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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Chocolate Café offers much more than chocolateBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
Chocolate Café and Coffee House is the place-a-palooza dedicated to the proposition that discerning diners aren’t getting nearly enough chocolate. But don’t be fooled by its name. This sweet spot tucked away along Technology Drive in O’Fallon is far more than a sweet-tooth paradise. Sit along its soft leather sofas near a blazing fire or move around the L-Shaped space to a nice table in the airy, open space and you’ll be pleasantly surprised with an accompanying menu that serves an extraordinary selection to “real food” to neutralize the sugar high you’ll likely leave with. A satisfying menu that features breakfast, lunch and dinner entrees available at all times is enhanced daily and prepared on-site. Chocolate Chip Belgium waffles ($3.95) are homemade and topped with chocolate chips, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. A less sweet entrée like the breakfast panini ($4.95) includes eggs, bacon, cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese grilled on your choice of ciabatta bread, French toast or wrapped in a tortilla. The Chicken Florentine Wrap ($6.95) featuring roasted white chicken, fresh spinach, feta cheese, wrapped in spinach flat bread and grilled with garlic lemon sauce is a perennial favorite of co-owner and chef Susan McGhee. The Monte Cristo, Santa Fee Wrap and unique veggie grill on focaccia bread are welcome finds at $6.95, served with a side of choice. Soups (French Onion… yum — $3.95), salads (Café Club with turkey, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato and mixed greens—$6.25), quiche in a variety of choices ($6.45) and fresh fruit salads (Fruit Sensation featuring strawberries, cantaloupe, red onion, walnuts, mixed greens and champagne vinaigrette dressing—$6.25) are more than one could want. “People come in and they smell the aroma of baking carrot cake, and they’re immediately enamored,” says co-owner Kelley Lamm, a self-proclaimed chocolaholic that is so passionate about the cacao bean she serves as a motivational speaker relating chocolate to all that’s well with the world. “One of my goals is to create an environment where friends, family and others can indulge in the sweet things of life and be inspired by the rewards of the day. I believe that chocolate can help nourish the soul and enhance awareness of life’s richness—and it makes people happy.” It’s not just the comfortably casual surroundings that extend the trajectory of Chocolate Café. There are the servers that make you feel as though you’re part of their family; there are the gleaming display cases of specialty chocolate laden cakes and cookies; and there are the coffees served hot, cold, chilled or frozen. Carryout is welcomed, and to sweeten your special party or business meeting, order up a box lunch, a sandwich platter or tray of Chocolate Café delicacies. A full catering menu is available, and each order is delivered for a minimal fee. “People come in and they’re already happy,” said McGhee. “Then they see the dessert counter and they’re happier. Even with business meetings, we always get the message, ‘don’t forget the sweets.’”
Chocolate Café and Coffee House 1120 Technology Dr., 113 A Persimmon Pointe Market O’Fallon
Hours: Mon. — Thurs. 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fri. — 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sat. — 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sun. — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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