Max Brenner

Everybody that knows me knows of my addiction – I am absolutely crazy about chocolate! How can you resist such a moment of indulgence, as you feel the cocoa and the milk melting a fudging in your mouth? And that takes me to one of my favourite spots in New York – for those who don’t know of it, welcome to Max Brenner, chocolate by the bald man.

I only know one of their restaurants. Next to Union Square, its location is ideal for anyone staying in lower and middle Manhattan – it is a quick metro ride away from wherever you might be. When you get in, you understand the place is dark – chocolate dark! Another thing you notice is the smell. Though not sickening, you can still feel the sweet chocolate odour in the air. And chocolate is wherever you look – in the small shop at the entrance of the restaurant, in the large cans and tins and tubes in the bar and throughout the ceiling, in the clients tables – there is no turnaround, this place is dedicated to chocolate lovers! Like me!

I went there usually for brunch. There are several delicatessens in the menu. But I am very loyal to a WOW Chocolate and Granola Surprise – a mix of granola cereals, rice crispies, yogurt, fruit (strawberries, bananas, caramelised nuts), honey and… chocolate! A huge sweet bomb for brunch – but an incredibly tasty one! Other options include crepes, waffles and bagels, always with chocolate around or within. Or then, you can go for the eggs or bagels. Or more stuffy meals – including hamburgers, salads, wings,… – but that, you can have anywhere, can’t you?

What you probably can’t skip is one of the hot chocolates. Actually, chocolate drinks are another great reason to visit! They name their chocolat as the cappuccino of chocolates – and they are delicious, believe me. You can add ingredients, flavours or alcohol shots. Or you can have your chocolate concentrated, as an expresso – short and intense. If you are a traditionalist, you can go through a list that is not traditional at all and pick combinations with toffee, marshmellows, chai or spices. But, you can’t miss the hot mug – the delicious and light mug which is responsible to get the chocolate from the table to your mouth (with a little help from your hands…).

I started by saying it – chocolate is the nightmare of my diet! But such a tasty one… If you are like me and heading to New York – don’t miss Max Brenner!

Where: New York – United States of America

Address: 841 Broadway (between 13th and 14th Streets)

Reservations: http://www.maxbrenner.com/online_reservation_ny.html

Website: http://www.maxbrenner.com/home.aspx

Expensive: My usual brunch (chocolate + WOW) is around 25 to 30 USD.

Last visit: September 2011