Alethea's Chocolates

This is one of my favorite places for sponge candy and ice cream. The staff is always very friendly and will always go out of their way to assist customers. The ice cream is really great, and it's somewhere I bring my family when they come into town to visit.

I purchased several items to give as gifts and additional items to share with my family. Free fudge samples were offered in the store. Very helpful and friendly staff. The fudge sample was delicious and the chocolate covered potato chips were yummy.

So many chocolate goodies in tons of shapes, sizes, and flavors. The ice cream was also great.

A little pricey but they make up for it in quality. Beautiful Art Deco Designed. Lots of history and values. Highly recommend this experience.

A staple chocolate store with a vintage ice cream shop right in Williamsville. With long and convenient open hours, the chocolate shop carries a large variety of fresh small batch confections. Sponge candy, malt balls, and truffles galore. I have also experienced one of their coconut themed sundaes and it is one of my favorite combinations when upgrading to the hot fudge they make there! Nice people, and they always have samples!

As soon as you walk in, you're hit with the smell of fresh chocolate. The chocolate shop was amazing! Definitely ask if they're doing any free samples while you're in there. There were so many delicious treats to choose from, I could have spent hours looking around, taking it all in. On the other side of the house is the ice cream shop. Again, delicious and a wide range of flavors/treats to pick from! Pro tip: the milkshakes are massive when you're dining in! If you have a sweet tooth, you gotta stop in!!

Drove by hundreds of times and finally stopped in. Very cool like a step back in time. Very classy, clean and smells to make your mouth water. A wide variety of chocolates, sponge candy and other assorted candies. We received a free sample while we browsed. We purchased a few items and all were outstanding! Before we left we went into the desert area. There are sundaes and pies. I had the caramel apple pie ala mode. Filling and tasty. There was plenty of seating including patio space. Friendly staff and certainly a place you need to visit. You won't be disappointed! UPDATE: Stopped in again and everything is dressed up for the holidays. Really a charming place with great candy / deserts. The caramel apple pie is pretty tasty!

Great place to stop for chocolates and their ice cream parlor is like no other. So many options, you will want to come back again to try more. The staff here are fantastic!

Have found memories of this spot after softball games growing up and recently was back in town visiting and dining at the new-ish Bar Bill (formerly Old Red Mill) across the street and out of the corner of my eye, my stomach saw dessert. A true authentic neighborhood staple for many years now, chocolate shop and ice cream parlour. A quick pop across the street and we were in Ice Cream Parlour heaven. They had some seasonal menu items posted on the ice cream parlour window and I opted to share a shake with my dining partner. The name is currently slipping my memory but it had pistachio ice cream, with a raspberry syrup and some gummy worms and chocolate pieces for Halloween. It was the perfect size sweet treat to round off my day. Also walking around the chocolate shop and a sweet lady popped out and offered a sample, which was delicious. A great stop for chocolate gifts you know are made in house. Stop in to Alethea's if you're looking for an authentic Ice Cream parlour experience all year round.

Prior to visiting Buffalo I learned about "sponge candy" and sought out Alethea's. I will say the candies I bought were pricey, but for the quality I would definitely spend $30 again. I purchased a 15 count of chocolates and bag of milk chocolate sponge candy. One word, DELICIOUS!Make sure to visit the dessert parlor and enjoy a sundae. My only regret was that I did not buy a jar of their chocolate sauce. I will add that I was most definitely made to feel welcome during my visit. The Buffalo hospitality shown through both in the store and dessert parlor.

I freaking love this place, chocolates are amazing, and all the ladies are super sweet I'm going to try the ice cream later today and I am so excited, also the place itself is super cute and retro

A wonderful experience. Stopped in for a slice of homemade pie and a side of ice cream. A really nice place with a fun atmosphere and delicious desserts!

