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Aroa Fine Chocolate - CLOSED
Categories: Food Specialty Food Chocolatiers and Shops Food Bakeries Chocolatiers and Shops, Bakeries [Edit]
1651 Washington St(between Concord St & Worcester St)
Boston, MA 02118
Neighborhood: South End
(617) 425-4988
- Nearest Transit:
-
Washington St @ Worcester St (10, 191, 8, SL4, SL5)
Washington St @ Worcester St (170, 191, SL4, SL5)
Washington St @ W Newton St (170, 191, SL4, SL5)
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Kristen A. said: "Yum! I go to the nearby Indian grocery all the time and never realized this place was here. Just a quick stop in for some idli sambar. It was filling and delicious, and the staff are really nice. The atmosphere is very casual and there…" read more »
44 reviews for Aroa Fine Chocolate
Review Highlights
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"the macaroons are still to die for, though." In 11 reviews -
"...and friendly, and the spiced hot chocolate was absolutely..." In 2 reviews -
"The man behind the counter was delightful, courteous..." In 3 reviews
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44 reviews in English
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Review from H. G.
Boston, MA
8/26/2010 4 photos
Almost as good as Burdick's, and yet the place is always empty.
Update (2 mins later): Aroa is closed. I guess it's because it was always empty! On the bright side, I'm leaving the South End in a week and moving to Cambridge, so I probably would have never gone here again. Burdick's here I come... -
Review from Christopher M.
Malden, MA
1/30/2009
We were out in the South End with a craving for hot chocolate, and since Burdick was too far away I figured we'd give Aroa a try. And I'm certainly glad that we did.
The hot chocolates at Aroa are very good, not spectacular, but very good. It's not the shaved, melted chocolate like you get at Burdick, but it's certainly a good quality drink. What WAS pretty spectacular was the variety of hot chocolates; milk, dark, white, and at least three variations of the "Mexican" spiced hot chocolate. Mmmmm...
I was even more impressed with their chocolates. We did a tasting of about a half dozen of their chocolates. The first three, the cinnamon caramel, Mexican vanilla, and champagne truffles were good, but what I would have expected. But then we tried some more unusual chocolates: olive oil, lavender, basil. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!
As one Yelper cleverly pointed out, these are European, not Detroit chocolates - they're rather small. However, they're so flavorful I've found that if you cut them into quarters and eat them one piece at a time, you'll get 4x the experience per piece of chocolate (it's also a great way to share).
This is exactly what I'll be doing at my next wine tasting - these chocolates would be perfect.
Also, a big thumbs up to the customer service at Aroa. We arrived late and weren't finished by the time the shop closed. But the staff insisted we relax and stay until we were done (which was almost another hour), and even offered us some of the leftover pastries as they cleaned up. Classy folks! -
Review from Kendra S.
Chattanooga, TN
4/13/2008
I too have been waiting like a Dickens character with my face pressed to the glass, eager to sample some delicious chocolate. At long last, open sesameeee. The hot chocolate was rich, creamy and no, not like Ovaltine at all. I would say it was not as amazing as Burdick's, but better than anything I've had on this side of the river. Connoisseur (moi)'s tip - drop an xtra .50 for a raspberry marshmallow and pop that baby in your mug-- instant flavored cocoa.
Service was well-educated about the treats. Glass case was spotless. Rest of the place was pristine. The open window on the kitchen tells me they value clean here. Look for tastings and talks here in the future, so says the counter staff. -
Review from Sunkyung P.
Los Angeles, CA
8/12/2008
Just a quick review of their macarons:
I stopped by Aroa after having lunch at Flour and picked up a dozen very pretty macarons. Much to my dismay the macarons tasted a bit stale and were not the macarons I was hoping for... perhaps because I tend to prefer the chewier kind?
and my search for macarons in Boston continues... -
Review from Mina K.
Dallas, TX
4/13/2008
Like many Yelpers, I too anticipated the opening of Aroa as I walked by it on my way to work, just a few blocks north on Washington St. Alas, seeing it was open on my way to work this past week. I volunteered to go pick up some goodies for my coworkers and myself.
