The Xocolate Bar - opening soon on Solano Ave.

[nicedragonboy]

Just saw the signage in the window yesterday across from my office. Looks like fancy artisanal chocolates and other goodies. Their website has me intrigued. www.thexocolatebar.com.

Ran into the owners who expect a Father's Day Grand Opening.

[wolfe]

Several vegan selections today in interesting shapes including a chili flavored pyramid.

[nicedragonboy]

Stopped by today to try out their chocolates. They had about a dozen different and very interesting flavors behind the glass. I just tried two, a Kalamata Olive Dark Chocolate that was just really different and wonderful and a Dark Chocolate filled, White chocolate with a Pomogranate flavor printed on top that was good, but not my style, since white chocolate isn't my thing anymore. Still, looked too good to resist. Other flavors included Cardamon, Lemon Ginger, Brandy something...darn, should've taken notes.

They also have a small gelato selection behind the counter and hot chocolate. Not exactly cheap, but very high quality, pieces ran from $1.50-$2.50 ea I think.

[susancinsf]

update: hubby and I were killing time walking on Solano, before a meeting, and spotted this place. I couldn't resist trying the Kalamata Olive Chocolate Caramel: tasted exactly like it sounds: a (salted) caramel, with olive essense or oil, and covered with dark chocolate. It was great! Who knew that chocolate and olive could go so well together...

I also had a small cup of gelato made with Straus yogurt, which was tangy and refreshing.

Overall, not a large selection, but definitely interesting.

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The Xocolate Bar
1709 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA 94707

[Glencora]

Did you see the X-rated chocolate? Last time I was in there, looking at Day of the Dead candy, I wondered what my SO was finding so interesting over on the other side of the store...

On a different note, I liked the salted caramel gelato, though it is expensive.

[drmimi]

I heard about them on KPFA last week. Not just artisanal chocolate but chocolate with class and a conscience. Interested in trying some-- Marin closer for me...

[wolfe]

"across from my office"
Could you please narrow it down to a cross street.

[Glencora]

Near Vanessa's bistro, I believe.

[nicedragonboy]

That's correct, it's going to be next door to Vanessa's and that's the intersection of Solano and Tulare.

[wolfe]

Thank you. I started my search too far west.

[Robert Lauriston]

Their Web site says 1709 Solano, former site of Jon-Jon Sushi.

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Jon-Jon
1709 Solano Ave, Berkeley, CA

[BigWoodenSpoon]

Cool! I meet them at the Chocolate Salon in SF and they were very nice. Pretty good chocolate as I recall and some interesting shapes and flavors.

[Glencora]

There's already a chocolate store on Solano down by Santa Fe. I always wonder how it stays in business.

[rworange]

Don't know if this keeps them in business, but Chocolat on Solano sells Amedei chocolates from Italy which I'm not sure if anyone else does locally.

[Eat_Nopal]

Finally... a recen to venture into Berkeley =)