Eclipse Chocolat
Categories: Desserts, Chocolatiers and Shops [Edit]
Neighborhoods: University Heights, North Park2121 El Cajon Blvd
San Diego, CA 92103 (619) 578-2984
- Price Range: $$
99 reviews
Neighborhood: Hillcrest
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35 Reviews for Eclipse Chocolat
I had a delightful time at Eclipse Chocolate, sampling Will's various offerings. He seems to have a real passion for his work, and pride. The homemade marshmallows are amazing, be sure to try them. I discovered how salt enhances the taste of quality chocolate -- something I was skeptical about. Btw, I heard about Eclipse Chocolat through a blog I subscribe to that gives great insider info about San Diego's specialty markets and eateries. Check it out: www.sandiegofoodstuff.com.
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I wandered in here last night in the company of another yelper with the intentions of having cheese n chocolate for dinner.
What? Isn't that normal? Pffft.
We each ordered one of their tasting plate type things - the s'mores for her and the aforementioned cheese plate for me. Both were delicious - while the s'mores were a bit too sweet for me, they were pretty tasty and I can see why Eclipse has received so many kudos for their homemade marshmallows.
The cheeseplate, though - the cheese was deeee-vine. Seriously. They offer selections from Venissimo alongside some dried mango, wafer cookie things, and this unbelievable, warm, caramel dipping sauce. The combination of the rich cheese with the sweet sauce was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Ok not really but close. If I could make one complaint it's that a bit of apple or some other crisp fresh fruit would be really appreciated as a contrasting flavour and texture.
The service was attentive and friendly, the decor was soothing and cool after a hot day at the pool, and the tunes were groovy. I can't wait until they get their liquor license and I can sip a glass of red as I nibble my caramel dunked cheese.
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Mmmmmmmmm-mmmm-mmh!
Cheeses from Venissimo , chocolate in liquid form, home made marshmallows, caramel sauce made from scratch, yes even home made chocolate graham s'more crackers can all be yours for the taking at this amazing new delightfully tasty spot.
Lisa D (now C) and I decided to go last night and have our own little Chocolate Happy Hour, so what if we ate cheese and chocolate for dinner? We're grown-ups dammit!
I suppose because we're both Canadian immigrants that married Americans that may show our mental health and aptitude for insanity. But just because we married Americans doesn't mean we don't know our Fromage babycakes, oh yes, sing it to me sister because I just won't resist the chocolat from Eclipse.
Kudos to Nicole for telling me about it in the first place, and then, not only that, bringing boxes of it to Janene for her birthday when we brunched at The Guild.
Lisa and I ordered 2 plates, one was the salty smores, there was a chili salt and a lavender salt and liquid chocolate drizzle over the home made marshmallows and chocolate graham crackers.
The other was a cheese plate with a palmier looking cookie and caramel warmed sauce to dip our cheese and cookie into.
I like the furniture, the tea's, the choices of lemonades, I had the vanilla bean lavender--Mmm! The walls are painted in a style that makes it unique to San Diego, but very special. Charlie was there working he's also a YELPER ELITE!
I can't really compare this spot to any place I've been to in Canada or in the U.S. It's more like a chocolatier spot in the south of France. Go there quick before the secret is out and we can't park!
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For starters, I'd probably hook 'em up with 3 1/2 stars. However, I'll round up because I'm in a good mood :)
Stopped by just a few minutes ago. I was at Mama's on Alabama and decided I'd stop in on my way back home. I really needed a coffee, and friends have told me their espresso drinks are pretty good. So, I checked out their menu and decided to go with the latte. The drink itself cost $3.50, but you could add these little nuggets of joy for an additional $0.50. I went with the caramel & burnt cinnamon if my memory serves me correctly. It was OK...didn't blow me away. Mainly because it wasn't hot at all. Just lukewarm.
As I waited for my beverage, I checked out the chocolate selection. They have some pretty delicious looking truffles, so I had to give them a try. You can buy two hand-made truffles for $5.00. I respect the art of a chocolatier, so I was more than willing to shell out an honest Abe for some sweets. I chose the lavender/sea salt truffle...and the cocoa azteca truffle. Both were delightful. The sea salt kinda threw me off, but in a good way. The perfect mix of sweet and savory. The azteca had this invigorating, spicy kick that set in about 5 seconds after swallowing. A really nice surprise.
