Let Them Eat Chocolate

decided to check the place out.
my first thought was «why would you need so much space for such a meager offering?» though, for the most part, i believe that when you own a business that it is better to stick with what you know & focus on what you are good at it. so by all means, stick with chocolates.
however, it was very disappointing to see their display case. $ 1.95 for ONE piece of chocolate? that seems a trifle high. (See’s Candies, the candy shop i am used to in CA doesn’t charge that much and they have been making gourmet chocolates for decades!)
i came in and the place was deserted.
staff was very nice.
i ordered a large hot chocolate that cost nearly $ 5 and, i’m sorry to say, there really wasn’t anything special about it.
the baked goods (cupcakes and cheesecakes) are said to be from «local» bakeries. again, inflated price and they didn’t look very appetizing.
i heard one woman order a drink and she was told that if she wanted a non-​fat milk used, instead if half and half, that it would cost an extra $ 1. what?
disappointing.

Nice seating area. Selection wasn’t as big as I had hoped. Very coffee shop vibe with occasional live music. Non-​chocolate offerings as well. Neighborhood gem for sure. Enjoyed both dark truffles I sampled, but not the espresso milk n dark (too sweet for my palate).

Fabulous locally made gelato… try the pistachio or mint chocolate or vanilla!!! friendly place with free wifi

First, not a fan of the chocolate. Second, definitely not a fan of the extremely rude service person when I went in last Saturday. No wonder the place was empty.

Great chocolates with no funky ingredients. This is the number one thing I hate about purchasing expensive chocolates, there are always ingredients that I don’t particularly want to eat and don’t understand their place in gourmet chocolates.
It appears many people don’t understand what this place is. I go there for chocolates. I want to try the gelato. I hear the free events can be pretty fun. But I don’t expect it to be a coffee shop or great place to get lunch.
Sure, it can probably do those things. But I want sweets, and it delivers.

I haven’t tried their chocolate but every time I try them I’m disappointed. Why red velvet cake doesn’t have cream cheese Icing I will never know. To be be clear they say thats its bought from a local bakery but not great I think they make the brownies and such on site but nothing to write home about maybe I’ll try their gelato since everyone seems to rate that highly. I really hope it can get a but better because they have a super cute atmosphere and are always really nice when I have been inside

This review is only on their vegan chocolates, and yes, they were superb. They’re a bit pricey but well worth the indulgence. The dark chocolate hazelnut was velvety melty-​smooth and rich. The dark chocolate mint had a delicate coating of delicious dark chocolate over a smooth minty filling. To me the mint flavor tasted more like spearmint than the usual peppermint. For my final chocolate I chose the cherry cordial. You know those sloppy, syrupy cherry cordials that you can pick up at walgreens? You know the kind that has the maraschino cherry lurking inside? They’re kinda sorta like those only 100 times classier and refined. They were dark chocolate cherry heaven. If I ever want a really good, deep dark chocolate sugar buzz, I know where I’ll go.

Ok, this has GOT to be a front for something, otherwise I have no idea how it stays in business, because as other reviewers have stated, this place is almost never open. They constantly change their posted hours, and even if you arrive during them there is no guarantee that they will be there.
The neighborhood could use a great coffee shop, but this just isn’t it. Can someone please turn this into a wine bar?

Their vegan chocolates are delicious. I only wish they had more and that they didn’t cost so much.

Bland waxy chocolate, coffee nothing special, I was the only customer, Lady working there a bit odd. They have really strange hours. Would not recommend. Often they are not open. The owners have no Idea how to run a business, Dull Interior, could use some sprucing up nothing unique about it, go further south on Damen for a more bustling coffee and gelato. shops with actual customers there.

Great place to pick up chocolate, gelato, or swing in for coffee!

I’ve visited this place twice now and been almost entirely disappointed each time. The first time i went there specifically to get a hot chocolate. I figured if the place is called what it is, clearly it’s gotta be some good stuff! But it was just some syrup that wasnt nearly as good as the syrup starbucks uses and milk. I didn’t even finish, it just wasn’t worth it.
The second time i was there to get work done. I got there and a family had taken up or thrown there stuff around 3 out of the 5 sitting spaces in the entire place. Eventually one of their children just started screaming and running around. In my usual coffee place off of the Damen brown line stop, this would never happen, but it seems to be the atmosphere of this one. It went for a while and i really wish the woman on staff would have said something, it was that bad. I ordered a sandwich that was mediocre, they are all pre-​made. Once again, down farther south on damen they make their sandwiches on the spot and are much better. I also had issues with the speed of their internet. And after all that, they were closing 5 hours earlier then what was on their website.
The only upside to this place was that the sandwich came with tea, chips, and a piece of chocolate so i didn’t feel ripped off about the price. Oh, and the woman on staff was very nice. I don’t plan on going back, even though it’s one block away. I’ll stick with my usual.

