Max Brenner

I was a bit disappointed with this place, my friend had given it rave reviews, but as a true chocoholic I wasn’t convinced. I was hoping for something akin to Juliette Binoche’s shop in Chocolat and it really wasn’t that. Too many tourists, the chocolate was milk and sweet, too much use of marshmallow (a crime against hot chocolate). However, it was still chocolate and therefore enjoyable. I wouldn’t go back but I wouldn’t say it was a wasted visit.

/this place is ok if you like crowds (the Union Square store especially). It's not he best chocolate shop in New York by a long stretch, though. I'd recommend Jacques Torres, Maison du Chocolat, and Marie Belle over this chain any day. For a more authentic New York experience, go to Jacques Torres' store in DUMBO, or even to LiLac Chocolates downtown.

This is the best chocolate place in NY they even have chocolate pizza! And the atmosphere is all chocolate as well. Don't miss it out you'll have a blast!

this place is awsome. the chocolate is delicious here. this is a place you have to stop at if you are a chocolate lover.

The tag I put on this was Heaven. Nuff said.

The bald man with the sweet liquid chocolate gold... Oh Max you're the man for me.
Max Brenner is also in Sydney- so when I come to NYC it's like a bit of nostalgia... dipped in sugar!
I agree that it's not just about the chocolate, they do a killer peanut satay- with a row of attentive chicken sticks in specially designed holders.
But honestly, although the food is good, it's the marshmallow pizza, chocolate strawberry fondant, giant syringe chocolate injections and the hug mugs that drive the desirous masses in.

We didn’t fancy yet another trip round the Strand Bookstore so me and my daughter went in here for hot chocolate. The shop and cafe looked so wonderful and with all the pipes it reminded me of Willy Wonkas chocolate factory. We ordered hot chocolate and Smores, mainly because we didn’t know what Smores were but we’d hear people talk about them on American TV programmes. It really was a chocolate overload, we had to ask for a couple of glasses of water. The chocolate was great and we thought the staff were lovely. When my husband came back from yet another pilgramage to the Strand, he was so jealous that he insisted on getting Smores as well.

Chocolate by the bald man Max Brenner’s is, as CaribQueen pointed out, chocolate heaven. We were lucky to be able to walk right in - it was about 4.30pm in winter - but normally there is a huge queue to get in.

Even though I’m not a huge chocolate dessert fan even I was salivating over the vast dessert menu. I was wondering how anyone could come here to have anything but the desserts which were filling on their own.

I ended up having a beautiful hot chocolate with crunch balls and a half a chocolate pizza. Its as decadent as it sounds - a pizza base topped with a milk chocolate sauce, white chocolate sauce and I think dark chocolate sauce and lots of toasted marshmallows on top.

Not to be missed.

Yum. Go for breakfast and you won’t have to wait half an hour to be seated. Eggs and potatoes are way better with chocolate. It’s expensive, but worth it.

Literally felt like I walked into chocolate heaven. I should say right away though that even some non-chocolate lovers that I know love Max Brenner’s because of the rest of the menu. You can get full breakfast, lunch and dinner service with a good variety of salads, sandwiches, eggs, and savory crepes. I personally, however, have never bothered to venture beyond the sweet stuff. (Life is short doncha know!) Such a tough decision between the list of hot chocolates, desserts, fondues and sweet crepes…but I’d be doing this place a disservice if I didn’t single out the hazelnut creme crepe with toffee bananas and vanilla sauce and more yummy-ness… or the chocolate and toffee fondue… so you get the drift here.

This place is a must-visit, and definitely worth the inevitable wait that you’ll find no matter how strategically you try to plan your visit. Near Union Square and super convenient at the NQRW/456 trains, I somehow managed to not make it here on my last trip back to NY.. and I am still sorry about it… big sigh... I’ll make it up for it next time tho’ you can be sure!