Locolat
Categories: Bakeries, Desserts, Chocolatiers and Shops [Edit]
1781 Florida Ave NWSte A
(between N 18th St & N U St)
Washington, DC 20009 (202) 518-2570
- Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
14 Reviews for Locolat
I am a chocoholic and I had all my choco desires satisfied there.
The belgian wafles with chocolate ice cream, compot and wipped cream with hot dark chocolate were excelent.
If you are LOCO about chocoLAT Locolat is the place to go.
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I walk by Locolat every day and after being open about 3 months, they now have outdoor seating! :)
My favorite things at Locolat are their savory Belgian waffles. As much as I like sweet stuff, some mornings I just want something salty and not your regular scrambled eggs and home fries. And that's when having Locolat down the street comes in handy.
They have two kinds of savory waffles, one's a roasted or sun-dried ( I can't remember) tomatoes flavor and red in color, the other one is parsley and green in color. I haven't had the tomatoes one yet because they have been out of them every time I've been there. The waffles are rectangle shaped, the size of about 2 Kellogg's frozen waffles. You can choose to have smoked salmon and chives drizzled with a savory cream sauce(can't remember what kind of sauce but it was good), prosciutto and shaved Parmesan with a savory cream sauce, or grilled veggies. I've had the salmon and the prosciutto and both were to die for.
The waffles are about $8. The portions aren't huge like a lot of brunch places but when it's this decadent who needs a huge mount of it?
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I love places like Locolat! Warm and friendly owners (he's Belgian, she's Taiwanese), gorgeous handmade pralines, fresh flaky truffles, pastries with an orange jelly that tastes like a bright Farmer's Market orange, French pressed coffee, and savory sweet Belgian waffles redolent of yeast and a bit chewy with a lightly browned, slightly crunchy exterior. Complimentary waffle cookies warm from the oven were delicious. The shop is pleasant but designed a bit functionally (they could make a showpiece of the large marble slab in the kitchen), though there are a number of tables for relaxing with your treats. Don't let the interior keep you from visiting this gem in Adams Morgan!
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From the outside, this place doesn't look like much. Location and decor are both somewhat lacking but don't be fooled because the chocolate, cakes, pastries, you name it are delicious here. Make sure to try Jen's Favorite which is a chocolate mousse cake with a crunchy bottom and banana somehow worked into it. It was absolutely fantastic. My biggest gripe with chocolate desserts is that they can sometimes be too rich or too sweet. But Locolat gets it right. Oh, and if they have the chocolate fountain going, definitely ask for a free sample. I'm definitely coming back here again!
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I came here on a Saturday morning for breakfast. Its setup like a typical bakery but they also offer belgium waffles. The waffles are nice and crunchy and are covered with confectionary sugar. I would definitely come back if I was in the area.
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The location puts the loco in locolat. WHAT is this place doing in this part of town? Tucked in the corner our of the way of Dupont Circle is no place for this gem! They deserve more than this!
Not only is the location off, but the decor could use some work, no offense. This looks more like a sterile hospital cafeteria than a gourmet chocolate shoppe. At $2 a pop for each piece, I expected a full circle chocolategasm.
I was expecting lush decor, dim lighting, extravogant booths to snuggle in as I stuffed my face full of macaroons, but no luck. There are a couple of small tables comparable to a takeout friend chicken joint, which diminishes the experience of eating delicious chocolate. Chocolate is a sensory experience, which should engage you in many levels-you should be able to smell the rich cocoa, taste the sweetness on your tongue, and see the beauty in the food before you in a beautiful surrounding that makes you feel almost guilty for indulging yourself in so many ways.
Rawr!
This being said, locolat has an edge on the candy scene in DC, which is overburdened by Godiva, and candy shoppes that cater to children. Locolat provides a unique decadence in an unlikely location. Their chocolates are a high quality; delicious and flavorful. I would recommend their chocolates as a gift, or as a splurge to bring home to your sweetie to enjoy in a more apt location.
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The waffle is the closest thing America is going to get to a real Belgian waffle. The dude (who is cool and married to a cool person too), imports sugar from Europe, as one should, to produce the warm, dense, and sweet and savory confection. A true winner! Support the mom and pop places like this!
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This is a really great spot to sit down for some coffee and chocolate treats.
I came in this morning for the first time, just to see what all was here. Once I saw the delicious pastries and learned they were made by Locolat's chef, I couldn't resist. And then, I figured, I might as well get one of the chocolates, just to try. Oh, make it three. And some coffee.
I probably should have gotten an espresso instead of the coffee. The coffee was too acidic -- almost tangy. But they have a gorgeous espresso machine, and I'm thinking that a cappuccino made with the Belgian coffee should be pretty good.
Aside from the coffee, everything was wonderful! I picked a blueberry danish that had a lemon custard on it. Yum -- very fresh and tasty! For after lunch I chose a lime chocolate candy -- dark chocolate shell with a lime ganache filling; it had bits of lime zest and sugar crunch. I also tried a banana (I preferred the lime). The last item was one of their signature almond truffles -- dark chocolate rolled in roasted almonds. Soooo goooood.
The service I received was top-notch and professional. I was given a plastic case for my danish, and a cute little box for the chocolates, as well as a fancy bag to put it all in. The shop itself is lovely. I bet the hot chocolate will be wonderful in the wintertime. Plus, they serve Belgian waffles -- what's not to love?
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Pastry Chef Niel Piferoen (Citronelle, Restaurant Eve) greeted me with a warm smile as I walked in the door of Locolat and patiently waited for me as I stared amorously at the rows of tiny truffles on the shelves. I was happy to be there, I knew the shop had opened a few weeks earlier and couldn't wait to try it.
