Had delightful calamari  as an appetizer & the gnocchi for dinner which was absolutely delicious. My bf had the steak and also enjoyed it as well. BYOB is an awesome detail. Dinner was overall very tasty and we enjoyed it. Everyone was extremely attentive with positive attitudes. We will be returning!
Review Source:Went for dinner with another couple on a Friday night. Â It was busy but we were seated quickly and both the hostess and waitress were pleasant. Â They serve breadsticks instead of bread. Â Would have been indulgent and more memorable to have gotten some sort of garlic or cheese spread to dip them in. Shrimp appetizer was tasty..although the shrimp were small. Â Onion soup was hot and cheesey.
I got the veggie burger, which was good - but not outstanding. Â My husband asked for paella sans chorizo. The waitress returned from the kitchen in seconds, saying that was fine. THAT was awesome!
BYOB
Nice atmosphere
Weird name
It's definitely worth trying.
My boss treated his group to holiday/xmas lunch. Westfield has a wide range of places to eat over other towns like Union. We came around 2pm so the lunch crowd was gone.
It's nice that this place is BYOB. We felt bad with our boss had to pay a big bill unless the lunch was on the company. I brought my back pack full of beers.
There is plenty of meter parking but if you're brave you can park at the diner's lot.
Most items are reasonably priced but the selection of items is not big. For lunch there were mainly sandwiches and salads. I order the meatloaf because I was starving and lunch was late. Like most meatloafs it was bland. It met my expectations but was hoping for more. Everyone in our party enjoyed the food. We shared the nachos, cheesey Panini bread thing, and 2 orders of empanadas. Nachos came with a chopped up avocado which is a nice touch. It's not the blended green stuff chain restaurant offer. The other two appetizers were ok as well. I may not have ordered it if I was paying.
The waitress was a bit odd to me. She did a great job but she was not very personable. Water did not come with a slice of lemon but I was afraid to ask. Whenever she came by to clear the plates she would knock over something.
The bathroom was well decorated but why is there a wine cellar/shelf in the bathroom?!?! Â I know it's used wine bottles, so I wonder what happens to our beer bottles? And it always crack me up that there are books in the bathroom. Only thing missing is a match.
Felt crowded. We ordered the calamari, it was a bit chewy but not horrible. The fra diablo sauce was bland and had no kick to it. Both of our entrees came with a house salad the dressing was good. I had a gnocchi dish. I love gnocchi, this I have no Idea what it was. Imagine inconsistent globs of hard bland dough. Even the sauce was bland, and I hate to say it but it probably was the worst gnocchi I've ever had in my lifetime. My girlfriend had the dinner special San Marino salmon. It came with veggies and I think in white wine garlic sauce. It was excellent. Perfection, I was so jealous. I'm not gonna hate on this place I can only assume that I chose to eat the worst dish they serve here. My girlfriends dish is the reason why I would return.
Review Source:BYOB!
Had an amazing birthday dinner here with the family last Friday! Â Over the years, I've learned my lesson and now choose restaurants based on how UNLIKELY it is that they will sing and dance or make me stand on a chair.
The food was great and the service was more than accommodating! Â Our waiter was knowledgeable and sweet...he even gave me a little candle with my dessert! Â (Without a song and dance!)
As far as the food goes.. Cheesy and satisfying French Onion soup. Â Everyone loved the beef empanada's... I thought there could have been more meat inside, but they were still delicious!
My seafood dinner was excellent! Â Scallops, shrimp and salmon with mixed veggies and risotto. Â Dad liked his paella.
The burger was enormous, and, from what I heard, juicy and flavorful. Â I had to talk my boyfriend and my sister out of stealing the adorable little fryer basket that they served the fries in. Â If my grandmother were still alive, she'd have put it in her purse when I was in the bathroom...
My favorite part of the meal was the dessert... it was called "Banana Bash" I think and it had a cookie crust with banana custard, chocolate ganache and whipped cream. Â My stepmom and sister had the same thing, but Raspberry and they raved about it! Â
I will definitely be back again!
