Having lived in Williamsville from 1997 - 1999, we fell in love with Alethea's and sponge candy. Last fall, we took our neighbors here in Texas to Buffalo & Niagara Falls. They had never been to the area and we made sure to take them to Alethea's And introduce them to Buffalo's finest sponge candy. Last week was our aunt's 95th birthday. She loves chocolate and we wanted to send her some for her birthday. I saw that we could order candy online, but I called the store directly to see if someone could deliver it to her (she lives less than 2 miles from the store). I spoke with Teddy. He was wonderful. I explained what I wanted and he said they normally ship even locally. When I told him where our aunt lived, he said that he, or one of his associates, would be happy to deliver it in person. Teddy delivered it that evening. It was a great start for our aunt's birthday the next day. She was delighted with the sponge candy and chocolates. I had asked Teddy if we could have some sponge candy delivered to us in Texas. He told me that offered an ice pack for an additional $5 to keep it cool enough to survive hot weather. I ordered some candy and it was delivered 2 days later. Sadly, the candy was in the UPS truck from 9:30 a.m. until delivered that evening at 5 p.m. Even with the ice pack, the Texas heat was too much. I took pictures of the melted candy and sent to Teddy. He immediately responded and apologized and said he would contact me when he was back in the store. He called and said that he didn't want to try shipping a replacement box of sponge candy, but credited the entire amount back to my credit card. Outstanding candy and outstanding customer service. I will try again this fall to have some shipped to us in Texas when the weather cools down. Highly recommend Alethea's for those living in the local area as well as for shipping (when the weather is cooler). read more

I have not been to the physical store location. It's too far from New York City for me to go. I did however receive a gift in the mail that was purchased by my boyfriend and everything was so great. Their chocolate is decadent and the peanut brittle is quite amazing. read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Williamsville, NY When my brother and sister said, "We need sponge candy," I figured, sure -- how good can it be? Turns out, I've been missing out on one of the greatest sweets ever invented. A quick search led us to Alethea's Chocolates, and wow... if chocolate heaven exists, I just found the front door. It's part Chocolate Wonderland, part 1950s Ice Cream Parlor, and 100% worth the stop. We were greeted by Sharon, who handed us a sample of vanilla fudge (amazing!) and pointed us straight to the sponge candy. And if you've never had it -- think caramel, honey, and toffee having a crispy, melt-in-your-mouth baby. I'm team dark chocolate, but you can't go wrong either way. Sharon was a total sweetheart -- 72 years young and clearly loving her "pretty sweet gig." She even let me take her photo for this review! Before leaving, I peeked into the old-school ice cream parlor next door -- old fashioned table & chairs, vintage charm, the whole vibe. I didn't get ice cream this time (I had a date with Rosie's Handcrafted Ice Cream later), but I'm definitely coming back. If you love chocolate, nostalgia, and a little sugar-induced happiness -- this place is a must-visit. Alethea's made me believe in love at first bite. read more

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My wife was craving some sweets, and this popped right up on a search, it was close to where we were, so easy decision. When you enter, if you take a left you end up in the Candy Shop, and if you take a right you end up at the Ice Cream Shop. We did a quick pass through of the Candy shop, they have quite the selection, and the lady who was working at the time was incredibly friendly. The candy itself seemed to be a bit on the pricy side for what it was. On to the Ice Cream shop! They had quite a decent selection of flavors, and the day happened to be buy 1 get 1 free Pie slice day, so that is what we did. We went for once slice of the Apple Pie, and one Slice of the Peanut Butter Pie, to share. While the price was good for the pies, considering one slice was free, both slices seemed stale, and the apple pie seemed well underbaked. It was very clean inside, and we had the place to ourselves. I love tipping for good service, when I paid, I tipped 20% even through the employee seemed less than thrilled we were there. Not certain what the tip was for as we ended up having to go grab our own desserts, as well as bus our own table. read more

