The Chocolate Garage

A very unusual place. It appears to be LITERALLY a former garage. Its like one room that has been dressed up. Its a bit hard to find. You have to go in off the street along a path to sort of the back of the building.
There are about 5 seats, that is it. They charge $ 5/​person for 5 different chocolate samples. They have someone there who will explain wehat the different choices are. You can also cleanse your palate with some water… saw no indication of any other food/​beverage.
This place is about eating chocolate. Its not about learning. Ir is not about atmosphere. It is not about greater knowledge of the chocolate industry. Eating chocolate is the beginning middle and end. The tasting may be a whole different experience. But, if you are NOT there as part of a tasting then you go, sit (hopefully) and eat a couple of bites of chocolate from 5 different selections for $ 5. Its cheaper and quicker to go to Safeway and buy a candy bar. I thought the price is expensive for 5 samples.
I read some of the other reviews and have wondered if I went to the right place— the chocolate garage. Certainly nobody offered to «curate» or explain anything at all about chocolate.
They solicited a couple of times about their club at $ 27/​month. Not sure what you get except $ 5 off various chocolate bars they offer for sale. Plus you can sample different chocolates (I think) in a bunch of test tubes along the wall. I am not sure if anyone would tell you anything about what you were trying so am not sure why I would bother to do so.
The people are friendly enough.
If you happen to be in downtown Palo Alto area on a Saturday morning for some other reason and had 10 minutes to kill… and were willing to pay $ 5/​person for a few bits of chocolate then come on by. I wouldn’t drive from another town just for a visit here.
I went back and forth on the number of stars between 2 and 3. I went to clearly state that if you book them for a chocolate tasting then it may be a whole different experience. If you are just dropping in during their business hours open to the public… I don’t think it was worth the time or money. It ain’t cheap.

I’ve bookmarked The Chocolate Garage and have been wanting to visit for a really long time. Luckily, while I was at the Palo Alto Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning, I stumbled upon CG! The newly remodeled garage looks amazing! Cozy and chic! I’d love to have a get-​together or some sort of party in there some time.
I think it’s very generous of CG to offer samples of the chocolate, especially since craft chocolate bars aren’t cheap! I got to sample 3 different bars, and ended up buying 1 that I tried, as well as 2 other bars I didn’t try. Even without membership, the prices of the chocolate are very fair, considering they are high quality chocolate.
I’m excited to try my goodies and I’ll definitely be back to buy more if I’m ever in the area!

Just visited after the remodel, it was much more attractive. And they continue to serve excellent chocolate. I have joined as a member, which gives me access to tasting the «test tubes», discounts and special events. Highly recommended!

You have to go there!
The two times a week it’s open it’s like meeting family for desert, amazing chocolate, no pressure to buy and everyone there is super nice!

Such a fun experience. I went with my wife and a group of people to the chocolate garage after dinner to learn about and taste test various types of chocolate. The hostess was very knowledgeable and very informative. Overall, everyone had a great time and thought it was such a fun experience.

The absolutely best place to explore chocolate and get the best bars, including many that are not available anywhere else.
Sunita curates and showcases the best chocolate being made from around the world. Many of the bars are from smaller chocolate makers who are blazing new trails in what chocolate can be and how good it can taste. Instead of the generic big bar producers you can find small batch makers who lovingly bring the unique flavors out of beans carefully sourced from specific regions and locations around the world.
If you enjoy chocolate you owe it to yourself to stop by at least once to explore an exceptional section of chocolate bars. It’s a lot of fun and everyone there, both customers and staff, are very nice and a pleasure to talk to.
In addition to offering great chocolate, Sunita is doing something unique and very important for people, the environment, and the future of good chocolate. Most of the beans grown for chocolate are sold in bulk at very low rates. This makes it hard for farmers to make a living and support their families and often leads to their replacing chocolate, which is a very sustainable crop, with crops that and farming practices that significantly damage the tropical environments that we all rely on. One of the Garage’s goal is to work with the parties involved to increase the quality of beans so the farmers can make more, which creates a huge positive impact.
If you have made it this far in my review I encourage you to read up on chocolate farming practices and visit the Garage. It is a great way to make a difference while enjoying the best chocolate available.

