Roni-Sue's Chocolates

I absolutely loved this Chocolate shop. There isn't a huge selection but what they have is amazing. Their Chocolates are handmade. I took home a six piece box of liquor filled truffles and they were 😋. They also have truffle making classes. The hangings on the walls are very cute. The two ladies running the show were delightful and very helpful. The prices are reasonable. I will definitely be back.

We attended a chocolate truffle class. I’ve taken truffle classes in Belgium 🇧🇪 and England and Roni Sue was the best. She shared really great ideas and information. Everything was very organized. There is a garden out back. We got to bring home ganache that we made. We served it to dinner guests that night with fruit. My 14 year old and husband loved the class too. Roni Sue has creative flavors as well. My co-workers are happy when I bring in Roni-Sue’s chocolates. Roni-Sue is an excellent teacher. Great chocolates, fun classes.

I was excited to find out that this shop carries VEGAN options for the chocolates. And not just one or two, but something like 6 or 7! I'm not vegan, but my husband is, and we've finally found a chocolate shop where we can both have something to enjoy. The chocolates are rich and tasty.

I was really impressed by the chocolate truffles here. I also saw that they offer fun activities and workshops, such as a chocolate-making class. A really great little, local place!

hadn’t been to Roni-Sue’s Chocolates in a bit. The small Lower East Side shop makes a number of different confections, chocolates, and candies in-store….chocolate truffles of a variety of flavors seems to be the biggest sellers and they are great quality and their are so many different ones to choose from. though i stopped by here on a cold April afternoon to grab a coffee AND bc they were selling Girl Scout cookie boxes for a local troop they are supporting. i ended getting a box of Tagalongs and i am glad i did bc i forgot how simply good these cookies are. the coffee i got was fine, though i would say if you’re going to Roni-Sue’s Chocolate…it sb for the chocolates DUH or if they are stocking Girl Scout cookies ha. anyway, it was nice stopping in here supporting a small business as well as the Girl Scouts for a caloric reward of cookies. the service here is easygoing. and if you’re into chocolate & candy making, the store offers classes.

Great last minute Valentine’s Day gift! They shipped a box of truffles to me overnight (sadly I live outside the postmates delivery area and didn’t have time to pick them up before our plans). The flavors were creative, delicious and interesting and came with a key in the box. I’m no truffle connoisseur but they tasted like great quality as well. Loved the flavors, loved the chocolate, loved the presentation in the box. Highly recommend and loved supporting nyc businesses!

This is a small chocolate shop that does indeed have the best hot chocolate! You can't go wrong with the chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate bars and truffles. My favorite are the caramels. Their outdoor patio area is certainly a hidden treasure in NYC and the owner makes the magic!!

The truffles are the best in New York, with both traditional and unique flavors. Roni-Sue is such a sweet and genuine person, and the store is really cute!

hadn't been to Roni-Sue's Chocolates in a bit. The small Lower East Side shop makes a number of different confections, chocolates, and candies in-store....chocolate truffles of a variety of flavors seems to be the biggest sellers and they are great quality and their are so many different ones to choose from. though i stopped by here on a cold April afternoon to grab a coffee AND bc they were selling Girl Scout cookie boxes for a local troop they are supporting. i ended getting a box of Tagalongs and i am glad i did bc i forgot how simply good these cookies are. the coffee i got was fine, though i would say if you're going to Roni-Sue's Chocolate...it sb for the chocolates DUH or if they are stocking Girl Scout cookies ha. anyway, it was nice stopping in here supporting a small business as well as the Girl Scouts for a caloric reward of cookies. the service here is easygoing. and if you're into chocolate & candy making, the store offers classes.

