The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen at Universal CityWalk in Hollywood is offering decadent milkshakes to cool down guests this summer.
Character ambassadors and world travelers Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome and her sidekick Jacques, deliver an entirely new type of dining experience for the entire family.
The eclectic and innovative full-service restaurant concept offers a savory and sweet menu. The Dessert Foundry offers ice cream, sundaes and grab-n-go over-the-top milkshakes to take while exploring Universal CityWalk and Universal Studios.
The eye-catching exterior is reminiscent of a Victorian steampunk chocolate emporium. There are moving gears, a giant clockwork marquee, and towering 97-foot smokestacks.
Su-Fei Sakamoto, Senior Director of Design and Planning at Universal Parks and Resorts, describes the design as 'Steampunk with an added layer of fantastical architecture. It is a kinetic place with external pipe and gas features combined with moving gears that create the visual of a working factory for chocolate.'
Formerly a Hard Rock Cafe, the existing architecture features a dome and arches. 'It had great architectural bones, and we were able to celebrate the form and structure of it,' Sakamoto said. 'It was an architectural restoration project and the Toothsome Victorian overlay enhanced it's existing glory.'
Interior decor includes lightly polished patinas combining gold, black and brass throughout the chocolate factory. Traditional building ductwork elements are made to look like working factory elements.
One of the most picturesque milkshakes on a hot summer day is the Rocket Pop made with vanilla ice cream, Bomb Pop Popsicle, buttercream frosting, blue raspberry and strawberry syrup, red, white and blue sprinkles and whipped topping. It's one of the 14 different flavors on the milkshake menu.
Red Velvet fans will appreciate the red velvet milkshake made with vanilla ice cream, a standard size Red Velvet cupcake, raspberry sauce, rainbow sprinkles, whipping topping and a maraschino cherry.
The Cookie Jar milkshake is made with Vanilla ice cream, Oreo cookies, chocolate and oatmeal cookies and whipped topping.
Other milkshake flavors include Brownie, Key Lime Pie, Strawberry Cheesecake, Thrilla in Vanilla, Heavenly Hazelnut, Confetti, Marshmallow Crisp, Chocolate x5 and That's Mint.
Also inside is an immersive collection from Penelope’s archives of chocolate research and various steampunk gadgetry and inventions.
Venture over to the Candy Smith counter to experience a cornucopia of sweet treats, including 30 different flavors of macarons, truffles, plus unique apparel and themed collectibles.
Enjoy a sit-down meal while sitting underneath L.A.-based artisans’ paintings of steampunk airships journeying through the sky atop the soaring interior dome.
Tempting starters include signature Chocolate Almond Bread, Avocado Bruschetta, Truffle fries, Pork Belly sliders, Coffee and Chocolate Stout wings, a Waldorf Chicken salad, and a Toothsome Niçoise salad.
Heartier fare includes Southern Fried Chicken BLT, Chicken Cordon Blue sandwich, Red Ruben sandwich, Fork & Knife Ribeye Steak sandwich, Croque Monsieur, Tour de France burger, May Contain Bacon burger, Brisket burger, Teriyaki burger, Wild Mushroom Chicken Risotto, and Shrimp Macaroni & Cheese.
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is exclusive to Universal Parks & Resorts and is one of three worldwide locations, including Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Beijing Resort.
The arrival of the restaurant coincides with the 30th anniversary of Universal CityWalk. It's located adjacent to the Universal Cinema and AMC Theater. Reservations for The Famous Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen are recommended. Valet parking validation is available for diners.
