by Jasmine Tejada, staff reporter
While a worker hands out chocolate samples, families and friends pack the main entrance of Max Brenner’s at 841 Broadway to be seated every week.
Before being seated, one is expected to make reservations online, or wait for a table in person. Despite early reservations, the main entrance at Max Brenner was crowded. Customers were expected to wait approximately 90 minutes longer than promised.
Their speciality is dessert, and grown ups and children alike window shop the chocolate bar for ideas on to what to order. While customers wait for their orders to be served, they can witness how the different platters of chocolate are being prepared.
These desserts range from a variety of hot chocolate, such as: Italian Thick (hot chocolate with vanilla cream), Mexican Spicy (hot chocolate with red chili, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper), Swiss Whipped (hot chocolate with whipped cream on top), and more for $5.95, to smoothies for $7.95 and sugar waffles for $13.95.
“I order[ed] the crazy mac and cheese, which came with a side of supercut tomatoes. It was very good, but I think I’ll take the other half home and enjoy my fondue,” customer Diana Valdez said.
Brenner’s also offers several fondues for two, such as: Sharing A Fondue (a large tray with a little grill to keep the chocolate sauce warm, along the side chocolate sponge cake, banana tempura, milk white chocolate bark, fruit, and marshmallows).
Classic European Fondue (includes two different types of melted chocolate with different dippings, for example: bananas, strawberries, chocolate chunk cookies, marshmallows and a chocolate sponge cake.)
The Fantastic I-Scream Bar Fondue (ice cream bars that arrives perfectly cold with three different dippings: chocolate, choco pops, and hazelnuts in small white bowls) and more all under $25.
It’s important to note almost all tables ordered the fondues because of its large size. Not only does it look good, but tastes good too.
“I order[ed] a salad, chicken, and a side of homemade fries. Then for dessert, the sharing fondue. The food arrived super warm, but the wait to be seated along with the wait for the food were [some] things I didn’t like. It was also very loud, [and] crowded, people pushing into each other, so if I come again I’ll skip the meal just order dessert,” customer Angela Aquino said.
Customers who wish to have a meal before dessert can choose from the food menu. The second page contains adult beverages; on the third page one can choose from waffle sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, paninis, and meals that must use a fork and knife. The fourth page consists of breakfast, and side dishes.
If one is too full for dessert, they can simply purchase desserts on the first floor by the entrance; where there is also a selection of gift bags to purchase.
Surely, no restaurant is perfect and this restaurant needs to work on being organized because the waiting list is constantly changing. Customers are being pushed up on the list then down, and the seats are extremely close together.
Although some think the restaurant is pricey, it’s fair because it’s in a nice area in the city and demand is high. Just remember when going to Max Brenner the waiting list will be a long wait, and food is on the menu, but don’t forget dessert because that’s what its known for.