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This shop feels like walking into Willy wonkas chocolate factory . I love how the truffles are displayed one by one with a light on them. It feels very fancy . But comfortable ! The deserts such as ours look amazing. I still have not tried them. But all the chocolate I have tried has been great! I would also suggest getting a suprise grab bag ! They are fun and you get to try new things ! read more

A Buffalo staple and classic. I love bringing my family here all year long, but you've got to check out the Christmas gift items. Treat your friends, coworkers, neighbors, yourself. Their selection is incredible and the staff is so friendly. I love the homey atmosphere and the seasonal decorations. They have the chocolate shop that dreams are made of, then they ALSO have the adorable retro sundae bar with great seating and a huge menu. The specialty sundaes and desserts are top notch and creative. Take a date! They're open late! Take a box of baklava to go! read more

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Have found memories of this spot after softball games growing up and recently was back in town visiting and dining at the new-ish Bar Bill (formerly Old Red Mill) across the street and out of the corner of my eye, my stomach saw dessert. A true authentic neighborhood staple for many years now, chocolate shop and ice cream parlour. A quick pop across the street and we were in Ice Cream Parlour heaven. They had some seasonal menu items posted on the ice cream parlour window and I opted to share a shake with my dining partner. The name is currently slipping my memory but it had pistachio ice cream, with a raspberry syrup and some gummy worms and chocolate pieces for Halloween. It was the perfect size sweet treat to round off my day. Also walking around the chocolate shop and a sweet lady popped out and offered a sample, which was delicious. A great stop for chocolate gifts you know are made in house. Stop in to Alethea's if you're looking for an authentic Ice Cream parlour experience all year round. read more

Prior to visiting Buffalo I learned about "sponge candy" and sought out Alethea's. I will say the candies I bought were pricey, but for the quality I would definitely spend $30 again. I purchased a 15 count of chocolates and bag of milk chocolate sponge candy. One word, DELICIOUS!Make sure to visit the dessert parlor and enjoy a sundae. My only regret was that I did not buy a jar of their chocolate sauce. I will add that I was most definitely made to feel welcome during my visit. The Buffalo hospitality shown through both in the store and dessert parlor. read more

Gourmet chocolate, gift ideas galore and helpful staff. This boutique chocolate and candy shop is a great stop off for anyone with a sweet tooth. We were greeted immediately and there was tons to see. We walked through the shop and took it all in, opting for some single order truffles and such to take home. All the truffles were super good with the classic dark chocolate one being a personal favorite. If you're looking for yourself or a gift this is a definite stop to make. They can do custom orders and have fun Bills stuff also. Overall: A+ Fun boutique chocolate spot! read more

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Went to Jenny's tried their truffles they were awful tasted like chemicals (good comics though)! Alethea's though HAS INCREDIBLE truffles that are reasonably priced. I highly recommend this place and the coffee isn't so bad either! Has almost a cinnamon taste to it. The staff is uber friendly and I recommend this establishment hands down! My favorite was the dark chocolate pecan bark read more

It's a cute chocolate/ice cream shop that smells quite delightful when you walk in. The chocolate & candy is to the left. I took a quick little cruise around this part. We were greeted and offered a sample of fudge while we were exploring. They had many items from homemade licorice & chocolates to bulk gummies. But, I was really here to try the ice cream, which is to the right after you walk in. The ice cream shop is set up with small metal tables for two with metal chairs that have a heart shape on the back of them. Upon entering we were greeted and offered a sample of rice pudding. I found it to be thick and flavorful. There was a decent selection of ice cream flavors and sundaes to choose from. I wanted to try two different flavors, so I had to opt for the double; it came to a little over $7.50... quite pricey for the size of the scoops in my opinion (see photo). Also, the ice cream was not really pushed down into the cone so it was empty... No one wants an empty cone! I chose the pistachio almond and cinnamon flavors. The pistachio almond had nice big pieces of almond in it and a smooth texture, but the pistachio flavor seemed too fake, like that of boxed pudding. The cinnamon was a hot cinnamon and it tasted like hot cinnamon candy with candy pieces throughout. They also had cheesecake in their case that looked good. I don't think I would return for ice cream considering the cost for the portion and there weren't any flavors that were so different I'd just have to come back to try them. All in all a good experience. read more