Are you serious about artisan chocolate? So is Roni-Sue! I've been sampling bonbons and truffles from around the world for about 15 years, making it a point to sample the artisan chocolate anywhere I travel. I've been getting chocolate in NYC for years and am familiar with many of the chocolatiers. It's a shame that this was my first stop at Roni-Sue's. It absolutely won't be my last. Friends and I designed a self-made chocolate tour of lower Manhattan and mapped out eight places to hit. Roni-Sue's was our first stop. Unlike many chocolatiers that woo its customers with expensive exteriors, Roni-Sue's looks more like a mom and pop shop (not that that's bad!). The great thing about Roni-Sue's is that she puts the effort into the chocolate. (Side note: a huge pet peeve of mine is the use of packaging by some chocolatiers that clearly costs a lot of money - thus driving up prices - and creates excessive waste. This drives me up the wall.) When we arrived at the shop, Roni-Sue was in the middle of finishing a confection and asked if we wouldn't mind waiting in the back courtyard for a few minutes. A courtyard? We walked to the courtyard and discovered a lovely outdoor haven. What a treat and what lovely ambiance. Moments later, Roni-Sue took her time discussing her chocolate and the flavors with us. I love that when I asked about source chocolate, she told us about the chocolate she makes in-house and the brands she uses for her couvertures. So many chocolatiers don't even bother to answer this question or hire staff that can't speak to the details. We bought two boxes of assorted bonbons. We especially loved the strawberry rhubarb, the sour cherry (my favorite!), the Kiev Cake, but everything was delicious. Roni-Sue knows her flavors and the chocolate is well selected for the individual bonbons. Looking for chocolate in NYC? Don't pass up Roni-Sue's!

Delightful hot chocolate. Really satisfying flavor, perfect temperature, optional marshmallows. There's a richness to it without being too rich or thick, it's milky and smooth and has that real melted chocolate vibe. Respect that there's just one option - milk chocolate - and they do it so well. Nice staff. Not a sit down place but there were people standing and drinking and there's the park across the road. Did not try any of the actual chocolates but they looked very good. Will return. Recommended.

Rhonda is an artist and her love for what she does shows in every chocolate truffle. Do yourself a favor and do as I do and order the hot chocolate-- the best you will ever have. She also has great decor including a trippy matador lamp!

I bought Roni-Sue chocolates for my dad's birthday and he absolutely loved them! He really enjoyed the list that came along with the chocolates explaining what each chocolate was. Our daily ritual was chocolate tasting over facetime. Thank you!

I got a sweet and salty bar and an ice chocolate. Rhonda herself made the iced chocolate is really good, its high quality and its not too sweet.

When my company's vice president suggested we do a virtual chocolate tasting as a team bonding experience since we've all been working from home, I was really excited to help coordinate. Unfortunately she had share this with me about a week before; almost every chocolate chef was fully booked. Rhonda was super understanding and was willing to work with us to find the right time slot and also coordinate the packages for 16 guest! it was a process but glad I was able to speak directly with Rhonda to be able to get this out. During the class, she was very comfortable speaking about her worldwide journey with chocolate and encouraged us to interrupt and make the class integrative. I would only suggest that as we move into a digital way of working, a spotlight and maybe ever a isle with the content of the tasting kit box displayed right behind the speaker can really help guide the audience's attention. Overall, we were delighted to have this tasting with Roni-Sue and support local business and warmed hearted induvial such as Rhonda. Left me wanting more chocolate!

Roni-Sues is a lower east side classic. Great for taking friends or buying gifts for a birthday. The truffles are tasty as are their to-go snacks.

Cute chocolate spot in Essex Street Market. If you're in the mood for a chocolate treat, head your way to Roni-Sue's. These handmade chocolates are delicious and sure to turn that frown upside down. Service was quick and friendly. Everything is neatly displayed. We decided to try the Buttercrunch, which is their signature candy. Loved it! It was buttery, crunchy, sweet, and salty. Melt in your mouth good. So glad we dropped by!

I've been in just a handful of times to purchase truffles but I recently took their truffle making class and it was so great! I highly recommend it, I learned so much about the chocolate industry and business behind it and came away feeling confident in making truffles! The class begins with a tasting that is accompanied by sparkling wine- I can not recommend it enough, it wasn't pretentious at all and was just fun! I went by myself which felt weird at first since it was mostly couples but I still had a great time.

Everytime I stop at Roni-sue's I leave feeling like a million bucks. The ladies treat everyone like family. They are the best! And their chocolates, oh em gee, so delicious. They always have cool new flavors, and all the combinations are delicious. The place smells aaaamazing, and draws me in everytime. Walking away without sampling these babies takes some serious willpower. I have yet to be that strong haha. They also have truffle making classes, that are so much fun! The space where they hold classes is the cutest storefront with an adorable backyard for you to hang out and enjoy the fruits of your labor (in this case the truffles you just made) once you're done. Or you can take them home to enjoy them like I did, one a day, as a sweet treat.

