Chocolate Lab

Such a quaint location! Fast and friendly service! The menu is jam packed with chocolate themed yumminess! From the scallops and lobster roll to the delicious cocktails. The Brussels sprouts were my favorite! Also they have amazing treats you can buy upfront! Great spot, a must try in a very happening neighborhood!!

I thought a restaurant called “Chocolate Lab” would be a nice place for candy, but I discovered it also offers many tasty appetizers and entrees. You see, one of my good friends told me I had to eat here. She said they made one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches she had ever eaten in her entire life! So I visited and ordered the grilled cheese. It was indeed amazing! Thick, fresh bread toasted just right, a combination of delicious melted cheeses. Five cheeses blended together, including provolone and cheddar. It was scrumptious. I did not have any of the wonderful chocolates that had just come out of the kitchen, but I took some photos that show how appealing they looked.

If you’re a chocolate connoisseur like myself, then Chocolate Lab is the place for you! First off our server Frankie was so fabulous! He recommended the perfect drinks for me to try. This was my first espresso martini (which was my fav) and the balance of chocolate with the alcohol was perfection! Please please pleaaaase try the shrimp with chocolate risotto! It was giving chai tea/butternut squash soup vibes. It felt like a home cooked meal and was honestly so delicious! We had the cast iron brownie for dessert and I swear it was the purest chocolate I’ve ever tasted with a hint of spice. Perfect balance with the vanilla ice cream on top! All of the staff were so amazing, the chef even asked us how the meal was at one point. Perfect date night! Make sure you also check out all the sweet treats they have as you checkout. Overall, I’m going home satisfied and can’t wait to eat my chocolate truffles and salted caramels! Thank you to the staff for being so awesome!

What an incredible experience at the Chocholate lab. Thank you Owner/Chef Phil. The highlight without out a doubt on a whole other level was the chocholate cherry martini (most amazing decadent drink ever) and the pork belly with chocolate gravy and homemade andouille sausage with fried polenta. Let's not forget the desert which was a whiskey, tobacco, Pueblo chili, cake! Woah! Both the pork belly and cake were featured on the Food Channel. A hidden gem here for any Denver peeps I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Also all chocholate made in house including take home goodies. Check the menus included here and read the ingredients over the top deliciousness 😋 Vanessa, Dougy, Fanky all rock stars.

Truly world class flavors, extremely thoughtful flavor combinations that left my mouth watering even after I couldn’t eat another bite! The scallops, and pork belly and polenta were particularly memorable. Cocktails were fantastic too. Extremely thoughtful, creative, and well made. Would highly recommend! And we’ll be back soon.

Beautiful cocoa infused dishes! With a fun emphasis on herbal and floral notes. Chocolate and culinary lovers will find this place fascinating! Most chocolate flavors are on the savory side, and my dishes had fun elements of wildflower and honey notes. And of course dozens of chemistry and science Decor details throughout for the nerd and all of us! A delightful experience in a small space with a minimalist interior design. This couples perfectly with the film Center just right around the corne, or a stroll through the music store!

