Chocolate Bar and Magnolia Bakery

[jinet12]

Are these places worth the trip? What do you think of the cupcakes at the Magnolia? Also, we would like to go to a chocolate shop, where you can sit and enjoy the chocolate offerings..would the Chocolate Bar be the best place to go?

[jsmitty]

has anyone else had the banana pudding at magnolia? it's terrific

[nyufoodie]

i just mentioned it on the post above you...prob the better reason to visit Magnolia over the cupcakes...which is just nothing great.

[nyufoodie]

I would go to Jacque Torres as well if your looking for a place to indulge the chocolates with a place to sit and linger. For cupcakes, I prefer the ones from Sugar Sweet and Sunshine over Magnolia's. Both places make delish Banana Pudding as well and that's probably the only reason I go to Magnolia when in the hood and when there's NO line.

[ricky7]

i wouldnt wait in line at magnolia. chocolate bar is good if pricey. mariebelle is quite good and go to the cafe in the back.

[chompchomp]

Jacques Torres is definitely a better destination than Chocolate Bar...though if you happen to go, I highly recommend the salty pretzel chocolate bars which are bizarrely delicions. JT is pretty fun and the smell is quite...chocolatey.

And like others, I am underwhelmed by Magnolia's cupcakes as I always find them rather dry.

[wench31]

Max Brenners 841 broadway and they have a second restaurant 141 2nd ave.
great place for chocolate!

[Neuromancer]

I like Magnolia's cupcakes but didn't think they were worth the wait in line. I love Sugar Sweet Sunshine cupcakes on Rivington. I was at a birthday party with cupcakes from SSS and every one of the 5 or 6 flavors I tried was delicious.

[sarahmc]

i'd recommend mariebelle or vosges hot chocolate over the chocolate bar...

[mbmcneese]

Michel Cuizel at ABC Carpet has sinful hot cocoa and is usually pretty quiet. City Bakery is usually hectic but the cocoa and sweets are delish,

[voodootrane]

Second City Bakery for their hot cocoa. Man, I could slowly sip that stuff all day, until it was time to switch to bourbon.

[cshell]

I agree, Magnolia is driven purely by hype though the scene can be fun and on a warm spring evening....nothing beats the neighborhood atmosphere. I'm also not a fan of super sweet cupcakes and prefer Cupcake Cafe for that reason.

[Lau]

where's cupcake cafe?

[Neuromancer]

According to their website, 545 9th Avenue and 18 West 18th Street.

http://www.cupcakecafe.com/

[downtownstefanie]

While magnolia is definitely on the sweet side, i'm not a fan of Cupcake Cafe. The frosting really tastes like butter - yes it's buttercream, but it was entirely too heavy tasting for me. Definitely the prettiest though.

Sugar Sweet Sunshine is my new fav.

[tsiblis]

I think Magnolia is a complete hype. I live in the neighborhood, could go there when there's no line and absolutely would not. The banana pudding there is fine. The cupcakes are too sicky sweet. Try Crumb on 8th St. for fabulous cupcakes.

[Pan]

I agree with your view on Magnolia. Their cupcakes are gross! They're 1/2 icing!

[NYCnowLA]

Try Jacques Torres for the chocolate shop. You can sit at the bar with your hot chocolate.
On Varick just below Houston.

[hoon]

i don't think magnolia is the best and i heard they just raised the price to $2/cupcake. but, i do think it's worth a trip because the cupcakes are good and it's a cute place. they are known for their banana pudding. i like crumbs cupcakes because of the variety and sugar sweet sunshine is solid as well.

[Lau]

i like sugar sweet sunshine better as well...though i really do like magnolia's banana pudding

[Produce Addict]

I tried their banana pudding recently and I think I prefer the banana pudding at the cupcake place on 2d ave around 55th street. is that billy's? Of course I'm comparing the magnolia pudding with my memory of the other pudding.

[Lucia]

I'm not a big fan of Magnolia. I prefer Billy's and Amy's for baked goods. The chocolate bar is a very small shop with some limited seating in back and at a front counter. There are some fun chocolate bars, and I enjoy the hot chocolate, but I don't think it's worth going out of your way for.

[Lau]

where is billy and amy's?

[Lucia]

Billy's is on 9th Ave at 21st St. Amy's is in Chelsea Market, on Bleecker between 7th and Carmine, and there's a location in Hell's Kitchen as well. All of this info can easily be found online.