We held our daughter's birthday party at Roni-Sue's. The kids made truffles, which they enjoyed very much. The adults hung out in the lovely backyard.

I was very happily invited by my good friend for a networking woman-only potluck dinner at Rhonda's amazing chocolate and goodie store! We were in the backyard garden, what a luxury in stuffy cemented New York! The event was a treat, from the women, the food, the location, and our host! We tried some of Roni-Sue's specialties and they were to die for!! I loved the espresso chocolate truffle, talk about decadence. One is surely enough, but they are too good to just have one!! We also tried the chocolate and beer brittle. Oh. Em. Gee. These bad boys were out of this world. Like seriously form a different place!! Oh, and the popcorn. Yeah. Chocolate, coffee, spices?! Wow wow wow. I have learned that they host all kind of events at this location, where you can create your own truffles and pair them with booze. For real. I can't wait to do just that!! Rhonda is as sweet and kind as her chocolate truffles are tasty and refined. Definitely come check out this place, for yourself, to have a fun experience with friends, or to get the perfect sweet gift to someone you need to impress.

Mmmmm chocolate. Hot chocolate is excellent, soy milk available. Espresso drinks done right here, nothing like the big chains. Big courtyard in the back. Main attraction is the truffles, which they make in house. Some very creative creations here, including a pomegranate concoction dressed up to look like an eyeball (for Halloween)! And if you're a musician, you're bound to bump into a friend here, because it's right next door to a great recording studio.

What an incredible neighborhood chocolate shop! Roni-Sue makes some great chocolate -- so good, in fact, that on our recent weekend getaway to NYC, we had to come twice in two and a half days. Both times, their stock was a little low because they were still recovering from the massive Valentine's Day rush, but we were able to try some scrumptious truffles from their cocktail collection, each better than the last. The flavors practically burst out when I bit in, and my personal favorites were the dark and stormy, the old fashioned, and the absinthe, all of which basically tasted like the flavor highlights of those drinks combined with rich chocolate.

Outside it just looks like a pretty normal store. Inside......utter and complete awesomeness!!! Welcoming, warm and really cool proprietors/chocolatiers. Buttery yummy cookies. They've got those snowball/Mexican wedding ones which are always a huge hit for my palate. Then the butter pecan cookie...it is just this really soft and chewy buttery heaven on earth, reminding me of pecan sandies but waaaay the f better!!! Truffles are their main biatch. They are beautifully wrapped and boxed up. Makes an awesome and extremely elegant gift! Maybe it's the inner Hannibal in me (freaky!) but I cant stop thinking about the eyeball truffles that were on display in the glass truffle case and what flavor it is?! Beautiful quiet and large backyard to relax in and enjoy some sweet treats by yourself or with a good friend. What could be sweeter than that?

Stumbled uptown this place on my walk back from lunch the other day. Was intrigued by the sign that said "top 10 Best hot chocolate in the United States". Stopped inside, and the lady behind the counter was so pleasant! She talked about some of the cocoa and there were samples to try. All the desserts looked delicious but since I was so full from lunch, I only got the hot chocolate and a chocolate covered pretzel. She steamed the milk right then and there, and indeed the hot chocolate lived up to its reputation. Not too sweet, which is good because that usually ruins other hot chocolates. Just the right amount of cocoa to steamed milk ratio. Will definitely have to come back for more, and to try some of the other desserts!

Get your chocolate on! You know you want it, you know you need it! Just go in, ask Roni for a hot chocolate and sit back to enjoy your hot beverage. Grab a few truffles and some of what ever is seasonal. Everything in this place is fantastic, I'm sure if Roni put chocolate on a dirty subway shoe it would taste good. You are welcome =D

I came in for a cup of coffee. The vibe inside was so cheerful without trying. Lady in a cute uniform that has a reminiscence of 50's Ice cream parlor was the source of this happiness. The visual impact of what I saw was fantastic and she was nice and easy to chat with. My only regret was that what I got from the store was a cup of coffee (American dip) and nothing from the cute chocolate goodness in a glass counter. I will definitely try some of their creations next time.