Another cool thing is their choice to use 100% post-consumer fibers for their to-go containers. Keepin' it green!
The reason I dropped a star is the service. Not terrible by any means, but not the best either. There was only one other person inside and I didn't even get a "hello" until roughly 2 minutes after walking through the front door. I guess I'm just old school and expect a simple, "hello, I'll be right with you." Not a shining until it's convenient to address my presence. Seems like the service is a recurring theme among the reviews...hopefully they can take the constructive criticism and improve in that department, because they have potential to be great!
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This is a great place for telecommuters-- quiet, free wireless, /and/ plenty of electric outlets. I'll give a bonus star just for not having to gulp my chocolate because my battery is about to die.
After visiting Eclipse a few times, I can say that everything I've tried has been pretty good, but quality can be somewhat variable and the same item can be quite different from one day to the next. This evening my chili burnt caramel drinking chocolate had a nice kick to it, but last time it was heavy on the caramel and had very little spice. The chocolate cupcake with lavender and vanilla flavoring was novel and delicious, but the cupcake filled with some berry and balsamic vinegar concoction was just average. Just about everything at Eclipse /sounds/ exciting, but finding the really good stuff can be a bit hit-or-miss.
However, Eclipse sets the bar high with carefully selected ingredients, interesting flavor combinations, and an obvious enthusiasm for the work. You won't find anything out of your great-aunt's Whitman's Sampler here.
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Creative flavors like chocolate with schezwan peppercorns, lavender sea salt, white chocolate with green tea, etc keep me coming back. And those are just chocolate bars...
The real treats are the seasonal dessert platters, cheese plates, and cupcakes/pastries. Now these I will never get tired of. They go great with the various coffees and hot chocolates at EC, by the way.
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Yes, its a bit rough on a grad student's budget but any establishment with 'chocolat' in its name is about treating yourself or someone special. The fare is exciting, innovative, delicious and even ... challenging. For example, I've grown to understand, respect, and love the lavender sea-salt dark chocolate caramel filled cupcake, even though i didn't know how to think about the saltiness at first. Make sure you have a glass of water near by for optimal enjoyment.
The drinking chocolate at 4.50 a cup was well worth it. If you need to justify it to yourself, compare the joy it brings to that of a beer at bar. I had the Rosemary Mint with 70% coco and felt incredibly satisfied.
And speaking of booze, they've got their alcoholic beverage application in, with reportedly a month to go. Can't wait to see what concoctions will be dreamed up.
Finally, I love the eco-friendly water-saving toilet with dual flush modes, evidence that 'EC's innovation and leadership doesn't stop with the edibles. That said, a little sign may help insure customers flush right the first time.
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I agree with Finula O. I had a horrible experience at this place. The server forgot my drink and I stood in front of her for at least 10 minutes before she acknowledged my presence. In my opinion, it was not worth the trip heading down there: the desserts were not the good and the service was even worse. Seriously, try another place.
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This place is a gem. When I told my friends it was on El Cajon, they kept repeating, "El Cajon? Where on El Cajon?" It's about a block or two North of the Lafayette Hotel/Red Fox Room. Near the LiveWire. Look for the sandwich board on the sidewalk.
The owner is very friendly and obviously proud of his product, as he should be! The chocolate is excellent and all hand made right there. The brownies (especially the ones with the homemade marsh mellows) were the richest and tastiest I've had in ages. And reasonable prices for the quality. He also sells these low sugar sodas from Seattle in flavors like rhubarb I'm excited to try.
It's so nice inside, cool to protect the chocolate, and you can easily forget you're on El Cajon. Plus he has free wireless, so I will definitely be coming here to study and enjoy a decadent treat.
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I am the business owner of Eclipse Chocolat. I'd like to take the chance to share the three pledges on which I founded my chocolate company and dessert cafe.
1. To provide the highest quality chocolates made from all natural
and, when possible, organic ingredients, and never additives or
preservatives.
2. To sponsor local and regional non-profits and charities by donating
10% of our net profits.
3. And to maintain "green" operations, using post-consumer paper
products and reducing our eco-foot print.
