May 4, 2007

Cuckoo for Cocoa

Cocoa Bar Opens

Bespectacled scientists have proven that chocolate makes people (very) happy.

So imagine the effect of, say, brandy truffles alongside pinot noir. Sheer. Bliss.

With that in mind, Park Slope’s favorite chocolate and wine bar, Cocoa Bar, is injecting a dose of its joy into the Lower East Side.

The 30-seat happy place has a five-page dessert menu that reads like a great trashy romance novel: dark chocolate truffles filled with rum ganache, port-infused figs, caramel de leche frappe (say it’s so!) — all paired with fine wines, beer, and coffees.

Frowns will falter at the sight of passion fruit chocolate mousse, a dark chocolate dome with mango and passion fruit panna cotta, layered on a toasted coconut cake.

Should you want to work on your smile lines between visits, hit their well-stocked shop on the way out.

No doubt you’ll be licking your lips (and fingers) all the way home.

Cocoa Bar, 21 Clinton Street, between Houston and Stanton Streets (212-677-7417 or cocoabarnyc.com).