Rock'n Roll Omelette

This café at 228 Grote Street Adelaide, has upgraded from a snack bar in the last couple of years. It provides a menu of plus specialist meals like omelettes and stews as well as standards like hot dogs and hamburgers. The people running the shop are eager to please and friendly. There is seating inside and outside.

The hot chocolate is $4.00 and comes in a tall glass with a big marshmallow in the saucer. The bubbly froth dissipated quickly and had a sprinkle of chocolate powder on top. The drink had a good milk chocolate taste.

Foodworks, Lani's Lunch Bar

Foodworks is a chain of grocery stores with 12 outlets in South Australia. Lani's Lunch Bar is a feature of the Grote Street outlet at 153 Grote Street. This provides reasonably priced rolls and Asian meals. The hot chocolate is provided by an automatic dispenser at only $1.99 for cup. Generally you reviewer generally hates self-service hot chocolate but this was the best self serve hot chocolates he has tried. The hot chocolate includes froth and a canister of cocoa is available for patrons to add a sprinkle to their drink. Customers have to put up with paper cups and wooden stirring sticks but it does a reasonable tasting hot chocolate.

Ky Chow

Gouger Street, Adelaide is packed with restaurants. There is a large range of cuisines, many of them Asian. Not all Asian restaurants will do a hot chocolate and while your reviewer respects the consistency of a traditional food offering, there is not much point in a hot chocolate reviewer visiting a restaurant with no hot chocolates. While Ding Hao had no hot chocolate Ky Chow on the other side of Gouger Street, at number 82, did. It also served good seafood and hot pot dishes.

The hot chocolate was $3.50 and came in Liberty Caffe coffee cup with the logo in the outside drinker-facing position. It was topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder but was too watery.

Worlds End

Merkel would go the world's end for his readers. He did this recently. The World's End Hotel is at 208 Hindley Street, Adelaide. This is a night time venue hosting live music events but is also available at lunch time.

The hot chocolate cost only $2.80 but came with no froth. It was chocolaty and not too sweet but watery. It came in a white ceramic cup.

Annie's Café, Old Reynella

Merkel went all the way to Old Reynella to attend cricket match on Sunday. He was glad to be able to go nearby for hot chocolate during one of the quieter times of the match. Annie's Café is small Café in Old Reynella at Shop 4, 195 Old South Road. It serves a range sandwiches and meals. There are plenty of seating inside and a couple of tables outside. Patrons have a good view of the Old Reynella area from this shop.

The hot chocolate is $3.80 and was well presented with in a tall glass with a heap of froth and sprinkle of cocoa on top. An after dinner mint was placed in the saucer that came with the drink. The drink was a little watery but had a good milk chocolate taste.

Stanley's Fish Café

Stanley's has been a well-reputed fish restaurant in Gouger Street for as long as your reviewer can remember. It provides plenty of seating options and attentive table service. The menu prices are fairly expensive but the lunch specials make a meal quite affordable. The meals are simple, fresh and well presented.

The hot chocolate cost $4.00 and comes with two marshmallows balanced on the lip of the glass courtesy of a pair of toothpicks. This same decorative trick was employed by the Torrens Arms. The chocolate flavour was full, creamy and light. It was topped with a bubbly foroth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. Stanley's also managed to execute chocolate streaks down the inside of the glass without using overly sweet syrup.

The Store

The Store in North Adelaide is a Café and providore serving a good range of lunches and breakfasts. It is on the Corner of Melbourne Street and Jerningham Streets opposite the Old Lion Hotel and Bocca. There a few tables inside and some tables with decorated with ceramic tiles outside under the veranda.

The hot chocolate was $3.20 and came in a Glass and saucer with a marshmallow. It was finished with white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. The taste was a good dark chocolate flavour.

Adelaide Showground Farmers Market

The Farmers Market is open from 9:00am to 1 pm every Sunday at the Leader Street entrance to the Wayville Showgrounds. It has about 100 stalls selling mainly vegetables and gourmet foods. Merkel and Myrtle started with the outdoor breakfast stall run by Kuhl Kooking which provided a number of standard breakfasts.

There were three or four of places in the Farmers Market to get a hot chocolate but they all were served in paper cups. The one from Kuhl Kooking was topped with a creamy froth, a sprinkle of chocolate powder and a dunked marshmallow. The drink was reasonably chocolaty and creamy and cost $3.50.

