Great meals with philosophical friends (2 of 2) Rarely am I in Midwestern capital cities with beltways around them, but I do have a few friends from years ago who do live in this city's suburbs. I once ate at their famed German restaurant with the lunch buffet and the extra cost cream puffs with an Italian-American friend who is sort of an Archie Bunker with an MBA. He provides the entertainment. The last time I ate lunch in C-bus with that good friend was before the pandemic. I believe that the lunch buffet has returned to that German restaurant, but I can wait to do that on some other trip. On this last go round, I met up for lunch with a different friend with whom you can discuss the human condition ad nauseam, which is somewhat of a good thing. It's a good thing because there aren't many people who are capable of doing that and who will engage in that. However, when you wrap up such involved discussions, you might feel a little overwhelmed for a while! I got to choose the restaurant ... from out of town. I didn't like the choices with which I was presented and the only area of town I really know is the Polaris area around Ikea. I looked up listings and recommendations. Chocolate Cafe' had two things under its belt from the get-go. It's a high scoring bistro-cafe that has a noteworthy breakfast and lunch following and it has the word "chocolate" in its name. It's in that area near the Barnes and Noble west of the big state university with its logo featuring a branch that looks like a marijuana leaf. I have since learned it's not a marijuana leaf. We ordered lunch, with one entree being a Cobb salad and the other being one of their club sandwiches, the latter of which was mine. It was very good and, as is often the case with me, I could have eaten a bigger sandwich. I went through it fairly quickly, even though I did have the small and cheap Swedish breakfast at Ikea that morning. With the entrees, we ordered bowls of their popular tomato basil soup, which really hit the spot on that cold day. To drink, we ordered house coffee and a hot chocolate. The house coffee is refillable while the hot chocolate is not, but that's standard protocol just about anywhere. With a name like Chocolate Cafe,' we did not order dessert. My friend left first and I stayed behind to look at the dessert case. I later caved in for a slice of their moist and rich chocolate fudge cake to take with me. Like I said, it was moist and rich ... and also very tasty and filling. The pricing here is standard and appropriate. The service was folksy and very attentive, despite their being full on a weekend approaching the holidays. The interior is bright because of the floor-to-ceiling windows around the perimeter of the restaurant. That really scores points with me. Lastly, upon pulling in, the parking lot was full and I had to park a short walk away, all the while paying attention to parking signs and rules. This implied that Chocolate Cafe' was most likely a good place ... and that was corroborated. I have never driven down I-71 into this city's center once past its beltway. I have doglegged and taken Highway 315 - the Olentangy River Parkway. At its top end, it winds a little and it's slightly scenic. As you start approaching OSU, all these different medical towers with different specialties loom over you ... from both sides of the road! It's similar to the feeling one gets when they drive past the Texas Medical Center south of downtown Houston, as in, "What a maze ... why so many damn medical buildings?" But that doesn't affect their rating. It's just a personal pet peeve. I'm going to go with 4.5 stars for Chocolate Cafe', which obviously rounds up to 5 stars. It makes for an interesting meal and experience and, while I would not repeat it like clockwork because of how rich it can be, I could definitely see repeating it if I lived in its general area. My friend said he would be coming back with family members. That said, you clearly see two seals of approval. read more

See all

Chocolate Café is hands-down one of my favorite local spots whenever I'm craving something sweet or a drink. My absolute go-to is their chocolate espresso martini -- and it never disappoints. The chocolate-rimmed glass instantly sets it apart from anywhere else, and every sip is the perfect balance of rich chocolate and bold espresso. It's smooth, indulgent, and honestly feels like dessert in a glass. The price point is great too, which makes it even easier to treat yourself. I also love picking up a few of their smaller desserts like the buckeyes and chocolate peanut butter pretzels. They're decadent, satisfying, and made with love. Their cakes and other items are beautifully made as well. The staff is consistently friendly, welcoming, and helpful, which really adds to the overall experience. They also offer a variety of food entrées that I haven't tried yet, but every dish I see coming out to nearby tables looks fresh, beautifully plated, and incredibly tempting. It's definitely next on my list. read more

