Delicious. Delectable. Popped in here for dessert after dinner elsewhere. This was my best decision of the past decade. Cool ambiance with Moby playing, minimalist white decor. The angel food cake is the owners grandmothers recipe. I had low expectations. Its angel food cake - who cares, right? W-R-O-N-G! This should be a national treasure. It was so wonderful, I fought tears with each bite because I knew I was 1 bite closer to the end. And that...is when...THE BROWNIE IN THE SKILLET CAME OUT! I cried with each bite. I laughed, too. I savored every moment, every morsel.And the presentation on everything - including the coffee was so fun.Theres a bookstore and a record store next door, too. The Chocolate Lab as the meaning of life.
Truly world class flavors, extremely thoughtful flavor combinations that left my mouth watering even after I couldn’t eat another bite! The scallops, and pork belly and polenta were particularly memorable. Cocktails were fantastic too. Extremely thoughtful, creative, and well made. Would highly recommend! And we’ll be back soon.
The menu is versatile and inclusive while being conscious of allergies and the staff is attentive and witty.We went as a group to celebrate a friend, and sampled much of the menu. The cocktails were expertly crafted, and every bite from the kitchen was made with care. It is clear that the whole staff cares about their craft and the message they send.Looking forward to coming back soon.
The aromas as you walk in are delicious and intriguing. This is a chocolate shop that serves cocktails and dinner! Delicious, creative cocktails (charred cinnamon smoke in the glass, before the bourbon based cocktail was poured in). Food with wonderful seasoning and savory chocolates based elements. And of course a chocolate sampler for dessert. Highly recommended!
I feel bad even writing a bad review for this place because I had such high hopes and brought my boyfriend here for a late lunch date. Maybe the timing was just really bad because we walked in at about 3:30 on a Wednesday..? My boyfriend and I ordered an appetizer (the cheese plate) and it took just about 40 min to get to us, and the bread for the cheese came a few minutes even later. The cocktail I ordered came in TWO PARTS because “they hadn’t been open for a few days” (???) Both my cocktail and appetizer took longer than necessary considering we were the only people in the restaurant.. until one or two other small parties walked in. But still, not very busy… anyways, both cocktail and appetizer came in two parts after taking so long, and then the second drink I ordered which was the chocolate martini was just awful. It was the worst chocolate martini I’ve ever had. It was so hard to drink and I expected better from a completely chocolate theme restaurant- i expected it to be one of their best drinks to be honest haha. So after nearly an hour of poor service, waters filled once close to leaving, and a terrible martini, and two-part everything … we left. Again never were even asked to order an entree which we had intended and was not busy. Unfortunate experience and expected better. I was upset I spent any money here and we left to find food somewhere else.PROS: Cheese plate was kinda pretty and chocolate coconut truffle was tasty.
Wasnt sure if this place was going to be great or just gimmicky. Fortunately, we had a really delicious and fun dining experience! Creative, outstanding cocktails and food. The charcuterie board is not to be missed. Funky vibe, friendly servers, a fantastic evening out for our group. Pulled pork sandwich was meh, but everything else exceeded our expectations.
Beautiful cocoa infused dishes! With a fun emphasis on herbal and floral notes.Chocolate and culinary lovers will find this place fascinating! Most chocolate flavors are on the savory side, and my dishes had fun elements of wildflower and honey notes. And of course dozens of chemistry and science Decor details throughout for the nerd and all of us!A delightful experience in a small space with a minimalist interior design. This couples perfectly with the film Center just right around the corne, or a stroll through the music store!
The chocolate lab is amazing!The grilled cheese with mac and cheese inside is very delicious as well as the nachos! We will definitely be coming back Ive never had a brownie as good as the one they serve, it comes with ice cream and almond milk its the best! Service was really good as well everyone was very nice.
Such a quaint location! Fast and friendly service! The menu is jam packed with chocolate themed yumminess! From the scallops and lobster roll to the delicious cocktails. The Brussels sprouts were my favorite! Also they have amazing treats you can buy upfront! Great spot, a must try in a very happening neighborhood!!
