ACKC

Must try the Sea Salt Caramels! Enough said.

Bf and I endured the mile-​long walk to here after a show at the Warner Theatre on a bitter winter night. We wanted dessert and ACKC delivered.
We had a couple of hot cocoas and a slice each of lemon cream cake and strawberry shortcake. The drinks were rich and luscious; the cakes were moist and beautifully crafted. I’ve thought about returning but can’t now that it’s closed.
It didn’t get 5 stars because of the location but I guess it doesn’t really matter now.

I am totally down with the concept of this place. I am a chocolate lover, so a chocolate bar is always something I am up for trying. I like the set up and the little tables, that lend itself for coming on date or just by yourself. I guess that depending on the time of the day you come, you will have different experience with the crowd/​noise level here. My experience was on the loud/​crowded side.
I came on a Saturday night, after having dinner in Dupont. I sat at the bar, since it was my first time and I wanted to be able to ask questions. The staff was friendly and very helpful. It was close to 9pm and I was not expecting to see much of a crowd, and there was not that many people at the time of my arrival. But it all changed in the space of 15 minutes. People kept coming in and all of a sudden I was surrounded by a crowd waiting to put their order, right at the bar. That took away from the experience, since having someone watching my every move and hearing every bit of my conversation is not exactly what I had in mind. People can sometimes forget to respect other patron’s personal space.
I decided to try their pumpkin spice hot chocolate, since apparently this is one of the favorites. I have a sweet tooth, but this was beyond what I can take in the sweet department. I couldn’t finish it. I knew that their drinks are a little over the top, but I was expecting something different. It just tasted like an overload of sugar that distracted from the pumpkin and chocolate flavors. It felt like they were trying too darn hard.
Like I said, is hard for me to say no to chocolate and I do want to LOVE this place. So, I guess a second try is in order. But maybe next time I will try their chocolates, cakes, and pastries and maybe pair them with some wine instead.

This is a great place to perch with your laptop. It’s also perfect for meeting up with a small party of folks, without a rowdy backdrop.
As reiterated in countless reviews, the hot chocolates will make your toes curl just a tad, but don’t sleep on the chai. It can hold it’s own as well.
The space is cozy, unique and welcoming with free wifi, couches, small tables, high top tables and a few other nooks and crannies to settle into.
Plus, the bathroom manages to always smells breezy. I don’t know how they do it.
(And I do not challenge you to challenge that.)

I love this little chocolate bar in the Logan Circle area. I stopped in one night for dessert and ended up purchasing a box of chocolates due to how different the flavors sounded — lavender and pistachio, tiramisu, salted chocolate with espresso! I savored all of them and can’t wait to purchase some as Christmas gifts later this year.
The milkshakes are tasty and all the cakes look amazing.
Plus, it has such a cool vibe inside. This is one place to check out if you’re looking for some delicious desserts. There is also a coffee and wine bar.

Heaven for those with a sweet tooth. Shakes are the best in DC.

This place was a bit of a let-​down. I’d heard rave reviews of their diva drinks and was excited to try the shake version.
I ordered the Grace, a salted caramel and chocolate shake. It wasn’t actually a shake though. The texture more closely resembled an icy cold Yoo-​hoo, thicker than milk (at least the skim stuff I drink…) but by no means a milkshake.
The flavor was also not impressive. Imagine an already sweet, thick chocolate milk — and then add caramel syrup. None of the salt notes came through for me; it was simply overwhelmingly sweet.
Milkshakes are a major weakness of mine, so I did have high hopes.
My husband ordered the brownie, which they kindly offered to heat up. It arrived at the table warm, with little puffs of whipped cream, looking cute. Once again, it was nothing to write home about. The brownie was kind of dry and just unimpressive.
The prices here aren’t cheap and when it isn’t difficult to make brownies or milkshakes at home, well…
They did have a lot of pretty chocolates in interesting flavors, so maybe that’s the way to go. I just doubt I’ll ever come back to try them.

