** This restaurant is now closed. **
After teasing Edmonton with an ice cream cart pop-up last winter, Montreal-based Cacao 70 is poised to paint the rest of the town chocolate. They already have an impressive number of shops all over major cities in Canada, and are just starting to infiltrate the market here. With a location right in the center of the Ice District, and two shops soon to be open on Whyte Avenue and in West Edmonton Mall, it's certainly an ambitious expansion. I can't even begin to imagine what their rent costs would be.
It's a good thing chocolate sells.
Known for having different concepts, Cacao 70's Ice District location is a "sweet house," where they serve chocolate drinks, desserts, and all-day brunch items. Other concepts under the Cacao umbrella include eatery (focused on brunch, lunch, and sweets) and dip shop (soft serve ice cream with artisanal chocolate dips).
You can go through two different entrances to the shop, one from the outside streets and one from inside Edmonton Tower. Decor is very much on trend with tropical palm leaves, marble tables, chevron chairs, and mosaic tile floors. They pretty much designed everything, including the presentation of the desserts, with the "Instagrammer" in mind.
The shop is self-serve, with ordering and payment done at the counter. They'll give you a number and then deliver food to your table as it's ready. There's both sweet and savoury brunch options, but I think most people come here for their sugar fix. From outrageous waffle creations, to fondue, and chocolate sharing plates, it's pretty much a chocoholic's paradise. (The palm leaves make so much more sense now.)
After our lunch together at Kanto, ST practically dragged me here for dessert. (Well, not exactly drag. I came willingly.)
As an avid matcha lover, ST initially wanted to get their matcha waffle, but as luck would have it, they were sold out of matcha chocolate for the second time that she's been there. Instead, we opted to get The Blackjack ($14.50) which she enjoyed (immensely) during her first go-round.
The dessert monstrosity starts off with a waffle base (usually a liege waffle, but I've seen them use Belgian waffles in the past). Slices of creme brulee cheesecake are added on, along with a generous smothering of black sesame chocolate fondue. Soft-serve vanilla ice cream comes hidden inside the chocolate-dipped waffle cone, and the whole thing is finished off with whipped cream, sliced strawberries, and a sprinkling of black sesame seeds.
It's a nice blend of different textures and temperatures when you have a bite with everything together. Warm waffle mixed with creamy chocolate, cold ice cream, crispy cone, and fresh strawberries. It could be borderline 'too sweet' for some, but if you're averse to things like that, you're probably in the wrong place to begin with. I also don't think the price of the waffle was too bad, considering that you're most likely sharing with a friend or two. (And I'd recommend sharing, unless you want a side of diabetes with your order.)
All in all, I think it's great that Edmonton is beginning to get a lot more dessert options. Even though we like to complain about our city a lot, living here just got a little sweeter.
Cacao 70 Sweet House
10111 104 Ave NW #118
Edmonton, AB
(780) 425-6303
- CT
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