Call it what you like – fondant, moelleux or molten lava pudding – chocolate fondant takes the cake. With a crisp shell that cracks open to release a hot and silky centre, this soufflé-like pudding must be served seconds after emerging from the oven to ensure the right texture and temperature. But, as with most things in life, the wait just increases the pleasure. If you don’t have the patience to master chocolate fondant at home (though Woolies sells kits for that very noble cause), here’s our list of restaurants serving this decadent dessert.

Johannesburg

Alpine
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream (R45).

Blue Feather
Indulge in: Couverture chocolate fondant with bourbon vanilla tuille and blueberry coulis. (Part of the seven-course fine dining menu at R500 per person.)

Clico Boutique Hotel
Indulge in: Home-baked chocolate fondant served with litchi sorbet (R65).

Crazy Horse (now closed)
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream (R45).

DW 11-13
Indulge in: Dark chocolate fondant, mint ice cream, strawberry panna cotta, milk pillow, Turkish delight drops and chocolate soil (R80).

The Green Peppercorn
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with ice cream (R65).

Thomas Maxwell Bistro
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with strawberry ice cream and mixed berries (R55).

Pretoria

Brasserie de Paris
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with peanut butter ice cream.

Cafe Beyritz
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream (R40).

De Kloof Restaurant
Indulge in: Dark and white chocolate fondant with peanut butter ice cream (R58).

Fumo
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream (R60).

Lombardy Restaurant
Indulge in: Chocolate and coffee fondant with white chocolate ice cream and peanut brittle (R55).

Stef’s Table
Indulge in: French chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream and raspberry sauce (R48).

Durban

Cargo Hold
Indulge in: Chocolate and almond fondant served hot with vanilla ice cream and a rich chocolate sauce (R48).

Fusion Café
Indulge in: Rich, self-saucing Lindt chocolate lava cake served with caramelised orange (R48).

Gigi’s Brasserie
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with mascarpone cheese and a rich chocolate sauce (R48).

Havana Grill
Indulge in: Hot chocolate fondant with a liquid Callebaut dark chocolate centre, drizzled in chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream (R42).

Little Havana
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant with a liquid Callebaut dark chocolate centre, drizzled in chocolate sauce and served with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream (R42).

Marco Paulo
Indulge in: Belgian 70% cocoa chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream (R49).

Cape Town

95 Keerom
Indulge in: Dark couverture chocolate fondant (R50), or a double fondant with white and dark chocolate, covered in white rum (R100).

Baia Seafood Restaurant
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with white chocolate ice cream (R79).

Café Chic
Indulge in: Belgian 70% cocoa chocolate fondant served with vanilla ice cream and garnished with mango coulis (R55).

Carne SA
Indulge in: Dark couverture chocolate fondant (R50).

Casa Del Sol
Indulge in: Rich dark chocolate cake and pudding served with Chantilly cream (R35).

El Burro
Indulge in: Couverture chocolate fondant served with a ball of vanilla ice cream (R60).

Kloof Street House
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with vanilla pod ice cream and sesame seed wafer.

Nobu
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant served with green tea ice cream (R70).

River Café at Constantia Uitsig
Indulge in: Hot Belgian dark chocolate fondant served with honeycomb ice cream (R55).

Woodlands Eatery
Indulge in: Belgian dark chocolate fondant served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and topped with a mint leaf (R50).

Winelands

Restaurant at Clos Malverne
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant with a white chocolate centre and strawberry and white chocolate ice cream (R49).

Sage at Chabivin MCC
Indulge in: Dark chocolate fondant with pistachio ice cream (R50).

Stables at Vergelegen
Indulge in: Chocolate fondant with English custard (R45).

By Kelly Pluke and Kristia van Heerden

Got a sweet tooth? Read our great chocolate guide, 12 hot dessert recipes and 10 cake recipes to restore your faith in humankind.