1657 Chocolate House, Kendal
Visited on July 12, 2006 02:30 PM
 |
A café that is (a) the epitome of quaint and (b) very very old (see title). There are a whole 18 varieties of hot chocolate; so that's 17 more than almost everywhere else. |
1657 Chocolate House is about to celebrate its 350th anniversary. The ancient history still lingers, with low wooden beams, Elizabethan nooks and crannies and smiley grannies. There are also, by the way, plenty of doilies.
This is one of those "must visit" places in Kendal, which is a "must visit" town in "must visit" Cumbria. So expect it to be busy at any time of day.
That said, its primary purpose is serving hot chocolate. So if that's all you order, you shouldn't feel guilty however long are the queues for food.
The downside is that, despite all that lovely chocolate, on my one and only visit I was greeted by a surly waitress who was so rude I wanted to leave and never come back. I was also (disappointingly) not blown away by the "Original Aztec" variety, which didn't compare to the authentic South American stuff I've tried before. Maybe I still had a sour taste from the waitress.
Back on the plus side, however, this is the only place I know which mixes hot chocolate with cinammon, such a mind-bogglingly simple and delicious idea I can't believe it hasn't taken off elsewhere.
There are plenty of cake options and savoury lunches, plus a fantastic chocolate shop downstairs. This is one place I'll definitely be going back to. I feel I haven't seen the best of it.
54 Branthwaite Brow,
Kendal,
Cumbria,
LA8 4TX
Tel. 01539 740702
www.chocolatehouse1657.co.uk