Went to Jenny's tried their truffles they were awful tasted like chemicals (good comics though)! Alethea's though HAS INCREDIBLE truffles that are reasonably priced. I highly recommend this place and the coffee isn't so bad either! Has almost a cinnamon taste to it. The staff is uber friendly and I recommend this establishment hands down! My favorite was the dark chocolate pecan bark

It's a cute chocolate/ice cream shop that smells quite delightful when you walk in. The chocolate & candy is to the left. I took a quick little cruise around this part. We were greeted and offered a sample of fudge while we were exploring. They had many items from homemade licorice & chocolates to bulk gummies. But, I was really here to try the ice cream, which is to the right after you walk in. The ice cream shop is set up with small metal tables for two with metal chairs that have a heart shape on the back of them. Upon entering we were greeted and offered a sample of rice pudding. I found it to be thick and flavorful. There was a decent selection of ice cream flavors and sundaes to choose from. I wanted to try two different flavors, so I had to opt for the double; it came to a little over $7.50... quite pricey for the size of the scoops in my opinion (see photo). Also, the ice cream was not really pushed down into the cone so it was empty... No one wants an empty cone! I chose the pistachio almond and cinnamon flavors. The pistachio almond had nice big pieces of almond in it and a smooth texture, but the pistachio flavor seemed too fake, like that of boxed pudding. The cinnamon was a hot cinnamon and it tasted like hot cinnamon candy with candy pieces throughout. They also had cheesecake in their case that looked good. I don't think I would return for ice cream considering the cost for the portion and there weren't any flavors that were so different I'd just have to come back to try them. All in all a good experience.

A gem of a candy and icecream shoppe. You step into a different time when you walk through the doors. The decor is so nostalgic, the smell of chocolate hits you and it's absolutely beautiful in there.

Absolutely hands down best chocolate ever!!! Worth the $$$ definitely Buffalo icon! Can't eat Hershey's anymore

Gourmet chocolate, gift ideas galore and helpful staff. This boutique chocolate and candy shop is a great stop off for anyone with a sweet tooth. We were greeted immediately and there was tons to see. We walked through the shop and took it all in, opting for some single order truffles and such to take home. All the truffles were super good with the classic dark chocolate one being a personal favorite. If you're looking for yourself or a gift this is a definite stop to make. They can do custom orders and have fun Bills stuff also. Overall: A+ Fun boutique chocolate spot!

An absolute for your sweet tooth. There is everything under the sun there. I actually went in for some chocolate covered jellies and came out with more than I planned. ( no surprise there!) I also purchased two Carmel covered apples as an Autumn gift for my daughter. Unfortunately the dining room was closed - idk if it is a seasonal thing, but nonetheless it's worth a trip to stop by. Plenty of parking, easy access and great prices.

Absolutely blown away by this chocolate !! Loaded up on chocolate covered marshmallows as well as chocolate covered butter crunch and dark chocolate raisins. All are amazing. Was able to sample some items. Super nice lady who helped us, sorry can't remember her name. Sampled the fudge and ended up buying some . We also went next door to the ice cream shop and had an epic peach parfait . Highly suggest both the chocolate store and the ice cream shop. One suggestion do not come here hungry. Bought one of everything , will be back for sure the next time we are in the area. A++++

Amazing chocolates highly priced but worth it. I am diabetic but her almond toffee looked amazing so I gave it a try. Absolutely the best toffee I ever had (including my own). It's light, airy and ideal for people with sensitive teeth. Wish I had purchased more. Will Absolutely visit again when I'm in the area.

Delicious chocolates. Seems they especially make orange chocolate which I love. We went during easter, just a few days beforehand and it was packed. The locals know what's good! They have a very cute ice cream parler that I will be going back to visit.

They have some excellent desserts here. But occasionally you get a dud, like the apple pie that was on the shelf today. The inside of the crust was under done, the outside of the crust was overdone, and essentially flavorless. It needed to be cooked at a lower temperature and for a bit longer. Dribbling caramel on the outside of the crust is certainly fine, but it doesn't make up for a flavorless crust. The apple pie was also almost devoid of Apples. Very disappointing. The cherry cordial sundae was excellent, the coffee was excellent and the atmosphere is absolutely charming.

Out of town visitor and so impressed with this shop. Have had chocolate all over the world (Switzerland, Belgium, Amsterdam, etc) and throughout the US. Can honestly say this place is one of the top chocolate shop in the world. Not only is the milk chocolate amazing, the fillings used are out of this world. Told my family all I want for Christmas is the chocolate covered sponge candy. Just an absolute amazing place. Highly recommend if you appreciate top notch chocolate !

My husband and I enjoyed a couple of milkshakes after dinner. The coffee milkshake has a bold flavor while the strawberry is traditional and creamy. Robyn offered us some delicious walnut fudge in the chocolate shop and service was friendly. We love the interior decor! It was like stepping back in time in the ice cream parlor. Historical news clippings adorn the walls and the smell of rich chocolate lingers in the air. We recommend for dessert and rich confections!

