Don Ellis | Last Updated: September 18,2008 1:01:03 pm
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It's easy to like MoRoCo, the chocolate bar that opened in the heart of Yorkville last month. It feels like a high-end choco boutique, but, delve a bit deeper and you'll find a full-on restaurant centered on the world's favourite sweet.
 MoRoCo's meticulously composed chocolates are purportedly organic though, whether or not they're good for you remains a matter between you and your nutritionist. While the chocolate list is Bonnie Grape huge, the dinner menu is short and light, featuring a few salads, a few sandwiches, and a few entrees. Of the latter, the best on the card is the addictive -- and playfully named -- Truffle Mac & Cheese. Other options include a fine herm omelette and the Grape Salad, both eponymously composed. For the most part, the lunch card is the same as the dinner fare. To maximize your MoRoCo experience, go for High Tea; at that time of day, those little crust-less sandwiches are invaluable.
Part of MoRoCo's appeal lies in its tongue-in-cheek renovations. A brightly lit chocolate display area -- chocolate cases with an aesthetic allure that could rival Tiffany's -- is matched with an atmospherically dark-walled dining room that evokes the swinging environs of Marina Del Ray. This chocolate shrine breathes new life into the old Coffee Mill space, transforming it into an appealing hangout with a pseudo-pompous vibe.
Let's go back to the chocolate. A printed menu features "The Trufle Colelction" which ranges from the Sourpuss (chocolate with fresh ginger) to the cryptically labeled C4 (bittersweet with a Fleur de sel dusting). The Flirt is a 40% deep milk truffle with raspberry ganache and The Pout is a 70% dark bittersweet truffle with sour Seville orange essence. Perhaps the best of the bunch, the Curry in a Hurry is a masterpiece of a 40%deep milk truffle matched by mild curry spices and fragrant coconut milk. A gorgeous little square, the Marquis de Noir is a 66% dark couverture ganache.
All of these chocolate gems boast high-design and the display's visual interplay is kaleidoscopic. MoRoCo offers all you could want from a chocolate salon. What a shame that if feels grandly out of place; a course in search of a meal. -DE |
 AT A GLANCE
MoRoCo Chocolat
99 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON
416-961-2202
Chocolate
Yorkville
Venue:
Cafe
Hours:
Sun. and Mon.: 11:30am - 10:00pm Tue. to Sat.: 11:30am - 12:00am
Price Range:
$$$$ (Expensive)
Payment:
Master Card, Visa, American Express
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THE BUZZ
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IN THE AREA
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23 Reader Reviews | If it was possible to rate with negative stars I would! What a nightmarish experience with my friends. The waitress was nice but clearly was untrained in the basic knowledge of the menu. She required multiple trips to our table just to confirm what was plainly Written on the menu...if it says tea OR sipping chocolate it means either or! Even when we recieved our dark sipping chocolate which tasted stale and gross it was nothing close to the atrocious Small selection of truffles brought to our table. The worst part is being obliged on ur bill to pay a ridiculous 18% tip for subpar service and what I can hope is imitation chocolate. The manager when asked for should be fired for his condescending behaviour, utter rudeness and lack of people skills. I am never going there again nor will I ever reccomend it to anyone. What a waste of money and time.
1. Fire The Manager! 's Review :: December 28, 2009 Fire The Manager! 's Rating: 1 Stars |
We went here for high tea on a Sunday afternoon and I was appalled at the terrible service and quality of what this entailed. It ended up costing about $75/person for sipping chocolate, 3 mini sandwiches, 3 scones and about 3-4 truffles (that tasted terrible btw). This included an 18.5% gratuity which they are legally not entitled to enforce. The service was terrible and the waitress had no idea what high tea was and kept having to "check" about our options.
WHen we asked for the manager and asked about the automatic 18.5% gratuity he gave us attitude and said something along the lines of "if that's how you feel, I guess I understand since it is Christmas and all" implying that we were broke or could not pay the full tip. After he went to the back to remove the tip, he came back and decided that since it was written on the menu, we had essentially agreed to the 18.5% regardless of the quality of service and turned away and hid from us the rest of the time we were there.
Overall, hated the food, hated the service, and especially hated the attitude of the manager, would never recommend this place to anyone.
2. Disgusted's Review :: December 28, 2009 Disgusted's Rating: 1 Stars |
I had afternoon tea with 4 of my friends and we all found the food and service astoundingly horrible.
For 55 bucks, there was barely enough to feed an 11 year old and their sandwiches and macaroons were stale. For a so-called chocolatier, they should be ashamed of the quality of their chocolates, which were beyond sub-par. Their dark cocoa sipping chocolate was similarly disappointing - it was grainy, bitter and way too thick to drink.
With regards to the service, the waitress was completely clueless - she didn't know we could substitute sipping chocolate for the tea and after we had all decided on the sipping chocolate, she kept telling us she would bring us our tea...
Furthermore, they charged us an 18.5% gratuity for what the manager called "exceptional service". I found nothing exceptional about the place other than their rude and condescending attitude to their customers. This place is overrated and ridiculously overpriced, I wouldn't even recommend it to my worst enemy.