Fantastic place. The chocolate choices are plentiful and super high quality. Sumtria was knowledgeable.
We tasted various bars and visited with other patrons for a while. I left with two bars and have to resist eating it all in one sitting.

Cheers to the wonderful group of people who hangs out there with wine & tequila Wednesday nights, and the generous tastings, and the lovely knowledgable team, and the truly unparalleled selection of top tier chocolate.

I was never really a «chocolate person» before but the chocolate garage has opened my eyes to the deliciousness of chocolate and helped me develop a true appreciation for it. They offer a wide variety of bars, some crafted exclusively for them that you won’t be able to find anywhere else, and are super knowledgable about everything chocolate. The only downside is I am now hopelessly addicted to a specific Patric chocolate bar and each bar is $ 10+. But regardless it’s an awesome place to check out if you’re in the area.

I’m a HUGE fan of The Chocolate Garage and I’m so glad that I attended a South Bay group event, otherwise I would never have known about this place! I first attended a private tasting event 2 years ago and I’ve been a customer ever since.
Most people grow up eating chocolate made by bulk manufacturers like Hershey and Cadbury. Do you know how chocolate SHOULD be made and what processes go into making GOOD chocolate? Stop by The Chocolate Garage on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings during the farmers market to learn from the folks here about what it takes to make good chocolate. There’s a drying and fermentation process that isn’t always done by the big companies because the farmers have no incentive to put care into treating the cocoa beans right since they don’t get paid well by the bulk manufacturers. The craft chocolate scene is exploding and I love what these small-​batch chocolatiers are doing — they’re paying farmers well for good quality cocoa beans, which in turn gives these farmers a chance at a better life.
Once you learn and understand the process, it’ll be easier to stomach the price difference. It’s really incredible what Sunita and her team are doing. After my second tasting, I decided to participate in The Chocolate Garage’s Future Chocolate program. You put $ 100, $ 250, or $ 500 into your account, which helps Sunita and her team go out and find small-​batch chocolatiers that are doing things right and even help finance their operations if needed. Every time you go to buy chocolate from The Chocolate Garage, you just give them your name and the money is deducted from your account; you also get a small discount on each bar of chocolate!

Our entire family had fun at the tasting.

Absolutely blown away.
I came in on a Wednesday evening to try out the free tasting, where Sunita had 6 different chocolates laid out on the table. As we sat, she described the flavors and the beans we tasted, with a sparkle of passion in her eyes and voice. Great customer service all around, and excellent, excellent chocolate selection. Expect to pay more than $ 5 per bar, though a membership gets you $ 2 off each one.
The layout of the garage is a quaint, small store with a few chairs and a coffee table for the tasting. While it could probably only fit 10 people comfortably, people are always going in and out. Chocolate bar wrappers adorn the walls, and the chocolate bars are stored in the back of the room.
Payment is taken by Square, so credit cards are accepted.
Lot parking is nearby, though I could imagine that on Saturday mornings, parking would be harder to find given the farmer’s market.

Best choc bars w the most diverse flavors you can find amongst Alegio and Monique’s on Bryant st a block away. all are awesome offering their own touch of love to their choc. Monique’s is more tiny cubed truffles w an espresso bar that you can sit down in. Alegio’s is a boutique purveyor synonymous to Choc Garage, but w the Choc Garage you can buy a membership from $ 100-​$ 500 and you come in Sat morn or Wed nights only to claim your selections that are auto deducted from your account and the balance’s emailed to you kinda like a bank account statement.
I can’t afford that so I go once in a while for a $ 12 bar.
I’ve had:
Patrick’s vodka infused Licorice
Patrick’s red chili and coconut curry
Patrick’s habanero
Patrick’s oatmeal
I’m a fan of Patrick’s, but they have others. When I find something I love I just stick w it. never a disappointing bar!
Check’t out. review their hours though cuz they’re quite limited.