The first thing I noticed was, the price, definitely not cheap especially for the portion size. They had some individual chocolate pieces, about $1.50 a piece or more. They also had some pastries averaging about $4.00. The thing is, I don't mind paying the price, if it's worth it, if it truly is amazing, who cares if I have to pay $10 for 2 small pieces of cake. :) I love chocolate, I love dessert, and I believe I can appreciate great quality when I see it. So I thought, this place must be absolutely amazing, right? Wrong.
I was really disappointed. At first bite into the carrot cake, the cream on top was sweet and light, overall unique and pretty good, but as I tried the rest of the cake, it was quite bland, somewhat dry, and overall not tasteful at all. The chocolate pieces that I tried was good, but I just didn't think it was worth the $1.50 and it was just too small. In conclusion, the pastries are bland and the chocolate are okay, both are too small and way overpriced. note: I wasn't able to try a latte as I wanted, because they didn't have soy yet, but they did say they were getting it really soon.
I venture here again, in a few months to see if anything has changed, but alas I am sad to say this is my first bad review on Yelp. :( -
Review from Steph M.
Boston, MA
5/21/2008
I have to note, everything here is miniature. And the prices match up with things that should be jumbo sized.
Despite this, Aroa is okay, albeit pricey. The chocolate chaud is delicious, and is probably the only thing I will continue to buy here because it is decadent and rich, which justifies spending my money. Some of the chocolates are decent, but I'd have to try a lot more to confirm this.
As for their desserts--bad. You're so much better off heading over to Flour, and you'll get a lot more for your money (in terms of quantity AND flavor). Their macaroons? Well, yes, people have been swooning over them on here, but in the words of my boyfriend, the kind recipient to my baking foibles, "yours are better." I agreed. They were flavorless.
I'll probably still go back here once in a while, and am pretty tempted by their classes. But seriously, this place should stick to chocolate and chocolatey drinks, and avoid baking at all costs. -
Review from Robert Z.
Boston, MA
5/1/2008
Oh my. I just found a new guilty pleasure when it comes to jelly type candies. A friend and I had just finished an excellent lunch at Equator and were walking by when we decided to pop in. Boy, what a little treat this was.
I'm not a huge chocolate fan but I am a fruit fan. ...ok there's no easy way getting around the smirks I imagine you must have right now...
Anywho. I like fruit when it comes to my desserts or sweets and I found some jellies that were perecto'! Now at a $1.09 a piece I do agree with the other post that things are not cheap here. However, why would you expect them to be?
My advice if you like jellies. Grab 3-4 of theRaspberry ones and indulge. They're sweet but perfectly tart as raspberries should be and the flavor will rock yer sox off! I could only eat 2 due to the sweetness but that's all your need in a tidbit of a treat. Bottom line...these ain't yer grandma's rainbow colored jellies from her crystal candy dish. Oh, and they're fresh, not ancient like your grandma's used to be.Listed in: My South End Must Haves
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Review from Aaron P.
Needham, MA
5/19/2008
I've been swooning for weeks over the box of assorted Aroa chocolates I got from my wife for my birthday but this weekend we took a chocolate cooking class with chef and owner Alejandro Luna and we're into five star territory. The tall, soft-spoken Luna, who grew up in Venezuela and trained in Paris, is the real McCoy -- a talent, a character, a gentleman.
In the three hours we and four other couples spent in his kitchen, he shared recipes and techniques, stories of the business and his life and an incredible assortment of candies and treats. I kept feeling like I had somehow fallen into the set of Willie Wonka's chocolate factory as Luna explained why he had four machines that seem to do nothing but circulate zillions of gallons of chocolate through a miniature waterfall. Best in class were the chocolate chip cookies, some kind of orange liquor infused ganache-filled candies and incredible crispy-chewy macaroons.
p.s. I don't think carrot cake is the real test of a chocolate-focused pastry shop! -
Review from Jaime N.
Brooklyn, NY
4/23/2008
Stumbled upon this place on a sunny Saturday, bought a few things- then came back a few days later to try the cocoa and buy some more stuff!