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A gem of a candy and icecream shoppe. You step into a different time when you walk through the doors. The decor is so nostalgic, the smell of chocolate hits you and it's absolutely beautiful in there. read more

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An absolute for your sweet tooth. There is everything under the sun there. I actually went in for some chocolate covered jellies and came out with more than I planned. ( no surprise there!) I also purchased two Carmel covered apples as an Autumn gift for my daughter. Unfortunately the dining room was closed - idk if it is a seasonal thing, but nonetheless it's worth a trip to stop by. Plenty of parking, easy access and great prices. read more

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I freaking love this place, chocolates are amazing, and all the ladies are super sweet I'm going to try the ice cream later today and I am so excited, also the place itself is super cute and retro read more

A wonderful experience. Stopped in for a slice of homemade pie and a side of ice cream. A really nice place with a fun atmosphere and delicious desserts! read more

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Absolutely hands down best chocolate ever!!! Worth the $$$ definitely Buffalo icon! Can't eat Hershey's anymore read more

They have some excellent desserts here. But occasionally you get a dud, like the apple pie that was on the shelf today. The inside of the crust was under done, the outside of the crust was overdone, and essentially flavorless. It needed to be cooked at a lower temperature and for a bit longer. Dribbling caramel on the outside of the crust is certainly fine, but it doesn't make up for a flavorless crust. The apple pie was also almost devoid of Apples. Very disappointing. The cherry cordial sundae was excellent, the coffee was excellent and the atmosphere is absolutely charming. read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Cherry Cordial Sundae - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

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Amazing chocolates highly priced but worth it. I am diabetic but her almond toffee looked amazing so I gave it a try. Absolutely the best toffee I ever had (including my own). It's light, airy and ideal for people with sensitive teeth. Wish I had purchased more. Will Absolutely visit again when I'm in the area. read more

Delicious chocolates. Seems they especially make orange chocolate which I love. We went during easter, just a few days beforehand and it was packed. The locals know what's good! They have a very cute ice cream parler that I will be going back to visit. read more

Absolutely blown away by this chocolate !! Loaded up on chocolate covered marshmallows as well as chocolate covered butter crunch and dark chocolate raisins. All are amazing. Was able to sample some items. Super nice lady who helped us, sorry can't remember her name. Sampled the fudge and ended up buying some . We also went next door to the ice cream shop and had an epic peach parfait . Highly suggest both the chocolate store and the ice cream shop. One suggestion do not come here hungry. Bought one of everything , will be back for sure the next time we are in the area. A++++ read more

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Alethea's is a very cute ice cream parlor and when you first enter, it almost feels like you are going back in time! We first went to the ice cream side and enjoyed a sponge candy sundae. I love how the shop was all decorated for Easter. They have so many options to choose from as well! After, we decided to stroll around the candy shop side. It was filled with Easter basket treats - chocolate bunnies of every size, a variety of novelty chocolates, sponge candy and fudge. We were even able to sample some fudge - which was very good! read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Sponge candy sundae - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

