I'm fat and I like it. I like good, well made food with luxury ingredients presented impeccably. I…read moreenjoy fine wine (and not just because it rhymes!) and I love fine chocolates. I have flittered between Montezumas and Hotel Chocolat over the past few years when it comes to chocolate based gifts (for other people....mostly) except when I'm in Brighton then its Choccy-Woccy all the way. Both offer high quality chocolate that makes a box of Thorntons feel like you're eating razorblades. The one thing that I feel Montezumas has over the others is that hint of the bizarre. They have some uniques fillings and flavours such as wasabi, chilli and curry spice. Some of these work and some......do not, but each are well worth a try. Often, they will have someone standing outside the store giving out free samples. In fact, yesterday there was a poor thing standing outside in the cold and people were ignoring the free chocolate! Madness! They sell each chocolate individually, or in gift boxes, as well as slabs and bars. The prices are pretty standard for premium chocolates and each box comes in many sizes so it is easy to find the perfect one for you. This time of year they have also got lots of little cute Christmassy chocs too which would light up the face of even the most ungrateful little brat this festive season. :)

I was quite disappointed with my trip to Yogo. I am a sucker for any healthy, juicy, smoothie kind…read moreof place where I can create a weird and wonderful concoction, so I was excited when I walked into Yogo, which opened up in Kingston a few months ago. The premise is simple, a place which serves fat free frozen yogurt, and an optional topping of your choice. I had just returned from LA, where I had been introduced to the famous Pinkberry store, which operates on the same principal. I had loved what I had ordered there, and found it very good value for money. I had hoped for the same thing with Yogo, so ordered a small pot with an extra topping. This came to £3.00! the small serving is extremely small, and there was not a huge choice of toppings - about 15 or 16 different types of fruit and a few sweet things like granola, mixed nuts and coconut shavings. It just seems so expensive for something so small. a large serving with a couple of toppings will bring it up to about £5.00. Who can afford to spend this much on frozen yogurt? I went off feeling a bit short changed. I still had my pot when I walked into the health food store around the corner, and the guy behind the till asked my opinion of the place. I told him my gripe, and he said that a lot of people have made the similar complaint - that it is just too expensive. The fact that this place seems quiet when I have gone past echos this; I hope that the prices can be amended, because in principle it is a good, and healthy idea.

Hooray! the weather is smiling, you're out-and-about and craving a healthy snack Yogo recently…read moreopened their first UK branch in Kingston; inspired by images of Paris Hilton in LA, eating frozen yogurt topped with fruit, they spotted a gap in the market. When I first saw their logo and chanced upon this place I thought it was a new yoga venue with a 'clever' name Since my first visit and having discovered more I'm not sure the Paris link is a major selling point but I am a fan of frozen yogurt and theirs professes to be organic and pro-biotic, with just 94 calories in a 100g portion. It's refreshing on a summer's day and a healthier alternative to traditional ice-cream; try it au naturel or go further and up-the-taste by adding a virtuous fresh fruit topping (berry, banana, kiwi or mango), if you're in an indulgent mood add-in chocolate chips, coconut, granola or mixed nuts. (The basic product tastes just like what it is - frozen natural yogurt without a huge amount of flavour.) Then again, you could simply come in here for an organic Fair Trade tea or a reviving Brazilian guarana-fruit bar. It's not the cheapest snack option around (a small portion starts at £1.85) but if you're looking for something cool, healthy and satisfying, it fits the bill in a relatively guilt-free way. You can take a break from your shopping exertions or riverside wandering and eat-in here at one of the simple white table settings or just purchase to-go. Staff are enthusiastic, helpful, patient and happy to offer suggestions or wait while you make your choice. I guess it will be the first in a line of several branches.

Strudels and stritsels and pastries, oh my!…read more When I walk into Bachmans Patisserie, I always revert back to being 5, when being given a sweet treat was a pleasure unrivaled by anything. Bachmans is quietly nestled in a row of shops which are situated along a busy road - you might not give it a second thought when you wizz past, but if I told you that this unassuming little place was voted Best Patisserie in the UK (2007) - would you stop the car then? This is not your bog standard bakery, there are 5 full time pastry chefs on the premises working on sweet concoctions. Being half Austrian, this is the only place that I buy Stritsel (it's a sweet brioche bread stuffed with raisins and currents). The owners are Swiss so they know how to make it properly. The cakes and pastries are almost too beautiful to eat, but don't let that stop you from tucking in. They also make bespoke cakes for weddings and parties - although if I were to get married and got the cake from here, I would be thinking less "I do", and more "When do I get to eat the cake?"

Ordered a bespoke cake for the local cancer unit, and was served by a charming and helpful young…read morelady at Bachmann's. The cake was a lovely chocolate one, and so heavy! Comments from the cake's recipients state it was one of the best they'd tasted.

By far the best gelato I've had in a long time! All three of us forgot to take a photo we enjoyed…read moreit so much. The line was out the door (expected at Sunday lunch time the week of Wimbledon!) but it moved really quickly. They also print the flavours on the window so you can get an idea of what you want before getting to the front which helps with the line. If you're a pistachio fan this is hands down one of the best pistachio gelatos I have ever had. The chocolate-hazelnut flavour had chocolate sauce running through it and not just on the top which made it even better. Definitely recommend and will hopefully be back!

This is a relatively new branch of the Italian Ice Cream shop, which specialises in fresh,…read moreItalian-style ice cream. It comes a dizzying array of flavours, and they also sell a range of fresh fruit sorbets. The store has some seating, but is essentially just an ice-cream counter. The ice cream has won numerous awards, and I can personally vouch that it is excellent! I generally like coffee and nut flavours, but there really is something for every taste. The ice cream cones either in cones or tubs. The staff are super friendly and efficient, and are currently open but with covid restrictions. Strongly recommended for a family treat.