I went in and asked for a box of 9 chocolates — a present for a friend for Christmas — and as the attendant rang up my order I checked in on Unilocal and showed her the «free item» coupon. The cashier said, «I’ve never seen that before,» and then had to call the store owner to find out what to do. After talking with her, she told me that it was, «the normal in-​store offer» and that «you have to buy a bag of chocolates to get a free one — not a box.»
My response? «That doesn’t make any sense. Can you just ring me up for one less chocolate, or give me an extra one?»
«No, sorry.»
Also, I wanted a card or something that says what flavor each one was, but they don’t have anything like that — not even a list. She wrote a list on the back of some used printer paper, but I realized when I got home that she only put 6 out of the 9 on it. Oh well, it’ll be a surprise I guess?
I don’t care how good your product is, if you charge premium prices and then hang your (first time!) customers out to dry, you’re running a bad business.

Crap… watery Swiss Miss hot chocolate… old chocolates that are not even made there in the case (we bought 3 and each was just awful) and freezer burned, stale, grainy gelato… for the money? Never again.

Their gelato alone warrants the 4^th star. I tell everyone who asks that it’s the best gelato I’ve had outside of Italy. Even both varieties of Vanilla (Madagascar and Custard) are great… And when they have their dark chocolate orange on the line, don’t miss it.
Why the fifth star? A lot of little things that turn a place with good gelato into a gem of Chicago. They have a delicious (albiet pricey) selection of vegan treats, comfortable couches, a remarkable portabello panini, friendly staff, and an undying effort to support the local arts — particularly their frequent musician showcases.
It’s a little hidden — I encourage people to take the time to seek it out.

My sister has recently moved to Chicago from Seattle and we were looking for places to buy chocolate for Easter. I was under the impression that it was going to be more of a chocolate shop instead of a café with different types of chocolate.
The chocolate was really good even in its smass pieces.

It’s so nice having a chocolate place in the neighborhood… especially since I can walk to it and feel like I get some exercise before eating my chocolates. BUT they have the weirdest hours. Just a few weeks ago I met a friend there (she had to take a 30 minute bus ride up Damen to get to LTEC, but I told her it was worth it) and they were closed! It was embarrassing… I had even checked the hours ahead of time since this had happened to me before at LTEC. This place is not like The Grind, The Perfect Cup, or The Coffee Studio: they seem to not want people to gather to chat in the evenings or work on their computers since their hours are so inconvenient.
Good chocolate, gelato, and coffee but have a back-​up plan when you go in case they’re closed.

Chocolate is good, but expensive…
Gelato is amazing and worth whatever they charge.
Coffee is good, Hot chocolate gets my girlfriends seal of approval.
What I really want to support here is their embracing of local musicians. The owner has been reaching out and trying to get some entertainment in there and she is a very nice and gracious host.

Another ladies night rolled around, and after stuffing our faces with caprese sandwiches, there was miraculously still room for dessert. What can I say? ladies night is an excellent excuse to pig out. At least we walked over to get our treats. We aren’t complete lardos… really.
I liked the turquoise walls and the place was pretty spacious, unlike some of the cramped coffee shops I’ve frequented in the past. Last night I had a one track mind, and that would be the gelato railroad. My little eyes zeroed in on the limoncello flavor, which I hoped would temporarily whet my lemon lust. It definitely did the job. My pal got a combo of pistachio and almond/​chocolate/​coconut which tasted like the ice cream version of an Almond Joy, but was a bit too chocolatey. I know, I know. Impossible.
They also offer baked goods, paninis and chocolates, some of which are vegan. They have a lemon one! I’d be back after another ladies night anytime, especially when the lemon cravings hit. Mmm LEMON!

Ambiance: Fantastic — there’s a fireplace along one wall, live music on a frequent basis, lots of wood, and comfy places to sit (I love their couches).
Staff: Awesome — they’re all friendly and fun to talk to. You’re likely to see the owner there as well.
Chocolate: Likewise good, and I am notoriously picky about these things.
Coffee: Decent. I judge cafes by their mochas, and theirs isn’t amazing, but it’s serviceable.
Panini: Highly mediocre — I honestly don’t think they’re worth the price. Thumbs down on this one.
Gelato: Yummy.
Overall, Let Them Eat Chocolate is a great place to relax (or work — they have free wifi!) for a couple of hours, and I’ve definitely spent my fair share of time there. It’s a wonderful space, and only a few blocks from my apartment!