Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is Orlando’s prime location to satisfy its sweet tooth, serving a variety of foods and decadent desserts. The restaurant is an extravagant chocolate factory with an eclectic steampunk factory vibe. Unsurprisingly, it’s a popular spot for birthdays and celebrations for Seminole students.

Located at Universal CityWalk, the confectioners bake sweet treats in front of customer’s eyes, giving them a unique and immersive experience each time. After walking through the revolving doors to paradise, I was greeted with a custom chocolate bar and guided by a “factory worker” to the elevators who told stories about the wonders of the factory. When seated, I met the character of “Professor Doctor Penelope Tibeaux-Tinker Toothsome” herself– that is, played by a costumed actress accompanied a robot named Jacques. While the dedicated actress refused to break character for an interview, “Penelope” told me the story of how the restaurant was created.

“I made this factory from scratch in order to find my parents,” she said. “When I came home [to my cottage in London] my parents were gone! I knew in that instant I had to take all my knowledge from my chocolate recipes and make my emporium so they could find me. Surely the world isn’t so big, and I know they will find me where the chocolate is.”

For dinner, I ordered the avocado bruschetta, crafted from a mixture of fresh and fried avocado, tomato, balsamic reduction, and toasted ciabatta. This entree came with a hefty price tag, much to my disappointment– I would not recommend the dish to diners on a budget.

As it turned out, the real highlight of the emporium was the dessert. It was the milkshakes that stole the show. With a group of friends, I ordered an assortment of confetti, brownie, and cookie jar milkshakes, and they did not disappoint. The rich Dutch chocolate in the brownie shake felt like a chocolate lover’s dream. The unique confetti shake tasted like vanilla ice cream infused with rainbow sprinkles and pieces of cake. Meanwhile, the cookie jar was a hit with cookie monsters. Made from Oreo cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and fresh whipped cream, it made for a great cookie delight.

Perhaps one of the most exciting parts of the restaurant was its fun, unique ambiance. Employee Cassidy Tucker shared her experiences with me.

“I get to meet new people from different backgrounds and ethnicities everyday!” Tucker said. “The amount of joy each customer has when we bring out our desserts is just heartwarming. Once there was a little boy who dressed up as Willy Wonka and he seemed so happy to be surrounded by all the desserts. It made me feel as like my job brings people joy.”

Ultimately, the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen was a delightful experience that I would recommend to any sugar lover. It can be found at 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819.