ACKC is pretty fabulous, even so much I’m tempted to give it 5 stars… maybe after a few more visits. Plus there is one in Alexandria that I want to check out…
First off the look of the place is very cute. They have hand painted café tables. I loved the Audrey Hepburn and Lucielle Ball ones. There are also paintings for sale hanging on the walls.
The names of the drinks are fun! The Liz Taylor (chocolate with lavendar and pistachio whipped cream), the Judy Garland (chocolate hazelnut with rainbow sprinkles) or the one I tried, the Doris Day (chocolate with marshmallows) You can have the option of making the milk shakes with skim milk which i LOVE.
They were proud of just winning the award for «DC’s Best Small Business» and they also have best hot chocolate in the COUNTRY awarded by Travel & Leisure, which definitely makes me want to return once it gets colder… But one thing is for sure — whether it is hot or cold outside, ACKC is a good place to go.

Venu N. is so right: the tables — while unique and beautifully painted with lotus blossoms or Audrey Hepburn’s likeness — are super wobbly here. For some reason husband and I seem to be wobbly table magnets, but this one was one of the worst. A mere elbow lean had the whole thing teetering precariously, threatening to dump our champagne in our laps.
Speaking of champagne, we were here for Top Chef Carla Hall’s ACKC cookie launch (thanks to the fab Dana Z.). The champagne flowed freely, the cookie samples came sporadically, and Carla herself circulated the small, pop-​art space, dazzling guests with her grace and charm. Apparently one of ACKC’s co-​owners, Rob Kingsbury, approached Carla at this year’s Taste of Del Ray with the proposition that she sell her cookies in their stores, et voilà: a few months later she’s launching her cookie line, available at all ACKC outlets and select area Whole Foods. Genius, Rob Kingsbury. I wholeheartedly endorse these bite-​sized morsels of deliciousness, particularly the Pecan Shortbread with Vanilla Salt and the spicy, savory Cheddar Pecan.
As for ACKC’s Washington store, it’s cute. Small and vibrant, decorated with co-​owner Eric Nelson’s mosaics and mirrored acrylics. It’s a pleasing, Warhol-​esque combination of still-​life and 1950s Hollywood starlets. Once the space filled up with people, tho, it grew almost unbearably hot inside, and husband and I couldn’t resist ordering a Milkshake Diva — the Doris Day — a chocolatey shake with chocolate bits and mini marshmallows (bonus: the shakes can be ordered with skim milk to alleviate the guilt and taste as sinful as if they were made with whole). This shake was thick, creamy, and flavorful, but at $ 5.75 not something I’d indulge in often.
ACKC is a fun little spot. Who can argue with chocolate?
[Top Chef: Carla Hall]

I went in for a «to go» brownie. My plan was to smuggle it into the Studio Theater and eat it during «Pop». Little did I know I was walking straight into a drag show. And I’m talking at ACKC, not at the Warhol show next door!
Literally, there was a guy in drag on «stage» doing his act when I walked into this little café. Every table was filled and even the standing room area. Did I let that stop me from acquiring my brownie? Hell no!
What’s a little claustrophobia when a girl is hungry and needs a chocolate fix? End of story the brownie was delicious and the atmosphere at ACKC was more entertaining than the play next door I came to watch.
The owners and staff are delicious too! Super nice!
(Caveat: I actually went here once long ago, I think it was in their first month of opening. No problem getting a table then. Glad I finally made it back. I can see a few hundred/​thousand other people have discovered the area/​place and I’m glad to see it is successful, even if it means I can’t find a place to park my car anymore.)

Got the black forest cake, chocolate raspberry cake and hot cocoa.
Cake slices are very small and overpriced. Hot cocoa was very watery and tasteless.