Chocolate Café - Chocolate Double Espresso Martini and Buckeye Chocolate Pretzels - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This spot has been on my radar for a long time. Back in the middle of the pandemic I ordered delivery once or twice, but I finally made it there in person just recently. The space itself is very cozy. The black and white checkered floor, giant chalk board menu, and walls adorned with random knick knacks give off a very charming vibe. I was only there to grab a latte and get some work done... but of course I took some dessert home when I was on my way out. That said, my lavender oat milk latte was $9 and it was the size of your basic coffee cup. That one stung a little. My salted caramel brownie and chocolate chunk cookie on the other hand, rang up under $10. Now that my friends made sense. They were both very rich, but also very delicious. I'll end by sharing that the energy in there was slightly off. Everyone seemed very perturbed. Very rushed. No one had a smile on their face. That said, there was an overwhelming feeling of community, which added some warm and fuzzies. I would definitely come back to grab some goodies, but I'm not sure about dining in and definitely not for a latte. read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Unique cafe featuring delicious options for meals & desserts. Efficient & friendly service.Perfect place to celebrate a birthday lunch!!Enjoyed lunch with huge chicken salad sandwich and berry avocado salad. We tried the mimosa flight which had raspberry, blueberry and orange-yummy! Lots of desserts as well & very relaxed atmosphere. read more

See all

I've been to chocolate cafe before and enjoyed it. So this review is just about a recent delivery order with a group. A bunch of us ordered sandwiches I requested gluten free, but nothing came labeled as gf. We ended up comparing sandwiches trying to spot the difference. Fingers crossed! My sandwich also didn't even have melted cheese, just clear slices of cheese I ended up microwaving. One friends wormy grilled cheese did not come with the gummy worms. Tomato basil soup was delicious. But as a gf person, and paying extra for the gf bread, you'd think they'd label it, and make sure to make the grilled cheese grilled. read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

We have girl group in school called " rox" and for lunch we went here and it was so so amazing and The blt was also amazing. Definitely need to try. read more

I love this place and have been coming here for quite some time now. I just recently brought my friend who had never been. We ordered the thin mint martini and the chocolate martini. We also ordered the fondue plate for 2 and the lava cake to go. The thin mint martini is incredible but dangerous because you cannot taste any alcohol in that drink. The chocolate martini was very yummy as well but you can definitely taste some alcohol in that one. The fondue plate came with strawberries, pound cake, pretzels, Oreos, marshmallows, and graham crackers. It was super yummy and honestly a lot that it came with. The lava cake was good but not a 10/10 in my opinion. It was $50 for everything which is a little bit expensive but a nice place to come to for a little treat sometimes read more

Chocolate Café - Chocolate martini and Thin Mint Martini - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Yum!!! Hot chocolate = amazing! Chocolate cake was rich and delicious! The grilled cheese was also really good! read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wonderful local spot. I highly recommend it. Today I stopped in after running some early early EARLY morning errands. My phone had told me that they were open, but their hours told me they were closed. I sat momentarily in the parking lot, confused it must've been apparently so. The manager and the owner, Lisa saw me sitting in the parking lot and came over to the door and opened it up and asked if I wanted to come in, even though they were closed. I mean, how nice is that? That's superior customer service right there. So, what's the shop like??? Let me tell you: Small café meet ice cream shop meets candy store meets bakery is the best way to describe it The food is outstanding Might be the best place in the city to get a grilled cheese sandwich. Oh- they're not just regular grilled cheese sandwiches, oh no. They are melt in your mouth, substantial, buttery but not greasy. they're fancy and memorable I highly recommend the bacon apple grilled cheese paired with her tomato bisque soup They have plenty of desserts to pair with a meal ir just to stop in and enjoy. Choose from ice cream cake, candy pastry, cookies I believe you even can get a glass of wine to go with your chocolates. Yum. You can't go wrong stopping here! Plus the family that owns it is so very nice and friendly and does a lot for the community. I always feel good coming to the Chocolate Café and I leave satisfied. read more

See all

Chocolate is the name, but there is so much more than a sweet experience here, casual food, coffee, and spirits are available. Dining tables inside and it is usually semi-busy. There is parking and a smallish lot out front but again that is kind of busy as well so you may have to rely on parking on the street. The friendly staff and welcoming customers make this an inviting place to visit. Chocolate Café has a great ambience to it, a perfect place for lunch or light food for dinner. It's also a great place for date night. Right on the edge of Upper Arlington and Ward 33 Columbus. Just north of Grandview Heights. The neighborhood is a nice enclave and this inviting restaurant. This little Cafe definitely helps add to the pleasant ambience of the area. read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

As always good and sweet. Service is always great and the ambulance of a true dessert shop. read more

See all

There's a lot of options here. But the items that I tried didn't inspire me to keep exploring their sizeable menu. I ordered a Bacon Bourbon Buckeye because love all three of those things separately. It did not come together to make the magic I was hoping for. They also serve a couple of one pound cake slices - chocolate cake and carrot cake. I went for carrot, and it just wasn't much to speak about beyond its size, which was enough for two hefty servings. I had a bite of their gooey butter bar which was nice, but I my wife shared that she felt her California Cobb Wrap was okay at best. They also have coffee, breakfast, candy, ice cream and motivational phrases on every wall. If any of that speaks to your tastebuds or soul, feel free to see what you think of the place yourself. In my view, modest expectations would be key. read more