William Curley's is known for their chocolates (which I haven't actually tried), but the shop is…read moreworth a visit just for the fine, beautifully-presented pastries. (I'd rate them 5 stars, except that I found their pistachio cookies almost inedible. But to each her own.)

I could sum this adorable little shop up in just two words: chocolate heaven! I'll tell you a…read morelittle more though... Chocolatier, William Curley (his real name) has won many industry awards for his sumptuous creations. Amongst the silver award winners is a dark chocolate mint square, unlike any other mint chocolate you'll ever have experienced. It has a deeply, intense, dark chocolate shell containing an extraordinary mint filling with a surprising (and stunning) savoury edge; you really experience the mint leaves here with no remote evidence of nasty, synthetic, sickly flavourings. Many customers come-in just to buy a single chocolate (including me) that delivers the most intense chocolate hit and satisfies the deepest chocolate craving. Staff are helpful and patient and if you want a sit-down chocolate treat, there is one petite table where you can enjoy a hot chocolate and a super-rich chocolate patisserie.

I happened upon this place on my way home. They have a huge selection of home made gelato and…read moresorbet as well as assorted desserts. We tried some of their gelato and it was heavenly delicious! You pay extra for a waffle cone, but they even have chocolate dipped cones. We got take away, but their seating looked quite comfortable, though only for smaller parties as they don't have large tables. The place is quite new, so everything is shiny and clean. I'll definitely be back!

This place is really good for dessert, having ample gelato flavours (plus other options) at a…read moregenerally reasonable price. The only reason I didn't give five stars is that the employees were not immensely friendly. The gelato flavours are right when you walk in, and unlike most places, you have to pass them by to go to the register to order, then go back to tell them what exact flavour you wanted. They don't happen to tell you this until you try to order, even if you were standing there across from them for a bit, which is a little off putting to some.

How very sad to see this once great café change in such a horrible way. It's always been a…read morefavourite spot for KC students and townies alike, and it'll likely continue to be, though maybe not for me. When my friend and I came here today, we were greeted and led to the table, the usual. Once seated, the waitress placed two, surprisingly new menus on the table. I immediately began looking through them to see if anything has changed, and it sure has. My personal favourite coffee sundae? Gone. The quality of Apple Crumbled Waffle? Decreased. I don't think I recognise a good half of the menu, if not more. I'd never imagine I'd be writing a negative review for Creams, of all places. I suppose the only thing holding me back from giving it two stars is nostalgia.

I decided to treat myself to an ice cream at Creams after a pub dinner by the river and was…read moredisappointed by the place. The waiter on shift was pleasant and immediately greeted us (a friend and me) and offered us a table. We politely declined as we were needing to head home and were taking away. This visit was around 7 o'clock in the evening, and there were three members of staff behind the counter plus the waiter, but only one other man paid any attention to us. A moderate £4~ for a two scoop ice cream was paid, and we were handed a ticket each to claim our ice creams further down the counter. The man who took our money didn't realise that none of the others were paying attention so we were stood for a few minutes trying to make eye contact with a staff member until the same member of staff came to serve our food. Most of the flavours were missing from the display, and the member of staff didn't know which flavours were which (he had to try the chilli ice cream, declaring it as mint then later admitting it was chilli). We left as soon as we could because of the ridiculously bad service with four visible staff members and one other customer in the whole of the shop. The ice cream was tasty though!

It was okay. I wish the strawberries were fresh and crisp. The waffle itself was good. Customer…read moreservice was meh but what can one expect from a street eatery. I bet it will taste really good with a scoop of ice cream. I recommend trying it.

We visited this place for brunch while on holiday. I had Pesto and Hallumi Waffle - one of the best…read moresavory waffle I've ever had. We also ordered chocolate and banana waffle which was amazing as well. The Greedy Hot Chocolate was cherry on the cake :)

I was walking in Kingston and saw this really cute cafe it reminded me of Paris. We walked in and…read moreyou could just smell the fresh baguettes. We were so excited everything looked so nice. All the pastries were lined up and they even had ready made sandwiches that looked delicious. We ordered tea and two food items because we were starving. We got the apricot tart it was literally amazing and a mozzarella sandwich. We really enjoyed the place.

I was really looking forward to having a light lunch at Paul with my husband as I have always loved…read morethe food and drink selection from Paul. On first impression as very disappointed with the cleanliness and hygiene of the place. Opening the door the handle was very sticky. Being disabled I had my wheelchair. The space was very tight and no offer of assistance to find a table, there were a couple of customers but the staff decided to huddle for a conversation while I struggled to stand and order. There was limited choice of food compared to other locations. The tables were also sticky and not wiped down. I asked to use the toilet to wash my hands and the soap dispenser did not work which seems to be ongoing as someone has written a note to the staff on the hand dryer, the floor was soaked. The customer seating area and floors were disgusting. Not one table was cleaned or wiped down while we were there over 40 minutes. I enjoyed the mocha but my husband choose not to eat and just have a coffee. The croque Monsieur was dry and we not up to the usual quality or standard. I will not be coming back to this Paul again. The standards and quality have dropped, I hope it is not the same for other Paul locations.

I tried the Frasier cake, the best tasting cake I have ever had! The best part was how moist it…read morewas and the marzipan touch made it delightful.

From the owner: Delicious cakes and biscuits inspired by the baking traditions from around the world. All cakes are…read morehandmade at home using only the finest ingredients such as organic flours, free range eggs, unrefined sugars and fresh butter. Specialising in birthdays, celebrations and any occasion. Also catering for special diets.