Max Brenner

841 Broadway (between 13th and 14th Streets, a bit south of Union Square)
212.388.0030
website

"Chocolate Lover's Paradise"
This place smells like pure chocolate when you step in. Gorgeous candle lit and a cute chocolate store to tempt you while you wait for your table.

november 2008 update

alcohols: (2-for-1 happy hour!)

//Brazilian Mocha Martini: Smirnoff vanilla vodka, frangelico, espresso and milk chocolate cream. Simply delicious

//Chocolate Banana Island Martini: Smirnoff vodka, irish cream, milk, banana and coconut

//Chocolate Disco Cocktail: frozen cocktail with white chocolate cream, banana, strawberries and rum

drinks
//Mexican Spicy Hot Chocolate
red chili, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper kick this sweet drink up a notch. I just wish the hot chocolate were more bitter. Still, I will definitely order this again.
//Italian Thick Hot Chocolate
thick chocolate with vanilla cream. I joked that this was like drinking pure chocolate fudge.

dessert
//fondue for two
bananas, strawberries, marshmallows, and banana bread pieces for roasting/dipping into milk chocolate sauce and dark chocolate sauce.
I loved the following combos:
banana+milk, strawberry+dark, marshmallow+dark, banana bread +milk.
What you do is totally up to you though.

bonus points:
the message on the bathroom room is, "You look extremely good today"
Doesn't that just bring a smile to your face?
Also, the hug mugs that they serve the hot chocolate in are adorable. We couldn't leave the store without buying a pair.

random thought:
I feel bad for the heterosexual males who love chocolate but can't bring a male friend without being awkward or a female friend without making it like a date.

edit:
You can also just order a hot cocoa as take out and drink at the bar stools and tables near the exit. This does make for excellent quick stops. I still swear by the Mexican spicy cocao although without the hug mug, a lot of the magic is gone.