[Photographs: Kathy YL Chan]

MarieBelle is a gorgeous shop—especially now that it's undergone a renovation. If looks were everything, these would have been phenomenal chocolates, and watching multiple people make $100+ purchases seemed to confirm that sentiment. But what we found was a little more hit and miss.

The dessert parlor in the back is a beautiful space with a dramatic chandelier and European charm; they serve a full menu ranging from brunch to high tea. It's good to note that chocolate bonbons can't be purchased in the dining room, though—you need to ring them up at front even if you'd like to enjoy them alongside your other treats.

We started with a small assortment ($14 for 4 truffles) with selections that piqued our interest, along with the recommendations of the (somewhat stuffy) attendant. Since the bonbons are decorated with transfers that suggest nothing about the flavor within, we tasted and guessed; and despite our selection of usually distinct flavors, these were muddy and difficult to pin down.

Yuzu ganache was slightly citrusy but brought down by a grainy, not-so-fresh texture.

Saffron, another interesting flavor that I was eager to try, tasted somewhat soapy.

Passionfruit, the server's top recommendation, was one of the easier ones to distinguish, but the flavor was still somewhat muddled.

Cilantro struck us as a highly unusual flavor, and one that we were more than eager to try. But the filling was yellow in color and tasted like lemon, which left me sadly curious about what cilantro ganache would be like if it actually captured that herbaceousness.

My favorite of the bunch was the espresso truffle, which made me think that mocha hot chocolate would be a good bet.

Though it's pricey and comes in a teeny mug, it's easy to tell that this is super-rich hot chocolate that you don't need a lot of. To be frank, a spoonful was more than enough ($6). By the time it came to the table, it had developed a thick skin, and it didn't taste at all like a mocha. When I order hot chocolate, I'd like to sip it, not eat it by the spoonful. But to each their own.

MarieBelle SoHo

484 Broome Street, New York NY 10012 (b/n Wooster and West Broadway; map)
(212) 884-9707
http://www.mariebelle.com