We went to the Chocolate Lab as it's been on my to-try list for a while and they're closing (temporarily, I hope) on the 19th. The draw here is that all meals are made with chocolate so it's a very unique experience. It is also a very rich experience so I suggest pairing it with one of their many citrus drink options to cut through the chocolate. In order of pictures: Easy livin Sparkling hibiscus lemonade Meat lasagna Shrimp & risotto Whiskey tobacco cake Flaming queen Not pictured because apparently it didn't save: pork belly over polenta My partner said: each bite is a wonder Which is 1) a lot coming from him and 2) a very good summary of this whole meal Each of the cocktails comes not only with unique flavor but also a whole experience, whether that's smoke, fire, or what's inside it. The Whiskey smelled amazing and he said it was really good. They don't skimp on the pours, the drinks were strong. I don't drink and when I mentioned that the waitress immediately suggested the sparkling hibiscus lemonade and I was so glad she did. It paired well with everything on the menu and helped me get through more of the cake. The pork belly over polenta was an appetizer and it was cooked to perfection. This is a restaurant that knows what it's doing with the meat it uses and the flavors they choose to pair them with. The polenta was melt in your mouth creamy, a perfect pairing to the equally melt in your mouth pork. The meat lasagna I only had a bite of as I'm not a lasagna fan in general, was well seasoned and the chocolate marinara sauce didn't overpower the seasonings at all - I was really impressed! The bread was obviously made in house and it was also fall apart in your mouth good. My partner really enjoyed this entree. I got the shrimp & risotto (you'll notice a theme for me, I love shrimp) and it was one of the best risottos I've had. It was a chestnut chocolate risotto that, again, allowed the flavors to shine without the chocolate being overpowering. The shrimp was perfectly cooked and paired very well with the crunchy (from the chestnuts) risotto. Onto dessert: the Whiskey tobacco cake. It's got an espresso ganache because of the espresso caramel. It was an experience every bite and they pair it with a berry compote to cut through all the chocolate. It's a lot but a good a lot. Finally, the Flaming queen. This was appropriately extra as per my partners request and came out on fire. It paired incredibly well with the dessert and had a creamy flavor. I do want to note that this is a $30 per plate dinner with appetizers, drinks, and dessert sitting between $15 and $20 per just so no one goes in with incorrect expectations. That being said, the atmosphere of the restaurant is really laid back. We dressed pretty casually and there was a good mix of people dressed up a bit (no ball gowns here) and people wearing dressier t-shirts. It is a tight spot so make sure to make a reservation instead of just popping by. I definitely recommend going before they close up!

Delicious chocolates not withstanding, this review judges the establishment as a "restaurant". I wanted to surprise Bob for our 10 year anniversary together. He is a chocoholic, so when I heard about this place on Colfax called "Chocolate Lab" I was intrigued! It had great reviews, but I should have been more weary when I noticed that it was categorized as a specialty shop on both TripAdvisor and Yelp, as opposed to a restaurant. Reservations can be made via the Yelp app. I even included a note to the restaurant, letting them know it was our 10-year anniversary. When we arrived at 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night, there was only one other couple dining, and a couple sitting at the bar. Behind the bar, it looked like they were stocking new inventory. It didn't make for a comfortable dining experience. Cocktails: 4 out of 5 stars! Bob had a couple of the Black Aviations. The flavor was bright and sophisticated. The presentation with the lavender rim and edible floating flower was excellent! First I tried the New York Sour, which was similar to a whiskey sour with the addition of red wine. It was interesting, and tasty. Then I tried the "Ain't that a Kick". It was a cocktail made with tequila, mezcal, Citrus and egg whites. However, they torched the top of the egg whites, which looked great, but made the entire drink way too smokey. Lack of items on the menu: As we started to ask about some of the appetizer options, the waiter informed us that they were out two of the most popular appetizer selections the meatballs and the popcorn gnocchi, two of the flatbread options, and the steak entree, and two of the most popular desserts. He claimed that it had been a "busy week". Reminder, it was only Tuesday night, and the place was empty. Since two of the appetizers we wanted to order were not available, we decided on the cheese platter which had chocolate pairings. We asked the waiter what the cheeses would be, and he told us. After delivering the cheese platter to us, he went about telling us that the platter had three completely different cheeses. I understand that there is an incredibly wide spectrum of cheeses that have unique characteristics and aromas. However, one of the cheeses smelled so pungent, that it ruined the appetizer course. Toffee was also an odd choclate pairing with cheese. However, I was impressed with their interesting Peruvian chili peppers that accompanied the platter. Bob settled on the chicken curry dish which was supposed to have a milk chocolate sauce. I chose the ramen entree. Bob's chicken curry was almost inedible. Large chicken nugget-like sized pieces of breaded chicken in a bright orange flavorless sauce. There was absolutely no discernible chocolate flavor. My ramen noodles were served luke warm, and the so-called dark chocolate consomme just tasted like beef broth. Unfortunately, no chocolate was harmed in the making of our meals. It was really disappointing that they were out of the chocolate mousse. That is Bob's absolute favorite dessert! For dessert we shared the creme brulee which was supposed to have chocolate. It simply tasted like orange-flavored creme brulee. The microscopic crop dusting grated choclate didn't add much to the flavor. The restaurant was not organized enough to read the Yelp reservation to tell us "Happy Anniversary". The did have a "Reserved" sign on our two-top table in the mostly empty restaurant. I think the designation of this place being a gift shop is accurate. I do think it would be an excellent place just to stop in and have a cocktail and a piece of chocolate. I just wouldn't recommend it for a dinner, especially not a special night out.

