The walkable town of Ardmore continues to raise the bar with its newest and sweetest eatery, Delice et Chocolat pastry and chocolate shop. This French-inspired cafe blends all the right ingredients to make our eyes grow wide and our waistlines snug.
Family-owned and operated by brothers Joseph and Antoine Amrani—who hail from Grenoble, France by way of Paris—the shop is finding welcome success since its spring 2017 opening.
Antoine studied at the Ritz-Escoffier Culinary School in Paris and worked at Le Bec-Fin in Philadelphia with Joseph, who was also a general manager at local favorite Paramour in the Wayne Hotel.
Delice et Chocolat specializes in traditional French pastries, like croissants and tarts for the breakfast crowd, and you can also wake up to fresh, hand-prepped smoothies, iced drinks and premium espresso and cocoa bar offerings. The standards are all here with latte, Americano, cafe au lait and drip coffee all made with beans from Audubon’s Valerio, for those keeping Fair Trade tabs.
Certainly not an afterthought, lavish lunchtime fare consists of light salads, cold sandwiches (jambon fromage, salmon club and tuna), elevated paninis and quiches. Daily specials are added to the chalkboard menu.
But it’s pressing our noses against the glass cases of confections that takes us over the top. Loaded with decadent cakes, madeleines, truffles and macarons of every color and flavor, we felt like a kid in a candy shop (oh, wait.) as we eyed shelves of everything chocolaty, flaky, glazed, buttery and fruity.
There is even a nod to tailor Joseph Centofani—the previous owner of the location who has since passed away—with a signature (albeit non-French) Tailor’s Tiramisu. Seasonal strawberry shortcake called La Diva and the Delice flourless chocolate cake with chocolate mousse are also more than drool-worthy.
The quaint, 20-seat cafe features touches of pink, chandelier elegance, hairpin chairs, a dark wood elevated wall table and a stunning tree made of multi-colored macarons that adorns the street-facing entrance. We love that a large glass window within the shop allows us a guilt-free glimpse into the busy den of pastry chefs working their sugary magic.
Not resting on grand-opening laurels, the Delice team is already thinking ahead. “We’re going to open a large addition next door at the former Radioshack,” said Nick Amrani, Joseph’s son and an accomplished chef in his own right. “We’re planning on connecting both locations and expanding the menu, making more of our grab-and-go items and obviously increased seating.” The renovated space boasts a corner entrance with a slew of grandiose windows looking out onto Lancaster and Station Avenues, and is slated for an autumn opening.
Delice et Chocolat’s website is under construction and close to going live, but in the meantime you can stay abreast with Facebook and Instagram. Do note: the cafe is closed on Mondays. Street and lot parking are conveniently located nearby.
Find Delice et Chocolat at 7 Station Ave. in Ardmore: phone (610) 649-7001.
- Photos: Ed Williams