See all

Chocolate Cafe is such a gem in heart of Upper Arlington / Lane Avenue. It's cutest cafe that has the best cosey vibe. They have variety of chocolates and cakes that go well with their coffees. They have small food menu like soups and sandwiches but I have only been there for their dessert and coffee. They have one of best carrot cakes you can get and trust me when I say I have tried over 20+ places which serve them and they have the best one so far. They have a decadent selection of chocolate cakes which are to die for as well. They do chocolate fondues as well if you enjoy those. Service is casual and easy . You order at the counter and they give you a number and bring the food to your table. They have plenty of parking onsite and it's easy to find. If you are in town and looking for a great local cafe please give them a try. Support local businesses that keep cities going. read more

See all

Always fast and attentive! Great customer service and food is always excellent quality.

The food here is exceptional. You get larger portions and a fair price. We had the ruben and the Italian panini with chicken tortilla soup. For dessert we had a slice of carrot cake. The cake was beyond moist and the icing wasn't too thick. The slice was easily 6" or taller. The service is always top notch. The ladies there are always friendly. The atmosphere is casual and everyone seems to enjoy themselves. The chocolates they make are absolutely amazing. Well worth the trip. read more

What is it with Chocolate Cafe always being there for me in my moments of vulnerability. I was having a very bad morning after an extremely rude encounter with a Karen, and my partner (ty partner howdy) took me to ChocoCa (not related to Chococat TM) to try to turn my day around *music notes* We brunched on a cronchy brekkie sandwich and an ouchy-my-mouthy-friendly soft bfast burrito. Also! The server found the last slice of Fudgie Wudgie for me to take home!!! So God IS real after all... Chocolate Cafe is such a bright and cheerful place, with their floor-to-ceiling windows, chalk menu boards, and fresh flower cuttings on every table. The staff are always so friendly too! The only word of warning I have is about the intense smokiness in the air. I'm not sure if their ceiling infrastructure can support the installation of range hoods, but if something could be constructed...that would be so beneficial. As much fun as I have at Chocolate Cafe, it is with some reserve given how the smokey smell clings. I do highly recommend dropping by though if the weather is good and you can snag an outdoor seat! read more

See all

I went to panacea salon and I ordered a black bean veggie burger from the chocolate café is that is the café that they suggest I asked for cheese on the burger and as you can tell from the photos, they didn't even bother to melt the cheese on the burger, they just threw it on top of the salad, a slice of cheddar cheese. They didn't bother to give any salad dressing for the salad, nor did they put even one single packet of ketchup.. mediocre at best OK if you're hungry. But I wouldn't recommend.. thank you so much I also ordered the chocolate covered strawberries, but it came with only one chocolate covered straw, but the menu says strawberries, which would imply at least two. As I said, mediocre at best.. if you can't even melt cheese on a burger and you just throw it on top of the salad and include no salad dressing and no condiments how do you expect people to want to return or reorder from you?. Not impressed. read more

See all

Went into chocolate cafe had an amazing experience all of these representatives were super engaging they put up with my questions and they were personable had lots of questions about the menu and the Sunday I got this Sunday as you see in the picture is unforgettable a great experience you won't forget . Abby was the one that took my order she was super patient. Megan was the one that handcrafted the Sunday she took her time and tried to make it amazing. And Abby was super engaging as well thank you for an amazing staff. read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Hands down the tastiest sandwiches and sweet treats in town. I can't even count on one hand how many times I've been these last few weeks during the colder weather. This cafe is so cozy with so many great options and fast service. Our family's favorites include the chicken bacon ranch melt, triple grilled cheese, and the tomato soup is one of the best I've ever had. You also have to get the carrot cake because it is 1) massive 2) perfect in flavor 2) and cooked to perfection. The prices are great and the portions are worth every dollar. 10/10 recommend for a quick and casual setting! read more

Chocolate Café - Triple Grilled Cheese and Soup - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

There are many breakfast or lunch options: soup, salad, sandwiches. Personalized service along with being served table side. There are many chocolate options, including South Bend Chocolates and flavored popcorn. Let's not forget the several different adult beverage options, milkshakes, and ice cream flavors. A laid-back atmosphere where you can meet with friends or even study. You can also host bridal showers or baby showers in this lovely location. read more