Caffe Buongiorno, Norwood

Your reviewer tried his second Caffe Buongiorno recently. The Norwood Café is at 145 The Parade diagonally opposite Café Bravo. Like the Mitcham Café Norwood it is a big efficient Café although there are significant differences.

One difference was that the Norwood Café had Italian Hot Chocolate on the menu. Your reviewer ordered this and saw it was made from powder from a large Ristora Cioccolata canister. It was served in a coffee cup with the Vittoria logo in the inside drinker-facing position. The drink had a true Italian hot chocolate flavour and consistency and cost four dollars.

Capri Cinema

Merkel and Myrtle decided to return to Eggless Dessert Café recently however were early for its 8pm opening time. They crossed the road to the Capri Cinema and Merkel ordered a hot chocolate from the Café there. The Capri is a wonderful big old cinema with its theatre organ as a central attraction. The organ is played prior to some movie sessions and audience is treated to a viewing of the brightly illuminated moving parts of this huge musical instrument. The auditorium of the Capri is plush, comfortable and reminiscent of a disappearing sense of grandeur.

The hot chocolate was $3.50 and unfortunately came from a beverage machine. It came in a paper cup and was too sweet with no froth. Despite the sponsorship from Haigh's Chocolates the Capri is not somewhere to seek a good hot chocolate.

Restaurant Tranquillo

Tranquillo is set up in an old house overlooking Mount Barker Road, Stirling. It provides a good range of tasty dishes and provides attentive table service. There is seating inside, next to the log fire or outside. The walls are adorned with some vivid landscape photography.

The hot chocolate came in a ceramic mug and saucer with a pink marshmallow. It was topped with a brown froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The taste was creamy and dark and not too sweet. The hot chocolate cost $4.20.

Return to Taylor Blend

Merkel returned to Taylor Blend to try their standard hot chocolate after a pleasant experience with their Chocochai. The standard hot chocolate had the same elegant froth pattern. The drink was not stirred enough though. The froth was not particular tasty, the top of the drink was not chocolaty and the bottom of the drink was strong and too sweet. Next time Merkel will give it a good stir which will unfortunately destroy the presentation. The cost of standard hot chocolate was $3.50.

One thing Taylor Blend has in its favour is a big variety of hot beverages. Merkel returned again to try its "Snot Choc" which is a hot chocolate with a number of mini-marshmallows dunked in the drink. There is the normal froth and a liberal sprinkling of chocolate powder on top. This was a tasty and fun drink and cost $4.00.

Uncle Alberts Cafe

Uncle Alberts is at the centre of the Norwood Mall not far from the Gloria Jean's outlet. It has plenty of seating inside and outside. It does a good range of reasonably priced breakfasts and lunches. The walls are used for regular art exhibits and there was and interesting exhibit on when Merkel and Myrtle visited for breakfast recently.

The hot chocolate was $3.20 and came in white ceramic cup with one pink marshmallow in the saucer. The hot chocolate was topped with a creamy a white froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. The taste was rich and creamy.

Ink Café

Merkel had walked down the west side of Victoria Square many times before but failed see Ink Café. It is just a few doors South of Dragonfly, Brunch and Taste on Victoria. Perhaps it has not been there very long but it proved to be well worth the visit. It is nicely fitted out with attentive service and good range of lunches.

The hot chocolate came in a tall glass with a handle was topped with a creamy froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The barista had also managed to execute a restrained chocolate syrup decoration visible through the sides of the glass without making the chocolate too sweet. The chocolate flavour was excellent.

Felici Espresso Bar

Felici is a snazzy little coffee shop at 261 Rundle Street over the road from Al Fresco's. Inside it has mainly bar seating and there are a couple of tables outside. Felici always seems to be well patronised.

The hot chocolate was beautifully presented. It was topped with a creamy froth that had an intricate chocolate syrup design as well as a semicircle of the dark chocolate powder. It was a beautiful design which unfortunately was provided on day when your reviewer did not have his camera. The hot chocolate cost four dollars and had a great dark chocolate flavour and was not too sweet. It was served in a coffee cup with the Di Bella logo in the less common outside viewer-facing position.