Alethea's is a very cute ice cream parlor and when you first enter, it almost feels like you are going back in time! We first went to the ice cream side and enjoyed a sponge candy sundae. I love how the shop was all decorated for Easter. They have so many options to choose from as well! After, we decided to stroll around the candy shop side. It was filled with Easter basket treats - chocolate bunnies of every size, a variety of novelty chocolates, sponge candy and fudge. We were even able to sample some fudge - which was very good!

How could you not give Alethea's 5 stars! Absolutely quaint and so pretty! Wonderful chocolates, large selection The icecream parlor that is attached offers loads of icecream treats and so delicious Lots of seating inside and outside under a striped awning Very clean, prices are what you would expect for a special trip to the icecream parlor

This was my first time here and I was in awe. I never knew this place excited & I'm a huge chocolate lover. The employee who worked there was so sweet and kind. She gave us many samples and explained the history behind this chocolate store. Everything tasted delicious. The store itself is so cute, family friendly. It was a great time.

We stopped by here spontaneously. We had just finished our dinner a d was driving past this dessert shop which catches our eyes. The interior style is cute old American and there is both indoor and outdoor seating. There were a lot of families with kids when we were here. The desserts tasted too sweet for me and my friend but my friends kid and the other kids seemed to enjoy it a lot. There were paper hats that the kids could also wear. Overall would recommend to families with kids and for cute photos

I've been to Alethea's several times, to both their candy & ice cream shoppes. The location itself is pretty convenient. Some may think it's a bit fancy for a "candy store," but this is no ordinary sweets shop. For starters, Alethea's is a chocolatier, not just some candy store. And it certainly is more distinguished than a plain old "shop." I'd say it certainly deserves to be classified as a "shoppe." What is the difference? I have no idea. But the second spelling definitely makes it seem fancier, which it is. This most recent visit was for hot fudge frappes and some orange sponge candy. I had taken my mom and her 99-year-old friend out for dinner. They wanted Ted's Hot Dogs, so we did that first, and despite the fact that I assured Flo I was too full to eat anything else, she insisted that she treat me to a hot fudge frappe. Yes, she insisted on buying my dessert AND on picking it out for me. When a 99-year-old woman tells you she is buying and this is what you will have, you do it. I feel like Alethea's prides itself in their hot fudge sauce, but I'm honestly not a fan. It's a matter of personal taste, though. I'm sure that there are people who love this sauce and rave about it to all their out-of-town guests, insisting they bring them there to try out this sauce! That's just not me. Oh, it's also worth noting that on Wednesdays, they have B1G1 on their pie slices. I kind of wish I'd had the pie. After wolfing down the hot fudge frappe, Flo wanted to go into the candy shoppe to buy some orange sponge candy. In October, it's not traditionally cold enough to buy the orange chocolate (it has to do with the consistency of the orange oil used to make the candy), but Alethea's has had so many requests for it that they do make some small batches of it. We happened to purchase the last bag of the orange sponge candy. (Flo insisted we take it back to her house and split it up between her, my mom, and me. We did just that.) One of the things my mom loves about going to Alethea's is that they always approach you with an offer of a free sample when you walk in the door. This time it was dark chocolate sponge candy or chocolate fudge. Not an easy choice, but we went with the dark chocolate sponge candy. (I've had their fudge before, too, and it is hard to beat their fudge!) The staff here is so friendly and helpful. The selection is so much fun to browse. I love to walk the perimeter of the store to find all the really neat kinds of chocolate they offer. There really is something for everyone. If you're looking for a gift for someone else or you want to treat yo'self (self care is crucial), you will impress even the most finicky person with anything you purchase from Alethea's.

Great ice cream ,great staff . chocolates to die for . Very clean . And cute .love going there. I love the entrance. It makes it look so inviting.

