I visited Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot 1745 restaurant at Borough market in the London bridge area of London. Hotel Chocolat is a famous British Chocolate brand. The restaurant is within the world famous Borough market in London bridge. Their is a more casual brassiere and shop downstairs with the restaurant upstairs.
Once seated in our booth, I noticed the napkins(picture above) at the at each table setting has a quote about the cocoa bean and the coco nibs, there were also coco beans on the table to try.
![Hotel Chocolat Rabot 1745 restaurant London - Bar](http://www.retrogymgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/L1000985-1024x683.jpg)
The restaurant has a intimate feel built in an interior of wood, concrete and metal creating an industrial loft feel. The menu as you would expect at restaurant that is owned by a chocolate company is themed around chocolate with hints of chocolate in all the food.
![Hotel Chocolat Rabot 1745 restaurant London - starter](http://www.retrogymgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/L1000979-1024x683.jpg)
I started with a ‘Balsamic cacao glazed rabbit and smoked bacon roulade, poached apricots, almond crushed cacao breadcrumbs’ for £8.50. This was excellent start to dinner, the portion size was good and the chocolate was subtle.
For main I opted for the ‘Chopped rump steak burger, aged cheddar, cacao beer braised onions, potato chips, creole chutney with bacon’ for £16.5o. This was so nice I forgot to photograph it I’m afraid, the burger was cooked medium and was at the standard I would expect. The London burger scene has exploded in the last few years so it has to stand up to the competition.
![Hotel Chocolat Rabot 1745 restaurant London - dessert](http://www.retrogymgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/L1000981-1024x683.jpg)
For dessert I opted for ‘The Rabot Mousse Collection V Supermilk 65% with malt brittle / Rabot conched 72% dark with toasted nut crumble / rich and dark 90% with roast nibs. All made with cacao from our Rabot Estate’ for £10. Triple chocolate mousse heaven but I must admit that the dark 90% was a bit strong for me.
![Hotel Chocolat Rabot 1745 restaurant London - Cocktail](http://www.retrogymgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/L1000986-1024x683.jpg)
The wine list is good but not extensive, the cocktail list was very good with chocolate twists on classics such as chocolate martinis and also lots of rum cocktails. I ordered their version of the old fashion which was an excellent way to end the meal.
![Hotel Chocolat Rabot 1745 restaurant London - Artwork](http://www.retrogymgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/L1000983-1024x683.jpg)
To sum up I would recommend Rabot 1745, the only thing I was surprised about was the lack of chocolates at the end of the meal, I do think they missed a trick! The food was of high standard, the cocktails are fun and the chocolate influences are great.