A great place for coffee and all things chocolate. Everything I've tried has been great, and they have a wide selection. They serve meals, desserts, coffee, and even alcohol drinks (chocolate varieties). I definitely recommend. Just a heads up though, the parking lot is small, so beware of that. read more

Chocolate Café - Hot mocha and some chocolate desserts - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

Though the website suggests they have vegan options, it's slim picking. The options are a sandwich with gluten free bread (cheese removed) and a salad (cheese removed). Not a single sweet or dessert is vegan. They did not ask me "here or to go", and brought my food to my table bagged and without utensils even though I was wanting to dine in. The salad had potential, I thought the dressing was very tasty. But the avocados were underripe, and I spent as much time picking slimy, wilted spinach out of my salad as I did actually eating it. I would give them another go if they had one or two clearly marked vegan items on the menu, or has a little something extra they could toss on in place of cheese. And at least one clearly marked vegan sweet would be nice, even if it's just a beverage. The cafe has a cute vibe, well lit and a nice place to sit and enjoy your food (if your food is enjoyable). read more

Chocolate Café - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Honestly my new favorite coffee spot!!! I cannot believe it took me so long to find this cute spot. There is onsite parking and so many options for coffee, sandwiches, and desserts. Lots of inside seating and outside seating options. Definitely something for everyone. I got a hot brown sugar latte, it came in the cutest cup, very quick, and it was the best drink I've had in a while. I will definitely be back and maybe a new regular. :) read more

Chocolate Café - Latte - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I've been here twice and both times, the food has been amazing. There are a ton of options to choose from and so many dessert selections. The people working there are so friendly. read more

Everything is good, service is quick. I have no complaints whatsoever. Have a coffee or a cocktail! read more

Chocolate Café - Turkey Bacon Swiss, Lobster Bisque - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is the place that you'll definitely need to stop by if you have a sweet tooth. I don't drink coffee or anything related to that, but the snacks are definitely a must-have. I loved their selection of milk chocolates with sea salt on it. Friendly staff and great atmosphere. read more

See all

I didn't realize they have such an extensive food menu. I ordered half Ruben and cup of lobster bisque. It was okay, soup not very hot and Ruben alright. After seeing what others ordered, definitely will come back to try something else. read more

See all

Stopped here to have a nice late lunch/early dinner. There are so many delicious sandwich options on the menu. We decided on Lobster bisque, a black bean burger and a turkey bacon Swiss. Everything came out hot and delicious. We also ordered a double espresso martini, a white chocolate martini and a lemon bar. The service was wonderful, its a nice relaxed atmosphere and everything we had was delicious. They also offer chocolate fondue that looked really fun! read more

See all

Met a friend for lunch and had such a great time! Friendly service and great menu to choose from (both savories and sweets). I had the chicken salad croissant and a cup of Italian wedding soup. I liked the croissant and would get it again, but I want to try some of their other savory items (seriously, it was SO hard to choose from!) The soup though...man I could eat a gallon of that soup! For dessert I had a cappuccino and a slice of buckeye cheesecake and I loved both. The best part of the cheesecake was that it was rich and decadent without being cloyingly sweet. Perfectly paired with coffee! I also got English toffee and a slice of the lemon berry marscapone cake to go. TBH the toffee wasn't my favorite so I don't think I'd get that again (maybe too many nuts? I dunno.) But the berry cake is insanely good (and definitely a new favorite.) As for atmosphere of the cafe, the parking lot isn't large so be mindful that you may have to street park. Inside wasn't too crowded when we went early, but it did fill up as lunch hour approached. The yelling of orders behind the counter was a bit distracting at times, as were the constant stream of food delivery pickups. Not a deal breaker, but I might find a seat farther from the counter next time. Here's a photo of the lemon berry marscapone cake that I started eating and then remembered late to take a photo (it's that good lol) Sorry I spaced and didn't take snaps of my food! read more

Chocolate Café - Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The Cobb salad was totally fresh and the tomato soup was a perfect hug on this chilly night. read more

Chocolate Café - The Cobb salad looks exactly like it does of the website. I LOVE when that happens! - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The best cookies and brownies in town. I absolutely love this place and the staff are wonderful. Two thumbs up.

Always an impeccable array of sweet treats to follow a great meal. Make sure to get a chocolate covered strawberry!