The hot cocoa was good, comes in a little silver pot which is super cute- and you can grab some flavored marshmallows (raspberry, yum) to float in them. I'm used to Burdick's so the cocoa was thinner than I like, but still good.
It was hot inside the shop, and that really affected my experience.. they should consider shutting the doors and turning on the air when it gets warm..
Anyhow- the bon-bons are good, the macaroons are better. Some of them are strangely salty, but the hazelnut ones are out of this world. Seriously, get one.
Pricey? I don't think so- not compared to all the other chocolatiers. If you want affordable chocolate, go to a convenience store...
Next time, I'll try the pastry- the buttermilk scones and cookies looked amazing! -
Review from Chung T.
Hampton, VA
4/5/2008
I went into Aroa a couple days ago, surprised they were finally open with people working inside. There weren't that much selection to be had, but I picked the two that I thought looked the most delicious: a mango cake ($3.99) and a caramel mousse thing ($3.99). Each cake is about standard sized of 2.5" L x 1.5 W x 2.5" H.
Now, I had the caramel mousse thing first, and it's a really great cake! I actually can't think of anything better other than Azuki Cream Puff (Japonaise) within US. It's not too sweet, and tastes delicious! The cake itself is pretty weighty too, with a good strong ... interior(?). There's some kind of nut on top that gave it a good crunch, and I liked it too.
After the caramel mousee thing, I immediately started on the mango thing (yes, I'm a pig). That might have been a mistake, because I didn't much enjoy the mango cake! Actually, it wasn't the mango cake that sucked, it was the bitter chocolate flakes on top. Perhaps my sweet taste buds were over saturated or something, but the only thing I could taste was the bitterness! I understand that there are some bitter chocolates out there - but it really didn't go with the rest of the mango thing.
If the fine patisserie over at Aroa read this, change that weird chocolate on top of the mango thing (+1 star) and reduce the price for the cakes by a buck (+1 star) and I'd have a perfect place to go for dessert and coffee! I know the word "fine" in the name requires you to be expensive... but still, 3.99 for a cake that I can fit entirely into my mouth with one bite? At least start a bit lower to attract the customer base before jackin up the price.
Oh yeah, one of the girl working the counter is pretty hot. Even though she didn't know anything about the cakes she was trying to sell me, her hotness prevailed. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Washington, DC
9/11/2009
My dear friend and I decided to hit up Aroa after our lunch at Seiyo. First observation: Aroa was dead. I mean, really dead. Not only was the place empty, but it was completely silent-- not even music. Something about this dead silence made us think that we might want to finish our afternoon together in a more lively place.
When we walked in, my friend said "wow, what a great place. Have you guys been here long?" And the man behind the counter said -- in a sort of snippy tone -- "if you consider 18 months long, then yes." This encounter, along with the dead silence of Aroa set the tone for the rest of our time there.
Admittedly, the chocolates looked beautiful, and the tea selection looked impressive, but we were in the mood for something more in the cookie family. We got two enrobed chocolate butter cookies which were just bad- the butter cookie was thick and tasteless, and the cookie was clumsy and mediocre. (We ate them at the same time that we shared desserts from Flour and those were just much better). Perhaps another trip is warranted to sample the chocolates, but nothing about this Aroa experience has made me want to return. -
Review from Ed M.
2/23/2010
We came in here on a Saturday afternoon for one of the "chocolate tasting" things and it was pretty awesome. The Executive Pastry Chef is a really nice guy originally from South Africa who told us the whole process of growing chocolate in Venezuela, with pictures on the left wall showing the step by step process. We had 4 chocolate samples - dark, milk, English Breakfast Tea (yes, really) and Cinnamon. We were told how to taste the chocolate using a Tasting Wheel as well as smell and taste and then were asked to say what flavors we tasted and smelled before he revealed what the last 2 were.
The chocolate here is really nice, but it is a bit expensive if you only want to try a couple and unsure if you will like some of the unique flavors. I recommend doing the tasting for $10 and getting the inside info and 4 samples though! -
Review from Jason L.
