Reservations at the most romantic restaurants in the city fill up quickly in the weeks before Valentine’s day, but it’s important to remember that this holiday – thankfully placed in the middle of the coldest months, when we all need a little celebration – can really be celebrated with loved ones of all sorts. At The Chocolate Room in Brooklyn they know this well, and it’s equally possible to share the joy of a spicy hot cocoa with your sweetheart as it is a banana split with your 3-year-old niece or a chocolate stout with your best friend. In fact, you can do so any time of year and be greeted with the same recipe of warmth and decadence – although they’re particularly busy these first weeks of February.
Walking inside, guests often remark on the smell of chocolate coming from open kitchen – the first invitation to stay awhile and try as much as possible. This is matched with an equally chocolatey color scheme of dark brown and red. After the smell, the first thing most guests notice is the chocolate case – brightly lit and well stocked with confections. In the weeks before Valentine’s day, there is a staff member available just to help guests assemble custom chocolate boxes from their favorite truffles inside.
The retail side of operations might be front and center, but The Chocolate Room also wants to keep you out of the cold; they take no reservations but provide table service during both the day and evening. Each shop has bar seating where you can watch desserts being assembled, as well as small tables that are sometimes pushed together for children’s birthday parties, and other times pulled apart and candle-lit for intimate evenings. There are no savory items on the menu, but there is something for every sweet tooth – from overflowing brownie sundaes to elegant flourless chocolate cake. Each menu item also has a suggested wine or beer pairing on the menu, like dark chocolate stout from Brooklyn Brewery or a Graham’s tawny port.
The wine pairings and low evening lighting make one thing clear: this is a romantic spot, the perfect place to take your date post-dinner when you’re not ready for the night to end, but you don’t feel like heading to a noisy bar. But just like its namesake, The Chocolate Room strives to be universal, and very kid-friendly. There is no hard alcohol served, but there are plenty of child favorites and kid-sized scoops of homemade ice cream. Appealing to both families and couples is no easy task – but it does explain how The Chocolate Room keeps the hot cocoa flowing at all hours during these cold winter months.
Their Success… In a city with sky-high rents and rising expenses, it can be hard to make ends meet on coffee alone. Blank Slate has increased its sales by bridging the gap between coffee shop and restaurant, creating a hybrid best described as a “Café-table” that is the best of both worlds. This concept works on an old premise that is becoming increasingly popular as labor and operational costs increase. In it, guests order from a single point of sale, then take a number to indicate their table as they seat themselves. When the food is ready, a runner brings it out, clears dishes, and attends to guests.
Their Success…With five locations around Manhattan and a roastery in Long Island City, Birch Coffee has become synonymous with quality coffee and a knowledgeable staff, all while maintaining an unfussy and approachable vibe in their presentation. Walking into any of their shops, it’s easy to see that owners Paul Schlader and Jeremy Lyman prioritize service and community for all guests, which is not always easy when the line extends out the door. A small chalkboard sign by the register happily declares “Birch Loves You.” Conversation cards are available on the front counter to help break the ice between strangers looking to chat, and each shop has its own lending library, encouraging visitors to stay and relax with a book. Plenty of guests also bring laptops to work, and all Birch locations are open until 8PM, so it’s easy to stop by after a 9-to-5 job (or 9-to-6 or -7) without feeling rushed. Birch truly embodies the friendly public-private space that many urban residents look for in their local coffee shops.
Their Success…Trends usually only last a limited time, until a new trend surfaces. While juiceries were once a major trend around the world, slowly a decrease in performance sales are hitting the market, with numerous juicing locations closing. The Little Beet, however, bets that healthy organic eating will be a long-lasting trend for New Yorkers. The organic market is still growing, and organic eating has become more of a lifestyle then just a trend for New Yorkers. The Little Beet recognizes this new lifestyle choice that New Yorkers are developing and successfully aligns its concept to it. From their menu to their interior design, the brand embodies their organic ideals “Fast, Farm, Fresh.”
Their Success…While temperature and humidity levels are at its extremes in New York City, New Yorkers and tourists alike are taking their spare time along the highline. The highline boasts as an iconic glimpse into the past and present of New York City where people can indulge in both nature and the city’s skylines on a historic walkway. A common thread for people walking the highline is that people are looking for ways to escape the summer heat. It is almost inevitable for people to not seek a fresh, cold relief. La Newyorkina utilizes this demand and conveniently stands on 30th St. and 17th St. attracting many consumers with their ice pop cart. La Newyorkina serves paletas, a traditional Mexican ice pop, in an array of flavors that change seasonally. They have both regular sized paletas, at $4, and mini sized paletas, at $1. The mini sized paletas is a popular choice for children as the “regular sized” paletas are deemed to run a lot bigger than an average ice pop.
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people in these past few years have changed drastically where more are searching for fresh vegetables and fruits rather than tender meats. “The Butcher’s Daughter” a trendy juice bar, and cafe is gaining a lot of spotlight on being a leader in this revolution towards greens. The Butcher’s Daughter, located on the corner of Elizabeth st. and Kenmare St., takes pride in being “the vegetable slaughter house: treat vegetables and fruits as a butcher would to meat.” Their menu is 100% vegetarian and non-dairy and is mostly vegan and gluten-free. The menu changes daily and incorporates seasonal ingredients. The crowd favorite at The Butcher’s Daughter is the avocado toast with mustard seeds but their array of sandwiches and salads still attract a large pool of consumers. The cafe also caters towards juicers with their long list of drinks- juices, smoothies, and exilir shots. While the cafe stands at 900 sq ft. with an open kitchen, a 35-seat capability indoors and 30-seat outdoors, there are enough employees to offer great service despite the cafe being busy.
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