FOOD FRIDAY: MoRoCo Chocolat

Ever since my trip to Hong Kong in 2003, where my Sis took my Mom and I for afternoon tea at The Peninsula, our affinity for afternoon tea begun.

Back in December, it was my 26th birthday and my Sis came from Hong Kong to celebrate with me. One of the restaurants I chose to spend afternoon tea at was MoRoCo Chocolat.

[custom_box width=”60%” bgcolor=”#D5F2B6″ border_color=”#3F9F29″ text_color=”#3F9F29″ icon_url=”https://www.fionaman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/knife-fork.jpg”]RESTAURANT: MoRoCo Chocolat
ADDRESS: 99 Yorkville Avenue Toronto, ON M5R 3K5
CUISINE: Afternoon Tea
PHONE: (416) 961-2202
WEBSITE: http://www.morocochocolat.com[/custom_box]

Service is a huge part of an experience at a restaurant. When you ‘re paying $55 per person, you want some good service. Unfortunately this is one aspect where MoRoCo Chocolat failed. Since I had to go park the car, my Mom and Sis went into the restaurant first and the waitress took their drink order. From the time I sat down to the time my drink order was taken, it was approximately 15 minutes and I had to flag down another waitress to get ours. There was also a delay in getting our bill. Even when asking to place the scones and condiments in a take away bag, the waitress only packed the scones. Luckily we checked the box and asked her to pack the cream and curd.

When calling MoRoCo Chocolat for a reservation, they asked me to give them my credit card number. If I didn’t show up, they would charge me. This is the only restaurant in Toronto where I’ve experienced this policy.

As for the food, it left me wanting more. I was unimpressed to say the least. The scones and sandwiches were okay, but nothing to write home about. The presentation and taste of the sandwiches are something you can make at home.

What’s interesting about the menu is that you get a choice of an entrée: Truffled Mac & Cheese, Croque Monsieur, or Quiche. Because there was three of us, we ordered one of each. The Croque Monsieur isn’t prepared traditionally. It is usually on a piece of toast and instead it felt like an onion jam inside a quesadilla. All three dishes were okay but didn’t make me close my eyes and go “mmmm”.

What I was most excited about was the Sipping Chocolate, hoping it would replicate the delicious one at Angelina in Paris. You have a choice of three variations: white, dark or milk. I ordered dark chocolate and it was satisfactory. It did not have the bitterness that pure dark chocolate has.

What was most disappointing were the desserts. I love making macarons & have a little side project called MANcarons, so my expectations are high. The Red Velvet & Green Tea Macarons there were disgusting. It tasted like pure icing sugar. You couldn’t even tell the difference between both flavours.

The coating on the Petite Four was so thick that it hurt my teeth to bite it, the Lychee Gelée with Gold Flakes were too sweet and had minimal lychee taste, and the Chocolate Dipped Shortbread was hard and tasted like flour.

I wouldn’t recommend going here for afternoon tea. Save your money and go elsewhere. I’ve tried Windsor Arms & Fairmont Royal York Hotel and really liked both with the former being my favourite thus far. I’m going to try Shangri-La this weekend for Mother’s Day. Having read good reviews, I’m excited!