NO LONGER IN BUSINESS
The Chocolate Shop
268 Portage Ave
R3C 0B9
Phone: (204) 947-9109
Fax: (204) 944-8207
http://www.thechocolateshoprestaurant.com/
August, 2010
The first time I walked in here, I thought this was a place to buy a box of nice chocolates for my wife. I felt stunned when they told me they didn't sell chocolates at all! I then found out that this is an actual restaurant. This unassuming eatery on Portage Avenue, in the heart of downtown, has an even more unassuming patio on the sidewalk that accommodates no more than a few people. The spacious inside shows off wooden walls and booths lining both sides of dining room. The décor is a little dated, but not as dated as the booth benches. I tried two and both of them feel as lumpy as a Bactrian camel’s back. The menu cover claims the Chocolate Shop to be the oldest restaurant in Winnipeg, opening its doors in 1918. I wouldn’t be surprised if the original cushions still inhabit these seats!
I discover that the Choco features a lunch buffet on Fridays; today’s theme is Chinese food, although I’m uncertain if the theme changes. I rarely eat from buffets but I admit that the oversized egg rolls look very tempting. The lunch menu offers a wide selection of sandwiches, including burgers and wraps; the dinner menu adds steak and limited pasta options. While some pedestrian Western items fill the pages, the menu boasts a traditional Aboriginal motif. Bison roams the pages of the menu and bannock makes some appearances. Alas, on two separate occasions, I try to order the intriguing bison wonton soup to no avail. Several other items are also off limits today and the server explains that Fridays, most people zip to the buffet and they don’t have much left for ingredients.
I settle for the special soup, a simple beef vegetable. When ordering beef vegetable, I expect a generous helping of vegetables in a beef broth, with a few sad slivers of beef. Choco’s soup comes with an ample accompaniment of meatballs, enough where some consider this soup a meal. The clean broth could use some seasonings or herbs but for $3.99, this is a huge bargain. The French onion soup costs a dollar more but it’s also worth every penny. The generous covering of cheddar and mozza conceal a deep and rich broth, resplendent onion and croutons.
The substantial Angus burger comes perfectly sear-grilled on the outside and juicy moist on the inside. Again, the meat patty tastes a little plain, but that’s nothing a sprinkling of salt and pepper cannot fix. The bun barely contains the patty so you inevitably end up with a handful of goop—exactly how a good burger should leave you. The side of fries look a little greasy and taste average. The gravy tastes oddly herbaceous. Curious that most of the foods come plainly prepared but gravy swirls in complexity.
The Voodoo Chocolate Chicken Wrap is a log-sized wrap with plenty of chicken and wild rice. The voodoo sauce has a tang of chocolate, but not so much that it tastes sickly sweet. Plenty of mushrooms, onions and peppers complete this wrap. It may sound unconventional but it works magnificently. So long as Choco has this selection on the menu, they can run out of everything else and I won’t be too disappointed. If you have room afterwards, the wrap comes with a side of fries as well. At $7.99, a slice of ecstasy comes easily affordable.
The beverage selection is very limited but Fort Garry makes sure that a satisfactory ale is at hand. The usual, pedestrian options also lurk.
The service is a little questionable; sometimes details are forgotten and errors pop, up but the friendliness of the crew makes up for little gaffes. It’s amazing how forgiving you are when you’re satiated with delicious food. Tarot readings are available and the front sign hints to karaoke. Choco also acts as a culinary school for aspiring Aboriginal chefs. Bottom line: you get great food, pay little money, get friendly service and support a great cause. How does it get any better than this?
****½ /5
The Chocolate Shop
268 Portage Ave
R3C 0B9
Phone: (204) 947-9109
Fax: (204) 944-8207
http://www.thechocolateshoprestaurant.com/
August, 2010
The first time I walked in here, I thought this was a place to buy a box of nice chocolates for my wife. I felt stunned when they told me they didn't sell chocolates at all! I then found out that this is an actual restaurant. This unassuming eatery on Portage Avenue, in the heart of downtown, has an even more unassuming patio on the sidewalk that accommodates no more than a few people. The spacious inside shows off wooden walls and booths lining both sides of dining room. The décor is a little dated, but not as dated as the booth benches. I tried two and both of them feel as lumpy as a Bactrian camel’s back. The menu cover claims the Chocolate Shop to be the oldest restaurant in Winnipeg, opening its doors in 1918. I wouldn’t be surprised if the original cushions still inhabit these seats!
I discover that the Choco features a lunch buffet on Fridays; today’s theme is Chinese food, although I’m uncertain if the theme changes. I rarely eat from buffets but I admit that the oversized egg rolls look very tempting. The lunch menu offers a wide selection of sandwiches, including burgers and wraps; the dinner menu adds steak and limited pasta options. While some pedestrian Western items fill the pages, the menu boasts a traditional Aboriginal motif. Bison roams the pages of the menu and bannock makes some appearances. Alas, on two separate occasions, I try to order the intriguing bison wonton soup to no avail. Several other items are also off limits today and the server explains that Fridays, most people zip to the buffet and they don’t have much left for ingredients.
I settle for the special soup, a simple beef vegetable. When ordering beef vegetable, I expect a generous helping of vegetables in a beef broth, with a few sad slivers of beef. Choco’s soup comes with an ample accompaniment of meatballs, enough where some consider this soup a meal. The clean broth could use some seasonings or herbs but for $3.99, this is a huge bargain. The French onion soup costs a dollar more but it’s also worth every penny. The generous covering of cheddar and mozza conceal a deep and rich broth, resplendent onion and croutons.
The substantial Angus burger comes perfectly sear-grilled on the outside and juicy moist on the inside. Again, the meat patty tastes a little plain, but that’s nothing a sprinkling of salt and pepper cannot fix. The bun barely contains the patty so you inevitably end up with a handful of goop—exactly how a good burger should leave you. The side of fries look a little greasy and taste average. The gravy tastes oddly herbaceous. Curious that most of the foods come plainly prepared but gravy swirls in complexity.
The Voodoo Chocolate Chicken Wrap is a log-sized wrap with plenty of chicken and wild rice. The voodoo sauce has a tang of chocolate, but not so much that it tastes sickly sweet. Plenty of mushrooms, onions and peppers complete this wrap. It may sound unconventional but it works magnificently. So long as Choco has this selection on the menu, they can run out of everything else and I won’t be too disappointed. If you have room afterwards, the wrap comes with a side of fries as well. At $7.99, a slice of ecstasy comes easily affordable.
The beverage selection is very limited but Fort Garry makes sure that a satisfactory ale is at hand. The usual, pedestrian options also lurk.
The service is a little questionable; sometimes details are forgotten and errors pop, up but the friendliness of the crew makes up for little gaffes. It’s amazing how forgiving you are when you’re satiated with delicious food. Tarot readings are available and the front sign hints to karaoke. Choco also acts as a culinary school for aspiring Aboriginal chefs. Bottom line: you get great food, pay little money, get friendly service and support a great cause. How does it get any better than this?
****½ /5
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