Ethel's Chocolate Lounge?

I was in downtown Evanston recently and saw that Ethel's Chocolate Lounge (former Marly space as mentioned in another post) looks to be enjoying more success than the previous occupant. I saw that there are several locations throughout the area. I am curious to know if anyone has been. How is it? It is branded as being like Starbucks but with chocolate. Is it down-to-earth/relaxed/casual or is it fu-fu/crowded/targeting yuppies, etc?

I've been in there twice, once after dinner on a weeknight (they had recently opened), and once on a Saturday afternoon a few weeks later. On neither occasion did I stay and hang around--I just bought some chocolates and took them with me, so I haven't spent enough time to get a great feel for the whole scene. Neither time was at all crowded.

My overwhelming impression is that they are targeting women. There's a lot of pink and chocolate brown in their decor, the seating areas appear very comfortable, and their menu includes a small chocolate fondue (not that men don't enjoy these things as well, but...). The chocolates are very cute, and they also have drinks and some little gift-type items for sale. Looked like a good place for a stop in on an un-raucous girls' night out to me. It had a more relaxed than not feel, but I don't think I'd take my shoes off and set up camp there or anything like that. Nice for an occasional treat.

Now, having written this, I went to find the url to their site: http://www.ethelschocolate.com/. The front page says "Introducing a new place to chocolate and chitchat" with an illustration of two women sitting at a little table with drinks and candy, perhaps happily gossiping or describing a new purse. Setting aside my bitter contempt for the use of nouns as verbs, I'll say that sums it up.

Gentlemen, don't be scared off--it would probably be a great idea on a date, and I'm sure you're encouraged to go in and buy gifts. I just have a hard time picturing my husband and brother in there for any other reason, and they're both pretty standard guys.

So how was the chocolate? Oh yeah--I would say I was really knocked out by the lemon meringue (in dark chocolate), and I also enjoyed the orange blossom and key lime (all in dark, I believe). Not cheap (I can't remember how much--$2 or 3??), but if you bought 10 there was a deal to be had.

I have been to the one in Evanston and Lincoln Park... The chocolate is ok IMHO... There are some interesting flavors, but I prefer Vosges. Their hot chocolate tho is very good. Rich and sweet.

The last time I was in the Lincoln Park location, there was a lady who was choosing her selection. The store actually puts out dishes of 4/5 pieces of each kind as a display. I was noticing that some dishes were missing a piece, so I mentioned it to the saleslady.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that the lady customer was EATING the displays! She must have had at least 6 pieces. I did not say anything to her, but when she left, I mentioned it to the salespeople... They started laughing and said that it was probably not the wisest thing to eat, especially since the pieces on display has been sitting out for days...

FYI - Ethel's is owned by Masterfoods USA, which is owned by M&M Mars. I would go to Vosges, especially since it is locally owned and operated. The ice cream at Vosges is also very good, especially the yellow curry one.

About a month ago, I was talking to the sales people at the Vosges in the Nordstrom mall, and they have been there for 5 or 6 years. Now that Ethel's has moved in downstairs, they are constantly getting people coming in saying "not ANOTHER chocolate store!" I guess the "but we were here first" reply isn't an option.

Fujisan wrote:FYI - Ethel's is owned by Masterfoods USA, which is owned by M&M Mars.

Based on the website, I was under the impression that Ethel's Chocolate Lounge was different from Ethel M's.

Pucca wrote:

Fujisan wrote:FYI - Ethel's is owned by Masterfoods USA, which is owned by M&M Mars.

Based on the website, I was under the impression that Ethel's Chocolate Lounge was different from Ethel M's.

It's different in a separate division sort of way, but it's all owned by the Mars family.

Fujisan wrote:

"The ice cream at Vosges is also very good, especially the yellow curry one."

Just a few days ago, while perusing the offerings at Foodstuffs on Central Street in Evanston (west of Green Bay), I noticed that they sell Vosges ice creams. If the intriguingly flavored bars they make is any indication, the ice cream could be positively dangerous!

As I recently posted elsewhere, wandering Soho I espied the NYC Vosges. Much to the amusement of my host(you came to NY to get Chicago chocolate?) I dragged us inside and enjoyed an Aztec hot chocolate and my fave Naga truffle. Also of interest, while I waited for the imo "way too haute" cutesy packaging of my single truffle, I overheard a server opining, when asked, that her favorite(and their bestseller) is the Naga. It's pretty f-ing awesome. My main concern with Vosges enterprises is their increasing reliance upon trendy lifestyles including Che Guevara t-shirts(give me a mf break...I'm talking to you Zapatista restaurant), yoga products and irie-mon rasta cocoa collections. Someone needs to cut down on their ganja intake.

I went to the Armitage Ave. Ethel's for a fondue party last summer and was unimpressed. First, the climate control was off and it was sweltering. Seems odd for a chocolate place. Then, when they brought out the fondue, the melted chocolate was being "heated" by a single votive candle. As a result, it never really got hot. Dipping things into cool liquid chocolate just isn't all that tasty. I wouldn't go back. If I was looking for special chocolate, I would go to Vosges as well. Just my two cents.

This is slightly off-topic, but while we are talking chocolate, has anyone ever been to the Chocolate at the Pen (all you can eat chocolate buffet on the weekends at the Peninsula hotel)? My wife is a huge chocaholic, and I was thinking of taking her there since I just found out about it this week, but at something like $25/person, I figured maybe someone should tell me it is actually worth it first. I haven't found much in the way of reviews on it. Thanks.

I've been to Chocolate at the Pen. I thought it was worth it - but I ate only a light lunch that day and starved up for a chocolate gorge in order to "get my money's worth."

When I was there, there was a great variety of chocolate items, including a selection of hot chocolates, several different types of cakes, petit fours and puddings/mousses. The event was in the Lobby, which is really stunning and the price for the buffet included a "jazz" band, which was more like a cheesy lounge act. That was the only real downside.

Because it was a buffet, the whole event took on that "what are they bringing out now" vibe. As servers brought out new offerings, there was inevitably a mini-swarm to the buffet table by those, presumably heady from the prodigious amounts of chocolate consumed, who couldn't get to the new offering fast enough. Good times.

I too have been to Chocolate at the Pen...well worth the trip. My husband and I had dinner at Capital Grill before hand ( in retrospect...eat fairly light before going!) so I only sampled a few of the offerings. All items I did have were outstanding...especially the hot chocolate ( it's the real deal with a hint of spice). The night we were there they had everything from mousse to chocolate chip cookies, chocolate key lime tarts to chocolate dipped strawberries........

They may have changed jazz bands but the night we were there they were very good and actually very subdued (in a good way).

I am a HUGE chocoholic so if your wife is too...this is worth the trip!

All items I did have were outstanding...especially the hot chocolate ( it's the real deal with a hint of spice)

I have also been to Chocolate at the Pen, and it was delicious and indulgent. We had some sort of jazz-singer lady backed up by a small combo.

And speaking of Vosges and Chocolate at the Pen, the hot chocolates there were Vosges (the white chocolate/myrtle and the Aztec cocoa, IIRC).

Thanks for all the good input about Chocolate at the Pen. Looks like we are in for a day of starving and a night of immense gluttony.