nyc: max brenner restaurant

while we were in nyc on sunday, we had lunch at max brenner in union square.  it has been on our list of restaurants to try for a while now, so we were excited to be able to check it out.

as soon as you walk into the restaurant, you feel like you are in the middle of willy wonka's chocolate factory.  there is chocolate everywhere you turn, and the entire restaurant smells amazing.

 ^i fell in love with their two orange espresso machines and the awesome lights hanging above the chocolate bar.^

 ^if you don't want to wait for a table, there is a to-go line.  one of the things they sell is chocolate in a syringe!^

 ^there were so many options on the menu and everything sounded so good.  it was hard to pick.  for lunch ryan ordered the cheesestake sandwich which was served on a homemade rosemary waffle.  it had caramelized onions and a five-cheese sauce on it, and it came with onion rings and waffle fries too.  the waffle fries were dusted with cocoa powder and chili powder!^

 ^i ordered the quinoa, chickpea, avocado, cherry tomato, and arugula salad which was served on top of a homemade corn waffle and tossed with a honey dijon vinaigrette.  it was such an delicious combination.  i can't wait to make it at home!^

 ^of course we couldn't leave without having some chocolate.  the chocolate dessert menu is 24 pages long!  this place takes their chocolate seriously.  for dessert, we ordered dark italian sipping chocolate.  the hot chocolate was served in a "hug mug" which is the cutest thing ever.  it is shaped so that you hug your hands around the mug to keep your hands warm.  we loved it so much that we bought two mugs to take home with us.  i can't wait to make hot chocolate and curl up on the couch to drink it in our new mugs.^

^now, there's a motto i can get behind!^

love, laurie

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other pictures from our day in nyc on sunday here and here