Phil the mad scientist is back. His new place in the Hilltop area is gorgeous! There's a proper bar that's bigger and so much nicer! From what I gather he was able to put more of himself into designing this space and made it more to his taste! I love it! We dined on some new stuff and some old faves. Everyone of them is delicious! If you haven't dined him it's not what you think it is. The dishes are not sweet as chocolates. I promise you! Let's start with the desert. I've had the pleasure of trying his Tiramisu ( this is new) and it's like no other. If you order this just bear in mind it's decadent but it's to be shared.it's not small. I've always been a fan of the Pork Belly. The Carrots are new. So unique. I expected it to be soft but it retained the structure but glazed with dark chocolate with bourbon made this outstanding! The lasagna is a blast from the past. The cocktails are boozy and they all look good enough to drink! And they all are! I missed them a lot. This is part two and can't get any better than this! The Starters: Pork Belly- crispy polenta, dark chocolate, andouille gravy ( this dish was featured on the Cooking Channel). CARROTS: bourbon dark chocolate glazed Entree: MEAT LASAGNA beef and pork blend lasagna with chocolate marinara, toasted bread, parmesan. Cocktails: Mistress brandy, green chartreuse, banana, citrus, hibiscus, chocolate , rose. (first place winner local competition and third place in the nation) All Shook Up Off the menu cocktail but if you like peanut butter order this! Delicious! Welcome back Phil!

This place was just reopened 13 days ago. Ambiance was pretty intimate. Service was great. Server was very nice and friendly and was very informative regarding the dishes they serve. Beef stroganoff was very good. Sauce was infused with chocolate. The lasagna was also very delicious. The pork belly with polenta was excellent. The rest were just superb.

If you're in Denver and looking for a restaurant that combines chocolate with savory dishes, then Chocolate Lab should be your go-to destination. The restaurant has an amazing ambiance, and the menu offers a unique and creative twist to the traditional dishes. One of the dishes that I particularly enjoyed was the Dark Chocolate Pork Carnitas Nachos. The pickled onions, pickled orange supremes, black beans, cotija cheese, red bean adobo dark chocolate salsa, and pico de gallo combined perfectly with the juicy pork carnitas to create a mouthwatering and savory dish. The Pork Belly is another must-try dish at Chocolate Lab. The Cajun pork belly, pan-fried polenta, and andouille chocolate gravy is a combination that is bursting with flavors. The pork belly was cooked to perfection, and the andouille chocolate gravy was a unique and delicious twist to the traditional pork belly dish. The Short Rib is another standout dish at Chocolate Lab. The 48-hour braised rib was tender and flavorful, and the blackberry chocolate glaze added a perfect hint of sweetness to the dish. The wild rice and wok vegetables complemented the short rib perfectly, making it a well-balanced and tasty dish. The Scallops were a highlight of my visit to Chocolate Lab. The pan-seared scallops were cooked to perfection and paired perfectly with the carrot bourbon white chocolate creamy polenta. The chili lime ginger pecans added a unique crunch to the dish that brought everything together. The Sea Bass was another outstanding dish. The crisp bok choy and dark chocolate mango chimichurri gave a perfect balance to the dish, while the sea bass was cooked perfectly to create a melt-in-your-mouth texture. For dessert, the Tiramisu and Cast Iron Brownie al a mode were both amazing. The Tiramisu was creamy and decadent, with a perfect balance of dark chocolate mascarpone icing. The Cast Iron Brownie al a mode was moist and rich, and the vanilla ice cream added a perfect touch of sweetness. Overall, if you're in Denver and looking for a restaurant that offers a unique and creative take on dishes, then Chocolate Lab should be your go-to destination. The dishes are full of flavor and creativity, and the ambiance is perfect for a romantic night out or a night out with friends.

Don't be fooled by the name. This place is much more than chocolate. If you're looking for well balanced, beautifully presented cocktails and great food, this is your place. The staff is personable, knowledgeable and talented. The other patrons are fun to mingle with at the bar. I'm so glad this place is near my house as I will be a regular here!

