Mindys Hot Chocolate

After our monthly book club meeting, Tonya and I along with a few friends were trying to decide where to go for some great dessert.  Now as a die-hard Oak Parker, I could have easily suggested TGIF Tennessee Whiskey Cake (YOU HEARD ME) but I said why not go visit Mindy Segal’s dessert bar, Mindys Hot Chocolate.   I have to admit, not everyone’s palette is as eclectic as Tonya and I…never the less, they obliged. 

The Experience:  Tonya called at 535 pm and asked how long the wait was.  They said it was around 30 minutes…PERFECT!  We traveled from Oak Park all the way to North & Damen.  I got out first to go in to put our name on the list.  The host said it would be 35 minutes, but to check back in 25.  I told her, well I can just sit.  Five minutes later, the rest of the group joined me.  We sat patiently waiting as others with reservations I assume were taken to their seats.  I am usually pretty patient when it comes to waiting to be seated at a restaurant.  However, after 45 minutes and we were still waiting to be seated I asked Tonya to ask the host how much longer.  The host, asked if my entire party were there.  Really?  The waiting area is big as my living room…how can you not see that we have been sitting here for an hour.  Secondly, she said she told me that it would be an hour.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME??  I got up and I told her that was incorrect, instead of apologizing she told me that she had reservations and they had to be accommodated first.  Wow, that is definitely a good first impression right?   Wrong.  After trying to explain that she should have told me the correct time, then it would have been my choice to decide if I wanted to wait that long.  She said someone was cleaning a table off for me now.  I am pretty sure you are waiting to hear that we were seated right?  Wrong again…they made us wait another 20 minutes.  There was another host, not sure if she was the manager, because she didn’t introduce herself sent us three cookies to the waiting area.  Nice gesture, but I came here for desserts. Ten minutes later we were finally seated. 

The Service: We were seated in a section with the most friendliest waitress ever…she told us it was her first day, if we bear with her she would take really good care of us.  SOLD!  I am a sucker for amazing service.  She explained the desserts and told us her favorite.  We opted for Hot Chocolate of course, I ordered the Carrot Ice Box cake and the rest of the ladies ordered the cake of the day. 

The Dessert:  I had the 1/3 Chai 1/3 Mexican Hot Chocolate…AMAZEBALLS!  I was able to taste every element of this hot chocolate.  The flavors mesh together like mashed potatoes and gravy.   Tonya had the Mexican Hot Chocolate…imagine hot chocolate with cinnamon and cayenne pepper.  I will let you visualize the taste….lol.  The Cayenne takes away some of the sweetness while the cinnamon gives it this warm taste.  Genius!  Our friends Tessa and Lakisha had the standard Hot Chocolate..that was also amazing.   After indulging in the sea of chocolateness…out comes our desserts.  My Carrot Ice Box cake was made with cheese and chamomile ice cream, warm pineapples and macadamia nuts and unfortunately, it was just okay. I didn’t enjoy the ice cream…I think the pineapples were supposed to bring out the sweetness but that didn’t happen.  The cake was meh.  The rest of the gang weren’t too happy about their chocolate and butter cream cake.  Overall, I was slightly disappointed because if the dessert were spectacular, I wait would have been worth it.  Tonya and I will definitely give Mindys another chance…not too sure about our girlfriends. Either way, Mindy’s is a place we would recommend.  The menu is every changing, so if you are not up for dessert, definitely try dinner. My fav?  The Cheeseburger.   Until next time….

Review by: Latoya XX