Owner Alison Nelson opened the first Chocolate Bar six years ago in the West Village as a place to serve fine chocolates without pretension. The flagship location quickly gained a following for its hand-poured chocolate bars with wrappers designed by local artists, and for the attached cafe that whipped up delicious hot chocolates and desserts. The new Chocolate Bar at Henri Bendel steps up the indulgence factor by offering savory fare, wine, and cocktails. A cocktail named after the new location, Bendel's Bellini, is a luscious mix of strawberry puree and champagne. The cafe offers coffee, Italian sodas, egg creams, and a black tea blended with chocolate and vanilla. Visitors can fill up on a variety of sandwiches, soups, and hummus and cheese plates before trying the truffles.
"I kept the menu simple, full of easy items made with quality ingredients so chocolate would remain the star of the show," says Nelson. "People like the idea of eating a salad following up with a brownie sundae." She says two of the most popular items are a peanut butter and jam sandwich on chocolate bread and the Barcelona, a toasted baguette with melted 71 percent cacao chocolate, olive oil, and sea salt.
If the Chocolate Bar marries downtown funkiness with uptown class, The Chocolate Room in Park Slope adds Parisian charm to Brooklyn. Located in a neighborhood of brownstones and tree-lined streets, The Chocolate Room's candlelit interior draws in neighborhood regulars as well as out-of-towners. The atmosphere oozes sophisticated indulgence with dark wood decor, exposed brick walls, and Ella Fitzgerald crooning in the background. The restaurant is usually filled with couples and small groups sitting around the petite marble tables or the small curved bar in the back.