I've been unfortunately writing a lot of negative reviews and wanted to make sure I ended the year on a high note. Since moving to Columbus, I've not had the best of luck with finding restaurants and cafes I like, but I'm so glad I've stopped by here a couple of times. The prices are reasonable and the food and desserts are good quality. Here is what I've tried: Roast Beef & Asiago Panini 4 stars - Everything was fresh and it tasted great. It's your standard no frills sandwich that is perfect for when you're craving a panini. You get a nice size sandwich portion and chips or pretzels. I would definitely get this again. Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie 3.5 stars - As the name implies it is really big cookie. It tasted fresh to me but unfortunately I just wasn't a fan of the chocolate they used and the texture of the cookie. I like my chocolate chip cookies to have some chew to them and this one was more soft and a little crumbly. It is also on the sweeter side and did not taste like it contained brown butter or sea salt which is how it prefer my cookies. If you like chocolate chip cookies I still recommend you try it since I know everyone has their own chocolate chip cookie preferences and you Amy really enjoy it! Fudgy Wudgy Cake 4 stars - Talk about gigantic. This cake slice could easily feed 3 people, 2 hungry people and possibly 1 really really hungry chocolate lover. It's a well-made slice of cake. It was moist, had a good flavor. Had a good level of sweetness as well. I also liked the drizzle of milk chocolate the complimented the darker chocolate taste of the cake. I would definitely order this again. Oreo cheesecake 5 stars - Best thing I've tried from here. It was so so good. I loved the hard chocolate layer on top of the smooth dense Oreo cheese cake middle on top of an Oreo cake. If you are an Oreo lover and don't prefer really sweet desserts then definitely try this! This was also a big piece of cake and was split between myself and 2 other people. To celebrate passing my next exam, I will order this to reward myself since it's soo good. I'm already thinking about it. Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake 3 stars - This is my least favorite item. I think I will need to try it again. The cake itself was very dry even though the menu says it's supposed to be moist. The flavor was good. There was a nice balance of creaminess, lemon and berries without anyone overpowering the other. The cake also seemed like it hadn't fully thought since the middle custard layer was still very hard. I definitely recommend stopping by and dining in. It's a great place to go on your own, with friends or to meet up with even coworkers. The environment is casual with a laid back atmosphere. read more

Chocolate Café - Oreo Cheesecake - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

See all

The chocolate cake was DELICIOUS but carrot cake was MEH....i feel like it was overpriced for sure but I guess expected. I actually went out of my way to try the place and glad I did; however, I wouldn't do it again. Cute place and friendly staff read more

My department at work decided to take our team lunch here, and it was absolutely phenomenal! Despite the sudden large group, the staff quickly took all our orders and we received our food and desserts in no time at all. The food itself was incredible, with each of us having nothing but positive things to say about our various sandwiches and breakfasts. Not only that, we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of times different staff members came over to check on us, and offer water refills or whatever else we may have needed. For a café like this was in no way required but the team went above and beyond to make our experience even better. The atmosphere was also incredibly pleasant and the decor and seating was so well put together. Can't recommend this place enough. read more

Nice spot. It was cozy, but started getting crowded when we arrived. My Bailey's Boozy Hot Chocolate and New York Cheesecake was superb. Her Key Lime Pie was great. She wasn't too thrilled with the Chocolate Martin. Poor thing. Told ya not to get it. Sorry about your luck! LOL. I asked her to get something else but she declined l. When you're in Columbus, come check out this spot. They have ALL kinds of goodies on their menu! read more

See all

I've been to this place several times over the years and was always satisfied, until yesterday. My wife and I came in for lunch, she had the turkey Reuben and I had the turkey, bacon and Swiss. Her sandwich was nice looking, full of turkey and satisfying. Mine was a single piece of turkey, some bacon, a piece of Swiss and a mound of salad, not satisfying or filling. I'm sorry but while I have no problem paying for good, substantial food, I cannot justify paying $30 for two sandwiches, a soda and a water and then having to get something to eat on the way home. Oh, and if I wanted a salad, I would have ordered one, not have it thrust upon me in the guise of a sandwich. We won't be back. read more

Variety, Mocha and Chai Latte are great. Breakfast bagel sandwiches were satisfying after a cold morning run.

The Chocolate Cafe is a really cute spot for date night, coffee, friends night, lunch, etc. They have coffee, hot and cold chocolate beverages, ice cream, desserts, etc, with a heavy focus on.... Chocolate! The hot chocolate drinks are made with either dark or milk chocolate, your choice of milk, and can be spiked if you like. The staff are really friendly. Drinks are brought out in proper cups/mugs unless you request ToGo. I enjoy the Mexican spiced hot chocolate (milk, please) and their chocolate/yogurt pretzels or lemon berry cake. Note that parking here can be difficult. They are bordered by a couple of other small businesses with small lots and lots of towing signs. I ended up parking on the street most of the times I've been here. read more

Chocolate Café - Mexican hot chocolate - Desserts Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Food and service were incredible! Parking is a bit of a problem, depending on what time you are there