This place has a lot of potential but it just isn’t up to par yet.
The good: The passion fruit macarons are so good that I feel like shedding a tear when they are gone. The chocolate and coffee ones are super tasty too.
The bad: Brunch is hit or miss. The chocolate stuffed French toast with lavender is superb though the other options disappointed. The egg dishes were way overpriced and not up to snuff. Service is not that great. I have always had to wait even if I just order something from the counter. Last, but not least — they have the most uncomfortable chairs and use plastic cutlery.
The ugly: The décor is a little much. Kind of a kindergarten teacher meets drag queen look.

ACKC just made my rainy day!
I had the Brigitte Bardot hot chocolate which was so good. It was so rich that I couldn’t finish it but that is definitely not a bad thing. It had my taste buds doing flips and jumping jacks.
Then my wallet ended up doing a couple of flips itself due to the fact that ACKC has a happy hour. A hot chocolate happy hour… who would’ve thunk?!?

I don’t fall into the girly stereotype where shoes become a fetish and tubs of ice cream are for drowning out feelings. I don’t usually like chocolates, I find them too sweet, BUT the Lavender Pistachio bar from ACKC is heavenly: Belgian couverture infused with lavender de Provence and salt roasted pistachios.
I now understand PMS cravings for chocolate, I just hadn’t found the chocolate bar for me yet. This is the chocolate bar that I use to bribe myself with to process one more client account at work. I always buy 1 extra bar in case other people are around when I want to eat some and i am obliged to share.
The earthy flavor of the lavender is the best part of the bar for me. The tiny dried flowers are aromatic and give good bursts flowery/​grass flavors when eaten whole. The sea salt pairs nicely with the chocolate too. I like when i get a small shaving of salt on my tongue in the midst of creamy chocolate. Pistachio adds a nice toasted smell and a bit of texture to the bar.
The esprseso, roasted almond with shoyu, and nibs are my other favorites. I don’t mess with any fruits or spices in my chocolate.
5 stars (with conditions and other fine print)
I don’t order food or eat there, I just buy chocolates and jet. I haven’t taken a chocolate class either. In my experience the majority of people in there are tourists, so most people are confused about where to order, who to buy chocolates from, if drinks are going to be sent to tables, etc. I expect this and just ask to be rung up wherever there is a staff member. They’re nice and helpful.
Treat this like a nice neighborhood chocolate café, no need to get expectations sky high. If you read about this place in a newspaper or magazine and are driving X miles on a special night with out of town guests in tow… you might be disappointed, you might not. Go with an open mind, not one published dude’s opinion.
I total agree with another Unilocaler’s (tad bit harsh) assessment of the décor. It’s not how I would choose to decorate but — what do you expect from a place that names it’s chocolate drinks after famous people? This place is that sort of kitchy.
The chocolate has been accused of being stale! Out of approx. 40 bars and truffles I’ve bought, none have been stale. I go about once a week and usually aim to get 3 – 4 bars and usually one flavor is sold out (aka they make small batches which sell out frequently).
Wish I had a lavender pistachio bar right now!

Although the place is a bit small with only around 10 tables, the hot chocolate was very good. I also liked that it had a coffee shop vibe where you could chill out with some friends, but it was just a bit nicer than your typical Starbucks.
The downside was the service and the price. However, it’s a great place to go on occasion and I’ll definitely be back.

Coming from a chocoholic of sorts:
Kingsbury Chocolates are so good. The flavors are awesome. I tried a goat cheese truffle which was right on the money. I love their truffles. The store itself has a café for winery and caffienation. There’s also art hanging that I believe you can buy.

Why must you RUIN!11! me?
Your people are as nice as ever. Your store just as charming. Your macarons even bigger than I remember. But for the love of god please have your macarons clearly labeled or better drill your employees on what flavors you have.
I wanted to try one matcha and one red velvet because they were new flavors. I get home, bite into the green tea one and discover to my utter excitement that it’s actually mint. Only my favorite flavor that you guys carry ever. And you haven’t had it in your store for ages. If I’d known I would’ve bought every last one you had in the store. Instead I was reduced to slowly savoring the four bites while weeping over the fact that I could’ve had a huge mint macaron stash. Sigh.

