The Chocolate Bar: Need I say more?

Review by Nicole Mehlman

For a chocoholic, The Chocolate Bar may be the place for you to go. Even if you are not an addict the restaurant is an enjoyable place to meet and greet while also indulging in a fantastic bar & dinner menu.

Edgy would be the best way to describe the décor and overall feeling of the restaurant and bar. The bar itself is modern with an illuminated counter top that appears to have bubbles in the glass. Colorful lighting along with contemporary furniture and flooring give the bar a New York City style, but with a warmth that remains all Buffalo.

If you're looking to meet fellow singles, the bar is made for meet and greets. Whether you come to socialize with friends or meet strangers, the bar is the perfect place to sit back and relax from the work week.

The bar menu is extensive and includes classic wines and beers for those looking for their regular favorites. If you're feeling adventurous, there are specialty martinis that any chocolate lover could indulge in. Flavors include chocolate banana cream pie, "wedding cake," "Swedish Fish," and white chocolate raspberry, all for $9.95. For a more desert-like drink there are thick liquor milk shakes with flavors such as cocoa puff, and toasted almond for $11.95.

Boys, if you're looking for a fantastic place to take your date, the restaurant provides a menu that can deliver—although you should be prepared to empty your wallet. Specialty drinks are priced between $8.95 and $11.95.  Bottles of wine and champagne start at $18.95 while the most expensive delicacy is the Louis Roederer Cristal Brut served with strawberries, chocolate dipping sauce and a rose ($360).

Dinner selection could include crepes, a variety of sandwiches, flatbreads, and wraps all ranging in price from $6.95 to $10.95. Entrees include a filet mignon pan-seared and served with garlic crostini, roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus for $16.95, and a seared salmon on puff pastry with roasted roma tomato and basil pesto served with alemon béchamel sauce for $13.95.  There is also a wide variety of appetizers, soups and salads to choose from.

What would a restaurant that has chocolate in its name be if it did not have an excellent selection of desserts? The Chocolate Bar does not disappoint, with specialties such as the Belgian chocolate pyramid, which consists of Belgian chocolate mousse with a hint of hazelnut praline covered in a shell of chocolate for $6.95. Alongside these specialties are slices of classic pies and scoops of ice cream with the restaurant's own twists to its original recipes.

Located at 114 W. Chippewa St., The Chocolate Bar is in the heart of Buffalo's downtown scene, and if you're willing to dish out some cash, you will be rewarded with a wide range of flavorful and sweet entrees, desserts and drinks.