These pledges are extremely important to me, and I'd love to show all
of my guests how I strive to accomplish them!
-Will from Eclipse Chocolat
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Bah! Over-priced chocolate from a not-so-nice "artiste" business owner. He's obviously charmed some of you, so I guess he's got it in him. I prefer to patronize other businesses in my neighborhood, who welcome me and treat me like a valued customer. In this economy - a little pleasantry can go a long way. On the occasions that I've dropped my hard-earned dough in there, the owner couldn't be bothered to exchange pleasantries, or act like I hadn't been in there 3 or 4 times already...and I'm pretty unforgettable.
Try Chi Chocolates in Little Italy or Chuao Chocalatier for a fun, friendly and delicious experience. I've been to Chi Chocolates 3x now, and the owner remembered my name after the first visit, and was thrilled to see me back...now you tell me - where would you buy your chocolates given the choice? Nice small business owner who is pleased to have me in her store, or Snarky small business owner who could give a toss? Hmmmm....
Update - started taking some heat from a guy who adores this place - and I guess he's rallied his buddies to send me hate mail, but I'll stand by my comments. I do my best to support local business, but if I get treated poorly (or worse - ignored completely), well, I'm gonna vote with my dollars. I'd rather get a coffee at Starbucks (gasp) where I'm greeted with a warm hello, than put up with lousy customer service just because it's a locally owned and operated business.
4/21/08 - I can't believe the volume of mail I'm getting about my review...To all you who've had a fantastic experience (and written to bitch me out) - I'm happy for you. I didn't. And not for lack of trying - I really, really wanted to like this place - but the Wonkster was aloof, arrogant and condescending - sorry, but I've honestly never heard of a cocoa nib before...Would you keep going to a place that consistently treated you poorly, couldn't be bothered to greet you, make you feel WELCOME or worse, made you feel stupid for asking a question? If so - you're a masochist or a moron, and quite possibly both.
Check Ruggy's, Lisa M's and Holmes' comments for further evidence that Willy Wonka might be good at cupcakes, but his attempt (or lack thereof) at GOOD customer service is half-baked at best.
Jonathan M's assertions that I'm a "die hard Starbucks lover" is as far from truth as one could get - I only used them as an example of what customer service SHOULD be like. When I do go to a Starbucks - which is infrequently (because frankly, I make a pretty good cup of joe at home - from Cafe Moto beans - is that PC enough for you JM?) I am greeted kindly, warmly and with good humor. Call me crazy, but I rather like being treated well where I spend my money.
So listen up folks - step off - because I don't care how much you love the place, or hate Starbucks. I'm done with it. I'm not asking you to stop going - just giving my HONEST OPINION - just like you folks have been sending me your unsolicited, under-edited, poorly written, grammatically infuriating rants. Fercrissakes - learn to spell if you want to talk me.
And please - get off my case about Starbucks already...at least they're friendly and pleasant even if you think their coffee sucks - I'm not making you go there...
And - later that day...
YA GOT ME!
I'm new to Yelp, just starting doing this in the past few weeks and I just realized the same tool has been creating a bunch of identities and spamming my ass - so, you really ARE a loser. Get off Yelp for a few minutes and get an f'in life...Crikey! It's just CHOCOLATE!
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I love chocolate and this place didn't disappoint. While I consider myself somewhat of a chocolate purist, preferring plain dark chocolate above the rest, I was really impressed by their various flavors. As far as the truffles go, I really loved the Cacao Azteca, and the Balsamic Pink Peppercorn was really tasty too.
The staff that helped me was a little weird... I asked her if she had any recommendations for the truffles. She asked what I preferred (dark or light), I answered, she nodded (so I'm SURE she heard me), and then there were several moments of long (too long) silence. Was I supposed to give more details on what I wanted? Was she thinking very hard about what I might like? No clue. After a while I just went ahead and picked some, and my boyfriend and I hustled out. All in all, it was a very awkward situation.
The chocolate was good enough, however, that I'll be back again. I'm looking forward to trying their various drinks, all of which sound delightful!
