COCONUTS HOT SPOT — A cafe that’s as fixated on chocolate as we are? Sure sounds like a lifelong dream come true. Of course, The Dark Gallery isn’t exactly the first of its kind (others that come to mind include Godiva Chocolatier Cafe and Laurent Bernard Chocolatier), but it does offer a menu of relatively affordable desserts that are all about dark chocolate. Hence, the name.
Taking up an open space in the atrium area of Millenia Walk with its display counter and a dine-in area (comprising of booth seats and a communal high table), the casual cafe crafts artisanal dark chocolate desserts with single origin chocolates and chocolate blends. Striking a balance between sweet and bitter, the indulgent treats include everything from ice cream and cakes to macarons and cookies to bonbons and beverages — and they’re all freshly made with couverture chocolate from gourmet brands like Valrhona and Cacao Barry, as well as small-batch bean-to-bar chocolatiers.
But what we love most about The Dark Gallery is that it understands our perpetual indecision whenever it comes to chocolate. So as a solution, the cafe offers four types of tasting platters for you to sample a bite of everything. (That also means the next time you return, you can zoom in without hesitation on what you want.)
Each option consists of at least three single origin chocolate treats of different cacao content from countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, Madagascar and the Dominican Republic. If you’re the type who gets curious about the make-up of your chocolate, you’ll be happy to know that the trays all come with an infographic sheet that describes the flavor profile of each chocolate.
Ice cream addicts can go for the single origin platter ($12), while those who prefer chocolate in liquid form can order the hot chocolate shots platter ($8) — both contain a light and fruit 64 percent Madagascan, a floral and spicy 70 percent Dominican Republic, and a bittersweet 72 percent Venezuelan.
There’s also the mini chocolate pastries platter ($12), which features two chocolate macarons, a dark chocolate ganache tart, a gooey s’more with a molten chocolate core, and a mini trifle with layers of dark choc mousse, caramelized bananas, brownie bits and whipped cream.
Alternatively, if you want the best of all worlds, get the single origin chocolate medley ($10), which plates up one pastry, one scoop of dark choc ice cream and one hot choc shot.
Other dessert dishes to share include the Chocolate Rhapsody ($18) of chocolate mousse, chocolate meringue and scoops of dark, milk and white chocolate ice cream; the Frozen S’more ($7.50) with dark choc ice cream coated in graham cracker crumbs and enveloped in a marshmallow that’s blowtorched upon order; and the New Banana Split ($16) that offers a twist on the classic with vanilla, strawberry and milk chocolate ice cream, caramelized bananas, almond tuile and crumble.
But if you’re just there for the ice cream, The Dark Gallery has an array of chocolate ones that are made with varying cacao content, as well as other flavors like salted peanut butter, sea salt butterscotch, and honey and rosemary. These frozen treats are all made from scratch and churned in small batches throughout the week. Toppings are also available ($1/two) in the form of caramelized almonds, salted caramel sauce and baked meringue.
Oh, and good news (or bad, if you’re watching your weight) — when you sign yourself up online for a subscription service, The Dark Gallery will deliver three pints of ice cream to your home every fortnight ($96) or month ($48).
Beverages get the chocolate treatment here as well, with signatures like hot chocolate ($7), chocolate affogato ($7) comprising of an espresso shot with a scoop of dark chocolate ice cream, and the DIY chocolate cube hazelnut latte ($9) that lets you pour as much milk and hazelnut espresso as you want into your glass of frozen chocolate blocks.
For hardcore chocolate lovers who can still stomach more of that rich, creamy goodness after spending an afternoon here, bring home snacks like macarons ($3 each), chocolate cookies ($2.50 each), craft chocolate bars (from $10), chocolate granola ($15) or bonbons ($3 each) in flavors like caramelized figs and coconut gula melaka to maintain that sugar high.
Ice cream cakes (1kg each) are also available if you have a birthday or special occasion coming up — options include strawberries and cream ($69), dark chocolate ($79) and chocolate rendezvous ($99).
So chocoholics, the next time you’re in the mood to treat yourself, feel free to round up your like-minded friends for a decadent dessert session here.
The Dark Gallery is at #01-K5 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Blvd, 6255-0368. Daily 11am-9.30pm.
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