I've been to Alethea's several times, to both their candy & ice cream shoppes. The location itself is pretty convenient. Some may think it's a bit fancy for a "candy store," but this is no ordinary sweets shop. For starters, Alethea's is a chocolatier, not just some candy store. And it certainly is more distinguished than a plain old "shop." I'd say it certainly deserves to be classified as a "shoppe." What is the difference? I have no idea. But the second spelling definitely makes it seem fancier, which it is. This most recent visit was for hot fudge frappes and some orange sponge candy. I had taken my mom and her 99-year-old friend out for dinner. They wanted Ted's Hot Dogs, so we did that first, and despite the fact that I assured Flo I was too full to eat anything else, she insisted that she treat me to a hot fudge frappe. Yes, she insisted on buying my dessert AND on picking it out for me. When a 99-year-old woman tells you she is buying and this is what you will have, you do it. I feel like Alethea's prides itself in their hot fudge sauce, but I'm honestly not a fan. It's a matter of personal taste, though. I'm sure that there are people who love this sauce and rave about it to all their out-of-town guests, insisting they bring them there to try out this sauce! That's just not me. Oh, it's also worth noting that on Wednesdays, they have B1G1 on their pie slices. I kind of wish I'd had the pie. After wolfing down the hot fudge frappe, Flo wanted to go into the candy shoppe to buy some orange sponge candy. In October, it's not traditionally cold enough to buy the orange chocolate (it has to do with the consistency of the orange oil used to make the candy), but Alethea's has had so many requests for it that they do make some small batches of it. We happened to purchase the last bag of the orange sponge candy. (Flo insisted we take it back to her house and split it up between her, my mom, and me. We did just that.) One of the things my mom loves about going to Alethea's is that they always approach you with an offer of a free sample when you walk in the door. This time it was dark chocolate sponge candy or chocolate fudge. Not an easy choice, but we went with the dark chocolate sponge candy. (I've had their fudge before, too, and it is hard to beat their fudge!) The staff here is so friendly and helpful. The selection is so much fun to browse. I love to walk the perimeter of the store to find all the really neat kinds of chocolate they offer. There really is something for everyone. If you're looking for a gift for someone else or you want to treat yo'self (self care is crucial), you will impress even the most finicky person with anything you purchase from Alethea's. read more

My husband and I enjoyed a couple of milkshakes after dinner. The coffee milkshake has a bold flavor while the strawberry is traditional and creamy. Robyn offered us some delicious walnut fudge in the chocolate shop and service was friendly. We love the interior decor! It was like stepping back in time in the ice cream parlor. Historical news clippings adorn the walls and the smell of rich chocolate lingers in the air. We recommend for dessert and rich confections! read more

We stopped by here spontaneously. We had just finished our dinner a d was driving past this dessert shop which catches our eyes. The interior style is cute old American and there is both indoor and outdoor seating. There were a lot of families with kids when we were here. The desserts tasted too sweet for me and my friend but my friends kid and the other kids seemed to enjoy it a lot. There were paper hats that the kids could also wear. Overall would recommend to families with kids and for cute photos read more

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The smell of chocolate hits you as soon as you walk in the door! You then have to decide if you want to turn left into the chocolate candy shop or right into the ice cream parlor. We chose to swipe right first. Cute old fashion type of ice cream parlor. Besides ice cream you can get a wide assortment of baked good. Then over to the candy store. Here you can lost roaming through the wide assortment of chocolates. Everything from themed chocolates like Buffalo Bills or the various holiday themes to the wonderful sponge candy, a Buffalo favorite for sure. Do yourself a favor and check out this place. 2021-132 read more

Out of town visitor and so impressed with this shop. Have had chocolate all over the world (Switzerland, Belgium, Amsterdam, etc) and throughout the US. Can honestly say this place is one of the top chocolate shop in the world. Not only is the milk chocolate amazing, the fillings used are out of this world. Told my family all I want for Christmas is the chocolate covered sponge candy. Just an absolute amazing place. Highly recommend if you appreciate top notch chocolate ! read more

This was my first time here and I was in awe. I never knew this place excited & I'm a huge chocolate lover. The employee who worked there was so sweet and kind. She gave us many samples and explained the history behind this chocolate store. Everything tasted delicious. The store itself is so cute, family friendly. It was a great time. read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Chocolate - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