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I love this cafe. I'm not a huge espresso drinker, but my boyfriend is, and after he had one of these, he decided he'd be willing to drive all the way from UTC to North Park just to have one to start the day!! I myself loooove the flavored hot chocolates. The dessert platters are also incredible, and reasonably priced (especially if you share, which I recommend).
I have given the chocolate bars and truffles as Bday, Xmas, and V-day gifts, and everyone loves them. I personally love the chile hazelnut chocolate bars the best. They're traditionally delicious (if you're a chocolate lover) with a kick.
I've gone with groups of friends multiple times, and found the owner to be really accommodating. I love this place - I think it's a great addition to the culture of N. Park and University Heights.
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Love the coffee, even more so when the girl who works nights makes it. Is her name Sherry? Can't remember but she is cool. The HOMEMADE marsh-mellows are yummmmy. I really like the different brownies they make. Nice place to sit and play a game of scrabble with a friend or lover. Never busy. Location is ah but just don't look out the window lol.
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one of best if not best cupcake i've ever had. beats kyotofu in ny. and magnolia.
our hood needed a place like this, thank you Will.
one of a kind.
Like I needed another place in SD that indulges my sweet tooth. But hey, a girl likes having choices as well and this one is on heavy rotation. The space is very inviting and bright. A cool place to have dessert and coffee for sure. Or to pick up some fabulous chocolate.
I first came in here on a night that a cool local band took over and played for an hour. (Secret Apollo - very Weezer-like if I need to make a comparison.) That night, I tried the sea salt nib and it was delicious. Also picked up a marshmallow almond brownie which was heavenly.
Since then, I have been coming in whenever I am home for the week. Whether it is just to grab a brownie and a couple of pieces of what is in the display case or actually relaxing and sharing a dessert flight with friends, I've left with a good chocolate buzz. This is now my go-to place when I want to have dessert with the girls. Also a good place for a boy to bring me if he wants to get on my good side.
Good luck with finding parking....but if you're driving by and see a spot, get thee into Eclipse. You won't be sorry.
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I went there once and tried some of the chocolate and the brownie. The bar was toffee covered in a dark chocolate with walnuts. The toffee had a good flavor to it and was not overly hard, as some tend to be. The chocolate had a nice smoky aftertaste to it. The brownies have different kinds of berries on top of them. It was a good brownie but you could really only taste the berries/topping when you ate the top part of it.
For Valentines they were offering a 5 course dinner with each course having a chocolate component to it. I thought it was a creative idea so we gave it a try and were not disappointed. All of the courses were unique and well done. My favorites were the soup and the crepe. They still had some growing pains as they are not traditionally a restaurant. We brought our own wine and they gave us scotch glasses to drink it out of and I found that the last couple of courses seemed rushed (they were getting ready for the next seating). Overall it was an enjoyable meal and I would certainly consider trying the next one. They don't plan on doing dinner nightly but are going to try some events throughout the year. Here is the menu from last night.
buttermilk biscuits with house-made cocoa-nib butter
creme fraiche and chocolate-buckwheat crepe with mushroom marsala sauce
soup duo of chilled vichysoisse and white chocolate leek
salade of grapefruit supremes and shaved fennel with cocoa-citrus vinaigrette
baked brie en croute with cocoa veal sauce (vegetarian sauce option)
raspberry-cocoa nib plombiere
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This was my second visit -- first visit, with friends, we all bought lots of chocolates as gifts (probably $30 each) and we each ordered choc. drinks. The drinks were great... I got the chili caramel chocolate and LOVED it. I thought the service was a bit odd -- the owner wasn't particularly friendly and the room is set up badly, but I wanted to like it there.
Yesterday we went in again, same trio of girls. The owner obviously recognized us and we reminded him that we'd been in before and had bought quite a bit of chocolate. We had come in to buy the caramels with sea salt -- we'd each planned to buy several boxes. He was out -- and that's fine... he makes everything from scratch so you'd expect that at times, but he got a bit defensive about it and we all looked at each other like, "what's up with him?" Then we go to order our drinks, but first one friend mentions a particular dessert that is usually served with a tray of desserts. She tells the owner that she'd love it if we could just try that one item, as we were too full to eat a tray of stuff. the owner says - get this -- "I have one left and I was actually just going to throw it away, so yeah, I'll sell it to you". He was going to throw it away? But now he'd sell it to us?
