Following its birth in Australia in 2006 the
Chocolate Room has grown up and travelled to India and Canada, and has now reached Harrow in Greater London. As soon as I read about this chocaholic indulgence that is almost on my doorstep (okay a short bus ride or car journey away) I had to experience it for myself.

The Chocolate Room, Harrow
Both Jay, the first UK franchisee, and Pat, who served me, filled me in on the back story. The cafés all follow the same paradigm: the décor and lighting are the same, as is the soothing background music of French chansons. The choice of drink is mouth wateringly difficult: hot chocolate, or iced chocolate, chocolate milk shake

Chocolate Milk Shake
or frappé chill out. To ignore the chocolate option and go for a tea, coffee or fizzy drink seems like a total cop out, although I could have combined the flavours and ordered a mochaccino.

Chocolate Room Mochaccino (Image Courtesy of the Chocolate Room website)
The hot chocolate drinks come with a welter of additional flavours that include, mint, tiramisu, coconut and chilli, and in a choice of sizes; either a teardrop shaped cuddle cup or a calorific king size warming mug. I watched as Jay measured the chocolate powder into the cup and then frothed the milk using the cappuccino machine, resulting in a comforting cup of liquid velvet chocolate.

A Cuddle Cup of Hot Chocolate
Other options available are to put your choice of Belgian chocolate buttons (milk, dark or white) into a chocolate melting pot, or to go for a chocolate fondue, waffles, pancakes, a sundae, a chocolate brownie or a cake sundae.
If you feel you haven't indulged sufficiently in chocolate before walking out of the door, you can also take a selection of Belgian chocolates home to sustain your experience and bridge the gap until your next visit.

Belgian Chocolates
Above all the Chocolate Room is not just a boutique café for a total chocolate indulgence. Customer service is equally important and genuine, from the friendly greeting you receive when you arrive, through to the table service and the cheerful farewell when you leave.