I thought a restaurant called “Chocolate Lab” would be a nice place for candy, but I discovered it also offers many tasty appetizers and entrees. You see, one of my good friends told me I had to eat here. She said they made one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches she had ever eaten in her entire life! So I visited and ordered the grilled cheese. It was indeed amazing! Thick, fresh bread toasted just right, a combination of delicious melted cheeses. Five cheeses blended together, including provolone and cheddar. It was scrumptious. I did not have any of the wonderful chocolates that had just come out of the kitchen, but I took some photos that show how appealing they looked.
The owner is phenomenal and makes the experience personal, and the drinks are out of this world! I havent had one yet that I dont like. Dishes are unique and the chocolate creations are unmatched. Love this place!
One of THE best places to eat and sip in Denver!! If youre a foodie, and you love chocolate, this is a must on your list of places to try!! LOVE the owner too!!
We had such a great time! The staff were so professional and courteous. We had a cute table looking out on to Colfax during the sunset. We had amazing cocktails and the sampler or chocolate. The dessert was simple and decadent, a true treat. We had the Love Potion which was an amazing presentation with delicious notes of lavender.
We only had a single hot chocolate but it was perfectly good and even great.
I have no idea why I haven’t been here. After a movie at the SIE we dropped in. I was pleasantly surprised. It’s totally a legit date place. It’s got that requisite cute factor and they serve alcohol! Bourbon to be succinct.No worries they have savory offerings as well. Such as soup and sandwiches. But back to the imbibes. Old Fashioned. I saw someone ordered one and it came in a very attractive presentation with smoke and all!Everything they make here is from scratch, by hand. Hence, they’re not cheap. When you walk in; to your right is the display case for the little creations they make. $3/piece. I was a lucky recipient of one of each and it’s over $60.We shared a Chocolate Mousse and oh my! Everything on the plate is edible including the chocolate cup where the mousse itself is encased. It’s a bit on the deconstructed way and is my favorite!It’s an intimate location. Bright natural light streams from the picture window.Their menu is pretty extensive and if you are curious the answer is yes- they try to incorporate chocolate in there somewhere.I’m a fan! Smooth and amazing rich flavor. That’s what I want and I got that here!
Had a wonder experience! Isaac was amazing and very attentive very knowledgeable and just a great employee in general! Food was superb! If I could give this place more stars I would! Love the mixture of amazing food and customer service that is provided here! Thank you!
Good chocolate shop, which is rare it Denver. I havent had their food or drinks, but there always seems to be someone there for that. Its a little bit pricey, but if you really like artisan chocolate its probably worth it. The hot chocolate is really good, and hopefully theyll make a cold version for the summer heat.
Three things I loved from this place: food, drinks and service. Just amazing!
Yum!!!!! Their polenta with pork belly app was hearty & delicious, scallops were amazing, Zen cocktail DELICIOUS. coming back to sip cold delicate cocktails in the haute sun on hard Colfax before I move out of the neighborhood. Love this place.
Sad to say it but, meh. My friend and I both love chocolate, but the chocolatization of the salad and Impossible (or maybe it was a Beyond Burger) Burger we ordered werent really complementary, and we didnt enjoy any of the three dessert items we purchased to go (a brownie and two flavors of chocolate bark). The ginger beer was great though and we appreciated the use of non-disposable straws. It wasnt super busy, but the server made mistakes like forgetting my friends salad, and she didnt comment on it until my friend mentioned it, _then_ she apologized in a rather offhand way.