Found this place using the CUPS app and loved the drink selection they have. They have all the usual coffee beverages but also coolers made from various teas. I ordered the hibiscus cooler and was a tart, sweet and refreshing. There was an audible hibiscus flower on the top made the drink look super fancy and it tasted good. They can also add my hibiscus syrup if the drink is not sweet enough for your preference. My friend got the ice chocolate and was very impressed. This is a chocolate shop so you know that any drink they have involving chocolate will also be delicious. The drink had a dark chocolate taste to it and there were little chocolate pieces throughout the drink. It is a heavier drink than the cooler but still delicious. If you haven't been using the CUPS app definitely get it! Instead of paying $5-6 for the drink it was around 3.50 for each drink! if you want $10 off your cups plan use this code: 2TVG6

I used to work near here so I'd always go for their coffee and also cookies/brownies. They are known for their hot chocolate for drinks... And for their amazing truffles for food. The brownies are incredibly rich also and their cookies are so soft and melts in your mouth. In addition to that, the people working here are amazing. I think of Rhonda as a friend because she's so nice and friendly.

Owner Rhonda Kave opened this new location early last fall on Forysth Street on the Lowest East Side after having a booth in the Essex Market for over six years. I had high expectations for the hot chocolate in this place and thought it was just okay. It wasn't as chocolate-y as other hot chocolates I've had but somehow I did manage to drink it all. I just prefer my hot chocolate a bit thicker. I'd definitely go for the bacon buttercrunch which hits crunchy, sweet, salty, and bitter in one bite to go with the hot chocolate which is $4.00 for a small cup.

We discovered Roni-Sue's Chocolates on our previous visit when we took "The Melting Pot" tour offered by the Enthusiastic Gourmet. Roni-Sue's was one of the stops where we got to sample the bacon and chocolate one and the one with absinthe. So...this time we headed into the Essex Market and went to the spot where it was located last time---and it wasn't there! I was about ready to give up when I decided we should take a walk through the rest of the market where we discovered that it had moved to the opposite end. My husband is a big fan of dark chocolate while I'm not. Yet I really liked the dark chocolate and bacon. Sad to say, it wasn't there when we stopped by :( Instead, we got an assortment of 6 chocolates with each of us choosing 3. They were all good if on the small side (not that that's so bad!). I aimed to get some unique pieces like mimosa which was very tasty. If you are in the LES, stop in and try Roni-Sue's. I doubt you'd be disappointed!

I give them 3 stars because of inconsistency. The first time, I ordered the hot chocolate and it was amazing. Second time, I ordered a latte and was not impressed. I decided, fine - it's a chocolate shop, I'll get my coffee elsewhere. I went back in and ordered the hot chocolate. I was really disappointed that I didn't get the same experience as my first time. The hot chocolate was extremely hot and the taste wasn't the same. I can't put my finger on it but it didn't taste as rich this time around.

Went there for a bachelorette party, total of six. We did the truffle making class. Not only did we make truffles, we also made ganache. We got to take them home in a beautiful box!!! They're very informative and very accommodating. They use the freshest ingredients. They're items are homemade. Would definitely go back!!! Check out their treats. They are creative, delicious, and made with lots of love . You won't be disappointed.

Booked a wine/cheese/chocolate tasting class for my sisters bachelorette and we all had an AMAZING time!!! The whole experience was so fun and everything we ate was beyond delicious!! The women who work there are so knowledgable and you can tell they really enjoy what they do. I would go back here in a heartbeat for another class or just to stop in for a sweet treat! So good!! Thanks so much!

Only reason there is not a 5 star rating is because I could lose a small fortune for the specialty treats here...lol Roni-Sue is a great little store front inside the Essex Market. I came by here only because I was in the area for another candy store and figured I might was well stop in b/c I didn't know when I'd be back in LES anyways. It did not disappoint. There are a whole constellation of treats (my favorites all involve bacon) that you would not get elsewhere, save you made it yourself from the spirit of experimentation you got from walking by Roni-Sue. They have top notch sweets that were made with quality ingredients. The worker there at the time did not hesitate to educate me on all the products (unfortunately would not give me the recipes...). I will be back again to try more of their treats. Try the Pig Candy (Chocolate Covered Bacon). You would be very surprised at how good it tastes

I knew this place on last summer. I used to come almost everytime i had class. They have delicious chocolates and i love to stay in backyard on summer time with friends and talk..I just come back here and tried caramel apple corn.it's so good.

