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| - Chocolat recently opened inside the Palms Casino, marketing itself as a "bistro-creperie-cremerie." The original U.S. location in San Diego appears to have a good following, so I had high hopes for this shop, as well. I'll start with the good: it is easy to locate inside the casino (this was my first trip to the Palms), and I really enjoyed the tasting spoon of Spicy Chocolate gelato that I sampled. It was incredibly rich and dense, like a frozen chocolate ganache, with a surprising peppery kick that didn't leave my mouth burning. I couldn't see myself eating more than a few spoonfuls of this decadent treat, but it did lead me to believe that they may be doing gelato right! A basic cup starts at $3.99.
As I rounded the corner, I noted some square blueberry scones seemingly identical to the ones I love at Chocolate & Spice. A few items immediately caught my attention: Megan Romano's signature banana cream pie, Nutella bombe, and other desserts. Except at Chocolat Bistro, the desserts cost $7.99, look a day or two past their prime, and the selection is limited. Just for fun, I asked the cashier if the desserts were made in-house, and she told me that they brought them in from a local pastry chef. I appreciate the honesty. Knowing exactly where to enjoy these exact desserts for half the price, I ordered a portobello-Gruyere crepe and a mocha. The mocha was unremarkable, with very weak chocolate flavor. The crepe was slightly thick and soft throughout, lacking even a crisp edge. It tasted sweet, so they presumably use the same batter for both sweet and savory crepes. The cheese was abundant, and the mushrooms simply prepared. I can only define this preparation as "sliced." A sauce or pesto would have been a nice addition. It was presented on a disposable plate with a wilted sprig of parsley as a garnish. I'm struggling to make this sound any less institutional. It was over $17 not well spent, when I realized that it was still breakfast time, and I could have gone crazy at the Bacchanal Buffet for just a few dollars more.
Conclusion: Chocolate & Spice is just a few miles away, what am I doing here???
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