2/26/2010
Was here recently for one of their chocolate tastings. It's about 2 hours, and we tried 6 types I think. The head chef there is really amicable and knowledgeable. They truly pride themselves on using high-quality chocolate from Venezuela [El Rey]. The tastings are also very educational.
This place really stands apart from the Cadburys of the world, but it also shows in the price. Always have a terrific selection of flavors with unique combinations (try the chile!) of fruit and herbs. Also, they cakes are THE BEST. I could eat one by myself, truly a slice of heaven. At the minimum, I suggest stopping by for a cup of their premium hot chocolate.
I don't think I'll ever look at a Hershey's chocolate the same way...
(Try Orinoco [just around the corner] for lunch, with dessert at Aroa for a great Venezuelan experience) -
Review from Shaina P.
3/12/2010
Is it possible to become addicted to a pastry in only 5 minutes?
Aroa offers satisfying and bite-sized morsels of sweet confections and fresh, hot coffee, tee, and chocolate. After sitting in Flour Bakery for what seemed like hours (but only really ten minutes), I took my parents and a family friend to Aroa to escape the craziness at Flour. Aroa had the perfect fixings to end a hearty lunch hour: freshly brewed Americano, white chocolate macadamia cookies ($1.75), pistachio financiers ($0.75), and free tastings of flat square-shaped chocolate truffle coated in a perfect layer of ... more chocolate!
The woman in the bakery told me "you're going to love these [the pistachio financiers]" and I don't like being told what i'm going to do... But sure enough, I was HOOKED like being in a bad for-the-sex-only kind of relationship (not the kind of relationship i'm in now -- what up -- engaged!) and bought 2 more to go. -
Review from Heather B.
Albuquerque, NM
6/20/2010 1 photo
I stumbled into Aroa by accident, but it was such a nice surprise find! My friends bought a few little chocolates: a bourbon, a honey, and a lavender. Each of the flavors was a bit fainter than we had expected, but the chocolate itself was magnificent.
After we left, we all agreed that the service was well above what we were expecting. Specialty shops have a tendency to be snooty, and certainly ones that specialize in chocolates. But not Aroa! The man behind the counter was delightful, courteous, friendly and helpful. Quite a shock considering we just stumbled in after walking a couple miles on a sweaty day, and only ordered a few treats.
Thanks Aroa! You were such a treat! -
Review from Josh M.
Framingham, MA
2/7/2010
I stopped by Aroa on a Saturday afternoon before heading over to the Ivette Stewart Gardner Museum to buy something chocolate to win points with my girlfriend. Aroa is small but quaint. There are not many tables so if you're looking for ambience or a place to sit this may not be the place for you but the offerings were delicious.
I ordered a fiery hot chocolate, my friend a classic. The woman behind the counter was very friendly taking time to explain the differences between their offerings and show us what else was available. The hot chocolate was really unbelievable and the eclair I bought and brought home was from the one bite I got equally delicious.
The last things I noticed was the large window where you can see the chocolates being made - no action on saturday afternoon but probably pretty interesting to see when the chocolate making is in full force. Would highly recommend this place. -
Review from Jim H.
Boston, MA
8/2/2008
Aroa deserves high marks for taste and the amazing range of subtle and delicate flavors they have very successfully fused with chocolate. Wonderful chocolate, especially the darker bitter-sweet ones. I've tried several citrus flavors, Earl Grey (more satisfying than Richart's take on it). But my favorites are plain chocolates on the darker range.
The baked goods here are also first rate, and at a portion size that is reasonable and won't make you hate yourself on the way home. Here a croissant or pain au chocolat looks like one in Paris, not the scary dinner plate sized ones that get served up at a lot of bakeries. I've read a couple yelpers here comment negatively on portion size and price. First up I think a lot of us need a reality check after the super-sized decade we are now in, and the prices here for what constitutes super-premium chocolates that are made on premises seems reasonable to me.
Other plusses at Aroa: coffee, perfect dark roast without any of the bitterness or that over roasted burnt taste. I am also loving the little sugared jellied fruit desserts. These are perfect to bring to a dinner, or to serve guests after dessert with another glass of wine of coffee.