When I heard "Chocolate Lab" I thought brown Labrador Retriever dog meat. When I was told that the Lab part connoted the science kind rather than the dog kind, my mind filled with imagery of one of those overly pretentious eateries with over the top food "fusions" celebrated by the easily influenced and those paid to influence. Upon entry, however, I was pleasantly surprised. Chocolate Lab is a small restaurant that serves food that tastes like it was made from scratch (in a good way) and features an awesome wine list. Waitstaff were friendly, made us feel at home, and knew the menu. The restroom was clean and thoughtfully designed. Aside from a long delay in getting my glass of wine, all was good. I'd go again.

Well, I wish I could write a great review of my experience at the Chocolate Lab, but sadly that isn't the case. I'm usually not one to blast on Yelp for a bad time, but I promised a surprise date night to my partner for a couple weeks & was so stoked to take her to the Chocolate Lab. I got a reservation weeks in advance & didn't tell her where we were going. I broke it to her the night before so she'd be excited- and she was sooo anxious to try it out! We parked in the dedicated garage & walked in 2 minutes before our reservation time. The restaurant is cute & quaint, maybe 6-7 tables total plus 3-4 seats at the bar. Parking & the cute space are the only reasons for 2 stars, not 1. We waited 15 minutes at the front while one lady served chocolates to a couple... telling them of every ingredient & infrequently glancing at us with no real acknowledgment of us. I also walked over to the bar to hopefully be seen, but the female server looked uber-stressed about her 3 tables & couldn't make time to ask me if I needed anything. Same from the bartender serving his 3 guests at the bar. So, we walked out after 15+ minutes. I called to cancel my reservation since the Yelp app wouldn't let me do it online, and they picked up right away & were confused by us leaving. Really? You could answer the phone in 10 seconds but not acknowledge 2 guests standing at the entrance for 15 minutes??!! All in all, the Chocolate Lab really let me down... and my date too, as I had talked up "date night" for 2 weeks & we left upset. I had a bad week & was so looking forward to supporting this local business searching for their next home, but sadly they're not going to get my business. Oh & the tacky sign blasting your landlord was maybe a sign that customer service isn't your forte, but I ignored & continued anyway... my bad. Good luck y'all!

It was a quiet Wednesday. Service was obviously great and attentive. The drinks were divine (they do take a bit to prepare so we ordered the second drinks a little early haha). We had the pork belly and nachos and we were too full to get entrees. So we just got a lot of dessert instead. Had a discussion with Phil over the chocolate bar about his creations and we took home a bag full of delicious truffles, almond bark, and other treats. We will be going back often.

So happy chocolate lab is back!!!! Love the new space. My lips and mouth are so thankful to have your truffles again. And the whiskey tobacco cake. I've been craving that for a year. I'm looking forward to the expanded menu! Thanks, Phil! You have something special.

This business has closed permanently. We talked to the neighboring restaurant, which is delightful by the way.

Yay that Phil and the Chocolate Lab are back! Best Mac and Cheese ever! They had also just invented another amazing cocktail minutes before I arrived. And it was amazing! Chai Chocolate Martini! The space is bigger and very comfortable. I cannot wait to go back and see what else they have added.

Laziness is just another form of incompetence. Accepting reservations through OpenTable and not alerting Google or other services of the business closure is just pure incompetence. I brought family from the Carolinas to experience the mastery that this restaurant once was, but ended up looking like a fool. Should have called I guess. Thank you for this lesson. I hope you return but under better common sense management

The cuisine and service are delightful! Positive energy and creative meals and drinks are Denver''s finest!! Very grateful for this special gem of a bistro! The use and celebration of chocolate are unique and memorable

I wanted to say hang in there after The Lab closed. It was such a lovely experience to enjoy and what hard work it took to try to keep it going! Be kind to yourself-it's so easy to dwell on the negative.

What a nice surprise! I met my friends on a week night evening to catch up and was blown away by the food, ambiance and drinks. I had a white chocolate cocktail and we shared sea bass with bok choy and scallops on pureed carrot polenta. It was definitely more complicated than how I explained it but delicious. It's an intimate space and well designed. And you feel like you're being served by friends. I definitely recommend, especially if you're looking for a creative menu and experience.

one of the best spots in Denver. the owner and head chef is fantastic, and saying the food is fantastic is an understatement. lovely establishment.