Social media can have immense power when it comes to influencing travellers where to dine.Like many young people, I will watch a video on TikTok or Instagram and save a recommendation for a destination on the other side of the world just in case I’m there one day.Three years ago I saved a video of chocolate mousse at a restaurant in Paris, and this European summer when I was heading to the City of Light for the first time, I dug into the archives to find the location.It turns out the mousse is a viral sensation, with videos racking up millions of views. One TikTok clip alone has 1.3 million likes.American tennis player Zach Svajda recently gave the dessert a 10/10 on a visit after the French Open.Foodie content creator Jack Goldburg of Jack’s Dining Room told his 2.5 million TikTok followers last year it was “fantastic” (but it didn’t beat another viral Parisian restaurant, Le Bon George).The restaurant, Chez Janou in Le Marais district, even has a rule that you have to order a main course to get dessert, so tourists don’t just come for the mousse.Normally I’m not a fan of rules that apply conditions on what or how you order from a menu, but I’m glad this one existed, because in my opinion, the mousse’s fame is completely overshadowing the other dishes.I arrived soon after Chez Janou opened at midday (on the advice of the tourists on the internet who came before me) and still had to put my name down on a list and wait 20 or so minutes.My verdict on the €12 (about $20) mousse is that it is good, but I wouldn’t give it the “best in the world” title that many others have handed out online.The chocolatey goodness is served tableside from a big bowl, and while it’s not advertised as unlimited on the menu, the waiter does offer to come back with more if you find your first scoop isn’t quite big enough.The restaurant’s other food was actually just as, if not more, delicious.I’d go back again for the ravioles du dauphiné (tiny ravioli in melted cheese) and tarte citron au basilic (lemon and basil tart) if I had the opportunity.The best chocolate mousse I tasted in Paris was from Chapon. The chocolaterie let’s you try different flavours like an ice cream shop would, and then serves up the mousse in a cone that will set you back €7 (about $12).The eye-watering $20 hot chocolateChocolate mousse wasn’t the only sweet treat in Paris being dubbed the “world’s best” that I was influenced by strangers on the social media to taste.I also sought out the viral hot chocolate at Carette near the Eiffel Tower.My friend and I arrived about 30-40 minutes before the 11pm closing time to avoid a long queue and also entertain ourselves while waiting for the Eiffel Tower’s lights to sparkle.After a short wait we were seated at one of many small round tables squished together to fit as many customers as possible inside.The staff were lovely and the presentation of the food is aesthetically pleasing for all those Instagram snaps. The waiter knew the drill, pausing for me to take my phone out to record before he started pouring the hot beverage from a height – as seen in clips over social media.The famous Carette hot chocolate with chantilly cream costs an eye-watering €14. That’s about $23. A hot chocolate without a side of cream is priced at €12 - $19. And I think I’ve had better at chocolateries in Australia.