Aroa has nice helpful staff. And when there are 3-4 customers in line ordering notice how the staff here is efficient and actually listens to what you want without asking you to repeat yourself several times over and further slowing the line down. Well done. -
Review from Lala L.
Brookline Village, MA
5/1/2008
O Yumzzz!
Let's start with the selection of AT LEAST 7 flavors of the french macaroons (and still experimenting with more~). For those of you who are not familiar with the french type, these are actually mini sandwich cookies that tastes more like mini meringue with a creme sandwiched btwn them. Not at all like the ones most of you are used to....the sweet coconut meringue bombs. Nah-huh! I couldn't resist but bought a box. They make great gifts if you're going to a dinner party. Some of them were better than others, but nonetheless, a delight with coffee or tea.
They also make their own marshmellows...extending to flavors such as chocolate, strawberry and pasionfruit! yes, it's true!!!.
The chocolate cookie, I thought was a bit undercooked and cake-like. The hazelnut torte was relaly good. Had to swipe a forkful from my sister even tho I am allergic to nuts.
I tried the Earl Grey truffle because I really couldn't resist. It wasn't as good as the one at L.A. Burdick's because honestly, I couldn't detect even a hint of tea. They do have a great selection of flavors...which means...I'll be back! -
Review from Rosemarie B.
New York, NY
7/25/2010
Hello??? Aroa is closed and no information available anywhere???
I was told the wholesale business was doing well--directly from El Ray I presume---but why no info to it's retail customers.
Very upset -
Review from Mike M.
Somerville, MA
1/17/2010
A wide variety of Venezuelan chocolates and some choice extras like eclairs and cupcakes make this a great treat after dinner -- ideally from Orinoco, a Venezuelan restaurant on Concord in the South End.
I've tried some of their larger treats, like the Pumpkin Cheesecake and Eclairs, and some smaller treats, like the PB&J chocolate. Everything is great and the staff are friendly and knowledgeable. Also, I'm told the hot chocolate is the best thing on the menu.
For a gift or for yourself, Aroa is a perfect choice. The single thing holding them back from a 5 rating is a small variety of choices, but I haven't been back recently so maybe they change the menu regularly, but I thought a place with such mastery would offer more to choose from. That aside, this is a spectacular place for treats. -
Review from Quinn E.
2/6/2010
Everyone knows about Burdick's. But Aroa is on the right side of the river, you can park near it and it still feels like something of a secret. So my gf and I stopped in here for a hot chocolate when walking back from Flour today. It was like 15 degrees out and windy, and I was wearing a vest, as usual. With a dress shirt and sweater vest underneath. My arms were really cold. I needed something warm.
There were plenty of fancypants chocolates in the cases here, but I don't really care about those. I noted that my gf fawned over the chocolate heart with chocolates inside. It was a hollow (but thick) heart box made of chocolate, with more chocolates inside. Even I have to admit that's pretty cool. I tried a sample of coffee chocolates and they were delicately flavored and had a creamy texture. Approved!
But back to the cocoa, which was what I really wanted. They had a few varieties, but I went with the Classic since I was a virgin. It was steamed carefully by the man behind the counter, who patiently described the other varieties. The temperature was perfect, just hot enough. That doesn't sound as impressive as I feel that it really was. I was able to drink the cocoa immediately, without hyperventilating over it, and it warmed my icy heart I mean arms in the most wonderful way. My gf got the Spiced cocoa, which was like cocoa had a baby with cider. I didn't expect to like it since I hate mixing fruity tastes with my chocolate, but the orange spiciness was absolutely delicious. I am looking forward to trying the Irapa next time, if I can convince myself to stray from the Classic. -
Review from Martha F.
Somerville, MA
4/7/2008
I went into Aroa with a friend on the second day it was open and while there wasn't too much merchandise out yet, everything they had looked amazing. We ordered the classic hot chocolate, the chai hot chocolate (in the silver cup, so we could mix it ourselves), and an oatmeal cookie. The cookie was mediocre and tasted like baking soda. The chai hot chocolate wasn't as chocolatey as I would have liked, but still tasty. The silver mixing mug was fun to use, but I don't really get the point of it. The regular hot chocolate? THAT was amazing. Rich, creamy, chocolatey... definitely something to make a chocolate lover happy.