Tonight my son and I were on our way home from a winter walk, looking for a good local chocolate fix. I Google-searched chocolate shops open later on a Sunday, and Alethea's was within the most reasonable proximity of what was still open. I've had Alethea's chocolates and desserts several times as gifts, as they are my bro's go-to for sweets-shopping for various holidays. But I have never stopped by myself. Upon entering, the aromas of the store punch you in the face in the best possible way. It smells DIVINE in there, like homemade-chocolate-heaven! To the right is the ice cream and desserts cafe, and to the left is the candy shop. We headed to the candy side to peruse. The store is very attractive, especially so all decked out for Valentine's. At initial glance, the chocolates seemed reasonably priced for high-quality confections. Chocolate suckers in lots of shape options ranged from about two bucks to about five bucks, going up from there for larger chocolate pieces. There is also fudge, and a variety of candies like licorice, fruit gummies, and marzipans. For just a taste tonight, my son selected a Mickey-shaped chocolate sucker for $2. I went straight to the case to pick a small assortment of cream-filled chocolates. The counter clerk was very attentive and friendly. I went with one of each cream: lemon, orange, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, and vanilla. We rang out, and yikes, the bill was $8.95. So my six chocolate creams rang in at over a buck a piece. Hopefully the taste would live up to the price. We headed out to our car to enjoy our candies for the ride home. My son wolfed his Mickey chocolate sucker. He said it was great. He is ten, and is easy to please with candy. :-D My chocolates were a mixed bag. The freshness and snap of the chocolate was nice, and the flavor of the chocolate itself was tasty, both the milk and dark. The filling consistency was nice too, very creamy and smooth. But the cherry, lemon, and raspberry creams all had a bit of a medicine'y tang. They were a bit heavy-handed on the extract. The vanilla and strawberry were delicious, and my favorite was the orange, excellent smooth orange yumminess. Overall I did enjoy Aelthea's. Any of their desserts and chocolates I've had in the past as gifts were delightful. The shop itself is adorbs, clean, and smells GREAT. The service was good. And most of our treats we purchased tonight were tasty. It's just the high price tag for this stop that left me underwhelmed with some of my selections. After I had made my picks, I did notice a white creamsicle chocolate, and a marzipan-filled dark chocolate in the case, two of my FAVE flavor profiles. So I do need to get back into Aelthea's sometime to try those, and see if those flavors can bump my review up to a five. :-D read more

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We've been to Alethea's many times over the past 25 years. It's was always a treat. This past winter we had a couple slices of pie. Both slices were very dry and didn't have much flavor. We thought better luck next time. We stopped for sundaes today. The quality is definitely deteriorating at the shop. The scoop of ice cream was the size of a cue ball. The sauce flavors were off. We ordered an almond butter toffee sundae with caramel and chocolate sauce. What we got was a smear of caramel inside the dish and then so much hot chocolate sauce added over it that it overpowered everything. I think since it was an hour before closing time, they were probably trying to use all the chocolate sauce for the day. We were going to take it back but there were three groups that came in to order. We went over to the chocolate shop which we find nice since you can get a couple pieces of candy without having a whole box to tempt you once home. Two pieces of chocolate covered caramel. It tasted good. So many people, especially those who would like to give their kids the ice cream shop experience have been priced out. Say a family of four each want a double scoop ice cream cone. That will be $30. $10.95 for a specialty sundae - four sundaes and you're closing in on $50. $33 per pound for chocolates. I realize the past few years has made everything increase in price but this is crazy. but it is certainly not a place where we would bring our family too often. read more

Friendly staff, excellent service. Very easy to preorder. Very clean environment - would highly recommend

How could you not give Alethea's 5 stars! Absolutely quaint and so pretty! Wonderful chocolates, large selection The icecream parlor that is attached offers loads of icecream treats and so delicious Lots of seating inside and outside under a striped awning Very clean, prices are what you would expect for a special trip to the icecream parlor read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Inside, lots of seating - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