I have had good food experiences here before, however after tonight's experience, I will never go back again. My family and I ordered seafood and after a long wait our food came. My daughter would not eat her salmon and my wife only ate 2 shrimp as their seafood was overlooked and rubbery. We do not normally complain and when we did, we were told "I'm sorry, it was busy, you should have told us earlier." "I'm sorry it was busy" is not a valid response for a bad meal, nor does it absolve oneself from responsibility. The male manager was very unprofessional with how he handled the situation as he began to give my wife and I attitude as it was our fault that the restaurant was crowded and that we didn't complain sooner. I can not recommend this establishment based on the manager's lack of professionalism.
Review Source:This BYOB is great for a date night. Â Seating can be a little tight and limited if you get there at the height of dinner hour but the food is worth it. Â The menu options are pretty broad so there is something for everyone. Â They have outdoor seating which is nice on mild weathered evenings. Â Give it a try!
Review Source:Hadn't been here in awhile. Â Mentally I would have thought of this place as 4 stars based on prior dinners here. Â However, the blandness of the food on my most recent visit made my visit nothing special. Â
For openers I had the onion soup. Â Nice and cheesey which I like but really had no particular taste or flavor that I could discern. Â Same thing for my main course; the vegetable strudel. Â If the veggies were seasoned, I certainly didn taste that. Â And, the marinara sauce was even blander than the unseasoned veggies.
Not a great meal but I have had some really good things there in the past and even used them to cater my daughter's graduation party last year. Â Not sure why this meal was just so-so.
I've gone here twice and they have never disappointed.  Food is delicious and plate presentation is great  .  Menu is very diverse.  I was initially hesitant ordering the Ropa Vieja which is a Cuban dish but I was quite impressed. French onion soup is to die for!  Keep up the great cooking.
Review Source:Have lived in the area for the last few years and never tried this restaurant....we went in for lunch the other day.....and....we should have just skipped it. Mediocre food at best. The cuban sandwich was fair and I do a far better job at home....the Cajun chicken sandwich was just poor. No spice whatsoever. Does the chef/ownership even know that cajun = spice...forget it. The place was empty except for two tables inside and a few outside....and still the service was painfully slow.....really...waiting 30+minutes for two simples sandwiches?.....Our waiter was pleasant however the rest of the staff just seems....well...plain uncomfortable just to be there.....and it shows that they would rather be anywhere else...but at Xocolatz.....It is subpar diner food at best....therefore.....we will not be back to try their dinner presentation.
Review Source:Saw reviews on Yelp and called in for a reservation at 6:30 on a Saturday night. When we arrived the restaurant wasn't full. We were seated quickly and our server was quickly there to see  if we needed drinks. The menu is very eclectic, there are some pasta dishes, some mexican dishes and some comfort meals. So really their menu runs the gamut and should really be able to fill anyone's appetite. My girlfriend and I settled on the empanadas for our appetizer. They were solid, not the best I've eaten. They were a bit over cooked but tasty. For our entrees I selected the enchiladas and my girlfriend got the vegetable strudel. The enchiladas were very good and you could tell the ingredients were fresh, the same with the vegetable strudel, it was delicious. It was more like a vegetable calzone minus the sauce. But again the fresh grilled vegetables were excellent. By the time our food got there, the place was filling up quickly and most of the tables were filled. Prices are very reasonable and BYO does lighten the load a bit. Definitely will go back.
Review Source:The first time I was so happy with this place was one of their special wraps. That wrap tasted so fresh with light cilantro. Now my favorite is grilled chicken salad. Great balsamic vinegarette, creamy, sweet,n tangy. Â cute place to have a bite, parking lot is a plus. I think their price is a bit high but delicious food.
Review Source:LOVE, LOVE, LOVE XOCOLATZ! It is one of my FAVE Westfield restaurants. For dinner, lunch, or brunch you CAN NOT GO WRONG!! It is also BYO with no corking free, which is just an added plus. Their menu is inventive and has something for everyone. From hamburgers to ropa vieja, you can not go wrong. Make sure you try the bananas on the beach appetizer. It is divine!!