Someone in my office brought in a box of chocolates and each one I've tasted has been really good.
I have a couple of issues with this place:
1. As someone already mentioned, the prices are pretty high for the portion size. It's a niche market and the owner has a masters degree in chocolate, but except for that one hot chocolate, I don't think it was quite worth it, especially with Flour just a few steps away
2. It's kind of pretentious. I know they're trying to establish themselves as a fine chocolates store, but the pretentiousness almost seems a joke in this part of the South End.
3. This is totally a personal issue, but after waiting for this place to open for ages, I was really hoping they would give out free samples when they finally did. It would have been a really great way to get loyal customers. But no, even on the first day, the little caramels on top of the counter cost $.49.
The staff was really friendly and excited about being open and I really hope this place makes it, I just wish it weren't quite so into itself. -
Review from Shauna W.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2008
This is exactly what the South End needs, a place to eat dessert! I'm so excited, no longer do I have to roam into other areas of the city searching for a solution to my sweet tooth! Now I feel the South End is complete. Aroa has a variety of hot chocolates to choose from, many different types of macaroons, and an assortment of other European-style desserts---and everything has been thought out to the last detail. I had a few macaroons (yes a few) and a couple of the other beautifully detailed desserts (I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know what I ate), but what I can tell you is that everything exceeded my very high expectations! The staff was very welcoming and ready to help. My only instruction is: run there as fast as you can before there is a line out the door!
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Review from ack c.
Boston, MA
2/21/2009
decent chocoate when you can find the place open, but more often than not, i walk all the way there and they are closed! closed!! closed!!!
And the website even says that they are open, open, open!
wtf!!!
update: 4.18 - walked by again, found it closed, closed closed! -
Review from David T.
7/3/2010 1 photo
I came into town today to pay a visit to Flour since I have yet to check it out (unbelievable, I know, since I love pastries!) but as it turns out they are closed for the weekend due to the July 4 holiday. So whilst Flour will have to wait for another day I was lucky enough to come across Aroa to fulfill my baked-goods craving.
Whenever I pass by a sign that says "pâtisserie" I cannot control myself and thus I wandered inside. Adorable setup with marble topped tables and a pastry case filled with beautifully designed chocolates and sweets. It turns out that the chocolates are all made from single-origin (from Venezuela) cocoa and were quite delicious (I tried a sample) but I was really looking for pastries and a nice latte. I got a white chocolate covered croissant which was perfectly made and still flaky on the outside with a semi-chewy center even at 5pm. A mark of high quality in my book is when baked goods are still perfect even after sitting out all day (seriously, anything can taste great right out of the oven but it takes skill to make something that lasts the course of a day). My cafe latte was wonderful with the right balance of espresso and milk, served at the perfect temp to enjoy without burning my mouth. I also got 4 chocolate-filled brioche to go for me and the family to have for dessert. Brioche texture was good and the chocolate was clearly excellent quality; solid choice albeit not mind-blowing.
Service was friendly and the presentation was beautifully representative of European style pâtisseries. I would definitely go back. -
Review from Sarah A.
9/6/2008
I had been looking forward to stopping in here for ages and finally got a chance to last week. I came in searching for a scone and was extremely disappointed to find only one variety of scone and it was TINY! I was extremely surprised by the size of the thing and even mentioned it to the two friendly employees behind the counter. They were like, yeah, everything is really small. Seriously, this was at least a fourth of what I would consider a normal sized scone if not a sixth of one. TINY TINY TINY. At least the scone was tasty, but, seriously people, the baked goods here need to be more substantial! I will be heading back to try the hot chocolate but I am so irked how everything is so tiny. Let's hope the $4 hot chocolate does not disappoint.
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Review from Nicole R.
4/8/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Aroa is so lovely. First, oh my god. Chocolate. Single origin, delicious, little chocolates. With super creative fillings! I'm partial to the herbals, like basil, lime, chai and chile pepper, but they also have fruits, peanut butter, and liquers. Great coffee and tea, as well as a super friendly staff and a nice seating area. Their hot chocolate is probably the best in town, thick and not the least bit heavy or grainy. I find myself here quite often.