Sure enough, he makes a big fuss about what to charge us and we end up paying $5 for a scrunched up little piece of peanut butter chocolate something that looked like it indeed should be thrown away! It was good, but doesn't this guy understand how much good will he would have created with the three of us by comping that nasty little nub? We've spent around $100 there -- we're on our second visit -- we're chatting him up and trying to learn about the place and he pulls that. On our way out he didn't even say goodbye or thanks. I doubt we'll be back -- and I've been telling people how great the drinking chocolate was -- now I'll tell them this story instead.
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I'm at Eclipse multiple times a week. Why? The truffles, the tea, the drinking chocolate, the music, the Wi-Fi and the owner. Will is one of the most genuine and kind people you'll meet, with a passion for high quality chocolate and a desire to evolve Eclipse into the best it can be.
Of the truffles, the lavender sea salted caramel is my favorite, with the lemon-infused white chocolate/ginger, the espresso, the azteca and the dark chocolate close behind. I was never a fan of white chocolate until Will taught me the difference. If you're curious, make sure to ask him. I had no idea.
All of the drinking chocolates are must-try and I highly recommend the chili-burnt caramel even if you can't handle spicy. I don't care for spicy, but the warmth in this chocolate fades after each sip letting you enjoy more. Make sure to try the house-made marshmallows with them. I particularly love the Chinese Five Spice.
The apple and pear teas keep their flavor whether iced or hot, and the Thai iced tea is sweet and yummy. My girlfriend adores the Buddha's Choice tea for its nutty flavor.
The seasonal dessert platters are incredible and, as someone else mentioned, are perfect to share. They change several times a year, but each one has been rich and flavorful.
The Marshmallow Almond Rococo is a unique take on Rocky Road; house-made marshmallows, tons of milk chocolate, almonds and a little sea salt that gives a savory balance to the sweet.
Make sure to try one of the dozen or so bars. The sea salt is a cornerstone. Smell the Coconut Lime and you'll see why it's one of my favorites. There is a lemon-ginger bar based on the truffle I mentioned earlier. One of the recent surprises for me was the Mango Masala. I couldn't imagine a curry/chocolate combination until now. The spices are mellow and mix with the chocolate to give a smooth and unique taste.
In addition to all these great reasons to spend so much time in the store I love the Free Wi-Fi. I do a lot of writing and studying, so a cup of tea with a side of chocolate helps me get through the stress.
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Hurry!! Go to Eclipse NOW before there is a perpetual line out the door. In a few months, this is going to be the hottest spot in town.
Here's why:
The owner and his product.
Will is a chocolatier of the highest integrity. He only uses the very best chocolate and other ingredients. He only serves items that he loves. He only employs quality people. He doesn't compromise or cut corners. He cares about his customers.
As a vegan, there usually isn't anything for me at chocolate shops. Will recognizes that vegans like good chocolate, and he is happy to explain which items are suitable for vegans. My favorite is a vegan-friendly chocolate-olive oil fondue. It is the silkiest chocolate that comes with the most exquisite dipping agents (lady apples, marcona almonds, etc). It's enough for 3 or 4 to share!
Also suitable for vegans are some of the bars and the peanut butter toffee. The peanut butter toffee, by the way, tastes like a Belgian butterfinger. So wonderfully delicious. I wish I had one right now. Will also let me try his new dulce de leche truffle that happens to be vegan. Stupendous! Will told me that he does not believe in taking a recipe and changing it to make it vegan because it just creates an inferior product. Instead, he overhauls the recipe and figures out a way to make the product without compromising any taste or texture of the original.
My boyfriend goes crazy for Will's drinking chocolate...the white one. And my boss told me yesterday that she still dreams about the Eclipse pistachio chocolate bar that I brought her months ago.
I would also like to point out that groups can hold chocolate tastings at Eclipse or at another location. I am planning a chocolate-tasting event for my alumni club (Go U Northwestern!) in January. The preparations with Will have been so easy (he's a pro), and the pricing is incredibly reasonable. Ours will be a combined chocolate/wine tasting, and everyone is really excited about it. Who wouldn't want to taste lots of truffles and wines?? Beats a normal networking organization happy hour, doesn't it?
