Corner Store Café

The Corner Store Café has taken over from Three Benches at 23 Swift Avenue, Dulwich.  The place has been tastefully renovated and the eponymous three benches have been removed.  While you order at the counter, the service is still friendly and the menu of light breakfasts and lunches has good variety.  There is plenty of seating in a couple of rooms inside or under the verandah.

The hot chocolate came in a white ceramic cup and saucer.  The drink was topped with a white froth and liberal sprinkling of chocolate powder.  It was a sweet milk chocolate flavour which did not excite your reviewer.  The cost was $3.50.

St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream & Dessert

This shop at 19 Gouger Street has been running since 2012.  This café takes its name from a town in France near the Rhine rather than the big city on the Mississippi in the USA.  It serves ice creams and desserts such as crepes, waffles and churros.  There is comfortable seating inside and on the Gouger Street footpath.

Merkel ordered the St Louis hot chocolate which came in a dark brown ceramic cup and saucer.  A pink and a white marshmallow were provide with the drink.  It was topped with a brown froth and sprinkle of chocolate powder.  The menu had suggested it should be topped with chocolate shavings which would have been nicer but did not detract significantly from the quality of the drink.  The chocolate was creamy and had a good Belgian chocolate flavour.  The cost was $3.90 or $4.90 depending on the size of the cup.

Bond and Lane Canteen

Bond and Lane are at 1 Salisbury Cresent, Colonel Light Gardens.  This cafe has taken over from the previously reviewed Gardens Coffee Rooms.  The old coffee rooms have been completely renovated and a younger group are running it.  The decor is more minimal featuring timber tables and floors.  There is plenty of seating in the rooms, out front or out back.  Bond and Lane are hosting a Fringe art exhibition of abstract mixed media works by Sophie Button.  The café is serving a range of light meals and providing friendly table service.

The hot chocolate came in a glass and saucer.  In the saucer was what appeared to be a Rolex heirloom teaspoon.  The drink was topped with froth and chocolate powder with a splash of white froth on top.  The drink had a dark chocolate flavour.  The cost was $4.00.

Oak on Unley

A new café has recently opened at 227 Unley Rd, Malvern at the corner with Wattle Street a few doors away from Jin Patisserie.  Oak on Unley is has a huge landscape photo across one wall and a distinctive coffee bean spiral on the floor.  There is a variety of bench seating, bar seating and individual tables.  Oak sells coffees, teas, juices, crepes, cakes, breakfasts and some salads and sandwiches.

The hot chocolate came in a red ceramic cup and saucer with a marshmallow.  Marshmallows seem to be getting rarer as hot chocolate extras, so it was good see this included by a new café.  The froth was finished with a heart shaped latte design.  The chocolate flavour was creamy but not chocolaty enough.  The cost was $4.60.

Steven ter Horst, Rundle Street

Steven ter Horst has moved his shop to Rundle Street from his previous location on Unley Road.  The new location will be very popular but will also put in him competition with Cocolat, Chocolateria san Churro, The Birdcage and the Chocolate Bean.  Steven ter Horst however has the chocolate creations to compete in this neighbourhood.

The new shop has nice timber tables and a good counter area but the floor and one wall still looks unfinished.  I am not sure whether this is an intended part of the ambience.  In the counter are Steven’s normal array of magnificent chocolates and desserts.

I ordered the chilli hot chocolate which came in a small black ceramic cup and saucer.  It was topped with an even brown froth.  The taste was rich and consistently spicy through the whole drink.  It was not too sweet and cost six dollars.

Astonish Patisserie

Astonish Patisserie is a late night dessert Café which opened at 393 King William Street in 2012.  Astonish is warmly decorated with wooden tables, comfortable chairs and old books.  It is a licensed venue and is dimly lit.  It provides a range of wonderful dessert and also a cheese platter.  My chocolate and cherry mess was delicious.  A new Astonish has recently opened at West Lakes.

The hot chocolate came in a Grinders glass and saucer.  It was a dark colour with a splash of white froth on top.  The chocolate was a rich dark flavour and not too sweet.  The cost was $4.50.

Bakers of Unley

Merkel and Myrtle had visited Bakers of Unley some time ago soon after which they had a fire which put them out of operation for a few months.  They are now back in business and doing a good trade at 7/259 Unley Road Malvern.  This is a large bakery producing a whole range of food, including pies, cakes and quiches.

The hot chocolate came in a red ceramic mug and saucer, topped with a white froth and a dump of chocolate powder.  It was a creamy drink and pleasant on wet afternoon.  The cost was $3.50 or $4.00 but did not include a marshmallow this time.