Review: Ultimate Chocolate Menu @ Clos Maggiore

Lauded as one of London’s most romantic restaurants, Clos Maggiore has pulled out all the mushy stops with an “ultimate chocolate menu” to coincide with Chocolate Week. The six course tasting menu is as intriguing as it is luxuriant - more a gourmet dining experience than merely a nice meal - and, when paired with their specially selected wines, yields a delicious flight of flavour for contemplative foodies with sophisticated palates and a sheer delight for any palate otherwise.

Invited to dine, Londonist thoroughly appreciated the wonderfully chocolaty offer. Highlights included an enchanting first course of English beetroot gazpacho, white chocolate with black olive tuile with scallop tartare and green apple accompanied by 2007 Riesling QBA Scharzhofberger (Egon Mueller, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer) and the magnificent third course of pan roasted Icelandic halibut with wilted lettuce, white chocolate and caviar beurre blanc seemlessly paired with 2008 Muscat, Ca’ del Solo (Bonny Doon Vineyards, Monterey, California). Check our archives, but we reckon that's the first time we've used “magnificent” in a restaurant review. Yeah, it was that good. We weren't so convinced other courses and pairings were quite as awe-inspiring but nonetheless found each dish and glass to be exceptional and more than worthy of lip smacking consideration.Clos Maggiore's chocolate tasting menu is priced at £55 or £95 with wine and will be served in their dreamily cherry blossom-filled conservatory through the 17th of October. If you're in need of a choco-holic treat or want to significantly up your odds for getting some nookie …Clos Maggiore is located at 33 King Street, WC2E 8JD, just a short stroll from Covent Garden's Piazza. Booking is advisable. Visit the resto online at www.closmaggiore.com.Photography by Chris Osburn