Hot Chocolate not so HOT after all!

A few of my so called "foodie friends" suggested this restaurant because the food was good and the dessert was awesome! http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/

The ambiance at this restaurant was nice. Lights were dimmed and the music wasn't too loud where you can't hear each other talking. The crowd was between 26+ We had a group of 7 so we got to sit in the back near the kitchen with very little AC in that area. If you plan on going as a big group ask them to turn on the fan in that area because it slowly becomes a sauna during your dine in.

We started off with 2 orders of their Mussels for appetizers. I thought the mussels were okay, the sauce definitely was not great. We had 3-4 mussels that were not opened up meaning they are not fresh. I would have liked a more seafood flavor with the sauce with the mussels. I was debating between the Kobe Beef and Pork special for my dinner entree. I was told I should order the pork entree and it sounded promising. When the pork came out the meat was not warm, it was also over cooked to the point where it was too dry. The sauce that was suppose to help make the dish more flavorful definitely did not help. The sauce was way too sour and I just couldn't understand where the chef was trying to go with that dish I had. There was a piece of pork belly but after tasting a piece of the pork with the sauce I lost my appetite.

My wife ordered the burger and asked for the meat to be cooked medium. When the dish came out it was over cooked and the burger was really dry. We had the dish sent back and the chefs agreed that both the pork and burger dish was not cooked properly. One of our other friends ordered the pasta dish and according to her it was good.

We also had the Mac and Cheese but there was no wow factor or something that really made that dish stand out. But I do have 1 thing to say about this restaurant which impressed me is their service. Our dishes were constantly being switched out and water being refilled. The waitress was very attentitive to us.

I ordered their raspberry bread pudding. It was good but I've had better at other places ie Zed 451 and HB Bistro. The sorbet flight was really good. The flavors of the melon and pineapple were really refreshing and it tasted exactly like you were eating the actual fruit themselves. The sorbets were the high light for me. I did have their hot chocolate and it was amazing. So at the end of my disastrous meal all was not lost. Hot chocolate did redeem themselves with their deserts and great service.

I would probably not come again for their food but would come back for their hot chocolate and dessert.

Here is my overall rating out of 4 smily faces

Service: 8) 8) 8) 8)
Ambiance: 8) 8) 8) 8)
Food: 8)

k-skit & laavenue tokyo

If you are a shoe fiend!  You need to go to this shop.  It's like shoe heaven times 10.  Shoes up top down low.  Too much shoes!  haha

Take the CHUO line rapid or regular from Shinjuku and get off at Kichijoji. Ince you are off, make sure you exit the south Koen exit, its about a 2 minute walk.

Look at the map below they are circled, both locations k-skit and laavenue.jp.

Look for a triangle encased with a circle, that is where you are on the map once you get off the south Koen exit.

Missing Japan

What can I say about this amazing country ? People are extremely nice and helpful. The minute they know you are not sure where to go they come right up to you to assist. In America, you are lucky to get a police officer to point you in the right direction but in Japan, the officers there walk you fairly close to your destination. It's been almost 1 week and I am already missing Japan. I miss all the bowing and saying hello, welcome! and great service provided by the Japanese people. What i will miss the most is the freshest sushi at Tsukiji Market in Sushi Dai. I think I was in heaven when I put the first piece of sushi in my mouth that Saturday morning. Me and my wife waited 2 hours at 7am to eat at this small famous sushi restaurant seating of about 12 people. After 1 hour of waiting there is about 14 people behind us.