Zenaida Chocolate Lounge

Thanks Todd, Brianna, Jon, Sarra and Sean for such a detailed review.  Please visit us again.
(Note: Review contributed by readers)

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Zenaida Chocolate Lounge

414 S. Main
Ann Arbor, MI, 48104

I had a lot of hope for this place, since it seemed that it would offer an actual good source for chocolate in AA in comparison to the crap they dish out at Kilwin’s, Chocolate Café and Schakolad. Instead, it turned out to be what I consider the prototypical AA restaurant – it lures you in with a halfway innovative and interesting menu and a cool space, and then drops you on your head with abominable execution. There is no doubt that this was the most comically terrible experience I have had at an AA eatery, and I was there on a Friday night so they should have been at their best.

Where to begin… Well, we walk in and see a “Please seat yourself” sign, although we were told that some of the couches/tables/beds were reserved. Luckily the place was pretty empty at the time (~7:30, still a little early for a lounge I guess) so we grabbed a bed and some extra chairs. Others after us weren’t so lucky; one group obeyed the “seat yourself” rules and took the couch next to ours, only to be evicted minutes later by the dishwasher coming out of the kitchen in full rubber glove regalia to inform them that in fact that couch was reserved. Ok, if you take reservations, perhaps you shouldn’t have a “seat yourself” sign.

After a few minutes of confusion about the ordering protocol (do we order at the counter or do they wait on us?) we managed to get the last two menus in the half-empty place. We perused the menus and saw a lot of items that sounded good, so we walked up to the case to see if we could get a look at things to narrow our choices down. Unfortunately, the case was pretty much bare except for a little mangled piece of chocolate mousse cake, a couple of cheesecakes and a few little tarts. To our inquiry of where the truffles are (there is a menu item that’s a selection of 4 truffles) we received the reply that in fact they were out of truffles, although they did have Vosges caramels for $2 each. This should have been our major hint to get the heck out of there, because we all knew from past experience that Vosges also follows the high-promise poor-execution methodology.

We decided to start out with a round of hot chocolates. We’d heard rumor that people complained about the small size and high price, but that the owner/chef had said that if you can finish the rich, decadent cup and still want more, just tell her and she’ll give you another one free. After waiting for 15 minutes for the beverages to come out, the joke was on us. They were all tepid, like they had been ready for 12 minutes before the waitress (who was a complete idiot, and had obviously never been a waitress nor bothered to look over the menu before) got around to bringing them out. Mine was the “best” of the bunch, with the best meaning that I would probably get it again if it cost half as much and was guaranteed to be hot. It was the Zenaida signature hot chocolate, flavored with rosewater (perfect proportion) and orange (non-existent). The dulce de leche one was what one would expect. The Carmen, which was supposed to have chiles and cinnamon, had hints of cinnamon but no trace of chiles and was a major letdown. After this we concluded that the owner could make the promise of free seconds not because the hot chocolate was so rich and decadent that one could not possible have room for another, but that nobody would wait around for 15 minutes for a subpar $4 hot chocolate.

To go along with the hot chocolates we had ordered the dessert cigars, which were corn tortillas rolled with cinnamon-sugar, fried and topped with gelato. We’d ordered dulce de leche gelato on top, but when the waitress brought it out she informed us that it was French vanilla because “that’s the way it comes.” What this is code for is, “I have no idea what the heck is going on and didn’t feel like telling the cook to scoop from the other bucket.” About 10 minutes after we ate the half-fried, doughy cigars with the French vanilla and Hershey’s syrup we saw someone come out of the kitchen with a half gallon of Edy’s French Vanilla. So not only was it vanilla and not dulce de leche, it was ice cream and not gelato.

Resolved to get some satisfaction before leaving we ordered the Belgian Bailey’s – a Belgian waffle with gelato of our choice drizzled with a Bailey’s & chocolate sauce. We again ordered the dulce de leche gelato on top. The waitress comes out 5 minutes later and asks “So, you wanted a dulce de leche hot chocolate with that, right?” Um, no. We had to go get a menu and show her than we had a choice of gelato. When the dessert came out 10 minutes later our hope was briefly renewed – it looked like it should and yes, it did have dulce de leche gelato on it. Who would’ve thought! We were brought crashing down once again when we dug in – the waffle tasted burnt even though it wasn’t, like they had burnt oil onto the waffle iron and never cleaned it off, and there was no trace of Bailey’s in the chocolate sauce/Hershey’s syrup (one of our group has an aversion to Bailey’s and confirmed that it wasn’t in there).