Gobble & Go Cafe

Gobble & Co is at 153 Sturt Street, just of Whitmore Square. It was previously Wilsons Whitemore Snack Bar. The Café has a big turkey painted on the front window. It sells a range of inexpensive meals and has few tables inside.

Gobble & Go provided the biggest mug of hot chocolate for $3.50 that your reviewer has had so far. It was topped with a white forth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. It was rich and creamy enough and had a milk chocolate flavour. Your review was given a plastic Chinese soup spoon to stir the drink.

Sumo Station

Sumo Station at 172 Pulteney Street offers Japanese Cuisine such as Sushi, Bento and Tepanyaki. It is one of older restaurants with a Sushi Train. Another innovation in this restaurant is fishing net on one wall with a large number "Wish Fish" attached. Patrons write a wish on a fish and attach it to the net for it come true. Once your wish comes true patrons are expected to return to collect there fish to show their gratitude.

The Hot Chocolate was not on the menu but Sumo Station had no problem granting Merkel's wish for his favourite beverage. The hot chocolate cost four dollars and came in a tall glass with a stem and saucer. A pink and a white marshmallow were also provided. The chocolate was finished with a white froth and was reasonably rich once it had been given a good stir.

Un Caffe Bar, 1 King William Street

Un Caffe Bar have seven locations in Adelaide. The outlets at Hyde Park and Waymouth Street have been reviewed here before. 1 King William Street is the AMP building on the corner of North Terrace and King William Street. The Café is situated in the foyer of the building; an excellent example of Café Foyerism. There is a variation of different seating and tables. All seating is inside and it is an internet hotspot.

The hot chocolate cost four dollars for a small cup. It was not too sweet and reasonably rich. The Un Caffe Bar logo was in the outside drinker-facing position. The drink was decorated with a semicircle of dark chocolate powder.

Café Bravo

Café Bravo is big licensed Italian restaurant at 140 The Parade, Norwood. It has plenty of seating inside and outside. The outside seating in the front is complete with a big veranda and redundant umbrellas. Merkel and Myrtle visited for breakfast.

Merkel noticed Ciocciato on the coffee menu. This is a Piazzo D'oro product attempting to give drinkers an experience of the thick Italian hot chocolate that is available in some Café's. Ciocciato came in a glass with topped with a brown froth, served with a pink and a white marshmallow. The flavour was good and dark; Richer than the standard espresso hot chocolate but not quite the consistency of the better Italian hot chocolates. This was similar in consistency to the Cioconat brand hot chocolate found at Viva Espresso. The Ciocciato hot chocolate cost $3.60.

Mount Osmond Golf Club

The Junior Marmadukes had their golf lesson at the picturesque Mount Osmond Golf Club recently. Merkel and Myrtle sat in stately clubrooms overlooking part of the golf course and enjoyed a beverage while waiting for the lesson to complete. Dress rules apply in this fairly traditional golf club.

The hot chocolate came in a generous ceramic mug costing about four dollars. The bubbly white froth dissipated quickly before Merkel had an opportunity to take a photo of it in its full glory. The hot chocolate was rich but not particularly creamy.

Three Benches

Three benches at 23 Swift Avenue, Dulwich is not far from Gillberies on Dulwich Avenue. Three Benches is open from Monday through Saturday and serves a range of good breakfasts and lunches. The name of the shop seems to come from the three church pews that can be found in the Café. There is plenty of seating at Three Benches. It has a fairly big interior in the classic old building and a number of tables outside; out the front and around the back. There is plenty of artwork on walls to browse.

The hot chocolate was only three dollars and was served in white cup with a white froth and a sprinkle of cocoa. The drink consistency was thin rather than creamy and it was not a rich flavour.

Balaena Café

Balaena is a genus of whale which includes the Bowhead Whale, Bowhead, Arctic Whale and the Greenland Right Whale. This is appropriate for this Café as it is in the foyer of the the South Australian Museum where skeletons of sperm whales and baleen whales are on display. This makes for a great venue for a Café and an interesting example of Café Foyerism. This is a reasonably upmarket Café that sells some tasty meals and exotic sandwiches.

The hot chocolate costs $3.30 and is served with a fluffy froth that is not particularly tasty with a sprinkle of cocoa across the top. The hot chocolate is not particularly rich and comes in a Piazza D'Oro coffee cup with the logo in the outside drinker-facing position.