The smell of chocolate hits you as soon as you walk in the door! You then have to decide if you want to turn left into the chocolate candy shop or right into the ice cream parlor. We chose to swipe right first. Cute old fashion type of ice cream parlor. Besides ice cream you can get a wide assortment of baked good. Then over to the candy store. Here you can lost roaming through the wide assortment of chocolates. Everything from themed chocolates like Buffalo Bills or the various holiday themes to the wonderful sponge candy, a Buffalo favorite for sure. Do yourself a favor and check out this place. 2021-132

We've been to Alethea's many times over the past 25 years. It's was always a treat. This past winter we had a couple slices of pie. Both slices were very dry and didn't have much flavor. We thought better luck next time. We stopped for sundaes today. The quality is definitely deteriorating at the shop. The scoop of ice cream was the size of a cue ball. The sauce flavors were off. We ordered an almond butter toffee sundae with caramel and chocolate sauce. What we got was a smear of caramel inside the dish and then so much hot chocolate sauce added over it that it overpowered everything. I think since it was an hour before closing time, they were probably trying to use all the chocolate sauce for the day. We were going to take it back but there were three groups that came in to order. We went over to the chocolate shop which we find nice since you can get a couple pieces of candy without having a whole box to tempt you once home. Two pieces of chocolate covered caramel. It tasted good. So many people, especially those who would like to give their kids the ice cream shop experience have been priced out. Say a family of four each want a double scoop ice cream cone. That will be $30. $10.95 for a specialty sundae - four sundaes and you're closing in on $50. $33 per pound for chocolates. I realize the past few years has made everything increase in price but this is crazy. but it is certainly not a place where we would bring our family too often.

I try the caramel apple pie , surprisingly I don't like Apple Pie because I always find them to sweet , well in this place is exactly what a pie should be made out... excellent fresh and delicious ..

Friendly staff, excellent service. Very easy to preorder. Very clean environment - would highly recommend

Tonight my son and I were on our way home from a winter walk, looking for a good local chocolate fix. I Google-searched chocolate shops open later on a Sunday, and Alethea's was within the most reasonable proximity of what was still open. I've had Alethea's chocolates and desserts several times as gifts, as they are my bro's go-to for sweets-shopping for various holidays. But I have never stopped by myself. Upon entering, the aromas of the store punch you in the face in the best possible way. It smells DIVINE in there, like homemade-chocolate-heaven! To the right is the ice cream and desserts cafe, and to the left is the candy shop. We headed to the candy side to peruse. The store is very attractive, especially so all decked out for Valentine's. At initial glance, the chocolates seemed reasonably priced for high-quality confections. Chocolate suckers in lots of shape options ranged from about two bucks to about five bucks, going up from there for larger chocolate pieces. There is also fudge, and a variety of candies like licorice, fruit gummies, and marzipans. For just a taste tonight, my son selected a Mickey-shaped chocolate sucker for $2. I went straight to the case to pick a small assortment of cream-filled chocolates. The counter clerk was very attentive and friendly. I went with one of each cream: lemon, orange, raspberry, cherry, strawberry, and vanilla. We rang out, and yikes, the bill was $8.95. So my six chocolate creams rang in at over a buck a piece. Hopefully the taste would live up to the price. We headed out to our car to enjoy our candies for the ride home. My son wolfed his Mickey chocolate sucker. He said it was great. He is ten, and is easy to please with candy. :-D My chocolates were a mixed bag. The freshness and snap of the chocolate was nice, and the flavor of the chocolate itself was tasty, both the milk and dark. The filling consistency was nice too, very creamy and smooth. But the cherry, lemon, and raspberry creams all had a bit of a medicine'y tang. They were a bit heavy-handed on the extract. The vanilla and strawberry were delicious, and my favorite was the orange, excellent smooth orange yumminess. Overall I did enjoy Aelthea's. Any of their desserts and chocolates I've had in the past as gifts were delightful. The shop itself is adorbs, clean, and smells GREAT. The service was good. And most of our treats we purchased tonight were tasty. It's just the high price tag for this stop that left me underwhelmed with some of my selections. After I had made my picks, I did notice a white creamsicle chocolate, and a marzipan-filled dark chocolate in the case, two of my FAVE flavor profiles. So I do need to get back into Aelthea's sometime to try those, and see if those flavors can bump my review up to a five. :-D

We were kindly greeted as soon as we walked in. A store employee offered us samples of chocolate fudge (amazing!) The store itself is so well organized with beautifully arranged chocolates. People are always around to help you out. It's a great place to take visitors or to get a gift for someone close to you!

omg good strawberry milkshake and sponge candy awww man this place is great. the woman working the counter was real nice and gave me a sample of vanilla fudge which was tasty too. all the employees were nice and the aesthetic was nice too i liked it very much retro comforting american stuff oh man candy candy candy candy candy candy candy haha ooooooohhh yeeeeeeaaaaaahh i like strawberry milkshakes

Excellent customer service in addition to the delicious chocolates. Can't be beat. Buy small & local!