At this point we were resigned to the fact that no matter how hard we tried, we were leaving unsatisfied. We’d just get the bill and leave. Or maybe we would just wait around for the waitress to bring it by. And wait. And wait. The couch next to us was also thoroughly disgusted with their experience. They had been all lovey-dovey when they sat down and ordered their mousse cake, then had disgusted and ticked-off looks on their faces afterwords. They just gave the waitress their credit card and told her to ring them out. Once we saw this we walked up to the counter and paid rather than waiting any longer. One of our group asked the waitress if there was Bailey’s in the chocolate sauce. She had to reference the menu and said that no, it was “Gr-, Grand Murn-yer” (there was also a Belgian Grand Mariner). Then my friend pointed to the item above it, the Bailey’s version. So she replied that yeah it’s Baileys, and he retorted with “yes, I know it’s supposed to be Bailey’s, I’m asking you if there was actually any in the sauce because it didn’t taste like there was.” At this point, unable to come up with a reply that met even her low standard of intelligence, she just reiterated that yes there was Bailey’s in it and we left it at that.

During the course of our stay we saw the chef/owner talking to one of the large parties behind us; I’m not sure if she was just chit-chatting or if they were mad as well. It looked kind of like the latter. When she walked back to the kitchen I noticed she was wearing stiletto-heeled boots. What kind of chef wears heels? The answer, apparently, is one who had a lot of money laying around, friends & family who told her she was a good cook to not hurt her feelings, and a willing victim in the populace of Ann Arbor.

As an final indication for how bad our experience was, even after we had dropped around $30 on three hot chocolates and two bad desserts, we had to go to Busch’s and get some cookie dough and ice cream to make our own cookie sundaes. Our plan now is to get the owner of Chocolat in Brimingham to open a branch in AA to put the existing chocolate places out of business. In the meantime we will be going exclusively out to Birmingham when searching for chocolate, because Chocolat is truly a transcendent experience.

Reviewed by Todd, with concurring opinions from Brianna, Jon, Sarra and Sean
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Comments

[Ann Arbor Foodie]

But my experience was just as real as anyone who had a good experience. The V-Day dinner consisted of a sorbet starter, an overdone poorly flavored chicken dish with rice and rose petals (note, no vegetable), and chocolate fondue and hot chocolate. We had to send the fondue back to be heated because it was served cold.

The desserts were the best part of the meal, so if all you had were the dessert specials you might feel like you got both good food and a decent deal. As it was, the service was awful (friendly, but incompetent). They'd plopped cups and plates and silverware wherever convenient instead of placing them in front of the clients who'd be eating the food, causing us to reach across the table and each other for our food and silverware. We paid $30/person (a $60 dinner plus tax and tip) to be served a paltry meal that consisted of three sugar courses on a dirty table with tiny paper napkins more suited to a coney island than a $30/person "somewhat fancy" dinner.

[Ann Arbor Foodie]

But my experience was just as real as anyone who had a good experience. The V-Day dinner consisted of a sorbet starter, an overdone poorly flavored chicken dish with rice and rose petals (note, no vegetable), and chocolate fondue and hot chocolate. We had to send the fondue back to be heated because it was served cold.

The desserts were the best part of the meal, so if all you had were the dessert specials you might feel like you got both good food and a decent deal. As it was, the service was awful (friendly, but incompetent). They'd plopped cups and plates and silverware wherever convenient instead of placing them in front of the clients who'd be eating the food, causing us to reach across the table and each other for our food and silverware. We paid $30/person (a $60 dinner plus tax and tip) to be served a paltry meal that consisted of three sugar courses on a dirty table with tiny paper napkins more suited to a coney island than a $30/person "somewhat fancy" dinner.

