed into the display case right on time for the afternoon tea crowd. Jac had only heard me rave on about the Alice lamingtons previously – now she got to have one of these fluffy dark chocolate and coconut-covered sponge cakes all to herself – she loved it.
Alice lamington
Regular readers will know how much Jac adores panna cotta. She couldn’t wait to try Koko Black’s vanilla panna cotta (AU$3.50). It was silky smooth and dotted with black specks of real vanilla with a delicate layer of strawberry essence on top.
Vanilla panna cotta
Jac also ordered an iced coffee (AU$7.75), which was served in an enormous balloon glass shaped like Tweedledum. In the milky coffee was vanilla bean ice cream topped with chocolate shavings.
Iced coffee
I ordered a soy hot chocolate (AU$5.95). I’m a big fan of Koko Black’s soy hot chocolate because it tastes of rich chocolate, not of soy.
Soy hot chocolate
The top of the hot chocolate is creamy and frothy and every spoonful is an indulgent pleasure.
Soy hot chocolate
I love that adults can order from the children’s menu! I chose the Junior Autumn Spoil (AU$7.20) – a mini pear and cinnamon cake, a milk chocolate teddy bear pop, and pear sorbet garnished with a towering crisp milk chocolate lattice. The pear sorbet is my favourite item and I’ve wanted more ever since my first taste – it has the fresh flavour and ever so slightly gritty texture of pear.
Junior Autumn Spoil
On my previous visit to Koko Black I had the pear and cinnamon cake and found it wonderfully moist. Once again, the cake was moist and delicious. There’s real pear in it too.
Pear and cinnamon cake
We’re now in winter, so the Autumn Spoil and Junior Autumn Spoil have been replaced by winter versions, which feature hokey pokey ice cream (Junior Winter Spoil) and caramelised pecan ice cream (Winter Spoil), but you can still order pear sorbet from the Ice Creamery menu. I know Koko Black’s specialty is chocolate, but they sure know how to make a fantastic pear sorbet.
Before we waddled out of there, I bought Jac some of her favourite raspberry ganache milk chocolates and picked up a selection of chocolates for my sister Juji and her fiance Jay.
Yes – for those who haven’t read the news on Juji’s blog or on Twitter – Juji and Jay got engaged!
Koko Black Claremont Salon
The Lane, Claremont Quarter
23 St Quentin Avenue (corner of St Quentin Ave and Bayview Terrace)
Telephone: (08) 9284 2049
Current Koko Black Perth menu (PDF 84KB)
Opening Hours:
Monday to Thursday 9.00am – 10.00pm
Friday 9.00am – 11.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 11.00pm
Sunday 10.30am – 10.00pm
Be warned, Koko Black does not take bookings and it gets very busy at peak times – you’ll probably have to wait for a table.
There are 7 Koko Black salons in Victoria and one in Canberra. See details at www.kokoblack.com
Koko Black chocolates and gift vouchers can be ordered online too.
See my previous Koko Black posts
Koko Black launch party and tweetup
Koko Black, Claremont – media preview event