What a cute place! I came in for a milkshake, which I heard were amazing. I ordered a root beer milkshake and it was so delicious and smooth! After I had my shake, I walked from the ice cream parlor to the actual candy shop. What a selection; sponge candy, creative chocolate suckers, large chocolate pieces, and all made on site. Definitely will go back and recommend to anyone with a sweet tooth, and if looking for a cute, unique chocolate item as a gift.

Great little place. Found on accident but awesome sundaes and delicious chocolate. Folks were very friendly as well.

Absolutely amazing chocolates! I pass this shop daily on my way home from work. It looks so cute and I know they specialize in fine chocolates and Greek specialities such as rice pudding. I decided to stop in today to pick up some chocolate sweets. I ordered 2 pieces of sponge candy and 2 chocolate covered potato chips. The price was high (something like $28 and $21 per pound respectively). I think this chocolate is worth every penny! You don't need a lot so 1 taste or each was enough. The staff were very helpful. Although I knew what I wanted, I noticed her helping other customers, and when we were cashing out, she offered us a sampling of the vanilla fudge. The fudge was okay, but I prefer chocolate. They did have about 5 types of slab fudge for purchase which looked awesome! I loved this little shop and would definitely return. They also serve ice cream, which I would be willing to try on my next visit!

Looking for the perfect cool me off or sweet summer treat, then Alethea's is the place not to be missed.They offer a wide variety of ice cream flavors & frappe selections. There are also sundaes, shakes, sodas & egg creams.And if your still not full , try some of their delicious creamy chocolates.

My review is based off of the sundae I purchased and the price. Before I get into that, it's a nice and quiet place. Upon entering you are (currently) greeted with Valentine's Day decor. It's pretty and inviting. You will also find wrap around stairs decorated as well. To your right is the ice cream parlor and dine in area along with pies, pastries and coffee. There you'll find a nice and quaint space also decorated. Across the hall you'll find the Chocolate, fudge and candy area. It's very pretty, enticing and smells amazing. Also decked out for Valentine's Day. They are ready! There is definitely something for everyone at Alethea's. With all that being said, I was searching for a peanut butter fudge parfait. I found the list of sundaes and decided to try the peanut butter one. It came with chocolate and vanilla hard ice cream, chocolate and peanut butter sauce with an option for whipped cream and peanut butter cups on top. -It was just ok. I didn't care for the hard ice cream. It didn't wow me and lacked something. I don't care for chocolate sauce, I prefer fudge, so I should've asked if I was able to swap that. I was also wanting soft serve/custard so I should've seen if that was an option instead of settling. It was almost $9!! It's a large portion, but still not worth $9! I would've felt more comfortable spending $5 on a sundae. Because there are other local ice cream/chocolate shops that I already love, I will stick with what I know. Check Alethea's out and try it yourself! Maybe go for the chocolates.

Our friends insisted we meet them at this place because it is so great. Wow were they wrong. The ice cream was icy as if it had melted and then refrozen. Not just one kind - we ended up with three different flavors between the two sundaes we ordered. All of them were icy. The coffee ice cream had virtually no coffee flavor. If you'd tasted it without knowing the flavor, you'd never have guessed it. The portions are way too big - so big you really have to share it which means you and someone you go there with have to agree on what you want. Bigger isn't better if the quality is low. The best thing we had was the marshmallow sauce which was probably the best anywhere. The chocolate shop looked really nice but we didn't go in after having the ice cream.

Not to be missed Alethea's offers delicious sundaes, old fashioned sodas & shakes, ny egg creams, banana splits, & my favorite the frappes, I highly recommend the hot Fudge or Butterscotch.And if for some reason that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth then step into their awesome candy shop from dipped berries to sponge candy you will not be disappointed.

Delicious ice cream in a classic, enjoyable parlor. I tried the Charlie Chaplin ice cream (for non-Buffalonians, it's a brittle made of chocolate, marshmallow, and nuts). The ice cream was very rich and flavorful, and they have plenty of interesting flavor varieties. A bit pricey for a dish ($4.95), but nonetheless a great spot for an ice cream date.