Thea Tea Shop

Thea is another café on the Adelaide Vegans website. Like Zen House and Joy Discovery Centre it has soothing music, a calming atmosphere and an interesting variety of meals. The wide range of tea's come in tall glasses and the service is efficient. Thea is at 110 Gawler Place in the Adelaide CBD.

There was not something on the menu labelled as a hot chocolate but there was a "Chocolate Black" listed on the menu of teas which attracted your reviewer's attention. It was a mixture of tea and chocolate and came in the tall tea glass. The top was a little frothy although it was not your usual cappuccino froth. The drink was not as creamy or rich as a good hot chocolate but the tea flavour made it an interesting drink nevertheless. It cost $3.50 for regular glass or $4.50 for a bigger glass.

Zen House

Zen House Vegetarian Yum Cha is one of the restaurants on the Adelaide Vegans website. Bliss and Tea House and Coffee for Others also get a mention on this site. Zen House is next to the Joy Discovery Vegetarian Café at 17-19 Bent Street, Adelaide. The restaurant serves Yum Cha type dishes but also vegetarian curries and sandwhiches.

The hot chocolate is $4.20 and comes in a Mug with Aroma Fresh log in the outside drinker-facing position. It is finished with a white froth and a sprinkle of cocoa. The taste is milk chocolate but not particularly sweet.

Marmalade Breakfast Cafe

Marmalade is a little place at 61a Edward Street, Norwood just off the Parade near Café Bravo. It has plenty of seating inside, outside at the back in a covered are or our the front of the Café. It specialises in breakfasts and also does lunches.

The hot chocolate cost $3.20 and was served in a glass with a white froth and a liberal dump of chocolate powder on top. The taste was creamy and chocolaty.

East Terrace Continental, Italian

Merkel returned to ETC to sample be beverage of the month for the last month, "The Italian mint hot chocolate". The place was bustling on a Saturday morning with plenty of customers but also plenty of friendly waiting staff. The hot chocolate was served in a small glass with a napkin wrapped around it to preserve the fingertips. There was no froth or cream. The hot chocolate was thick and gluggy in true Italian hot chocolate style. The mint flavour was strong but worked well the thick chocolaty drink. It was great to find another venue that does the thick Italian Hot Chocolate and the mint flavour is an interesting variation.

Grimaldi's

Grimaldi's is a table service restaurant with seating inside and outside. It is in the same building as the Trak cinema and is used to patrons asking to schedule their meals around the screening of movies on at the cinema. The table tops are finished with decorative parquetry and so tablecloths are not normally used.

Merkel and Myrtle visited Grimaldi's one evening. The evening was spoiled by a couple of unfortunate events. Firstly the waitress brought a cappuccino to Merkel rather than the hot chocolate he requested. Secondly a metal thread of a pot scourer was left in Merkel's Fetuccini. Both issues were quickly rectified and Merkel was not charged for the main course.

The hot chocolate was probably four dollars and came in brown ceramic cup and saucer. It was topped with a creamy froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. The taste was a good dark chocolate flavour.

The Daily Grind

Together with Espresso Yourself and Wild Thyme, a café with the same name in New South Wales gets a mention in a blog about puns in cafe names. The Daily Grind is a name that has also been used for skateboard retailers and online newspapers but it is also a coffee shop in the Alice Springs arcade. This may be a franchise or just a popular name. The name of the Café is emblazoned in gold glittery lettering above the door of this coffee shop in the Yeperenye Centre Arcade, Alice Springs. In addition to coffees, teas and chocolates it does a range of sandwiches.

The hot chocolate comes in large cup with a white froth and a sprinkling of cocoa. The taste is not as rich as your reviewer would like and not as creamy either. It does come with a white and a pink marshmallow though; the gold standard in hot chocolate presentation.

La Casalinga

La Casalinga was a restaurant in Adelaide that closed about seven years ago. According to Babelfish this is Italian for "The Housewife". It has also seems to have been used for restaurant names in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane but your reviewer visited a well established cafe in Alice Springs by that name. It was not quite clear where to sit and how to order in this restaurant. There was a takeaway counter dealing with the takeaway pizza trade. The dine-in patrons were sat in one of two areas. On one side of a line in the floor patrons were offered table service and in the other the patrons had to order at the takeaway counter, except for drinks which were ordered at the bar. This was confusing and not explained by the waitress greeting us. We therefore ended up ordering food at the takeaway counter and the drinks at the bar. The food could have been better.

