Chocomelt in Ibn Battuta Mall, The Gardens, Dubai - Restaurant Reviews

Chocomelt

Sweet-toothed indulgence at Ibn Battuta Mall 13 Reviews

There was something obscenely, deliciously indulgent about watching wheels and wheels of melted chocolate rotate in an oozy, hypnotic swirl, especially in the somewhat incongruous setting of Ibn Battuta’s ostentatious, Taj Mahal-inspired dome. All I could think of was the Indian prince who commissioned Willy Wonka to make an entire palace from chocolate: in theory it seems this idea will bring pleasure and joy, but in practice it proves to be a little bit silly. The first taste at Chocomelt proved to be almost as ludicrously self-indulgent.

For tired shoppers Chocomelt is a pretty extensive sugar refuelling station. Its own self-proclaimed selling point is fondue, hence all that chocolate; yet, strangely enough, the unique ‘fondue’ creation that’s served bears little relation to fondue.

Charged by weight, it was essentially a hybrid of pick-and-mix sweets and a DIY ice-cream sundae. Customers can fill a selection of chocolate-dipped and waffle-cone-lined paper cups with any combination of ice cream, fruit and toppings. The products appeared to be laid out in such a haphazard fashion that I found myself following the server up and down the counter as she filled my cup. At the time, I assumed this was an annoying accident. Now, I wonder whether it’s an intentional service to prepare guests for the indulgence ahead. Whatever you choose, there is the inevitable option of going over the top (intentionally or otherwise), which is, of course, part of the fun. It’s also presumably why the product is charged per 100g.

The final pièce de résistance came as my concoction was finished off with ladles of melted chocolate. That was the fondue part. Sort of – well, not really. Within seconds of the chocolate hitting the icy ice cream, it turned to icy chocolate that wouldn’t bend to the will of a plastic spoon. I was left with an empty arch of chocolate, and no ladylike way of getting it into my mouth.

Even so, the chocolate was decent quality and there was a good selection, including diabetic options. The fruit-flavoured ice creams, on the other hand, tasted artificial and overly sweet, which was a reoccurring theme in the smoothie I ordered to accompany my sundae. Yet the waffle cone, in which the ice cream and chocolate sat, was an unexpected highlight: thick and fresh, with a hearty crunch, they are made on site throughout the day.

The idea behind Chocomelt is well intentioned. It wants to be fun. It wants to bring joy. In reality, though, it’s just a little too much in every respect.

The bill (for one)
1x Fondue cup (Dhs15 per 100g) Dhs65.25
1x Smoothie Dhs25
Total (excluding service) Dhs90.25