This is a "sweet" little chocolate shop that's not too far from Transit that has an assortment of chocolates. They have everything from truffles to mints and they even have "slabs of fudge" that you can buy as well. They have chocolate-covered treats (i.e. chocolate-covered pretzels) and sponge chocolates too, if you're looking for a variety. Gluten-free or sugar-free options are also available, which I appreciated. The pre-packaged chocolates or truffles here come in 8 oz, 16 oz boxes. I'm not a huge fan of pre-packaged chocolates since you can't choose the flavors yourself, so my husband and I got an 8 oz box and choose the flavors of truffles and chocolates we wanted to fill it with. The chocolates and truffles that are in the cases are charger by weight, so we got we got 17 pieces in the 8 oz box. I will say, this is not a fancy chocolatier, so the truffles you get here are going to be on the waxier side than the ones you might get at a chocolatier where they hand-make all of their chocolates everyday. They also have an ice cream parlor connected to the chocolate shop, which opens later in the afternoon (at least as of now, they open after 1pm). I think it'll be a cool place to get ice cream during the warmer months. :)

This is hands down one of my favorite chocolate shops. Need an Easter bunny? Fudge? Sponge candy? Wedding favors? Amazing chocolate? This place is for you. It's a cute chocolate store that also sells ice cream and pies. We mostly come here for our sponge candy needs. Ice cream and shakes are pretty good here. We have gotten the pumpkin pie here this season which is okay, the chocolate peanut butter pie was delicious. It's my regular place for sweets and it doesn't disappoint!!

Delicious salted caramel Sundae with their own chocolate dipped potato chip and pretzels.

This chocolate shop reminds me of my childhood. The walls are lined from top to bottom with fantastic sweet treats as far as the wondering eye can see. I particularly enjoy the sponge candy as I make a yearly pilgrimage to buy some for Christmas. The staff is wonderful and the ice cream parlor next store is a must try.

Mary Lou was very kind at my visit to the chocolate shop today! I got a few chocolates today which were good and a little edible clown for a surprise for my son. He thought it was so cool and (almost) didn't want to eat it. There is a wide assortment of chocolates and candies. You can buy them individually or pre-boxed. There are also cool chocolates for special occasions such as baby showers, chocolate gifts for bodybuilding, sports, teachers, etc. There is also an ice-cream parlor which I did not visit today so I can't give an opinion on that. It is in the same building, but a separate room from the chocolate shop.

Cute and colorful place. The staff is so nice and helpful! Lots of candy options. Sponge candy taste great but it is better cold in my opinion. The samples were very tasty too!

So many chocolates so little stomach space. Althea's is a lot larger then a lot of chocolate stores in the area, with so many different options. While browsing the store like a kid unable to decide, the workers brought out samples of their wafer chocolate and maple fudge. Both soo good. On the second half of the store is an ice cream parlor with additional outdoor seating. Although I was disappointed they didn't make their own ice cream, Perry's is a close second. The worker did say they make all their sauces though. We settled on a pack of milk and dark chocolate sponge candy (how can you go wrong) which was delicious. I am writing this review just to kill time so I don't eat both bags in one day.

Omg this place is amazing! A must try if you are nearby. They have some amazing buffalo shaped sponge chocolate that makes an excellent souvenir or snack if you live here, lol. The ice cream and coffee look amazing too.

