With a name like Cafe Chocolate, you would not expect much else. That and we were told to go here for the fondue. I had no idea they actually had a menu with real food on it. And an eclectic menu at that: you could get Indian Mulligatawny soup, vegetable curry, or a grilled chicken sandwich before chowing down on their dessert menu. We did exactly that. I started out with one of the specials (and a healthy one): roasted red peppers, spinach, avocado, provolone cheese, and cilantro-lime mayo on grilled grain bread. It was outstanding. The bread was grilled to a crisp, and everything inside was immersed in the melted cheese. The avocado added to the creaminess while the slightest hint of lime could be felt on the palate. It came with a side salad, and if I didn’t know any better, I’d say there was chocolate in the dressing.

Eating healthy on vacation? My arteries were wondering what they hell was going on. He had egg, cheese, and vegan sausage (they have quite a few vegan and gluten-free options) on a grilled croissant. It looked amazing. He washed it down with a chocolate-strawberry shake while I needed a jolt and went with a double-shot of espresso. Then came the dessert, which is what brought us there in the first place. Will this negate all the veggies we’ve had so far on this trip?

For my fellow New Jerseyans reading, let me say that a place like this just screams Red Bank. I don’t know why. Maybe that modern, almost hipster-like feel combined with the coffee shop aspects of the restaurant and the healthy food options on the menu. But what did not fit in with the Red Bank feel were the prices. My sandwich was $8.95. His was $7.50. Our sizeable fondue platter for two was only $9.99 (for four it would have been $19.99). Take those prices and double them, and you would get what we suffer through in similar New Jersey towns. I almost wanted to tell them that. “Hey, your prices are too cheap!”

The fondue, by the way, was excellent. More than enough melted chocolate with an array of fruits and sweets for dipping as you can see in the picture. While this was a small sampling of what their menu had to offer, we have no problem sticking them with a 4 out of 5 stars. There was a lot I still want to try (such as an African peanut soup). Guess we’ll just have to save it for next time. Congratulations, Cafe Chocolate, on a job well done!

Cafe Chocolate is located at 40 East Main Street in Lititz, Pennsylvania.