Sunita had absolutely changed my life.
I’ve heard she’s as busy as ever if not more than ever, and it is well-​deserved! This business is on a mission, and it’s succeeding. I’ve bought numerous bars from her over the past couple of years, but I haven’t been there recently. Judging from the current reviews, however, Sunita is rolling along just fine. I hope to be back soon to sample some bars and stumble upon a new favorite maker!

The Chocolate Garage.
The vibe– super cozy & cheerful.
The setting– totally adorable, elegant, laidback, petite, super cute, & lovely.
The experience– informative (learned a lot about chocolate-​making), fun, tasteful, delicious, and totally enjoyable.
Tucked away on Gilman St amongst some other little buildings is where you’ll find The Chocolate Garage. It’s used to be a carriage house back in the way past and now turned into this cute little chocolate place by Sunita (former molecular biologist now turned into chocolate scientist. so interesting right??)
Sunita was very sweet & detailed in letting our party know about the 411 regarding chocolate making. We had so much fun tasting the diff chocolates & trying to figure out which is which.
They’re only opened on certain times/​days on Wednesday 5pm to 9pm & Saturday 8am to 1pm to the public. During those times/​days, guests can go in to explore what the place offers & bring their own wine to pair with the chocolates to enhance the experience. Other times/​days, the Chocolate Garage is usually doing private parties such as the one I was attending last night.
I definitely recommend this place if you’re super into chocolate. Their chocolate can’t be found anywhere else such as Trader Joe’s and such. If you join their «Future Chocolate» membership thing, then you get a small discount on their products. Otherwise, there’s usually a small fee with chocolate purchases.
At the end, we got to take our fave bar home. Mine was — –the Boss! It’s milk chocolate, salted caramel, with nibs! So freakin yummm!!! :)

**************************** REVIEW 922 ****************************
I’m not a chocolate fan or sweet for that matter. I came to this chocolate tasting with an open minded. I didn’t know what to expect, all I thought was what I could get for my dad to go, because daddy is a die-​hard-​chocolate-​fan.
The Chocolate Garage is quite a small, just like a small 1 car garage, cute like a tea house, barely fit 10 average girls (weight 100 – 140 lbs); if you are over 180 lbs or more, your group should be smaller to feel comfortable.
Sunita was our host. She was kind, pleasant and very personable to our group. She let us brought in some savory food to eat first. She allowed us to bring our own wines to pair with chocolate. Once we settled in, she went on to teach us about chocolate making, the cocoa bean itself, the regions around the world, the process, and how she calls it «Happy Chocolate».
The Chocolate Garage only carries «good practice» chocolate makers. They care about the environmental, organic process, the passionate chocolate makers, and the supply chain.
We got to taste the Bolivia, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Madagascar, and more. These chocolates are not cheap to the typical vulture ignorant Unilocalers standard; but if you care about the quality of it, just like wine. If you used to drink a bottle of 3 buck chuck or you want to taste a bottle of old world fine Bordeaux? Do you want a massively produced Sutter Home wine $ 7 per bottle or do you appreciate a fine Burgundy, Rioja or Babaresco bottle? It’s up to you.
Think of a car drives you from home to work/​school? Would you like a slow little 1.5 L engine like my Prius or a fine Bentley, Ferrari, Lamboghini? It’s like that. There’s absolutely no comparison.
The Chocolate Garage also offers «Future-​Chocolate» like «Future-​wines» — you buy certain amount of Gift Certificate, and you can buy the next «badge of chocolate» release from certain producers that you like. It’s such a refreshing idea and you do get better deals than those that don’t buy in future.
We got to blind tasting the chocolate. I found out what I like and what I don’t. I then described the chocolates that I enjoyed, just how I would described wines in blind tasting. I got both right. I couldn’t believe it. Like a Sommelier in a wine shop, I was a happy Somm.
The Chocolate Garage is such a great place for team-​learning, team-​work practice, BDAY celebration, or just to learn more about chocolate and to promote the good-​practice of chocolate to all. I highly recommend to all.