This place is charming, smells like heaven, and has the nicest staff I've ever encountered. Not only are there an assortment of incredible looking baked goods, they were also rated at #2 hot cocoa in the city! There is a display case full of adorable truffles which come in a variety of favors- from classics like chocolate black-out to a collection of "cocktail" truffles (manhattan was delicious). A small place, well worth a stop!!!

i'm not into writing review updates, but i will when it's absolutely necessary. case in point: the pig candy at roni sue's. the pig candy is CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON! it comes in dark or milk chocolate. it's so good that it deserves to be a dessert staple...one that's known far and wide, and spoken of affectionately. even better: when i shared a couple of pieces with a bartender, i ended up being thanked by getting free pours of bourbon. the good stuff, too! i would not be surprised if pig candy also helps re-grow lost hair and generates extra income while you sleep.

Now, I don't really know how to go about rating my experience. It was a positive one. I bought candy. It was expensive. But that is to be expected. I don't normally like candy very much. I ate all the candy I bought in my bed while watching old episodes of Saturday Night Live. Allow me to elaborate on all of these points. I was desperately craving chocolate on my walk home this afternoon. I contemplated going to Doughnut Plant, but then I remembered that I'm not a huge fan of their chocolate doughnuts. I really wanted a brownie. I remembered that there was a little chocolate shop in the Essex market and I had to go in there anyway to buy healthful groceries (seriously, despite my reviews I DO eat vegetables!) So on my way to my favorite vendor, I stopped off and admired the chocolates. There were many varieties of handcrafted candies, including those flavored after desserts, cocktails, beer and pretzels, hibiscus, all sorts of things. There was also little bags of BUTTERCRUNCH (win) and CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON (double win). Since I was a bad little piggy and ate bacon on Monday, I opted for the buttercrunch and two chocolates: the carrot cake and the pecan pie. These three items equalled $13 and some change. A little pricey, but not unusual for handcrafted candies. The lady behind the counter (she HAD to be the owner.... sometimes you just know these things) was incredibly friendly and pleasant. I don't normally eat candy. Seriously, I can count the number of times in the past year that I've bought candy of any sort on one hand. Actually I can count it on two fingers: 2. I've bought candy twice in the past 12 months (I also live near the infamous Economy Candy... you know I had to go see what that was about!). It is not my go-to sweet treat. It just doesn't deliver the satisfaction that a cookie/doughnut/brownie/pie/bubble tea/ice cream/cheesecake/chocolate covered fruit/fondue does for the same caloric/fat content. I'm content eating one cookie. I'm not content eating one piece of candy. I got home and decided I was gonna take a little break before getting some work done. I took the little bag of buttercrunch into my bedroom, crawled up into the loft, got SNL circa 1993 (Chris Farley, David Spade, Norm Macdonald FTW) up on the Netflix, opened the little bag, shooed the cat away, and ate a piece. It was delicious. Then I ate another. I laughed. Ate. Laughed. Ate. Laughed. Ate. Wished I had a glass of water. Laughed. Ate. Turned on another episode of SNL. Got water. Thought "I don't want these candies to go stale, I should probably eat them, they were so expensive!" Took candies to bed. Laughed. Ate. Laughed. Panicked! There was no more candy! I just ate EVERYTHING in one sitting. Or laying. I was laying down when I ate it. Oh. My god. I scurried out of the loft and ran to the bathroom to wash the chocolate and shame off of my face and hands. I smacked myself a few times. I've been a bad, bad girl. I've been careless with delicate chocolates! Now on to the actual review of the candy: The buttercrunch was delicious: delicate, buttery, sweet, covered in delicious chocolate and walnuts. Walnuts wouldn't have been my first choice for this confection because when they break they become powdery and that ruins the experience. Pecans would've been better. OMG pecans. I did appreciate that the walnuts weren't sweet and offset the buttercrunch beautifully. The pecan pie and carrot cake chocolates were not my favorite. I mean they were good, but they're not my thing. The filling in the carrot cake candy was pretty remarkable (almost like a carrot cake custard/ganache type substance) but the flavor reminded me of a meal replacement bar, and not one of the tasty raw ones....... 3.5 stars rounded up

Two words: PIG CANDY Chocolate is a WIN and Bacon is always a WIN Therefore, Chocolate covered Bacon is the ULTIMATE WIN Ahhh! I'm covered in chocolate! .-^------^-. / / \ | o o |9 \ (@) / |_|------|_| Roni-Sue's doesn't need much more of a review than that. I keep a bag in my desk for the primo afternoon pick-me-up. And you better believe I lock my drawer so my co-workers can't get at it. Even my liquor drawer is unlocked.... Yeah... Roni-Sue's pig candy is just that good.