The location may not be downtown La Jolla, but it is perfectly fine. Just west of the Lafayette Hotel, it's a convenient spot for many. It is very easy to park on El Cajon or on the side streets (Mississippi or Alabama). Anyway, all the cool people live in North Park these days. It's a great spot to go to before or after the Red Fox or Mama's Bakery.
The painted walls are beautiful, and the custom woodwork throughout the cafe make for an elegant experience. There's free Wifi, too!
I recommend adding his blog to your RSS http://eclipsechocolat... because Will frequently adds exciting items to the menu or has cool promotions. Plus, it's fun to learn about the exotic ingredients he uses.
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Will Gustwiller is the owner of Eclipse Chocolat, a new cafe on El Cajon Boulevard. Will studied sculpture in the SDSU masters program where his work was a visual art form. Will then transformed this practice to sculpting the art of taste and chocolate became his canvas. A misconception between Will's pursuit in sculpture and chocolate is that he sculpts chocolate. In fact, the process of exploring the material and presenting the experience is what sculpting is all about. In this case, his focus became sculpting flavor. Chocolate grabbed him as complicated yet neutral; infused with exotic concoctions, sculpting new experiences became endless.
Will's chocolate business grew immediately after college. One by one, he established new local accounts and his relationships with the San Diego business community developed into a strong network. Once he landed a couple of large accounts with upscale hotels, he knew he had the ability to take the next step.
Fortunately, Will's next step included a location on El Cajon Boulevard. Not only does it look magnificent, it smells equally magnificent. Fine chocolate creations are exciting and with an open kitchen, the experience becomes more profound knowing that each chocolate delicacy is made on the premises. As a resident of University Heights, working close to home was a must. Although El Cajon Boulevard wasn't his only option, Will jumped on the opportunity take part in this period of revitalization along The Boulevard.
Creative new businesses are exactly what this district needs and Will is certain that he is here to stay! With a menu of espresso drinks and luxurious deserts, Will has sculpted his own niche of excellence.
For a frequent update of chocolate-making as alchemy, visit the Eclipse Chocolat blog at www.eclipsechocolat.com or better yet, indulge. Eclipse Chocolate is located at
2121 El Cajon Boulevard.
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i had a good experience here. my boyfriend took me here for valentine's day for their set course meal. at first i was totally under the impression that we were gonna go out to steak for valentine's and when he told me that we were going to el cajon i was wondering what he had gotten us into...
the course meal was delicious and different (we also ordered an additional artisan platter) though at the end it was seriously just too heavy. every single dish was made with chocolate. i loved their savory crepe though!!
i had been eating chocolates every day for an entire month before feb 14 and by the end of the experience at eclipse i was thoroughly sick of chocolates. thank you for ending my disgusting chocolate streak haha. it was a great experience but i dont think i can ever eat a course meal of sweets again ;)
i recommend the truffle with ginger. i'd go back to try out some more chocolates but it's just too far away. if i ever do go back, though, i think i'll definitely try out their flavored hot chocolates and/or coffee. i had a pear tea when i was there and it was very flavorful.
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I had some sort of chocolate espresso. It was freaking awesome. If you appreciate good coffee give this place a try. I've also had some of the truffles, and they are also awesome: all very subtle and interesting.
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what a great place and vegan options.
the place has a counter behind which i guess the chocolates are created. we went after lunch and were in the mood for a little desert. we got a coffee (ok, americana - same price, same taste, no refills - pretentious LA naming) and wonderful chocolate fondue on a saturday afternoon. there are some tables and a couch area to sit. the food was excellent, the atmosphere nice and we had a great time. the food is pricey ($10 for the fondue, $6 for a chocolate bar) but hey, it is special. we loved it and will come back.
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OMG OMG OMG. I'm in love.
This place has become a weekly stop for me. Since I'm an intern, and relatively poor, I can only really afford one or two truffles at a time, instead of a box. But this is making it a fun weekly field trip to see what is on display to try that day. I figure it will take forever to get through them all and I'm ok with that.
The chili-burnt caramel drinking chocolate is spicy and amazing. The truffle flavors are original (none of this "champagne" or "cappucino" Jimmy Schmidt crap) and subtle - to be appreciated, not inhaled.