The best Milk Choc Sponge Candy you will ever, ever, *ever* eat. By far. So I heard that the owner of this place (who opens up the store every morning and locks it up at night) likes modern bland R n B soul singers. Hence, she has the Aletheas Keys. Get it? Nobody? How about if I said that the owner girl is on fiyah and she keeps on fallin' in and out of love... with-a-you? No takers? OK. What to get: the best Milk Chocolate Sponge Candy you'll ever taste. Also good: Fudge. This place is incredibly pricey, but their Sponge Candy is easily, comfortably, handily, effortlessly the best I have ever had - anywhere. It doesn't matter if the name of the place sounds like a posh vampire from an Anne Rice novel, it's just that good. I've tried Watson's (my distant 2nd fave), Parkside, Condrell, Tops, Wegmans, you name it, I've probably tried it. You could combine the deliciousness (or not) of all those Sponge Candies, multiply it by 458,393 and you still would not reach the yumminess of Alethea's. Part of it is because the honeycomb sponge part inside is so fresh and melt-in-your-mouth compared to the stale version offered by some rivals. Partly it's how fresh the chocolate tastes compared the all those other stale chocolates. But I think the main advantage that Alethea's has is not the freshness specifically but the chocolate itself. It's so close to European creamy milk chocolate (specifically Swiss), you would think it actually was Swiss. It's just that amazing. American chocolate (sorry) usually sucks... even Dove and Ghirardelli have a little bit of bitterness and chalkiness. Hershey's is the worst amateur facsimile of chocolate I've ever tasted. Nestle is bars of sugar dyed brown. But Alethea's... is like eating a Lindor Truffle wrapped around the honeycomb. Alethea's absolutely rules when it comes to milk chocolate. And therefore they absolutely rule when it comes to milk chocolate sponge candy. However the prices for bags of sponge candy are so steep it's basically out of my range... a bag of sponge candy that isn't even that huge, is $10... insane. And I tried their $8 dessert thingy and it was just a glorified sundae... for $8. So for that reason only, the best Sponge Candy in the world and they are being given a 4. Nah, just playing. The Sponge Candy is worth a 10 out of 5, it's that good. :) I can see why you'd give it less than 5 if you get their desserts and sundaes and such... so don't! Mwahaha. Then again I went there to get some MCSC (Milk Choc Sponge Candy) for a friend and delightfully found out you can order it by weight, so if you just want a little bit, you don't have to pay through the nose. Or as Airport Plaza Jewellers would say, a little bit of Sponge Candy won't cost you an arm and a leg. And since this place has THE best Sponge Candy IN THE WORLD, and their chocolate is right up there too, then it could only really be a 5/5. I've now tried the fudge as well, and it was excellent. It tasted so good that I'd give it a 5/5 and my friend who it was for, adored it too. However it doesn't compare to the MCSC, but then what does? A very large bar of soft gooey yummy fudge cost $5. Not bad at all. It tasted so fresh. I love you, Alethea's. An expensive treat, but a truly incredible one. Best chocolate in WNY bar none. And when I say bar none I mean "with no exceptions" rather than an alcohol-serving late-night establishment for practicing sisters of the cross, which would be "Bar Nun."

I'm taking away a star due to the repeatedly brusque customer service by ladies who seem to dislike either their job or us pesky customers...or both. Enough already. This is not based on just one visit/experience. Time to update on many levels, but particularly the human resources with some lessons in customer service and hospitality. The associates are not cheerful -- dutiful perhaps--but definitely curt and terse . I bore witness to one employee grousing about "the kids that come in off a bus right close to closing time" to which I reminded her that their money is as green as anyone's. It would be in the interest of the shop's leadership to cultivate the next generation of buyers, lest they prefer to go elsewhere. I like Alethea's chocolate too much to do that, but won't tolerate indifferent customer service indefinitely. There ARE several new chocolate shops in WNY that I've sampled via yelp events. They are equally good and offer competition.

This place is stinkin' adorable. Was driving down Main Street with no destination in mind and bam the word chocolate caught my eye and in we went. Was a Friday night around 6:45 and not single car in the parking lot. We were a little hesitant to go in because it was deserted but we decided to give it a go. We walked in and still nobody in sight it was weird. We turned right and there was a vintage quaint little ice cream parlor with seating and a little area to order a treat. The cakes look fantastic they had peanut butter cheesecake, apple streusel and more. $6 a slice so we went with one of each. (Apple and peanut butter) The women working were cold and had no sense of humor which was frustrating because my family and I are extremely outgoing and try and befriend everyone wherever we go, ha, can't please em all!!! There was a whole other section for chocolate, fudge, candy it was amazing, we wanted one of everything. They has samples of fudge and about 100 different molds of chocolate. Chocolate footballs, baseball bats, ballerinas, swimmers, dollar bills even a chocolate titanic. Something for everybody and every occasion. They even has a small sugar free section. We somewhat maintained our willpower and stuck with just two slices between the four of us. We brought them home to eat later on. The peanut butter cheesecake was OKAY and we ended throwing the apple streusel out it had a horrible after taste. My family does not waste food especially dessert but it was not what we were expecting. Bummer. We should just gone to down on the chocolates from the other side of the store.