[Darcy]

I am not just surprised, but somewhat disconcerted by this review and the comments of Brianna and Ann Arbor Foodie, because they appear as not just the polar opposite of my experience at the cafe, but they are so in an unreal, even, surreal way. I am a frequent visitor at the cafe, and never have I found the food or the service to be anything but wonderful. The food - the various chocolate drinks, each for a different mood, are delicious, smooth, comforting, zesty; the fondues are exquisite, always accompanied with just the right amount and assortment of fruits, biscuits, and goodies; and the myriad desserts, of which I personally recommend their Dessert Cigar, are quite on par with anything you can get in Soho in London, where I am from. The ambience is quite simply sublime - cozy corners, charming, yet comfortable furniture; and always a great selection of music. I have often had occasion to talk with the owner, as she mills amongst the guests making sure everyone is doing well, having a good time. She is a pleasure to talk to, has a wonderful grace and flair about her, but who is at the same time, warm and welcoming. And, I think, the cafe reflects her in this way - it is her creativity in motion. Which is why I think that the review has a certain level of vile and vindictive mendacity about it. I definitely agree with Chris - I think Ann Arbor would be at a loss, a great one, without Zenaida.

[sidi]

Smooth hot chocolates with chili peppers, beautiful belgian waffles with Grand Marnier, truffles with spices in a romantic atmosphere unrivalled in this city...I couldn't ask for more...and I doubt anyone else will either. Enjoy it...I did, and will continue to.

[maria]

A review is when an impartial part with knowledge of food and its preparation walks into a restaurant without making their presence known and conveys their experience to the public. A blog is when a bunch of kids with no knowledge of food but a hugely immature attitude problem trash a place for public gratification. I come to Zenaida Chocolate Lounge about once or twice a month with my book club. We come because it is cozy, the owner clearly chose not to have a restaurant designer create a corporate style space because it looks and feels like a living room. Everywhere you look people are relaxed, comfortable, feet up, sprawled out on couches and beds. I believe that the goal in a place like this is exactly that, to provide a place that doesn't look like a corporate restaurant. Our group always shares a fondue and we are always delighted with how rich the chocolate is with our pile of marshmallows and fruits. Some of us have tea, the rest of us have hot chocolate, and none of us have ever had anything to say but it is completely and consistently, excellent. Bravo for someone with the courage to show Ann Arbor that their charm is still alive and well. I used to come to this site because I thought it had something to offer, but after seeing that any idiot can just post a review rather than just a comment, I think I will go elsewhere.

[Annika]

I was in that group too and found out about this site from my friend. It sucks so bad that first two reviews you see for this beautiful place are the same angry and immature jerks. Food review indeed. We love this place, I love this place. It is one of the first places I felt really welcome and cozy without a waiter breathing down my neck to give me the bill! I am going to make it my mission that everyone in our group keeps posting reviews until these mean people's are obselete! Chocolate lover's unite!

[EUSA]

