(chocolati.com) – Wallingford

How I heard of this place: Frequenting the establishment on most Green Lake walks throughout the winter months, it was not hard to believe that I found myself at Chocolati once again.

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 a 12-ounce Peppermint Patty hot chocolate ($4.50); real chocolate melted into twelve ounces of steaming, hot non-fat milk and a generous taste of peppermint flavor. My dining companion also ordered a non-fat Peppermint Patty (16-ounce). The two of us, remembering back on our visit to the Wallingford cafe just over a month ago, couldn’t pass up the *new* peppermint chocolate chocolate chip cookie, and selected the mudpie cookie to sample something new ($1.95 each).

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! But I have to say the new peppermint cookies won it.

Why I loved it: This spot is perfect as a place to catch up with friends before, during or after a walk around the lake; its cozy setting, tasty beverages and peaceful atmosphere make it a hard place to pass up. The hot chocolate is consistently good and a wonderful way to spend a cold, winter day indoors, while enjoying the views of the lake and passerby.

Cost: Average to high ($3-$6 per beverage)