Loved this!!The food was amazing, the service was amazing and food was delectable!I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and they treated us like royalty!We started with some brussel sprouts and crab cakes, which were fantastic. They were just sweet enough and has some crunch to them. The crab cakes were made with bits of granny Smith, topped with a white chocolate sake wasabi foam. 😋I ordered a cup of the mushroom soup and it was amazing. It was very hearty and tasted quite rustic. The slight bitter flavor of dark chocolate seeped through only to give the soup a nice stern finish to its otherwise complex flavors.For dinner we had the curry and the stuffed cheese sandwich.The chocolate barbecue sauce was to die for! The bread was toasted perfectly and the meats were all succulent.. the rice on the curry was fluffy and perfectly cooked and the sauce was amazing. (Girlfriend argued that it was better than our favorite Indian spot)For drinks we ordered the bees knees and a warrior.The bees knees was tasty and came in a cute bee glass. The warrior came in a cocktail glass and had shaved chocolate over the top. (This was the only thing I want really a fan of, but their other drinks were all delicious)For dessert we had truffles, pana cotta and a smores dessert mousse.The atmosphere is not too dark and very modern. They play nice jazz and flapper style music from the early 1900s.Over of the most interesting and enjoyable experience I have had in Denver yet. 5/5!
Delicious chocolates not withstanding, this review judges the establishment as a restaurant.I wanted to surprise Bob for our 10 year anniversary together. He is a chocoholic, so when I heard about this place on Colfax called Chocolate Lab I was intrigued! It had great reviews, but I should have been more weary when I noticed that it was categorized as a specialty shop on both TripAdvisor and Yelp, as opposed to a restaurant.Reservations can be made via the Yelp app. I even included a note to the restaurant, letting them know it was our 10-year anniversary.When we arrived at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night, there was only one other couple dining, and a couple sitting at the bar. Behind the bar, it looked like they were stocking new inventory. It didnt make for a comfortable dining experience.Cocktails: 4 out of 5 stars! Bob had a couple of the Black Aviations. The flavor was bright and sophisticated. The presentation with the lavender rim and edible floating flower was excellent! First I tried the New York Sour, which was similar to a whiskey sour with the addition of red wine. It was interesting, and tasty. Then I tried the Aint that a Kick. It was a cocktail made with tequila, mezcal, Citrus and egg whites. However, they torched the top of the egg whites, which looked great, but made the entire drink way too smokey.Lack of items on the menu:As we started to ask about some of the appetizer options, the waiter informed us that they were out two of the most popular appetizer selections the meatballs and the popcorn gnocchi, two of the flatbread options, and the steak entree, and two of the most popular desserts. He claimed that it had been a busy week. Reminder, it was only Tuesday night, and the place was empty.Since two of the appetizers we wanted to order were not available, we decided on the cheese platter which had chocolate pairings. We asked the waiter what the cheeses would be, and he told us. After delivering the cheese platter to us, he went about telling us that the platter had three completely different cheeses. I understand that there is an incredibly wide spectrum of cheeses that have unique characteristics and aromas. However, one of the cheeses smelled so pungent, that it ruined the appetizer course. Toffee was also an odd choclate pairing with cheese. However, I was impressed with their interesting Peruvian chili peppers that accompanied the platter.Bob settled on the chicken curry dish which was supposed to have a milk chocolate sauce. I chose the ramen entree. Bobs chicken curry was almost inedible. Large chicken nugget-like sized pieces of breaded chicken in a bright orange flavorless sauce. There was absolutely no discernible chocolate flavor. My ramen noodles were served luke warm, and the so-called dark chocolate consomme just tasted like beef broth. Unfortunately, no chocolate was harmed in the making of our meals.It was really disappointing that they were out of the chocolate mousse. That is Bobs absolute favorite dessert! For dessert we shared the creme brulee which was supposed to have chocolate. It simply tasted like orange-flavored creme brulee. The microscopic crop dusting grated choclate didnt add much to the flavor.The restaurant was not organized enough to read the Yelp reservation to tell us Happy Anniversary. The did have a Reserved sign on our two-top table in the mostly empty restaurant.I think the designation of this place being a gift shop is accurate. I do think it would be an excellent place just to stop in and have a cocktail and a piece of chocolate. I just wouldnt recommend it for a dinner, especially not a special night out.
