Chocolate Moon Espresso Company

Perhaps those of you dismayed by Choc Moon should have been going elsewhere. I, for one, was a Choc Moon customer for years and years and their coffee and service was outstanding! This was a great place for coffee and conversation. If you were treated poorly, perhaps you acted poorly. I have never witnessed unwarranted behavior by the owners or their staff. I am extremely sorry to see it closed and Starbucks will never compare! more

That place has been closed for two months now! The guy who owned it was a shapeshifter, swear to god. He got pissed at one of the help and turned into a coyote right behind the counter just like that. He grabbed some kid's toy car and took off down along the train tracks toward the city. I took a muffin. more

Please take the above comments seriously. I want your business to succeed. I like supporting locally owned, non-chain businesses. Your place is a perfect place for a first date. If I could, I would go to your shop before I go to Starbucks. But I cannot take someone there for a date and risk poor food and worse service. more

Chocolate Moon is not only the best coffee shop in Elmhurst, it is perhaps one of the best shops of any kind in Elmhurst. Their espresso drinks are fantastic, bagels delicious and the atmosphere is so casual, cozy and comfortable that it has become the informal town center for it's regular customers. With a bright, windowed front section and the more secluded, larger back section there is a place for everyone and usually everyone in their place! The shop has the sort of "shabby chic" (not "dirty"!) you would expect to find in a neighborhood like Lincoln Park, but not in a self conscious, planned way. more

Decaf. coffee is bought from GFS (restaurant supply store) as well as all the pastry products. Place is dirty, many have openly complained over such dirtiness. Expensive- you're better off at the Starbucks down the street. At least you know there that though the coffee is burnt and terribly sweet, it is clean and relatively fresh. The prior reviews were correct in saying customers are likely to end up mocked or ridiculed within earshot. I have seen (and heard) this done on many different occasions. A wonder this place makes it with the incredible amount of obvious, and not so obvious health code violations present. Place is definitely very cramped, and usually filled with kids. A shame. more

Good coffee, decent prices, not starbucks. BUT... Supporting this shop also supports the ridiculous business practices of the husband/wife proprietors. They are not to be trusted. They lie shamelessly, and are rude to customers and staff alike. Expect vicious vendettas, shouting, and weasel-ish behaviours of all types. It's a real shame since I loved the shop; you should think twice before supporting these people and their nonsense. ANYHOW... The pastries are terrible, as they currently buy them from Sam's Club. (Really!) Still, good coffee. more

I would concur with the previous reviewer regarding the attitude of the people who run this venue. I had heard they were featuring live local entertainment, so I submitted my CD and promo pack since a lot of area residents had been asking me if I were going to perform in Elmhurst. (Recently, there was a short piece about my new CD in the Elmhurst papers.) Several weeks after I had dropped off the CD, I called back to inquire what was up and a very rude woman, who said she was an owner, claimed they didn’t have time to listen to it yet. I waited several weeks and called back and this time she basically said “I’m busy” and hung up on me. Needless to say, I won’t bother going back there. Sometimes, I wonder how people who treat others that way can even stay in business. more

This could be a great coffee house. It's got a perfect location at the center of Elmhurst near the train station. It's situated in a neat old storefront with a big picture window looking out on the sidewalk and train tracks. Sadly though, it has, in my opinion, some serious problems. The kitchen needs lots of work. I know because you have to walk through it to get to the restroom (which has issues of its own) It is situated in a narrow hallway. It is cluttered and not very clean. Last time I was here there was a big stack of broken furniture, old newspapers and other assorted junk near the back door next to the bathroom. Its a wonder they don't have a rodent problem. Walls in the kitchen were splattered. Lot's of newspaper clippings and the like taped to them. Lots of dirty dishes piled up in cramped work areas. It is hard to find the drinks and food appetizing after visiting the kitchen. I would recommend using the disposable cups and utensils because the china and silver don't appear well washed. I have found the owners who sometimes work the counter to be abrupt, and, at times downright rude. I have seen one of them yell at customers or mock them as they are exiting the front door. I can't quite fathom why he would want to treat his customers that way but maybe he doesn't like his job. The brewed coffee is often left on the burner for too long. I have stopped buying brewed coffee here. It is better in my press at home. I like the espresso drinks and teas here when they are prepared correctly but that often doesn't happen. They seem to have high staff turnover and the new kids often don't make the drinks very well. All in all, I'd say there are much better choices in Elmhurst, though I'd like to see this place get it right and succeed. more