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Review from Rayshauna G.
Somerville, MA
2/26/2010
I went to one of Aroa's chocolate tastings. I assumed that for the $10 ticket we were going to watch other people eat, but no -
The chocolatier presented with a tea expert from a shop in Somerville, MEM Tea Imports. They went through the history and different stages of creation. There was much talk of South African rooibos and Chinese tea masters on goats. They also explained why which chocolates complimented which teas - and seemed very pleased while doing so.
There were cream fillings and ground tea toppings that I'm sure have brought about more fits of ecstasy than Barry White. Chocolate is serious, y'all.
Aroa is located in this cute little neighborhood that I haven't done much exploring in [and have admittedly confused with Southie, a crime apparently so near blasphemy that I'll not soon forget it].
But cut me some slack - South End and Southie sound similiar.
Anywho, aside from all things chocolatey and tea-ish, Aroa has fantastic coconut macaroons. There are only a few places in Boston/Cambridge where I'll pick 'em up and this place is one of them.
And though they don't have a facebook page, they do ship if you supply an address - which I think is even more nifty. And judging from the Pastry Chef's card, they do custom orders.
Can you say waist-high truffles? -
Review from Lisa D.
New York, NY
2/26/2009
I feel like I haven't had a sufficient amount of tasty goodies or time at Aroa so I'll give them 4 stars for now because I want to come back. I came by on Valentine's day to pick up some homemade marshmallows for our chocolate fondue later that night. I got the regular vanilla and the passion fruit. The vanilla was a little too sweet for me and the passion fruit was just right. It was sweet and had the flavor of passion fruit without being too overwhelming. While there, I couldn't resist purchasing the first macaroons I would ever consume. I got the salty caramel and a hazelnut. I loved both and so did my boyfriend. They were crunchy, chewy, addictive... and uhm....I think I'm going to have to go back and purchase more to finish this review...
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Review from Carolyn S.
Iowa City, IA
2/8/2009
On the way home from World's End we stopped at a new patisserie/chocolate shop in the South End run by Alejandro Luna, former pastry chef at the Langham Hotel. Aroa Fine Chocolate is a small little shop located a half block down the street from the famous Flour Bakery. How could this new spot possibly compete?
As it turns out, Aroa may do just fine. They specialize in afternoon tea sorts of delicacies: homemade eclairs, French macaroons, cakes, scones, cookies and little handmade chocolates. We opted for the large, steaming pots of loose leaf tea and some pastries. The macaroons were good; sweet and chewy with a bit of crunch from the crisp exterior, but lacking in flavor (I could not tell the difference between salted caramel, hazelnut and pistachio.) The peanut butter cookie was PHENOMENAL in a melt-in-your-mouth, just-the-right-bit of soft-and-crumbly kind of way. The tiny little scones were also buttery delicious. While we did not have a chance to try the hot chocolate, I will certainly have to make a trip back specifically for this item. The chocolate comes in a variety of flavors including, "chai" and "infused," and is served in elegant silver pots. I think it would taste particularly good with the homemade marshmallows (vanilla, passionfruit, or chocolate.)
Not a bad place to spend a weekend afternoon. -
Review from ann k.
Boston, MA
7/24/2008
beautiful macaron. no need to say more.
okay, an array of beatiful macaron flavors. incredible.
I don't think I have even tried anything else here. even when I got for hot cocoa, I get side-tracked by macaron. they are amazing. and a petit price as compared with the lovely ones sold at formaggio. hence, these are my favorite little treat to bring to meetings and dinner parties. -
Review from Tony U.