I stopped by the Essex Street Market today to see an exhibit at the Cuchifitos art gallery, located in the Market. It sure was hard to find that gallery (I did finally find it). While I was looking, I visited this chocolatier. What caught my eye was what they call "pig candy," pieces of bacon dipped in either milk or dark chocolate. Now, these aren't subtle, little bits of bacon hidden in chocolate bon bons. No, these are readily-discernible strips of bacon, enrobed in chocolate. Each piece is about a third of a strip. Price: about $1.00/piece. How were they? Well, I wouldn't respect a 21st century chocolatier who didn't try to push the envelope by doing something like dipping bacon in chocolate. Of the two, the dark chocolate was the better. The bitterness of the dark set off the rich bacon fat better. The bacon itself was a litte too chewy, though. I enjoyed eating my bacon candy while waiting on the F Train platform, but I probably won't buy it again. I'll go back and try their caramel walnut chews and their tea & honey lollipops, though. This place calls for a repeat visit and more exploration.

Oh, how far bonbon technology has come! First the Reese's cup, and now chocolates containing the solid version of my favorite cocktails. Plus, thanks to feminism and Roni Sue's handy Essex Market location, procuring heroin -- I mean heaven -- no longer requires waiting for your man or trips to Lexington,125. (My favorite drug of choice this week: Roni-Sue's margarita bonbons.)

I know everyone references the chocolate covered bacon first, but really the butternut crunch is where it's at. A delicate brittle texture with the buttery toffee undertones to chocolate covered in some type of nut all binds together to make the bag disappear instantaneously as if vacuumed from the sky. Then there is the chocolate bacon, yes the pig candy. It is ridiculous. The salt (and fat) of the bacon is covered over beautifully by the taste and texture of the milk or dark chocolate. I tried them both and they were both really good. However, this, as well as the butternut crunch, is just so rich. I vowed to only eat chocolate bacon once a year. Time is coming up for year two... Located inside the Essex Market, Roni-Sue's is a great little shop where everyone is friendly. You can always get a free sample of the butternut crunch.

I don't know how I passed this place when I'm in the Essex Market. I suppose it's not on my grocery list of things to get. I sampled their Butternut crunch and it was really rich and buttery. I don't want to know how much butter they used in it, but I'm sure it's enough to make Paula Dean happy. I also got to try their "Pig Candy" which is dark chocolate covered Bacon. First of all you can't go wrong with Bacon, it makes everything taste better! Just ask the Dessert Truck guys. The crunchy bacon inside was a nice texture and I loved it. Thanks to Jeff C. for sharing both the Pig Candy and showing me the light. The popcorn (BaCorn) that looked like Kettle corn called out to me. $5 for a small bag, I'm savoring it. Normally I'd polish off a medium bag of Kettle corn easily. It's got bacon pieces in it, along with some chile powder and caramel. It packs a punch with sweet, salty, crispy, and a lil bit of spice. I love it! What a wonderous creation, Roni-Sue is a genius with the Pig Candy and BaCorn. If you haven't tried it, go there now!

I did not try the "pig candy," but I did buy six of the truffles...and I'm sad to say that I wasn't really a fan at all. I give two stars for unique flavor choices (beer and pretzels, dark and stormy, 'El Diablo' which was chile pepper, cocoa nibs, and then standards like blueberry, raspberry, coconut, mint, etc.), but out of the 6 I tried, the only one I actually liked was the hazelnut, which seemed to literally be full of Nutella, so it's pretty hard to mess that up. The others just tasted...off. The texture wasn't smooth--more like grainy and dry? and almost salty, no matter what flavor I tried. Also, each of them tasted strongly of chocolate liquer. And the aftertaste was BAD. I had to drink a glass of water after each to get rid of the awful taste. I was pretty disappointed, especially since I spent $14 for 6! Honestly, these are the worst gourmet chocolates I've ever had.