As much as I love truffles, and chocolate in general, I don’t buy them here. Yes, they may be the best in town, but at these prices, I may be some as a gift but never to sit down and enjoy myself.
That said, I come here for the coffee, and I don’t think it’s the focus here.
I ordered a triple soy latte. The helper said, «triple soy?» and looked to the mgr-​type. He clarified the term triple meant triple shot of espresso. Good — glad I didn’t have to (and I’m the first to ask? Hmmm, obviously other real coffee people don’t come here).
The latte arrived looking like café au lait. Helpful Hint — they make great latte across the street at Mid City Caffe — maybe they can provide some additional training.
I go outside to wait for a friend at the cute tables… boom — broken chair! No, I didn’t go to the ground — only one side broke… just a close call.
I did notice the seasonal «top you own Sundae» bar. Cute idea — may need to come back for this. They also have a wine bar, and as much as I likes my wines, I just couldn’t see coming into the confectioner/​coffee bar/​sundae bar/​sandwich shoppe and sip on a shiraz at happy hour. This, along with the gifty section gets me confused as to what ACKC wants to be.
The interior is attractive and stimulating… has the look of an umbrella shop straight out of the French early ‘60s film, «Les parapluies de Cherbourg» mixed with a burlesque stage. I keep going in expecting to see Christina Aguilera break out into Lady Marmalade.
Now THEN, I would buy some chocolates!

I used to like this place, but I had a terrible experience here that I wanted to share.
My girlfriend is a chocolate-​head, and when we moved to the neighborhood she immediately fell in love with ACKC. She recommended it all over the place, and was responsible for her boss buying hundreds of dollars in little holiday gift cards for the office. In other words, a key word-​of-​mouth asset to any local business.
About a month ago, she went back to use her gift card, and found out that it could not be read by the machine at the counter. When she said that it had around $ 20 dollars on the card, they asked if she had the previous receipts to prove it, then accused her of finding the card outside on the street and coming in trying to scam them. They said that if the card couldn’t be read, then they had no way of knowing if there was money on it, and there was *nothing* they could do. We were appalled.
Sorry, but if you have a technology that fails, you as a business owner should take responsibility for it instead of blaming the customer. That gift card had already been paid for. It wasn’t our fault they have the gift card system that they do. Now instead of a loyal customer spreading the word, they have one that has had her good will trampled, and been accused of being a thief and a liar.
Sorry ACKC, we won’t be back.

Although a bit of a trek unless you are in a car, this cute little cocoa bar/​art gallery near Logan Circle is worth the trip if you are a hot chocolate fan. With the drinks named after divas such as Judy Garland, it’s hard to go wrong. They literally scoop the chocolate out of canisters on the bar– no mixes here! Just fresh, rich tasting hot chocolate. I would personally recommend the Marilyn Monroe-​a tasty white chocolate base with mint and oreo. I have yet to find a place with white hot chocolate, something I attempted to make myself, but this place perfects it. The hot chocolate is definitely worth it, but be prepared for a line, and stealthy moves for the limited seating. The whole place is decorated with colorful glass mosaic art, which gives you a happy warm feeling that matches your drink
In addition to the hot chocolate, I think they serve coffee, cheese, and pastries, but is that really what you want to go for?

First of all, I would totally give this place a 3.5 stars for my first experience.
We came here for the Couture Cupcake, but we were pleasantly surprised with the ambience and selections of other (chocolate, duh) desserts. Sadly, when we got there (5 PM on a Sunday), there were other two cupcakes left: the Bella Lucia (vanilla with nutella and buttercream frosting) and the vanilla with raspberry frosting. We got the Bella Lucia one.
Maybe because it was hanging out there for so long, the cupcake was dry. However, I like the frosting a lot. It was creamy, and the nutella was a nice touch to the overall cupcake.
I’d go back to this place to try the truffles/​frozen desserts and to stick around for the ambience (I like being around people).