Review Source:Wen to Xocolatz this past Saturday for lunch. Â Got a cup of Campfire Chili soup for an app and the Cajun Grilled Chicken Sangwich. Â Both were great! Â THe chili was full of peppers and onions, and had just enough beans. Â I ordered the Cajun Chicken sangwich on 7 grain bread and received a large meal. Â The chicken had real good spice and heat to it, between the sandwich and the chili my mouth was feeling the effects. Â My friend ordered the Chicken Foccacia sandwich with Pesto Sauce on it, and really liked the meal. Â The grand total came to something like 25 bucks or so??? The place is small but very neat and clean. Â The only negative part to my experience was I think the waitress was new, because she seemed to not have a clue what was going on. Â But, then again I'm always confused to was like the blind leading the blind sort of speak. Â When ordering my sandwich she asked what salad dressing I wanted...ummm I ordered an sandwich chick. Â Besides that, a good experience. Â Check it out!
Review Source:So-so food. The calamari appetizer was pretty good, but without enough sauce for the fairly generous amount of calamari. The sauce was quite bland for "Fra Diavolo". The main course, Baja Shrimp, was a muddled mess. No clear flavors or tastes came through. Service was pleasant and reasonably attentive, but we won't be back in a hurry.
Review Source:It's a very busy place...so it helps to make a reservation if you have a large group. Â They have different menu choices for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Â It helps to check out the menus on their website before your visit: Â <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fxocolatznj.com&s=82a74e5763f223b7d6a1e262b04773584ba7a2ba03b34a935b0a3e8aa9fdb7f2" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://xocolatznj.com</a>.
We have not tried the brunch yet. Â They have amazing unusual salads. Â The Herb Grilled Chicken Salad for lunch is my personal favorite. Â All the ingredients look odd on paper but they actually married together quite nicely. Â The empanada is our favorite and we order it every time we are there. Â The Pasta Pink vodka is great comfort food with delicious sun dried tomatoes that wake up your taste buds. Â For dinner, you must try the Barcelona Paella and Crab Cob Salad. Â They are so fresh and light yet with incredible flavors.
The only negatives are: (1) The food takes a while to come out during lunch rush. Â (2) The fried plantain was done in thin strips instead of the circle thicker cut that I am used to eating.
This is a must-visit place if you like unique and great food!
Think cramped, attitude, BYOB, with little parking spot in Westfield. Â Maybe I am being harsh but me thinks not. Â First you should make a reservation as the hostess frowns on walk-ins. Â At least she does it in a British accent so I didn't feel as stupid as I would normally. So we waited, not too long though and we were seated by the kitchen, a nice spot but the seats are really crammed in. Â We ordered and the food came, it was OK. Â We shared an order of the Empanadas, good and enough for 4 so have a taste. Â I wanted the Calamari but when I saw the look of horror on the table across from us I realized I dodged a bullet. Â They both commented to each other about how it was chewy. Â We also ordered the Crab Fondue, that was good. Â I ordered the fish special, a bit saucy and too buttery. Â We did order dessert, the apple crumb and brownie. Â Both delicious. Â The highlight came as we were enjoying the last sips of wine, and the hostess who was giving us the evil eye from the large kitchen window finally approached our table. Â In her kind yet demeaning British accent she told us that she could really use our table and by the time she finished her sentence had taken it upon herself to clear the table. Â Losing 2 stars for the bitchy I mean British hostess and her crap attitude, and 1 more for too much buttery sauce. Â Will we return? Â Nope, and that's that.
Review Source:Unfortunately I have only one data point on the food so far -- and that is a pleasant experience with the Salmon Salad of Fresh Grilled Salmon Over a gently tossed Salad with Spring Mix Greens, Red Peppers, Red Onions and Orange Segments in a White Balsamic Vinaigrette topped with toasted Sliced Almonds for lunch.
