(chocolati.com) – Greenlake
How I heard of this place: Walks around Greenlake, cravings for chocolate, it’s hard not to know of Chocolati in Seattle. I think the first time I went to one was about four years ago with three Persian friends in Wallingford.
Type of cuisine: A cafe focused on everything chocolate, from truffles to hot cocoa, to espresso beverages and pastries (cookies, brownies, etc.). You want chocolate, you have at least this one cafe to choose from in various Seattle neighborhoods.
Ambiance: This cafe, at Greenlake, is small and intimate. Two single leather chairs are available for comfortable seating in the corner and four tables with wooden chairs are placed around the establishment (two alongside the window facing the lake and two in the center). The dark browns and wood give the space a feeling of warmth, comfort and tranquility.
What I ordered: I always order one of the specialty hot chocolate concoctions at Chocolati. On this trip, I went with the mandarin hot chocolate ($4.50); real chocolate melted into twelve ounces of steaming, hot non-fat milk and a touch of mandarin flavor. My walking companion ordered a twelve-ounce mocha for the stroll around the lake.
What I loved: The real chocolate used in the hot cocoas is hard to beat. Chunks of soft chocolate continue to melt in your mouth and float around the cup as you sip your drink to the last, rich drop!
Why I loved it: The location is perfect as a place to meet up before or after a walk around the lake, to catch up with a friend in a cozy setting or grab a delicious, tasty beverage (through the walk-up window). The hot chocolate consistently good and a wonderful way to spend a cold, fall or winter day indoors reading, while viewing the beauty of Greenlake.
Cost: Average to high ($3-$6 per beverage)