The Hot Chocolatier — Attraction in Chattanooga

I saw this place on a Yelp list somewhere -- maybe the best hot chocolate shops in the US? -- and immediately bookmarked it. I made a special trip while in town last week because I really wanted to try it.

I can't comment on parking because I walked from several blocks away to enjoy the city. It did seem like there were some paid lots available nearby, though.

The inside is actually pretty spacious and was clean and well organized. There's a wall full of shelved confections like chocolate covered nuts and such, and a cooling case with other treats. The drink menu has an extensive list of hot chocolate, a few frozen hot chocolate options, as well as coffees and teas. There are a few tables for seating and about 3-4 ladies were working hard behind the counter.

The girl who took my order was a little spacey but nice. I asked her if I should get hot or frozen chocolate and she said definitely frozen. It was a tiny bit chilly so I was a little reticent, but it's hard to find frozen hot chocolate at home so I went for it. I felt bad because she very enthusiastically recommended the addition of strawberry syrup to make a sort of frozen chocolate strawberry concoction, but being that I don't like chocolate covered fruit that much, I had to turn her down. She seemed crestfallen and I felt really guilty. It's not you, it's me!!

I wound up with the smallest sized frozen hot chocolate and a bag of milk chocolate covered pretzels to go. The price was pretty high imo, but potentially justifiable -- I just wish my treats had been better.

The frozen hot chocolate was fine. It was sweet and chocolatey, as you'd expect, but I couldn't shake the feeling of a sort of powdery malt flavor -- reminiscent of powdered hot chocolate. Maybe that's what they were going for. But for me, it just doesn't convey a lot of richness or depth of flavor; it's as chocolatey as a Wendy's Frosty, which is fine, but I was hoping for something else. I still enjoyed it well enough and I'm more than willing to accept maybe this just wasn't for me; I'd be happy to try one of their hot chocolate drinks and was a little sad I hadn't.

The main detractor was the milk chocolate covered pretzels. I opened them the next day to share with my husband and my goodness they were unforgivably stale. The chocolate itself had a lovely flavor and consistency, but the pretzels were just sad. Not enough salt, either. All around very disappointed in those.

I don't want to end on a super harsh note. I'd definitely give them another try, but would probably aim for a hot...

I couldn't find any free open parking in an hour of looking to even stop and try out this business. There is only 1 side of super narrow metered parallel parking in front that can only hold a few non-wide cars. The road in front is super narrow as well, with the rudest drivers around honking and riding your bumper closer than a car being pulled by a short chain. After an hour of driving in circles with no one leaving those spots, I gave up on ever trying out this business as long as it is in this terrible location.

I will never pay to park my car for the chance to shop at a business. Many other large town downtowns have free parking and paid parking spots, I have seen much better parking and drive experience from Atlanta, GA to Jacksonville, FL. Not to mention this downtown area looks like a run down warehouse district more than a downtown with plenty of businesses in a short walk area. Here you can walk a block for just 3-4 businesses total.

The only parking lots are pay to park a block away and when its raining who wants to stand in rain getting a receipt in order to park, then walk down busy dangerous road and across streets in rain knowing you gotta make same journey in rain back? And you have never been in business yet to know if its even worth it. You might walk in, not want anything, and leave in less than 10 min, but you wasted over $1-2 just to park far away.

Lastly, my review is to warn others who hate paying for parking after paying taxes to build roads and parking. It is also for those who are disabled and find it hard to shop in locations with no handicap parking close to the business. For old people who find parking lot computers hard to figure out or difficult to walk a block or more, and people like me with heart conditions that make it so some days are more difficult to exert themselves than other days. The city doesn't care what one little person thinks of their downtown with no free parking at all, but it might care if any pressure came from businesses who know they are losing out on customers due to inadequate paid parking and no free parking. So my reviews are for all businesses that I am interested in, the others I didnt review didnt lose me as a customer since I wasn't traveling 30 minutes there out of my way and 30 minutes back for them. Update: I updated my review to be better and more informative after the business replied not understanding that their location matters to customers since many have cars they need to park in order to visit...

Wow. What can I say?

I get here early before they’ve opened. I know, rude of me but I’ve heard of an “Ashley” that can create a hot chocolate so incredible that my life will change forever: and boy did it.

I’m waiting when I see an “Emily” being rude and blunt with the server. Not sure why? Perhaps she was unaware of the magnitude of the situation she was in. As she began to drink her hot chocolate, Emily began to violently release toxic sludge across the floor, clearly forgetting that she was deathly lactose intolerant. Whilst she creates a fecal Jackson Pollock across the perfectly clean floor, Ashley jumps to her aid. She swiftly and calmly inserts a stick up the behind of Emily, stopping the violent flow before it begins to encase the ankles of those around. Then in one fell swoop, Ashley using a single napkin and a pea sized drop of sanitiser cleans the floor. One wipe. Gone. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was like a magic trick.

As Emily leaves with a stick firmly inserted, I (still applauding the incredible scene I’ve just witnessed) order a hot chocolate. As I take a sip, the most miraculous thing happens.

I hear a slight pop in my ear. Then I hear the onlookers still applauding around me.

I can hear again. After 23 years of deafness I am able to hear my own voice and the applause around me.

Ashley simply nods at me, then turns to the staff room.

Then from the staff room steps a man.

He looks familiar, with a large smile on his face.

It’s my father.

The same father who was lost at sea when I was young. We lock eyes. He looks at me and the first words I hear in 23 years of my existence on this planet is …

“Jake, I love you.”

Overall, nice hot chocolate....