3. Terrible, Terrible...'s Review :: December 27, 2009 Terrible, Terrible...'s Rating: 1 Stars |
Only complaint was the slow service. The food was astounding and the atmosphere splendid. The server was excellent. No idea what other's are complaining about. It was a fantastic experience for this chocolate lover.
4. Sandra's Review :: December 20, 2009 Sandra's Rating: 4 Stars |
i will send mail.
5. Naimatullah's Review :: December 19, 2009 Naimatullah's Rating: 2 Stars |
Absolute Garbage. Cheesy, bad service, bad food. More money than taste at this place.
Clearly a rookie european rip off attempt gone bad.
6. Bev's Review :: September 07, 2009 Bev's Rating: Stars |
The food was good but.... there were six of us and when we asked for a separate bill, it was not possible. Several people did not have a drink. I think it is awful when the waitress tells you SHE cannot give you a separate bill when the computer can do that.
I will not go back there unless someone else pays!!!!!!!!!!!!11
7. Sandi's Review :: August 19, 2009 Sandi's Rating: 1 Stars |
Was there last night with a girlfriend. It's a gorgeous place and the food was ok. Prices are reasonable for Yorkville. But...
As my waitress was serving my fancy pizza, a slice slipped off the plate and landed on the table. She looked at it. I looked at it. She said, "Oops! But the table is very clean!" I looked at her in disbelief. "I'm not going to eat that." She repeated, "But the table is really clean!"
I'm not one to let good food go to waste, but there was no way I was going to eat off the table! Not a $15 pizza! And not in Yorkville!
She left - pizza slice still on the table! Another waitress came by and said, "Well, the table really is very clean." WTF! I couldn't believe it! I looked her in the eye and said plainly, "You don't really expect me to eat off the table, do you?"
Hesitation. She finally took the slice off the table...
Yorkville just isn't what it's rapped up to be!
8. Eve Lyn Woe's Review :: July 24, 2009 Eve Lyn Woe's Rating: 1 Stars |
I wanted to take my mother there for Brunch on Saturday. It looked lovely, but we were turned off by the loud 'club style' music on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Come on! Maybe for a Thursday night, after 9pm...but they are turning away couples with MONEY who want high tea or Brunch on a weekend by blaring that music.
9. Ana's Review :: June 15, 2009 Ana's Rating: Stars |
I do agree that the food is expensive and they don't really taste that great. I was there on Saturday (June 13th, 09) with 7 others, our bill came to > $200!!! And we really didn't have much to eat as well. Some of us ordered the chocolate fondue and it was pittyful! However, I do like the atmosphere though, I thought it was a great place to have pictures.
However, the service there really really sux! Our group of 8 has 1 baby, and we made reservation upfront letting them know that a baby was coming. And as you all know, baby do cry and sometimes we just can't control it. The Manager of this place came to us and asked us to keep the baby down. I mean what the fu**? It's a BABY! And it's not other customers are complaining, and I am sure they won't know because off all those crappy techno music at the background........
Anyway, we tried to keep the baby down, but that guy kept giving us that "look" whenever the baby would make a sound. If you don't want baby to be here, then do accept our reservation.
Well we gave very little tip and we left as soon as all the food are done. The manager did not even say goodbye...........Will not return again, EVER!
10. Chris's Review :: June 15, 2009 Chris's Rating: 1 Stars |
This place belongs in Yorkville. Overpriced stale chocolates.
Ted
11. Ted's Review :: June 14, 2009 Ted's Rating: 1 Stars |
If you want to have a proper dinner or even dessert, don't go to this restaurant, but if you want to impress your date or business client and don't care about the prices or how much food you will get, then this is a place you want to be.
I went there for my fiance's birthday dinner so needed a place like this.
Pros:
- Very intimate atmosphere
- Nicely decorated and music wasn't too bad. Who goes to a restaurant to listen to music anyways?
- Hostesses were very friendly
Cons:
- Pricey. I don't have a problem with paying extra, but i expect there to be a fair size portion on my dinner place, it was more like appetizers and nothing more. I went home and ate dinner again that night. This is supposed to be a dessert place so i thought "ok, maybe its because they specialize in dessert so at least dessert plate will have a big piece of cake" but i couldn't believe when an oreo cookie size "cake" was put infront of me and I paid $14 for it. Again, price is not an issue but at least give me something to eat
- I had to kill 2 fruit flies, yup, fruit files and someone had used my menu to kill one before too
- Dinner (if you want to call it that) didn't taste anything extra either, it tasted like Macaroni and cheese to me
Again, you go here for atmosphere and experience and NOT for food or even dessert.
I probably will not return
12. BarrayMian's Review :: June 12, 2009 BarrayMian's Rating: 2 Stars |
2 comments:
Although the place tries to replicate La Duree in Paris I would say (the pastel colours used), and the concept of a tea salon in this city, it really falls short on many levels.