The hot chocolate was $3.50 and needed to be purchased from the bar rather than the take-away counter. The hot chocolate was a milk chocolate flavour and topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder.

Bar Doppio Mediterranean Cafe

Bar Doppio is one of the laneways running off the Todd Mall in Alice Springs. It is one of those Cafes with retro chic and included symbols from the 50s and 60s like the metal and laminex tables. It resembles places in Adelaide like Cafe Komodo and The Deli. The Cafe sells a good range of breakfasts and provides free internet service. It was apparently frequented by comedienne, Fiona O'Loughlin.

The hot chocolate cost $3.80 and came with a pink and a white marshmallow. It was served in a good sized glass. It was topped with a creamy brown froth and has a good chocolaty flavour. This is Merkel’s pick of the Alice Springs Hot Chocolates based on his short visit there.

Overlanders Steakhouse

The Overlanders Steakhouse at 72 Hartley Street, Alice Springs is an Australiana-Themed eating establishment. It is decorated with heavy timber, galvanised iron and plenty of knick-knacks reminiscent of outback Australia and the cattle industry. The table service was friendly and efficient and the food was good grill standard and included specialties such as Kangaroo, Emu, Crocodile and Camel. At more than $30 for a main course this was an expensive restaurant but there was no silver service here in keeping with the rustic Australian theme.

The hot chocolate cost six dollars and was presented in mug topped with cream with a sprinkle of cocoa in the style of a Vienna chocolate. Your reviewer has tasted better Vienna hot chocolates. The good ones have rich chocolate flavour and are not sweet because the whipped cream usually provides this sweetness. This one was a milk chocolate flavour.

The Cycads Restaurant

"The Cycads" is the restaurant for the Best Western Elkira Resort Motel at 65 Bath Street, Alice Springs. This is a pleasant night-time venue with plenty of seating inside and outside in their garden. It has good menu of local and imported produce and provides friendly tables service.

The hot chocolate cost $4.00 and came in a Piazza D’Oro mug. This decorative white ceramic mug has the logo on the outside drinker-facing position and the company logo “L’Artista Dell’Espresso” appears facing the drinker on the inside of the cup. Babelfish translates this as the "The Artist of the Express" which seems to describe a resident painter on a train service however it is more likely something to do with the art of making coffee. The hot chocolate was topped with a white froth and a sprinkle of chocolate powder. It was rich and creamy enough and provided a good chocolate flavour.

Sporties Cafe

This is a big licensed bar and cafe on the Todd Mall of Alice Springs. There is plenty of seating inside and outside onthe mall. Patrons sitting outside should beware of an old lady extorting funds for looking at her aboriginal artwork. Myrtle thought she was buying a work of aboriginal art and the lady took her money giving nothing in return.

The hot chocolate was $4.40 and came with a pink marshmallow. The drink was finished with a froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder. It was fairly chocolaty and was served in a tall glass.

The Ghan

Merkel and Myrtle made the trip to Alice Springs by train in a Ghan Red Service Cabin and returned in a Gold Service Cabin. The countryside was looking resplendent after the drought-breaking rains had turned the farm country to a verdant green before this country made way for the red sand and saltbush further north.

Red Diner

It was good that Choo Choo’s Cafe hot chocolate was so good because the drink in the Red Diner aboard The Ghan was terrible. It was instant hot chocolate from a vending machine operated by the staff. There was no real froth and it was far too sweet. It was served in a paper cup and cost $2.50.

Queen Adelaide Restaurant (Gold Diner)

The trip back from Alice Springs was much more comfortable in the Gold Service Cabin. There is more room in the cabins, there is a lounge car for sitting in comfortable chairs and watching the scenery go by and there is a table service restaurant instead of the self-service dining car. The tables have table cloths and patrons are served tasty meals by friendly staff. The main differences between this and other restaurants is the moving scenery outside and the clinking of the crockery as the train moves along.

Unfortunately the hot chocolate was little better in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant. The drink was complimentary and served in a ceramic cup but the taste was much the same as in the red diner.