I don’t usually do reviews, but their hot chocolate was honestly that good. A pure, rich drinking chocolate that I haven’t been able to find elsewhere around Denver. You can add as many toppings as you like too (rose, pistachio, sea salt, caramel, marshmallow, etc).
If you are in need of some adventure in your life, but you arent ready to move into an artists collective or trek the Andes, you must dine at the Chocolate Lab. The owner Phil is exuberantly sharing the fruits of his love for all things chocolate and fresh, delicious food. From the decadent chocolate pairings of the cheese board to the delicate chocolate notes in the balsamic dressing to the chocolate manhatten, his menu surprised and delighted us at every turn. And he may well have the best mac n cheese in Denver.
I always love coming to the chocolate lab! The food and drinks are so amazing and unique. I cant wait to go again!
This place has amazing small plates, meals and drinks---and everything on the menu has some sort of chocolate incorporated in it! I had a smoretini to drink, Brussels sprouts with a chocolate balsamic glaze, and incredible pulled pork that had chocolate in the BBQ sauce. The truffles to purchase are top notch.
Was beyond delish from the chocolate espresso martini to amazing deserts, we had creme bule to the brownies.
Best local chocolate shop. Great food and cocktails. Would highly recommend if you have never been!
Fantastic food, intimate atmosphere. The drinks are fun and clever.
Talk about let down Chocolate Lab. I rarely give a bad review but I was highly disappointed by the quality of my dessert. So I came here never well, its called Chocolate Lab, and it had great reviews. So we decided on a brownie a la mode. How should we go wrong with that? Um terribly wrong. The brownie was flat, thin and flavorless. Then we got this tiny scoop of meh vanilla ice cream half melted on the plate next to the brownie. Terrible taste and presentation. AND it was $8!My smore cocktail was better but just okay.Needless to say I will not be returning. Maybe the food is better but...I wouldnt risk it.
We accidentally ended up here as we were visiting the bookstore nearby. We were hungry and saw this lab. We walked in and checked out the menu and almost walked out because we didnâ t think there was anything vegan. We were surprised to find that there was burger called the impossible burger (it bleeda and looks very much like a meat burger). We had it and loved it. I am vegetarian so I had the Mac and cheese, and it was very good. I would like to see them experiment with some toppings on the Mac and cheese, but I was still impressed, and we LOVED the burger. I enjoyed and appreciate the inventiveness of their menu (adding chocolate to various dishes you wouldnt otherwise think to add chocolate too like chocolate ketchup for example). Presentation was amazing, and customer service was phenomenal. 10/10 would recommend!
Happened upon this cute little based from a scavenger hunt! Next time we want a cheese board and some yummy chocolate, we’ll be back!!
I LOVED this place. We went out with friends for some birthday drinks and dessert and everything was fabulous. The truffle cheesecake was beautifully plated, tasted amazing, and paired perfectly with the Smoretini. I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful service, the tastiness of drinks and food, and how creative and unique it was. Definitely a great date night place or place for a tasty afternoon cocktail.
Awful experience. Bartender had no idea what his drinks were, basically sat in a supply closet, overpriced drinks were terrible food and service were miserable. Nothing enjoyable about this experience.
Lovely place, wonderful staff, very clean, great food. We got the Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, dates, scallops, and Bavarian pudding. We didnt like the dessert, but everything else was so tasty. The sprouts and cauliflower were well prepared and well seasoned, and the scallops were cooked perfectly. They really put thought into the components that make up their dishes. The dates are good but definitely for sharing bc it is a very rich dish. And of course the chocolates! Their flavors are inventive and very yummy.
Great place for any sort of drink or snack you could think of. The lady working was very polite. Definitely a. Place that you should check out.
Best drinks in Denver. Hands down. Do they have amazing chocolate dishes? Yes. Is it a bit expensive. Yes. But it is worth every dollar. One of the best spots in the city. Try their amaretto or old fashioned!
We had a great meal here. The Mac n cheese with bacon is fabulous. Almost everything has a hint of chocolate but not too much. Its a really fun, unique place to eat and the ambience is soothing. We also had a sweet and attentive server. Will definitely be back.
