Max Brenner comes to Brisbane
So the South Bank Max Brenner has been open for the best part of a month. Naturally I've been there twice.
Though I'd been recommended, I'd never made it to a Max Brenner shop. But I was not surprised to find the place choc-a-block (rockin' the puns) on both occasions, with a line out the door (though on the second occasion the wait included free chocolate samples). Time will tell if this continues when the novelty factor wears off, though the fact that it's open until 11pm weeknights and midnight Friday and Saturday will probably help it maintain its high level of custom. Plus it's right in the centre of South Bank, opposite the beach, which can't hurt.
So the wait in line was long. And on my first visit I put aside my order preferences to do the sharing thing with the whole group. This led to my first experience of Max Brenner being enjoyable but nothing to rave about.
Between the four of us we had the Chocolate Fondue for Two, a pleasant selection of strawberries, bananas, marshmallows and banana bread with a choice of milk or dark chocolate fondue. The dark chocolate was superior, but then I am not unbiased in this matter. I like my chocolate rich and dark (the same as I'd like to say I like my men, but it seems that would be a lie).
There was also the Choc-Banana pizza. This was... ok. I ate it, and it wasn't unpleasant. Which was more than I could say for my Danish Toffee Chocolate drink which was not to my taste at all. I also had a try of the Mexican Spicy Chocolate drink which was far too spicy for me. The Italian Thick Chocolate drink looked... exactly the same as all the others. I didn't bother. Interesting comments were also made by the group about the shape of the special "Hug Mug"...
So it was with some trepidation and some anticipation that I approached my second visit to try the things I thought would be more to my taste.
And they were. I chose the chocolate sundae with chocolate brownies. It also had caramel sauce, chocolate crunchy things and chocolate Iscream (oddly named but smooth, rich and truly delicious). If you don't like rich chocolate, this is not for you. I got through it nicely but probably couldn't have eaten any more. When it arrived I was so excited that I started eating straight away, so my photo is a little... less about the presentation and more about the content.
My co-conspirator had the banana waffle sundae. Just like it sounds, with banana, squares of waffle, crunchy chocolatey nutty things, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was tasty, but chocoholics won't quite be satisfied.
The drink we chose was also superb. The Pink Granita Icy Shake was a passionfruit and strawberry frappe - a great contrast to the sundaes. Sweet and tangy, it would be perfect on a hot day. It came in an Alice cup which says "Drink Me" and appeals to the classics geek in me.
My second Max Brenner experience had confirmed what I had been told - it's a worthwhile visit and there are some wonderful things. Still more I'd like to try too. But I won't say that you won't be disappointed. Taste is a very subjective thing.
www.maxbrenner.com.au
Though I'd been recommended, I'd never made it to a Max Brenner shop. But I was not surprised to find the place choc-a-block (rockin' the puns) on both occasions, with a line out the door (though on the second occasion the wait included free chocolate samples). Time will tell if this continues when the novelty factor wears off, though the fact that it's open until 11pm weeknights and midnight Friday and Saturday will probably help it maintain its high level of custom. Plus it's right in the centre of South Bank, opposite the beach, which can't hurt.
So the wait in line was long. And on my first visit I put aside my order preferences to do the sharing thing with the whole group. This led to my first experience of Max Brenner being enjoyable but nothing to rave about.
Between the four of us we had the Chocolate Fondue for Two, a pleasant selection of strawberries, bananas, marshmallows and banana bread with a choice of milk or dark chocolate fondue. The dark chocolate was superior, but then I am not unbiased in this matter. I like my chocolate rich and dark (the same as I'd like to say I like my men, but it seems that would be a lie).
There was also the Choc-Banana pizza. This was... ok. I ate it, and it wasn't unpleasant. Which was more than I could say for my Danish Toffee Chocolate drink which was not to my taste at all. I also had a try of the Mexican Spicy Chocolate drink which was far too spicy for me. The Italian Thick Chocolate drink looked... exactly the same as all the others. I didn't bother. Interesting comments were also made by the group about the shape of the special "Hug Mug"...
So it was with some trepidation and some anticipation that I approached my second visit to try the things I thought would be more to my taste.
And they were. I chose the chocolate sundae with chocolate brownies. It also had caramel sauce, chocolate crunchy things and chocolate Iscream (oddly named but smooth, rich and truly delicious). If you don't like rich chocolate, this is not for you. I got through it nicely but probably couldn't have eaten any more. When it arrived I was so excited that I started eating straight away, so my photo is a little... less about the presentation and more about the content.
My co-conspirator had the banana waffle sundae. Just like it sounds, with banana, squares of waffle, crunchy chocolatey nutty things, vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. It was tasty, but chocoholics won't quite be satisfied.
The drink we chose was also superb. The Pink Granita Icy Shake was a passionfruit and strawberry frappe - a great contrast to the sundaes. Sweet and tangy, it would be perfect on a hot day. It came in an Alice cup which says "Drink Me" and appeals to the classics geek in me.
My second Max Brenner experience had confirmed what I had been told - it's a worthwhile visit and there are some wonderful things. Still more I'd like to try too. But I won't say that you won't be disappointed. Taste is a very subjective thing.
www.maxbrenner.com.au