He excitedly described to me all the chocolate mousse tortes available, and I tried two, dark chocolate mousse with strawberries and white chocolate mousse with raspberries. I also had a raspberry cupcake and cup of hot dark chocolate. (see pics)
The hot chocolate was delicious, so rich and flavorful. Both of the tortes were also excellent, my favorite one was the dark chocolate mousse with strawberries. I love dark chocolate, specially when it's not too sweet, and this mousse was exactly what I like. I unfortunately didn't love the cupcake, the frosting was perfect, but the cake was a little dry for me, more like a biscuit than a cupcake.
I went back a couple days later early in the morning (they open at 7AM) and had one of their Belgiun Wafles (that's how they spell it) with strawberry compote. The batter of the waffle was so yummy, rich and flavorful on its own, not as fluffy as you might be used to, but sooo much better. And the strawberry compote tasted as if he had just made it, specially for me from fresh berries. Unfortunately I don't have a picture of the wafle, but don't worry, I'll be back for more.
That morning I also bought a whole triple mousse torte for a friend's birthday, and it was devoured within minutes of the candle being blown out. Everyone loved the crusty hazelnuty bottom, although for a second we stared at it thinking that it might be too pretty to cut into. In this case, we were right to judge the book by the cover.
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For a non chocolate lover, I've been permanently converted for life. We passed by after dinner just around the corner and saw the chef walking towards the bakery. From the outside, you can see all the wonderful little treats through the gigantic window, so out of curiosity, we went inside. Immediately, one of the their treats caught my eye. I asked the friendly girl at the counter (which turned out to be the chef's wife) what it was. She told me it was chocolate mousse with FRESH bananas. I was sold right away. The chef was kind enough to cut the cake in half for us and we also ordered a couple of smaller pieces of chocolate as well.
When we got back home, the four of us devoured everything in the box. The chocolate is light and fluffy, nice and dark and most importantly, not overly sweet. It has to be the best chocolate I've ever tasted in my life. The next night, I had to go back there to get more of the dark chocolate mousse with fresh bananas and ended up buying four big pieces. The four of us killed it in a flash.
I wish we had one of these in the Bay Area!!!
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Locolat's heart--its gooey, chocolate heart--is in the right place; it remains to be seen whether the store is, though. It's set a bit back from U Street's foot traffic and about a block away from the hopping 18th street corridor. As reviewer Karen noted, the space is a bit spare, but Locolat does have several tables, which can't be said for most chocolate shops in DC.
The store's got a lot going for it--the staff is very nice and willing to offer recommendations, while the open kitchen lets you see the pastry chefs at work. The cakes and chocolates are all delicious, and the small sandwich menu is worth exploring, too.
Keep in mind, Locolat's on the pricey side--beyond the chocolates, the breakfast pastries (like muffins and croissants, which I don't believe are homemade) probably cost $0.50 to $1 more than comparable treats at a mini-chain like Firehook. But that might not matter to most; if you're reading this review, you're probably ruled by your sweet tooth and not your wallet.
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What a find! Friends and I were in search of dessert after dinner and stumbled upon Locolat. The service was very friendly and understandably patient as we carefully considered which chocolate dream to indulge. I had the Mojito Mousse cake and was expecting mint, but didn't quite find it. But that didn't matter, the piece was light and airy and not too sweet. Someone tried the triple chocolate cake (I think that's the name) and it was just as light and not too sweet. I preferred her piece with the little bit of crunch from the crust. Lastly, we tried the dark chocolate truffles, also a hit. Even though I live in Arlington and the cafe is a little off the beaten path, I'll find my way back again and again.
We found out they just got their outdoor seating permit. Just in time for the cooler fall weather.
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Considering Locolat has been open over a month, and we live a few steps away and only went in today, I guess it's not surprising that there aren't any reviews up yet.
Locolat was opened by Belgium-born Niel Piferoen, a former pastry chef at Restaurant Eve and Citronelle (among other places) and his wife. Piferoen himself greeted us very warmly when we stopped in today. He told us that all the chocolates are made on site, in the Belgian hand-dipped fashion. They have beautiful truffles and a nice selection of cakes and other pastries. We tried a chocolate-lime truffle that was quite an experience -- the lime and chocolate flavors were so distinct and separate from each other. It was like taking a bite of key lime pie -- a bright, singular burst of lime -- and then, 30 seconds later, taking a separate bite of a chocolate truffle. We also tried one with crisped rice dipped in white, dark, and milk chocolate. I am a huge fan of Parisian macaroons and we had one tiny, fluffy, delicate pistachio macaroon cookie as well. There are a few cafe items, including several homemade quiches. We had the carmelized onion and bacon and gruyere cheese quiche, served warm, which was very good. Coffee was okay, but not too full-bodied -- can't remember what kind they serve. Pricing was pretty reasonable and the little cafe area is nicely decorated in a minimalist style, with a street view and lots of light.
All in all, it was a nice surprise and great addition to the neighborhood. I hope more people stop in!
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If you live or work near U Street and Florida than heaven is within reach at Locolat. Today was my first time in this cafe that specializes in chocolate and pastries and I was blown away. From the moment I walked in I could feel the love. From the display to the description of each offering. Today, because it was noon, I choose a piece of the "birthday cake". It was a yellow cake with a strawberry cheese cake icing. My intent was to take it back to the office to share with a co-worker. As soon as I put my fork in it...I kept the news to myself. Light, pure, simple, elegant, delicious were the five words that came into my mind. As I write this, I'm adding DANGEROUS! Because I can't wait to go back for a chocolate.
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