I’ve been catching a lot of our Instagram followers getting a Taste of Harlem at Chocolat lately. Just in time for me to take my second peak here, I had the honor of being invited to a tasting of their new menu, along with a few other great bloggers and I’m excited to share.
Chocolat is on restaurant row and the ambiance is pretty sexy and exclusive. The music here is great and despite them having a bigger crowd than my last visit, I really appreciated the service this time around.
This was a 9-course tasting and I took dessert home, how could I avoid to? We started with 4 appetizers, went onto 3 entrees and ended with 2 dessert dishes. The Blackened Mahi Mahi Satay was very light and seasoned evenly, which my taste buds do not take for granted. The mango salsa was really a hit and added a kick to the lightness of the mahi mahi. The Shrimp & Watermelon salad is great if you’re looking for something refreshing and the two blended well with one another.
The calamari salad here is actually a signature dish and very popular amongst the guests. I felt that the salad needed more dressing but I could see why it’s a local favorite. The short rib empanada reminded me of a puff pastry because it wasn’t deeply fried which is a good thing. The salsa that came with it really pulled the rib flavors together, so always dip this bad boy if it’s kept on the menu.
I wasn’t a huge fan on the jerk chicken and rice but I’m sure since the tasting, this dish has likely been taken to the next level. The chicken was just lacking that jerk kick to it but it was cooked through and still had great flavors going. The yard bird came with another amazing sauce that really did it. But I did feel as though the bird had an awkward set up with only watermelon and corn on the cob to accompany it.
Closest to the best thing I had all night was the grilled salmon fillet that was served with sautéed kale, leeks and a mango coulis. We really had to ask the chef, Joseph Guittierez, what was in the sauce. The salmon was just made to perfection and the heat radiating of off it paired with the coolness of the coulis and the fresh mango flavor was just doing wonders. I would go back time after time again for this specific dish and it’s highly recommended. It really stole the night.
Nothing ever ends if it doesn’t end with dessert so of course I was indulging in the black cake a la mode, which was really good. Nothing made my heart melt more than the pastelles of guava and queso. I am somewhat biased because this is a childhood favorite of mine but i really admire Chocolat for pulling this off perfectly. I even took a few of it home.
With restaurant row really becoming a staple “go to” in Harlem, it’s safe to say the owner of Chocolat, Leon Ellis, is ahead of the race. With some fine tuning to the menu, it has some great potential and more than few great dishes on the list already.