When I read this terrible and inaccurate review I was shocked! I was part of the large group seated behind these angry reviewers who were merely upset that they couldn't get alcoholic drinks! If you want alcohol, go to a bar...not a chocolate lounge! Nobody was evicted, that was me and my friend! We came ahead of the rest of our party at 7:00, our party didn't start until 9:00. By 9:00 the seat yourself sign was gone as with most restaurants I have been to, they don't have a hostess until peak time. The guy did tell us that the couch was reserved at 9:00 because they didn't plan on our party being their for two hours when the space had previously been reserved at 9pm. It was fine anyways because our party was sitting in a different section in 15 minutes anyways. I had the "non-existent" truffles, one Wasabi and one Viola. The viola was nice and pretty standard chocolate fare, but the Wasabi was an awesome combination of ginger and spice in smooth dark chocolate. The review above is already laughable because it bothers to trying and take down Vosges, one of the most innovative chocolate houses in the United States and a Parisian-trained chocolatier...I order their stuff from their website all the time. Three of my friends had the chocolate carmens that they complained about and they were all excellent. Hot chocolate is not meant to be served in freakin steaming hot portions! Its cream and melted chocolate, it would scorch for heaven's sake! The taste of chili pepper is very slight...that same kind of spice that the truffle had when I took a sip, if I was expecting full-blown salsa in a cup, I would have gone to a mexican restaurant. By the time these people start throwing brand label insults around they must just be getting malicious and hoping that no one even gets in the place before they can see its total bull. There is a an Italian brand gelato case right when you walk in (the label on the bottom says Carpaigiani or something...so I doubt they have that at the gas station next door)houses their gelato...so next time these people go one thinking that they are getting Edy's maybe they should just watch their food being prepared. Ah and then we come to the infamous Hershey's syrup on the Bailey's waffle. Our EUSA group comes to Zenaida about every two or three weeks and the owner always comes over to greet us and thank us for coming in. I would be willing to bet she was wearing pretty high heels...because she is a business owner, and its part of her charm. If she was the chef she wouldn't be hanging around talking to us on a Friday night, she would be in the kitchen... she wouldn't be serving Vosges, she would be making the truffles. As Europeans we have all talked to her about the different european influences in the cafe and she legitamately cares that we come back even though not all of us order food all the time...one time a guy didn't like his rose icicle because he didn't like the rose taste, so she just took it off the bill and replaced it with the pina colada for him (which he enjoyed). Anyways, on our third (or second) visit she was interrupted from talking to our group leader because these people were causing a scene because the syrup had no bailey's. She politely tried to explain to them to the ratio of chocolate syrup to bailey's is obviously enough to provide a hint, and then the alcohol is boiled down or that wouldn't be a sauce, it would be an alcoholic beverage. Then the belligerent alcohol discussion began and these people apparently made it their mission in life to coat the internet with bull about the place. But whatever, I came to this site to write a positive review and wound up writing a defensive one... that sucks and is a disappoint. In the future I hope that sites will have their own reviewers go places rather than rely on bloggers who have evil missions in life. But anyways, EUSAs will continue to go to Zenaida, and enjoy it.

[chris]

I came to this establishment for Valentine's day as well, and I am really sorry to see the above views posted to an establishment that definitely was worth the trip. I am not from this area and am not sure what the standards are, but coming from Chicago where food is pretty good, I have to say I had a very pleasant time for Valentine's day, and so did my boyfriend. I am really hoping that as a "date" place, these people aren't placing the poor quality of their dates on the quality of their food. I came because they use one of Chicago's favorite chocolate places, Vosges, and I couldn't think of any better use for it than the key ingredient, and it was great. My boyfriend is not as in love with chocolate as I am, but he loved the chocolate carmen that he had, just enough spice to excite us both. We also had the fondue for two, and I saw the same gourmet French chocolate that I bake with at home on their countertops where they madet the food, it was Valhrona. I might have made it a teeny bit hotter, but I didn't even noticed since the quality of the chocolate was so velvety and enrobed the strawberries and orange peels so nicely. On the way out we bought some of the exotic caramel collections and brought it to our friend's dinner party at home, and I have to say it didn't last even thirty minutes before everyone was happily stuffing their mouths and describing the flavors they were experiencing. And as far as the decor, I was complete enthralled with how romantic it was! I had a little loveseat in a quiet corner where we could even escape from the waiter's view (who was a really nice guy if he read's this!). I saw several people snuggled up from start to finish of their meal and everyone seemed pleased, full, and reluctant to leave their own cozy corner. This place is one of the few refuges we find in a world full of chains, and I hope their success continues for them until the next time we visit!

[Laura]

As I can tell from your postings you all lack intelligence and resort to ignorance as an alternative to make up for the lack of neurons firing. I can assure you Hershey's is not used, neither is Edy's ice cream so please, stop in, I emplore you. Even though your ignorance seems to be bliss it would be my pleasure to show you exactly what ingredients are used in making the food. It's really sad to see that you have nothing better to do with your lives.

[Ann Arbor Foodie]

We went there for the Valentine's Day dinner special and it was the worst dining experience I've had in ages. Food and service were both awful. The setting wasn't much better -- there were crumbs on the table when we sat down and we were one of the first tables seated so there was no excuse.

We wanted to be generous and say it was because they weren't experienced at planning, cooking, and serving savory meals; but clearly the confusion and ineptness extends to their normal non-holiday operations too.