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| - As the two of us rolled into Las Vegas, the inevitable question came up: "So, where are we going for lunch?"
My reply: "I already have it planned out. We're going to Max Brenner."
After parking the car at the hotel, we wandered over to the Forum Shops at Caesars, where Max Brenner is tucked away near the back (across from the mega-H&M). The place was fairly empty at lunchtime, so the two of us had no problem scoring a second-floor balcony seat overlooking the crazed capitalism going on below.
Even before our server came by with menus, we were intoxicated by the chocolate aroma that permeates the place. We were hungry even before we sat down; once the chocolate tickled our noses, we were ravenous.
The menu is ginormous. There is enough "real" (non-dessert) food to pull you in multiple directions. The dessert menu is even worse -- it's practically an encyclopedia of drool-inducing chocolate delights.
To start, we ordered the grilled chicken panini. I'm a sucker for a great panini, and this one was more than just great -- it was heavenly. Gooey cheese, a nicely crisped roll, and the most intoxicating tomato aioli. It was served with a side of waffle fries dusted with cocoa and chili powder, which is possibly the best twist on French fries that I've ever enjoyed.
We also shared a side of white corn croquettes. These beautiful bites were absolute perfection. Crispy panko breadcrumbs on the outside, silky smooth corn and manchego cheese on the inside. I could eat dozens of these and never tire of 'em.
As amazing as the these were, the single most revelatory dish was dessert: chocolate chunk pizza with hazelnuts and bananas. It's as decadent as it sounds. I've never had anything else quite like it. And, obviously, the best way to wash down chocolate is with more chocolate, so I sipped on a "hug mug" of Mexican spicy hot chocolate, which ranks among the finest hot cocoa ever. (I loved dessert so much that I had a cookie to go -- thanks for the tip, Michelle T!)
The Max Brenner gift shop is almost as fun as the restaurant. Lots of free chocolate samples there, along with surprisingly reasonably priced dishware and boxed chocolate to go. The best part: chocolate moisturizer that makes you hands silky smooth while smelling like an ice cream sundae. (Yeah... I took some of that to go as well.)
Can you tell I'm completely bowled over by Max Brenner? Next time I'm looking for lunch in Las Vegas, I'll definitely be returning to this veritable castle of chocolate. Take it from this chocoholic's mouth: Max Brenner is a no brainer.
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