This is my very first Yelp review. I visited this shop a week ago while taking the Chocolate Tour of Beverly Hills for my wife's birthday. I originally thought the richest part of the tour would be the visit to Sprinkles, the original cupcake boutique, unaware of the surprising experience I would soon have. I have had some decent consumer experiences, some not so decent, but Edelweiss Chocolates is the first business to drive me to enter the marketplace of public opinion.
I'll first comment on the less important details: the food. I don't like food, I love it! as the insatiable food critic, Anton Ego, once retorted. However, I'm no foodie. For the right price I'll settle for anything decent. Our tour sampled the chocolate covered marshmallows, the unique, famed staple of Edelweiss. I chose milk chocolate. The chocolate was rich yet complimented perfectly by the concealed white puff, resulting in both a sweet and light treat, as opposed to the overwhelming richness that a cream filled center might provide.
We eventually purchased their chocolate covered graham crackers, which like the marshmallows and Twix, finely balances the milk chocolate with the texture and complimentary flavors of a non-sweet substance.
As for the interior, by no means does this place convey the bold or industrial ambiance that more modern decors boast. And I don't think it's supposed to. Warm colors and a more scattered environment gives Edelweiss a more cozy and homely appeal.
The reason why I rate this business 5 stars is perhaps the one reason why any business should receive that kind of rating, assuming a good product. Service. Many a business boasts of "world class service", but exceptional customer service is, sadly, just that - exceptional. And Edelweiss has it. Immediately upon entering the store, we were greeted by a friendly team of women, busy about their craft, and the owner, a woman whose ingratiating kindness and hospitality made you feel like you were visiting your favorite aunt. Though providing the usual tour of her workshop (this store served as the inspiration and training facility for Lucille Ball's famous chocolate job episode of "I Love Luc"), the owner invited us back following our whole tour for further exploration and leisure. And we did. And she continued to share more of the store's heritage and offered enthusiastically for us to take whatever pictures we liked. Furthermore, unlike machine driven chocolate factories, she demonstrated that each and every chocolate is made by hand, patiently dipped, shaped, and shaved to the right precision for the optimal tasting experience. Edelweiss chocolates are true examples of products made with love.
For those who demand the absolute best or are just plain picky when it comes to food, this may be the best chocolate you ever had or it may not. For those like me who are easily contented, this will more than satisfy. But regardless of what group you are in, you have one more than good enough reason to visit: service that greets you with a smile and truly makes you feel at home. read more