I tried this place a month after opening and bought some macarons, they were stale. Very disappointing considering the price they charge for the size of them.
Since I was in Yorkville, we went for tea this Sunday afternoon. Three of us. Again, very disappointed with the service and quality of treats served. Our tea was delivered but the waiter forgot to bring sugar and milk. After about 10 min. we asked another waiter for them. By the time we got them, the tea had steeped so much, that it was a bit bitter.
When our super mini scones arrived, they tasted nothing like real scones. very tough and chewy (instead of flaky). They had finished the macarons, but the waiter did not bring anything in its place to substitute since it was part of the tea package (and charged for it on the bill)
A hair was found in one of the teas! This place is really not worth the money and for sure I will not be returning....and in my opinion, will definately not last....novelty will wear out.
I've been to high tea in London, Paris and other parts of the world, and this place has a lot to learn on how to treat customers.
13. Lv's Review :: May 31, 2009 Lv's Rating: 1 Stars |
Loved it!
14. RON's Review :: January 01, 2009 RON's Rating: 4 Stars |
Marvelous,
The Tea, the Truffles, the service and the ambience.
It was about time for this city to get a touch of fine hight Tea.
The Brunch was over when my husband and I arrived but we tried the tea and some apetizers.
NY meets Paris, the jazz, the decor...very impressive.
Will definetely go back and try a full meal.
Merci,
Fabianne and Marcel Miterrand
15. Fabianne Thompson - Mitterrand's Review :: December 13, 2008 Fabianne Thompson - Mitterrand's Rating: 4 Stars |
I agree, the place looks great, the location is good for some of us who likes to be low-key.
I didn't actually dined at the resataurant but I bought a lot of treats from their retail for a family gathering. I bought it on Saturday and you would thinking everything is fresh? Think again. The macaroons were mostly stale. How do you sell that as a newer restaurant. The chocolate marshmallow were nice with raspberry flavour infused in chocolate. The salted carmael balls should have a softer chocolate texture or a thicker caramel dallop inside. I had a hot chocolate chai to go and it was still clumping at the bottom. Sure that tasted great.
Maybe all the old products they shove to the retail and while they serve fresh to the diners? Let's hope they can keep the goodies fresh for both the retail and the restaurant/cafe.
16. Daphne Lamb's Review :: December 08, 2008 Daphne Lamb's Rating: 2 Stars |
Gosh, this place is lovely.
the Decor is "full of Wow's" as one of my friends said while approching the entrance to the dining room.
The trufles are heaven on hearth.
The entire menu is delightful and delicious, with a "mystique" touch.
Someone would call it a bit expensive, I would call it Yorkville, Toronto!
So lets go ladies, its freezing season :):), try their delicious and warm chocolate drinks..lovely.
17. MS's Review :: November 06, 2008 MS's Rating: 4 Stars |
We had the hot chocolate drink and while I enjoyed it, my other half got sick. The review doesn't talk about whose design it was nor was any information about whose idea for a restaurant this was, other than "Kelly", when we asked. Feels like it may be another spot in Yorkville with shady ownership. Though it's novel, it just sticks out a lot.
18. Delilah B's Review :: October 31, 2008 Delilah B's Rating: Stars |
Not too sure why readers are saying it's Soooo expesnive. This is Yorkville, and considering that, it's not too bad. Try the brunch
19. Carole Brendon's Review :: October 04, 2008 Carole Brendon's Rating: 3 Stars |
Great spot, but very expensive (for truffles, not lunch fare). I can't help but wonder though... will it last?
20. Glenn Winger's Review :: September 27, 2008 Glenn Winger's Rating: 3 Stars |
Very very nice. But... equally very very $$$$! Ate there for lunch, but the chocolates - eeesh, out of my reach!
21. Gail's Review :: September 24, 2008 Gail's Rating: 4 Stars |
To say I'm a chocolate lover is an understatement. MoRoCo is heaven on earth. Quietly nestled in Yorkville only adds to its charm. I was fortunate to be one of the first to sample their unbelievably delicious chocolate drinks..a treat in itself that will leave you wanting more (except that I can here my personal trainer's voice in my head). Early reviews said that their Macarons are on par with Laduree (Paris)...ABSOLUTELY!!!!
The service was exceptional. Staff knowledgable. Can't wait to go for high tea!
Definitely an impressive place for hostess gifts or for passionate chocolate lovers.
Prices are high but definitely worth it!
22. Sonya D's Review :: September 19, 2008 Sonya D's Rating: 4 Stars |
This review is just for the chocolate truffles. Not the store or service. Not the truffles. Not anything else they carry. Only the fudge, which is damn good.
A friend treated me to a sampling of truffles, but I wasn't too excited about my gift. Until I actually started trying them...
They were all so delicious. Ranging in flavours, every single flavour I tried was a winner. I may not generally be a truffle type of girl, but I'm for sure a MoRoCo type of girl now.
23. Janet Miette's Review :: September 18, 2008 Janet Miette's Rating: 4 Stars |
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99 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto, ON |
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