I met Roni -Sue!! She was working the counter of this quaint and adorable shop. Can't wait to eat the dark chocolate covered bacon!

Dropped in for the Grand Opening Party on Monday, October 14th from 5* - 9pm at the new location and the staff couldn't have been friendlier nor the food any better. Great atmosphere a sign of good things to come at their second location, a dedicated B&M in their home 'hood. *Things were admittedly a bit slow to start. PS in true Yelp fashion this new standalone location has been merged with their original and still-existing Essex St Market stall http://www.yelp.com/biz/roni-sues-chocolates-new-york

I've been meaning to come to this place for a long time, and finally, I did. I had just come from Baohaus, and planned on going to Doughnut Plant, but it was closed. I was about to get on the train home, but then I saw Essex Market and remembered that Roni-Sue's shop was there. I almost tried her pig candy at the Brooklyn Flea a few months ago, but they ran out earlier in the day. Of course, I vowed to get some pig candy eventually. By the way, how awesome is the name, pig candy? How can you not want it? Bacon and chocolate are two of the most satisfying (and indulgent) treats, so putting them together has got to be amazing. And it is. Pig candy is perhaps even better than the sum of its parts. So, do you like chocolate? Do you like bacon? Even if you like only one of these things (how could you?), Roni-Sue's pig candy may very well change your ways forever.

I don't know where to begin. TL;DR: Amazing. The toffees are amazing. The caramel is the right blend of texture, buttery, cooked, and sweet. Rhonda is amazing, sweet, and hires great staff. The place is homey and welcoming. I travel for this chocolate sometimes and I bring friends here because they must try it. This is the place I always recommend for the best chocolates. Roni-Sue's... man. I stumbled on this place after the restaurant we planned to go to in Chinatown was closed. I always like to explore new chocolate shops so were wandered in. The shop is small, but they just renovated. The stope appears larger and more open. It's still smallish in the winter, but during nice weather you can go in the back where there is an outdoor patio. The kitchen where everything is made is at this location. I love that items change there. Sure, I get sad when I visit and they are out of something, but there is bound to be something yummy. My two ultimate favorites are the Down the Hatch and the beer pretzel Caramel. Rhonda/"Roni" is known for her flavor layering. She has a gift for mixing spice in her chocolate. The down the hatch has a toffee spiced with serrano chile. And then chocolate and a vanilla smoked salt. It sounds like a lot, but every element is vital and goes oh so well. The beer pretzel caramel is fairly true to its name and easily a favorite among friends. She rotates a selection with the seasons. I currently have a sugar plum chocolate I will be trying that has plum and plum liquor. The truffles are awesome, but my heart is with the toffees if I had to pick one thing. Roni's toffees are not too hard. They give a nice bite. They are buttery, rich and sweet. The ratios are just right. I can eat no other toffee. Other shoutouts: the coconut is legit. You bite into it and you see moist, textured coconut. The Frida is a marriage of coffee and cinnamon. Her alcohol related chocolates do taste like liquor. She is not light-handed with that. The dark and stormy is dark and stormy. Also, she got me into having hot chocolate with a hint of chile in it. It is delicious. Yes, some may view her prices as too high, but I beg the differ. Great chocolate is not cheap. She knows where she gets all her ingredients and is passionate from the very beginning to end of the creation of her products. Her prices are slightly less than Godiva on average and multitudes better. I love this place. I really, really, do.

Everything here is sinfully delicious and perfect in both taste and texture. I can't walk around the lower east side without popping in and grabbing a chocolate covered pretzel or brownie or chocolate chip cookie.

Great bacon chocolates in a $10 or $5 bag. Limited seating though...3 seats so I would go during a quiet time. I could see this place being uncomfortably packed with people. Regular truffles are just too damn pricey! Tea is hot and tasty and they have cinnamon and cocoa powder. Great little place to visit when not busy.

I have to give them an extra star for creativity. Who would have thought to pair chocolate and bacon? After hearing about this new trend for a while I was delighted to find that the place people had been talking about was in the Essex Street Market. I just happened to have found myself in the area after brunch. For $1.50 a piece who wouldn't want to just go ahead and try it for kicks? They offer either dark or milk chocolate. We went ahead and bought both just to see. The milk chocolate was a much better combination in my humble opinion. It tastes slightly like chocolate/caramel candy. You probably would not have known you were eating such a unique combination had someone not told you so. This is one of those spots to take friends or family from out of town to after eating at Shopsin's. They will definitelty get a kick out of it!

