Ethel’s Chocolate Lounge

Closed a long time ago.

There was nothing unsanitary about this place, but then again… there wasn’t much of… anything in this place. I had passed it by a thousand times and the one time I went in there with a friend I was looking for something different and special that was going to make me say «this place is just as cute on the inside as it is on the outside!»
They have approximately 30 – 40 types of chocolate, and most of them are dressed up in cute little shapes or with designs and are visually appealing. Most of them are good too, but I honestly prefer buying chocolate from Fannie May. Their staff at Fannie May is less intrusive as well. We were stared at and followed by the eager puppy of an employee on staff during the day when we went that made the experience really uncomfortable.
I agree with others who say that the prices are too high. And the atmosphere is nowhere what I expected it to be. Starbucks has a more appealing café feel than Ethel’s. So check it out, maybe get a drink or something, but leave the chocolate buying for a place where you can get a better value, unless you’re dead set on a really cute one for the heck of it.

The staff is friendly, the chocolates are pretty good (not amazingly great), and the concept and execution are adorable and fun…
But the prices are too high for what you get in my opinion…
I really wanted to love this place and come back and chat with friends while having a chocolate fondue or something. I suppose all the other people at Old Orchard don’t mind paying $ 1.50 per chocolate but I won’t be.

Only the best hot chocolate you will ever have. They use melted down chips to make it. They also have a really nice selection of gifts. Mugs and too many kids of chocolate to count. A great place to relax and warm up after shopping or a movie.

The atmosphere is nice. The seating is comfortable. The chocolates are semi-​good. The prices are too high.
They charge $ 1.50 per piece of chocolate. They charge $ 4 for a small hot chocolate (granted, they make it with chunks of chocolate). They charge $ 3.50 for a bottle of Izze soda (it’s $ 1.75 w/​tax at Starbucks). They charge about $ 15 for a small fondue.
This is a chain owned by Mars (same people who bring you Snickers, M&Ms, Twix, etc.). I think they can afford to lower their prices a bit.

I love the chocolate lounge idea — it somehow makes it perfectly acceptable to sit and enjoy what too many of us have been doing in the privacy of our homes… a guilty pleasure made less guilty, somehow. I’ve had the wonderful hot chocolate (made w/​dark chocolate chips & steamed milk) in the store — very, very good. I’ve also tried the 12 –piece assortment (at home); it too was good. I’m a dark chocolate fan, and their truffles were excellent. My only quibbles are: 1) price ($ 1.50 for one piece seems a bit much) and 2) the Skokie locale doesn’t have a lot of seats.

A great little place to buy chocolate gifts. Not only are they’re chocolates delicious, but downright adorable to look at in some cases! There is also a reception area where you can rent out small areas with friends. Haven’t tried this yet, but looking forward to it!

Chocalate to eat, chocolate to drink. I go coo coo.

This store sells not only chocolates but the experience of enjoying the candy and other sweet treats (such as hot chocolate). It is not a large place, so lucky patrons can lounge at the few seats and talk about what they bought while shopping at Old Orchard. There are some funky flavors, as one I tried had a creamy center with a flavor akin to a cinnamon bun.