This experience was not what I was hoping for. The service was less than desirable. The staff was aloof, a little stuck up and easily overwhelmed. The food wasnt anything special and my specialty cocktail was average. Also, as they do have a nice chocolate assortment, its really just a basic chocolate shop. They should change their name from Chocolate Lab to Basic Chocolate Shop.
Get the smores, hot chocolate and sandwiches. My papperdalle arrived shredded and in wads. I know its homemade but I do better. my creme brulee had grainy custard the the sugar topping wasnt done enough. However the lobster roll was great and the smores are amazing. Get the hot chocolate but know its intense. Drinks are great too.
Incredibly well done dishes and craft cocktails. Blown away by the care and inventiveness in the offerings here. Our waiter, Chance, was fantastic, and was happy to spend time explaining the dishes despite having multiple tables. The theme is chocolate, but the balance between sweet and savory is superb. It’s definitely a place to crave.
I’ve been here several times since I first went for our holiday party. More than once, I was given a complimentary treat that Phil, the owner, had just created. Everything I’ve eaten has been delicious, including the retail chocolate bark and truffles. My to go orders were packaged so I could enjoy them almost as if they’d come straight from the kitchen. Finally, Phil and staff even did everything they could to help me change my order from dine-in to take-out when I needed to change my plans last minute. Their attention to detail and unique creations have been worth my repeated visits!
All I can say is go here. The food is great. The chocolates are phenomenal. The service is fabulous. Ive never had a cocktail here but I bet those are super yummy too. I cant wait to try their brunch.The food tastes homemade and is so good. They have a chocolate espresso coffee drink that is the best. I bought a jar if the bourbon Carmel sauce and its delish. The pulled pork sammich is big and very very good.The chocolate flights are a good way to try several things.
Unique and creative! I went on a whim with a friend and we were not disappointed. All of the cocktails were very interesting and made with high-quality ingredients, like local honey and lavender. Its a good place to go if youre in the mood to try a few drinks and pair them. While the drinks are always rotating, last time mine had a homemade toasted marshmallow! Such a great addition to the East Colfax neighborhood.
1st visit around Jan of 2020: Had a wonderful lunch with my wife. The drinks and food were a lot of fun, and I haven’t had scallops that good since we were in Scotland. We can’t wait to go back again, likely for dinner.Returned 10/22: Second visit. As wonderful, if not better, than the first. Chocolate Gnocchi and Brussell Sprouts to start, both of which incorporated chocolate in spectacular fashion. Summer Brisket for entrees - so good, but I think their Pulled Pork Sandwich I had last time takes the cake for me, but Id take either any day. Portions seem ~15% more generous than expected. Three or 4 yummy cocktails. Truffles to go - homemade like everything else, and...wow. Will return soon. Def need to check out their Brunch.
Owner is awesome! Had a great meal here!
Great experience! Delicious foods and a fun selection of hand crafted adult beverages! Chocolate and cheese plate was amazing!!
Definately worth its money, the portion sizes are massive for the quality of the cuisine. The cocktails are phenominal and our server Isaac was fantastic; educated on the menu and very comfortable conversing with me and my girlfriend (It was her birthday).
The most amazing experience! I would give 10 stars if I could! We went here with a larger group for a surprise birthday party and they were so accommodating. We had the best food (lobster mac&cheese is to die for, the Love Potion #5 drink presentation was amazing), and the best service! Phil, the owner, sent out a complimentary dessert and truffle for my sister (the birthday girl) and just went above and beyond to make our little event special. The staff, specialty cocktails, food were above our expectation - this would be the PERFECT date night spot, too! We will be back very soon! Thank you!
The food and drinks were a unique experience and a fantastic use of chocolate. I would have given them five stars if they didnt use yelp reservations. I set up a reservation for 7:45 and they gave up my table before I got there at 7:44 because they said the reservation was for 7:30. Once we were finally seated the service was slow and they were out of a lot of things, however the staff was friendly and genuine and the food was really special, the drinks looked pretty darn special too, and they have a somewhat small but well curated list of spirits to custom tailor to the chocolate theme.