I heard "Chocolate Covered Bacon" and all else was lost on me - much to the chagrin of the shop owner, or so it seemed. During our visit in New York, I wanted to find a food-souvenir for my family, and when I heard about the Pig Candy, everything else fell on deaf ears. Unfortunately, they were just "alright". I don't know what I was expecting, really, but they were okay. Sweet, salty, smoky - if you have ever had the Chinese Dried Shredded Pork that you normally use for A Jook (a savory rice porridge), then it actually tasted IDENTICAL to that. The shop owner knew why we were there the moment she saw us, and tried to ply us with the delicious brittle, the only deterrent was the price tag. The place is overpriced, and the slightly sour attitude from the shop keeper didn't make it any easier. I tried it. It was fine. I probably won't stop back if I'm in New York again - I think I would prefer to consume my calories on Jacques Torres goods.

Roni Sue's Chocolates (NY Chocolate Show) - Tried the cranberry and buttercrunch. The cranberry was 4 stars but the buttercrunch was 5. Caramelized butter toffee w/ European cultured cream and butter, hand rolled in walnuts made for a CRACKTACULAR sample! It's no wonder why it's their most popular chocolate! Rich as ever, I didn't know that they use Callebaut for their chocolates. Ample samples made for a very happy camper in me. The Pig Candy was a huge seller as expected and was always sold out everyday I went. Pics: http://www.meetup.com/teamfoodie/photos/477262

Eh...I have to be honest, Roni-Sue just didn't blow me away. Maybe I had too high expectations, but I was hoping the truffles would be amazing after hearing such good things. They turned out to be rather flat-note, however, instead of the more complex/flavorful truffles I was hoping for. I avoided the chocolate-covered bacon, seemingly Roni-Sue's signature item, as that was just too pricey for the serving size. Besides, truffles are usually more interesting since that's where the maker can be more creative--that just wasn't the case here. Don't get me wrong, this is certainly better than Hershey's or its ilk, and next time I'm in Essex market I might give another of the flavors a try; I'll just go in expecting 'pretty good' instead of expecting to have my socks knocked off.

Cute little chocolate shop featuring hand made candies. Expensive hand made chocolates, but the quality is high. The proprietor is a sweetheart, and her quirky-ness comes through in some of the flavors she combines with chocolate, like bacon and cocktail ingredients. I've seen others do this in an overly precious way, or fail completely. At Roni-Sue's it works. If you're conservative about chocolate this place might not be for you, but that's fine. It's easy to get fine unadulterated chocolate in this town - even elsewhere in the Essex Street Market. This place is more playful. And Roni-Sue herself is charming. And thankfully there's nothing highfalutin about the place, except for the prices. Then again, good luck finding cheap handmade chocolates anywhere nearly as good as these. Finally, if there were any doubt about this being a four star place it's location seals the deal. It's one more charming business in the Essex Street Market - a place where you can get everything from Latino grocery items to high end locally produced fancy food products. In my world you can't beat that, and Roni-Sue is part of that magic.

No, this is not about the bacon...it's about the BUTTERCRUNCH. The $6 bag of these salty yet sweet confections is worth the trip alone-For any of you who know how good See's buttercrunch is...this is better...and yes I'm very aware of the seriousness of that claim. It's the best chocolatey snack I've had in quite some time...with the exception of a few select Neuhaus truffles. I tried about a dozen of her truffles and found them to be quite a mixed bag...while the fresh coconut, pecan pie and violette were divine and the red velvet had a really interesting texture, others fell flat for me--including the margarita which i was looking forward to as well as the portly fig. I'd definitely try more of the slightly-overpriced truffles the next time I return for the buttercrunch (aka probably a lot sooner than I'd planned)...as even though I didn't love a bunch of the ones I tried, I applaud her for her creativity and the freshness of her ingredients. The storefront is nothing to balk at and Rhonda is a doll and will give recommendations...and samples! *As a bonus, on Saturdays and Sundays, First prize pies will also be available for sale at Roni-Sues. Double mmmm.

I signed up for the chocolate making class. Very fun. Everything is very well organized prepared and he staff is friendly. Great activity for dates, birthdays, or group outings.