What a cute place! I came in for a milkshake, which I heard were amazing. I ordered a root beer milkshake and it was so delicious and smooth! After I had my shake, I walked from the ice cream parlor to the actual candy shop. What a selection; sponge candy, creative chocolate suckers, large chocolate pieces, and all made on site. Definitely will go back and recommend to anyone with a sweet tooth, and if looking for a cute, unique chocolate item as a gift. read more

Alethea's Chocolates - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

I try the caramel apple pie , surprisingly I don't like Apple Pie because I always find them to sweet , well in this place is exactly what a pie should be made out... excellent fresh and delicious .. read more

We were kindly greeted as soon as we walked in. A store employee offered us samples of chocolate fudge (amazing!) The store itself is so well organized with beautifully arranged chocolates. People are always around to help you out. It's a great place to take visitors or to get a gift for someone close to you! read more

omg good strawberry milkshake and sponge candy awww man this place is great. the woman working the counter was real nice and gave me a sample of vanilla fudge which was tasty too. all the employees were nice and the aesthetic was nice too i liked it very much retro comforting american stuff oh man candy candy candy candy candy candy candy haha ooooooohhh yeeeeeeaaaaaahh i like strawberry milkshakes read more

Alethea's Chocolates - da sign - Desserts Near Me - Williamsville, New York

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Absolutely amazing chocolates! I pass this shop daily on my way home from work. It looks so cute and I know they specialize in fine chocolates and Greek specialities such as rice pudding. I decided to stop in today to pick up some chocolate sweets. I ordered 2 pieces of sponge candy and 2 chocolate covered potato chips. The price was high (something like $28 and $21 per pound respectively). I think this chocolate is worth every penny! You don't need a lot so 1 taste or each was enough. The staff were very helpful. Although I knew what I wanted, I noticed her helping other customers, and when we were cashing out, she offered us a sampling of the vanilla fudge. The fudge was okay, but I prefer chocolate. They did have about 5 types of slab fudge for purchase which looked awesome! I loved this little shop and would definitely return. They also serve ice cream, which I would be willing to try on my next visit! read more

Great ice cream ,great staff . chocolates to die for . Very clean . And cute .love going there. I love the entrance. It makes it look so inviting. read more

My review is based off of the sundae I purchased and the price. Before I get into that, it's a nice and quiet place. Upon entering you are (currently) greeted with Valentine's Day decor. It's pretty and inviting. You will also find wrap around stairs decorated as well. To your right is the ice cream parlor and dine in area along with pies, pastries and coffee. There you'll find a nice and quaint space also decorated. Across the hall you'll find the Chocolate, fudge and candy area. It's very pretty, enticing and smells amazing. Also decked out for Valentine's Day. They are ready! There is definitely something for everyone at Alethea's. With all that being said, I was searching for a peanut butter fudge parfait. I found the list of sundaes and decided to try the peanut butter one. It came with chocolate and vanilla hard ice cream, chocolate and peanut butter sauce with an option for whipped cream and peanut butter cups on top. -It was just ok. I didn't care for the hard ice cream. It didn't wow me and lacked something. I don't care for chocolate sauce, I prefer fudge, so I should've asked if I was able to swap that. I was also wanting soft serve/custard so I should've seen if that was an option instead of settling. It was almost $9!! It's a large portion, but still not worth $9! I would've felt more comfortable spending $5 on a sundae. Because there are other local ice cream/chocolate shops that I already love, I will stick with what I know. Check Alethea's out and try it yourself! Maybe go for the chocolates. read more

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Looking for the perfect cool me off or sweet summer treat, then Alethea's is the place not to be missed.They offer a wide variety of ice cream flavors & frappe selections. There are also sundaes, shakes, sodas & egg creams.And if your still not full , try some of their delicious creamy chocolates. read more

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Not to be missed Alethea's offers delicious sundaes, old fashioned sodas & shakes, ny egg creams, banana splits, & my favorite the frappes, I highly recommend the hot Fudge or Butterscotch.And if for some reason that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth then step into their awesome candy shop from dipped berries to sponge candy you will not be disappointed. read more

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