On hot days the lavender-vanilla bean lemonade, although pricey, is well worth it, although it could have used a TEENSY bit more sweetness. Although it comes in a cool compostable corn cup, so I forgive them.
All in all, my favorite new find. A bit of an odd location, making it a destination and not something you just walk by and discover. I hope this doesn't hurt the business. Go there!
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I was eating Eclipse back since when it was even more privately held than it is now. And it was always quirky and great. I've never had chocolates as interesting as these.
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A jewel on El Cajon Boulevard! It smells amazing when you walk in and the service was very friendly and helpful in helping me make a selection on the menu. I came with a book and curled up on the couch for a relaxing read and ordered the White Chocolate Orange Peel Vanilla exotic drinking chocolate. I've never had white chocolate as a drink before, and it was so smooth and creamy. I tasted the infusion of the orange and vanilla...it was a real treat and was like a drink from heaven! I plan to come back and try the other flavors too! I was very comfortable, the place has a great atmosphere and free Wi-fi, very relaxing and calm place to chill out and enjoy the scents and aroma's. After my drink I settled on the sesonal dessert platter which offered 4 different sweet treats with a unique variety of falvors My favorite was the Dark Chocolate Brioche Bread Pudding with Creme Anglaise. It was very delicious and full of flavor and the White Chocolate-Macadamia Pudding with Butterscotch Rum Sauce was another treat that tasted like it was from heaven and yummy too. There was also a Curried-Peanutbutter, Marshmallow, & Milk Chocolate Panini and Frozen Chile-Burnt Caramel Semifreddo that were both very unqiue and interesting to try. It was fun tasting these exotic combinations. It was also plenty of food for one person and could still easily be split between 2 people. The barista on duty took great care of me and offered me water and always made sure to get me refills. The owner is a very sweet guy "no pun intended" and will make you feel welcome and takes great pride in making sure his customers are satisfied and leave with a smile on their face. Eclipse Chocolate is a great cafe and should not be missed!
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Great coffee, and friendly service. The environment is unexpectedly posh for the location. Definitely worth a visit.
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A curious and admirable business venture. If you dig the micro-chocolatier concept, get your butt over here.
Eclipse is way serious about its cacao. Everything is made on the premises, and by everything I mean stuff like "orange peel vanilla bean hot chocolate with house-made marshmallows" and "sage infused chocolate flecked with desiccated blackberry bits".
(I had me some rosemary mint choco drink. Lawdy.)
I think they are aiming for two primary demographics, the cafe-seeking daytime internet hounds (yelpers) and the dessert-craving chocoholics (uh... yelpers). Do they have the right combination?
THE GOOD: Handsome decor, beautiful tables, fun artworks, amazing aromas, friendly atmosphere, fascinating menu, and *free wireless*.
DRAWBACKS: It can't accommodate big groups, the seats are mostly not that comfortable, the location relies a lot on word of mouth (yelp) and you're NEVER going to see this storefront unless you are right in front of it or you stumble home from the Live Wire. Driving on El Cajon, you'll be blinded by that liquor store and all its lights ("Coldest beer in town" -- lamest slogan ever).
Will Eclipse succeed? Probably. Chicks dig the chocolate, man. If you're selling good sweets, you can afford to mess up the business model a bit. And that which I tasted was mother's milk.
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I try to have an open mind and tried some "wild things" like chili power, poppy seed, and lavender chocolates, but some things are better kept on tacos and in perfumes. The traditional flavors were to die for!
Excellent quality ingredients were used and if your palate is more adventurous than mine, try them.
The shop keeper was absolutely the most friendly person you could meet at any store and I 100% prefer to give my $$$ to neighborhood businesses.
Cheers!
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I actually really like the chocolates as well as the brownies. The problem I have is with the good health practices. Both times I have gone the person serving the chocolates and brownies used their hands with no gloves and not tongs. The second time the person was mopping the floor, they walked around the counter and served us bare handed, without even washing their hands first.
I'm not a health nut or germ freak, but come on how simple is it to use tongs or those thin plastic gloves they use at other places. Give me a break, this is just common sense. How about washing your hands after mopping the floor before serving the customers?