The salad was great but what caught my eye was the rest of the menu. Mexican offerings, to fish and chips, to meatloaf, to burgers and more. I will give them the leap of faith that they can actually do all of that well until I am proven otherwise!
Looking forward to going back to try something completely different...
My neighbors rave about this place and go regularly.  My husband and I were not  big fans.  The service was fine, but the food was really average.  I had the meatloaf- it was pretty hard to eat.  Just didn't taste good.  My husband had the ropa vieja, it was ok.  You should probably go to an authentic Cuban place if you want ropa vieja.  Desserts were fine.  Haven't been back since I went last year.
Review Source:Service -
Sat outside. Waitress was nice, able to deal with my particular needs. Service was slow though, and when we ordered plantain chips, we got hot maduros instead
Food - delicious . We both got the Cuban
Sandwich, except I asked for it to be made with chicken instead of the pork. Still really good though.
Wanted the sweet potato pierogies but they were "sold out" - I'll try to make them at home
Would have stayed for dessert but the poor / slow service made us antsy to leave
Xocolatz has YUMMY food, REASONABLE prices, and a NICE ambience. The menu is a bit mysterious in terms of origin and/or ethnicity, but the burgers and chicken entrees are yummy. My only gripe is the spotty service. Our waiter, Joe, failed to check in with us promptly and we had to request breadsticks upon seeing them on everyone else's table.
During evenings in the summer the outdoor seating is divine.
I'm back for a hometown visit and I want to take my sweet mother to lunch. She suggests Xocolatz and, I admit, I'm confused by the name. I'm thinking we're going to an ice cream parlor or something.
Instead, the place is a cozy little treat with a menu that reminds me of my beloved San Francisco. Lots of salad choices and interesting sandwiches to choose from. The food was fresh and delicious.
The service was a bit slow with two couples who were seated after us getting their meals before us. Not cool.
I'm definitely going back next time I'm in town.
An eclectic menu with no real cohesiveness, but hey, variety is good. Came with a group of 7 for dinner so we had a chance to try several dishes. The perogies were decent, and the empanadas were quite good. I had a special, which was good but not terribly exciting, ultimately forgettable. I tried some of the ropa vieja, which wasn't as flavorful as it could be, and was on the dry side. The steak is probably the best option. Presentation was thoughtful.
The dining room is a nice size, looks modern and trendy (Jersey-style), with a pretty cool table surface. Service was good. BYOB and they handled the wines appropriately.
All the marks of good restauranteuring (albeit a little confused), but the food just isn't solid enough. The desserts are good, though.
Does this place even have chocolate on the menu? Â Strange name, strange menu and strange decor. Â Antiques hang from the walls while neon accent strips light the space. Â Not sure what you would consider the cuisine? Â American Traditional with an Italian, spanish and tropical influence? Â Menu items range from ropa vieja to eggplant rollatine to meatloaf, like I said strange.
As far as the food the bread basket is lackluster as is the house salad. Â Had a few appys the perogies were o.k and the bananas by the beach was pretty good, plaintains with chorizo. Â My entree was the bonnaires chicken which was o.k but overly sweet too the point where it could be eaten for dessert. Â Byob and decent prices make this a decent weekday spot but not exciting or good enough to run and make reservations.
I really like this place. Â I love the way it's decorated - there's outdoor seating available and it's BYOB. Â I come here a lot - it's convenient and close to home. Â I've been for lunch once and I had a great tomato and mozzarella sandwich. Â Most times I come for dinner - I'm not crazy at all about the little breadsticks they give you. Â I feel like they could do better with those. Â I've tried a few appetizers - the potato skins are great, the foccacia panini is a favorite. Â I've gotten the same entree each time because I really like it - the pasta sauteed - it's penne with zucchini, spinach, sun dried tomatoes, mushrooms and parmesan cheese in a white wine and olive oil sauce. Â Very good. Â Will definitely be back often.