Super impressed with this place! We were downtown and looking for somewhere cute to go get desert and we found this place! The atmosphere was super cool and the deserts were AMAZING! Definitely will be coming back here again!
It was disappointing, which was surprising, considering all the excellent reviews. The desserts were $12 to $14. We tried three different things and none of them were very good. The mousse had a strange flavor and the cast-iron brownie was overcooked on the outside, raw on the inside, and ended up becoming a brown soup as the ice cream quickly melted. I think a warm brownie is more compatible with ice-cream than a scotching hot brownie: the ice cream was boiling where it touched the cast-iron.
Chocolate twist on old favorites food drink and deserts. Some vegan offerings
Perfect date night spot! My husband and I dropped in on a whim and I’m so glad we did! This place is tiny but scrumptious! We only had drinks and dessert, and left with an box full of truffles, but I can’t wait to go back for dinner. We watched several entrees come out of the kitchen we definitely want to try. Their presentation was beautiful and the servers were extremely attentive, especially if you have food allergies or restrictions. Lovely little restaurant, seriously, it’s SO CUTE!
My twin sister and I decided to go to Chocolate Lab for our birthday dinner with our significant others and this was the best dinner that we have had in a long time. I highly recommend the bacon wrapped dates, scallops with chocolate risotto and any of the craft cocktails that you won’t find any where else. You CANNOT leave without something Chocolate from the dessert menu. This is my favorite restaurant in Denver with the friendly staff and amazing food and cocktails. This is a 6 star restaurant.
Overpriced, dissapointing chocolates. I couldn’t even taste the grapefruit in my truffle. Waste of money.
Went on an anniversary date with my wife. Terrible service, the waiters make the drinks & I can watch them reading the ingredients as they make each one; which make things very slow. We ordered the brussel sprouts and they were not good, burnt with no flavor. Couldnt find our waiter to leave so had someone else ring us out. Great idea, executed very poorly.
My husband and I loved it there! We didnt go for dinner per say but we loved trying a few different things. Owner was great and so personable. Made it all a wonderful experience.
Great service and chocolate was excellent.
Upscale foodie experience without the pretensious attitude. My guest and I stopped here fairly late on a weekend night on a whim. Although the cozy dining area was packed, staff worked diligently to get us a table. We ordered desserts only, and were delighted with the flavors and presentation. Will definitely come by again.
Delicious and creative! They have wonderful non-chocolate options, but they are ideal for a chocoholic. The bbq pork was fall-apart delicious and the hot chocolate is strong and flavorful. They also have a full bar and fun cocktails, so its perfect for any time of day. Oh, also the cheese and chocolate pairings are great.
Way overpriced for chocolate with the quality of a hersheys bar. There are much better local shops in town.
We were very excited about the concept of chocolate lab. We made reservations for my birthday and arrived before 6 pm. When we walked in we were greeted with. How long will it take for you to eat? The place was empty but all the tables had been placed together for large parties so they had nothing for us. They said if we were fast then we could sit at one of the huge tables before the others arrived. Food arrived and was super fancy but most was inedible. Fancy, rude and inedible. Just Sad.
A casual spot to hang out with friends and catch up over dinner. Had some good drinks and very good presentation. They did mess up part of our order but were quick to fix it. Should have been more attentive in the beginning but glad it was corrected. Yummy desserts as well, true to their name.
Saw owner Phil on 9News the Sunday before V-Day. Was so impressed that we called and they got us in at 4 PM on the 14th for a superb, unique fixed price dinner. Phil is a fresh mushroom maestro among his many culinary talents, and he served some of the courses with friendly explanations. Meredith, Heather, Jackson are just a few of the amazingly friendly staff! Can’t wait to return and try some of their cocktails and other food dishes!
Enjoyable atmosphere with a one of a kind menu. Came for dessert but will be back to try an entree. Highly recommend this cozy spot