3/14/08 Update:
The owner of Eclipse Chocolate contacted me today and informed me that the individual who helped me on both occasions is no longer employed there, and that special attention and training has been implemented to ensure good health practices. I have not visited Eclipse since my prior experience, but I am willing to give it another shot. I will update this review further when I make another visit and change my rating if practices have indeed improved.
4/6/08 Update
I went back for the first time in a while. The chocolates are so good. I missed the Lavender Truffle and tried the Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar truffle for the first time. Well once again they were both great. They have obviously made an attempt to improve the sanitary handling of the chocolate. When the same person is handling money and serving, obviously they shouldn't be using their bare hands for both. Well, they are now using disposable gloves, similar to the ones used as Subway, but they are reusing them. The woman that served me had a pair of disposable gloves sitting on a shelf, she put them on, served me and then pulled them off and and placed them back on the shelf to reuse them. Once one glove is off, you need to use the ungloved hand that touches all of the money to pull on each finger of the other glove to get it off for reuse. Sorry, still not sanitary. Come on man this isn't rocket science. This is not a new concept. If you want to be green and not throw away plastics, then get tongs, they'll work faster since you don't need to take them on and off and they'll be greener if that is the point of reusing them. Sorry, but can't improve my rating on this place until they get some common sense.
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Welcome Eclipse Chocolat! Owner Will Gustwiller started this business 4 years ago and is having his grand opening of his shop this Saturday (October 20, 2007)!!!
Yay for gingerbread spice chocolate bars! And chili caramel sauce!
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LISTEN UP CHOCOLATE LOVERS! North Park/University Heights is now home to Eclipse Chocolat! If you have not had the pleasure of sampling this San Diego-based company's delectable treats you are missing out! To give you a better idea of what Eclipse is all about, here is a blurb from Will, the owner and head chocolatier's blog....
"Established in 2004, Eclipse specializes in creating exotic chocolate infusions in truffles, solid bars, and other exciting confections. Eclipse strives to expand the boundaries of chocolate flavors while operating in an eco-friendly manner and donating 10% of its annual net profit to the the development of local and regional non-profits and charities."
The Eclipse Cafe just opened this week and is filled with delicious and unique chocolates! I popped in for a chocolate fix and was lucky enough to meet Will, the owner. He was welcoming and friendly. We chatted a bit about his exciting new venture and he suggested a few seasonal chocolate pieces for fall. I chose two types of chocolate bark-pumpkin and gingerbread, as well as one of his unique chocolate bars-a sea salt and chocolate nib studded bar made with 50% cocoa. All three of these were unbelievable! Rich and complex flavors balanced with creamy but not overly sweet cocoa. Unfortunately, he didn't have my favorite Eclipse treat this time around-exotic salted caramels. These caramels are seriously addictive! Buttery caramel enrobed in milk and dark chocolate sprinkled with sea salt that has been infused with flavors like chile and lavendar. Will assured me they would have some in the near future but they are very labor intensive and with the opening of his cafe, he hasn't had the extra time to make them.
Support unique local businesses in San Diego! Go check out the new Eclipse Cafe and sample some delicious, creative chocolate treats!
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eclipse chocolate is absolutely top-notch. will's little store is perfect! the build-out is tasteful; the space is small and intimate. i love the tables, light fixtures, custom display cabinets, and the painting on the wall is classy. if you want fine, hand-made concoctions (and think extraordinary deserts is overrated) look no further than eclipse chocolat.
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i am a minimalist when it comes to food (why in the world would you pile your pizza with random combos of fruit and meat when it tastes perfectly fine plain?), especially with chocolate!! chocolate is SO good all on it's own... black sesame anise truffles? chile chocolate brownies? rosemary mint 'drinking cocoa'? why??!!
than answer: because it is GOOD :) i had a rosemary mint cocoa and bites of a few of the barks and truffles, all were *excellent*, and i am a big chocolate snob who isn't really into rosemary!!! the only downside is that everything is so rich, it is easy to get overwhelmed. next time i will get a tea to balance out the heaviness...
they don't have gift certificates yet, but lots of really cute make-your-own truffle boxes, chocolate bars and gift-type things for the holidays!!
cool place, nice people, and a coupon in the uptown magazine! check it out!! :)
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