Norwood, MA
2/21/2009
Why I'll go back: The various selections of hot chocolate means I can always find just the right flavor for my mood
You HAVE to order: Classic, Irapa
Tony's tip: On a crisp Fall or late Winter evening, stop in after dinner at Stella, banq, etc. (or even skip dinner) and take your hot choc down the street to Blackstone Square park to relax and do some dog watching
I had to try Aroa after Boston Magazine recently cited it as one of the top places for hot chocolate in Boston. Went there with my two kids (who take their hot choc seriously, LOL). The place is small, and the ambience is cute, but it's not relaxing enough that you'd feel like chillin' with a good book or your laptop. We tried 3 of the 7 flavors on the menu: Classic, Midnight, and Irapa. Consensus was that the Classic was very smooth and rich, and the Irapa (made with brown sugar) actually had a hint of white chocolate flavor to it (note that White Chocolate is one of the other flavors on the menu). The Midnight was indeed a little bitter (as advertised), and you might as well go for the Classic if you are in the mood for a standard hot chocolate taste. The shop does have plenty of inventive little pastries, chocolates, and seasonal fruit tart squares, which we'll probably sample the next time we're there. -
Review from Gina L. B.
Boston, MA
2/22/2010
I am a huge fan of Aroa Fine Chocolate. The enrobed ginger is absolutely fantastic and totally to-die-for. I am completely addicted -- it's worth every penny of the $9.50 per bag. I am even bringing some to friends I am staying with while traveling next week as a thank you gift and I am certain they will be addicted as well. The truffles are very good, but not as good as other establishments in Boston. Aroa is definitely still worth a visit!
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Review from Bill S.
Brookline, MA
11/1/2009
A wonderful surprise to walk along Washington Street and discover this spot. The server was pleasant and friendly, and the spiced hot chocolate was absolutely divine.
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Review from David D.
Boston, MA
3/3/2010
I popped in to grab chocolates for my girlfriend on Valentine's Day. The idea of having a local neighborhood chocolate shop is wonderful. They did not disappoint with the chocolate or the service. The pastries definitely do need some work, however. I doubt I'd go back for anything but chocolate. I also noticed they were not playing any type of background music like another reviewer commented on - may want to try something to liven the place a bit. Hope they stick around, the South End needs these types of local businesses.
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Review from Jill S.
Boston, MA
9/18/2009
Fantastic place! Beautiful interior. Really delicious pastries and chocolates (and caramels and macaroons!) Great coffee and tea and a truly wonderful new head pastry chef, Tim, who oversees it all!
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Review from Sandra N.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2010
I was thrilled at the thought of living 2 blocks from a fine chocolates store, but after actually trying it out I must admit I was disappointed. Their chocolates are beautifully hand made and as far as taste goes they're pretty good, but not spectacular. I do like how they have a variety of flavors ranging from typical dark, caramel and mint to stranger chocolates such as basil, olive oil and chili pepper.
I also noticed that they sold French macarons and let me tell you, I LOVE macarons, but the ones at Aroa are not good. The texture is not chewy enough and the taste of the filling is okay, but doesn't really wow you.
Aroa is good if you randomly crave some unique chocolates or caramels, but for the price I would rather go somewhere else that really makes extraordinary chocolates. Aroa is simply average. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Boston, MA
7/21/2010
Aroa is CLOSED! They were open last weekend and went I walked by last night there was a "space for lease" sign. No chocolate in sight, everything that was once aroa is now gone. There was no notice of it closing either. We're hopeful they will decide to reopen in a smaller space close by!
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Review from Rhiannon L.
Boston, MA
Updated - 6/16/2008
fully undrinkable iced coffee. who messes up iced coffee?? the macaroons are still to die for, though.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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4/7/2008
I waited for Aroa to open. Every day I walked my doggie past and waited for the 'coming soon' sign… Read more »
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Review from Boston F.
Boston, MA
11/1/2008
Aroa is a little known treat in Boston's South End. At once a neighborhood gem and an outpost of international quality, Aroa offers petite pastries, fine chocolates, cappuccino drinks and fabulous hot chocolate at casual (if marble :) tables and takeout in a clean, bright space with a visible pastry kitchen through wall-high glass. Flour, just down Washington Street, is consistently packed (and fairly so), but Aroa remains less discovered (meaning you can get a table virtually any time). Maybe it's the fact that - wonderfully -- the pastries are European- (not Detroit-) sized: have two if you must, but go to Aroa.