Review Source:Very creative menu with quality food, makes it difficult to choose what to order. You just want to eat everything. Of course, you can't, which means you're just going to have to return and work on that menu one item at a time!
The manager is on the premises, making rounds from table to table. Busboy never missed an opportunity to top off our water glasses. Sadly, this diligence did not extend to the wait staff who serviced us; they seemed preoccupied and dazed.
The rooms are spacious, with eclectic, edgy decor- a good meeting spot for groups or to host a celebration. There were quite a number of them going on, which made for a festive early afternoon. The various large parties going on simultaneously may have contributed to the servers disorganization.
Still, the actual brunch was quite good. Would be a 4 star but had to lop off one due to server ennui.
I have been to this restaurant 6 times. The food is very good, the wait staff is usually terrific. During the week, if you go during lunch time you must get there early (or make reservations) because it can be difficult to park and the tables get sought after quickly...They are called Xocolatz because they used to be a desert place only...I have yet to try any of their deserts. A Brazilian man owns this establishment and seems to take a lot of pride in his business. I have never met him and do not know him but have observed the way he watches his restaurant durung my visits.
Review Source:I'm torn about this place, and must say I liked it much better in its old location. Â Four of us went very early Saturday (5pm) and walked into a nearly empty restaurant only to have the hostess and owner stand in front of us going over the night's reservations and where they would sit, instead of seating us. Â When they finally seated us, I noticed 'reserved' signs all over the restaurant and saw a number of customers turned away. Â However, those tables were not seated until 6 of 7!! Â Not smart business if you ask me.
The food was good, but took forever to bring out, through no fault of our waitress. Â She was nice and prompt and probably the only reason we weren't mad when we left.
Overall, the staff needs some training to say the least. Â 2 hours for a simple meal is excessive.
I will start by making it absolutely clear that the food here is very tasty and I would recommend it to the locals.
That said, Xocolatz, what the hell is your deal? Â What is up with your name? Â Who made that up? Â The place has nothing to do with chocolate (which, I believe, is how you would pronounce that word). Â You see a weird name like that and you expect a dessert bar. Â But no, it's filled with American and seafood. Which, again, was delicious.
As far as the decor, I'm not sure what the heck the owners were thinking when they combined old pictures and wooden antiques with the lighting of some Atlantic City ultra-lounge. Â You're not an ultra-lounge, Xocolatz. Â Heck, you're BYOB.
Speaking of BYOB, is the only thing for 40-somethings to do in North Jersey is polish off two bottles of wine at a place called Xocolatz? Â I went in when the place was packed and every damn table had empties. Â This is why I moved out of North Jersey. Â But anyway, that's not relevant here.
Let's deal with the food. Â The menu is very diverse and from taste, smell and sight, everything they were churning out of their big kitchen was hitting. Â I had a burger with a hearty dollop of mango-pineapple salsa. Â Their beef barley and cream of broccoli soups were both rich and nicely seasoned. Â The Greek Tuna salad was big for the price, and full of flavor. Â And they can poach salmon like a mofo.
Overall, you're going to be eating good food in a strangely decorated, oddly name place full of well-sauced suburbanites. Â You could do worse!
I used to go to Xocolatz way back when they a little place on Elm serving delicious peach cobbler and great meatloaf, and since they've moved, I've found that their expanded offerings make them a great place to go for a casual lunch or an easy dinner with friends. As with most places in Westfield, it's BYO, so keep that in mind.
Review Source:My wife and I stopped here for lunch today. It was a nice day, so we wanted to eat alfresco. There was an empty, open table on the patio, but the hostess said we could not have it, because it was set for a party of four, so, instead, we would have to stand around and wait, like schmucks, until one of the two-tops finished their meal. However, It looked like none of them had even been served yet.
We told her we would wait, but as soon as she turned her back, we left and went elsewhere. There weren't any other parties waiting to be seated, so I feel that she should have given us the table. Indifferent behavior on the part of the hostess earns this place one demerit.
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