I’ve been to The Chocolate Garage several times now. My mother loves the place. It is a mandatory visit every time she is in town (she lives in Texas).
They carry a huge selection of chocolates, and even have deals with chocolate makers for ‘exclusive’ bars.
Every Saturday, they have 6 different chocolates set out for samples, but you can ask for samples of different items as well. The ladies there do a great job trying to explain every item and make suggestions when you know what you like.
They aren’t cheap bars, but ‘chocoholics’ (as my mother likes to call herself) don’t like cheap chocolate. They are willing to pay for some quality.
My personal favorite bar is the ‘Rio Crunch’ bar from ‘Patric Chocolate’, which is actually a ‘Chocolate Garage’ exclusive. I love the nice crunch from the cocoa nibs.
Recently, Alegio Chocolate opened up nearby, which is open far more, and I actually like their chocolate better than everything I’ve tried at The Chocolate Garage, but ‘The Chocolate Garage’ is still just a great place to be introduced to the world of ‘good’ chocolates since they have samples of such a wide variety.
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Conclusion:
If you like quality chocolate and live nearby, then visiting ‘The Chocolate Garage’ is an absolute necessity.

The Chocolate Garage is like a chocolate speak-​easy — where the password might be «happy chocolate.» Sunita curates a great selection of award-​winning chocolates from around the globe, that taste wonderful and have a happy supply chain story.
This is not a retail store, but rather a place with a unique ambience — in a building similar in style to the old garages in Palo Alto where tech cos. like HP got their start; a place where you can nestle down in a chair and enjoy sharing an educational tasting experience with a community of great people. A place where everyone knows your name if you’re a regular on Sat. and Wed. (the two days when the Garage is open).
Future chocolate holders have access to events with chocolate makers, and bars that aren’t available anywhere else.
Warning — once you get used to great tasting, happy chocolate, it will be very hard to go back.

What a treasure! If you want to gain knowledge and a deeper understanding of chocolate — and who wouldn’t! — stop into the Chocolate Garage.
Unsurprisingly they have «regulars,» but I was warmly welcomed, too, and invited to begin tasting and exploring for myself. Sunita and Zeina know their offerings well and provide an excellent orientation to what they have on offer — as well as to the world of chocolate in general. On this, my first visit, Zeina told me about the origins and ingredients of practically every bar they had available, which made it very easy for me to determine what I wanted to take home with me… So much so, that I bought about three times what I’d originally intended!
I so appreciate their dedication to supporting conscientious, quality craftspeople. And the quality doesn’t stop with the chocolate itself — the packaging is a feast for the eyes, and the shop itself is charming.
Suffice it to say that the artisan nature of this chocolate — as well as the availability of ingredients — can mean that their offerings may change. However, I believe that any chocolate afficionado would find numerous bars that will please their palate.
A stop here on a Saturday morning makes for a happy and educational start to the weekend! Sign up for their email list to learn about their events.

Calling all chocolate lovers! We have a new place to gather and geek out over chocolate!
Sunita really knows her stuff and offer great suggestions and insight on the chocolate farming world.
My favorites so far have been the Rogue Chocolatier Silvestre (sold out) and Chocolate Garage Exclusive (get it before it sells out!). I also really enjoyed the Crazy for Cacoa which have whole beans inside (yum!).
Feel free to sample their offerings and ask questions. Sometimes they will offer to let you try something that is not laid out based on what types of chocolate you prefer. Most of the chocolate bars I selected were about $ 11 – 14. Completely worth it!
Remember to sign up for their Future Chocolate program. You pay a fixed amount upfront as store credit to spend in the future. By offering to pay first, they are able to pay their suppliers to create new chocolate creations or to continue sourcing out more expensive or exclusive beans. Support chocolate!