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An interactive chocolate-themed boutique restaurant and shop that’d make Willy Wonka’s mouth water is coming to Leesburg, Va., next week.
The Conche, a 2,880-square-feet mecca of all things sweet, will feature a walk-up window, chocolate shop, chocolate-infused cocktails, cooking classes, and more.
The man in charge is executive chef and founder Santosh Tiptur, the pastry chef behind similarly themed Co Co. Sala in D.C.
Design firm Arminco Inc. was charged with creating a chocolate factory of sorts inside, complete with textured milk chocolate-colored walls and accents, cozy whipped cream-colored tufted leather banquettes, and vintage-inspired confection-centric metal posters.
The dining room features a 300-square-foot ‘Chocolate Lab’, where diners can watch the chocolate making from scratch behind large clear glass windows; the process will also be broadcast on multiple flat screen TVs sprinkled throughout the restaurant.
The restaurant also features a working conche machine which Tiptur had custom made in Switzerland; it’s on display in the front of the dining room, immediately greeting guests upon arrival.
The restaurant is scheduled to roll out dinner service on Tuesday, May 2. Meals are projected to be served Tuesday through Saturday to start; happy hour, lunch, and weekend brunch are expected to follow.
Tiptur plans to offer the first 100 guests through the doors on Tuesday a special card good for one free specialty chocolate drink per month for an entire year.
