Look through the glass window and you see children, children, and more children. Whoever said Chocomans is a college hangout spot was either talking about child prodigies or happened to forget that there’s a CCD about two minutes down the road, filled with plush bright red furniture and the usual pastry case.
Nevertheless, you walk into Chocomans and are overwhelmed by the unbelievably small size of the restaurant and the fact that the pastry case boasts of New York Style cheesecake and handmade chocolate éclairs, things I’m still a little shocked by since it’s in the middle of West Tambaram. “One minute please, I’ll be with you shortly!” yells manager Durairaj as he tries to take our order, work the cash register, and somehow manage to also wait on tables. Short-staffed? Slightly. But when you’re talking about a crowd of twenty for a ten-seater restaurant, I guess it’s not such a bad problem to have after all.
It’s only been around for two-and-a-half years, but already, Chocomans has become a brand in the café and pastry circuit, competing with the likes of Hot Breads and French Loaf for cake orders. And CCD? Well, it’s definitely got some new competition in town. With some of the most affordable and delectable pastries in town, Chocomans manages to stun everyone in the area with a killer chocolate truffle cake that can be equated to eating spoonfuls of molten chocolate ganache with a hint of coffee bean. Maybe the secret lies in its inspiration, its roots.
Having a chef who has been a part of kitchens all around the world, from Miami to Shillong, the influences definitely shine through in the form of mozzarella-draped, pull-apart pizzas and penne arrabiata with a kick that can surprise even the most prepared.
The crunch of a French fry lightly seasoned with a spice that I just can’t put my finger on brings a new level of happiness that only a good quality, crispy French fry can convey.
And with each menu item ranging between 50 to 150 rupees, it’s hard to keep an eye on your wallet or your taste buds during this meal.
Chocomans is at Selaiyur, Velachery and Chromepet.