Aigner Chocolates

This place is exactly the best of everything about shopping small, family-owned businesses. My family has been shopping here for generations (first in Ridgewood, and now here) and it has been a consistently great experience. We look forward to our Easter and Christmas trips, and often find excuses to duck in throughout the year. Especially for the super fresh, delicious fruit slices- they are not to be missed! This is the only place I've found fruit slices that actually taste like the fruits they represent, (not just relying on tons of sugar for flavor) and that stay soft for more than a day or so after purchase.

Chris and other employees recognized me from previous visits, by face, if not by name, which is always nice. It was great to see some updates have been made to the shop, such as an espresso bar, and the ability to pay with credit cards via their Square-enabled tablet, which made for a convenient and lightning-fast checkout experience. They are also now offering free WiFi for guests who sit in with their coffee!

Speaking of coffee, I had a Cortado, which isn't offered everywhere, even at standalone coffee shops. It was great, and Chris made sure he built it to my liking.

But the best part might be the chocolate aroma that pervades the entire store. Pure heaven!

To the owners- please consider some additions to your sugar-free offerings. It would be great to get my Dad a sugar-free Easter bunny next year. This time around, had to settle for Thin Mints. Thanks!

Wonderful chocolatier!

Pros:
+ Family owned business - owners really take pride in what they do
+ Sample of milk/dark chocolate when you walk in - I got to try the cat tongue
+ Truffles by weight - reasonably priced
+ Convenient street side parking
+ Beautiful decor
+ Seasonally inspired items are gorgeous - Eggs for easter, smores for the fall

IG: QueenOfAdventureNYC

Dark chocolate snob here. I've lived in France and had the best chocolate in boutique chocolateries in Paris. I enjoy Swiss chocolates (also lived there) and enjoy Belgian Neuhaus and Leonidas chains. Francophile and Francophone so wasn't expecting the incredibly, high quality milk chocolate I got at Aigner chocolates. The opposite of blindsided.

I parked on the side street. Metropolitan has metered parking until 7 p.m. every day but Sunday. Got there just before closing at 6. Service was friendly. I was looking for small wrapped chocolates for some of the Easter eggs I was filling with things for my niece's Easter egg hunt. She's 7.5 and likes milk chocolate so I picked up foil wrapped mini chocolate eggs, bunnies and chicks. I tried a few and my eyes lit up in amazement at how GOOD they were and much more affordable than the Belgian chains available in the US. Next time I'll pick up some dark chocolate. I'll also be back for when I'm looking for friend and family gifts. Friends, I'm so glad I came to Aigner. Always happy to support local businesses.

Perfect place to get all your Easter goodies!
They have a great selection of Easter chocolates along with other chocolates for "everyday" needs. We got their gift box with an assortment of chocolates before, and they were delicious.
Like a number of other businesses on Metropolitan in Forest Hills, they've been around for a while. The decor is classic and very cute.

I ordered for Easter the Paper Machete egg which was 1st made in West Germany. As a child my mother use to get my little sister & I 1 each year. I was so excited when I found it !! IN NEW YORk !!
I choose the eggs they had in & gave to Mother , Our Son & wife & we got 1 as well. Each was over $100 but I'm thinking this specific Chocolate Company had been a family business from the 1920's so the chocolate had to be divine. Imagine to my surprise inside was purple dark chocolate as like Hershey Kisses, a small bag of jellybeans . Not any store made chocolate at all in the eggs. . What a disappointment ! When I go back to New York I will so not be going to their store ohhh ..I found out New Owners afterwards... The eggs their self were beautiful & large & it did make Mom happy so that's what matter's....Not the waste of $350 on something I could had made much better.

While I will always know this place as Kraus's Candy Kitchen (as will other people from the area who grew up with them).

Aigner Chocolates has been a family owned place for years, making homemade chocolates, candy fruit slices and other chocolate products.

During holidays, mainly Valentine's Day, Easter, Christmas etc. You won't find special chocolates for Birchat Hachamah, but any day you go in, the pleasant aroma of chocolate will greet you, and the delicious tastes of white, dark, and regular chocolate await.

Prices are not bad, and it's the only one in the area.

Metered parking on the street and residential parking adjacent to shop.

I am ecstatic that I didn't listen to my husband when he told me not to buy a LivingSocial coupon for Aigner Chocolates.

"How are you gonna eat $20 of chocolate??" He asked??

EASY when it's EXCELLENT.

For a $10 coupon I got a $20 value. I bought truffles made especially for Easter, as well as a half pound mix of milk chocolate caramels, honeycomb (similar to the Cadbury 'Crunchie' bar if you've ever eaten that) as well as...wait for it...CHOCOLATE COVERED POTATO CHIPS. I had one serious and deep foodgasm after tasting that!

I spent closer to $30 worth of chocolate but I have no remorse whatsoever. They make everything, including their jelly beans. Their website doesn't adequately demonstrate how charming this place is - you just have to go there. Distressed shelves and tables covered with candy, and a display case that will make you want to buy everything.

To get there I think you can take the Q53 along Woodhaven Blvd. and then walk a couple blocks along Metropolitan Ave. It's a bit on the winding path route but worth it. Grab your chocolate, step outside and enjoy the Tudor style residential architecture nearby.

I will definitely come back and stock up for Easter. Thanks Aigner Chocolates for showing me how good candy can be. A true neighborhood gem.

I purchased several packages of chocolates for a gift. All were a big hit. The Christmas decorated praline mini cups were beautiful. Perfect gift. The dark chocolate mints were to-die-for...every member of the family raved about them.
I will swing by Aigner's to buy more for myself !! Lol
Many years ago, I purchased Easter bunny's/baskets chocolates from Krause's (predecessor store). I had a great buying experience at the newly opened Aigner.
The interior is simple but lovely- with window counter seating. The salesperson was informative and patient while I tried to chose the perfect gift. And, it was the perfect gift. My friend and her family loved them. I look forward to returning to Aigner's to have a hot chocolate at the window counter and leave with a package of Dark Chocolate mints...and probably more ... Aigner's is a gem !!

Amazing artisan chocolates & confections!

I've been visiting Aigner's since I was a child (back when they were known as Krause's). Some of my best childhood memories include Easter baskets from Aigner's, or getting to run into the store with my cousins & pick out a piece of candy. I had food allergies growing up, and yes, I was allergic to chocolate at the time. Lucky for me, they always had plenty of yummy alternatives on hand, and the staff (family owned & operated) were always helpful and (pardon the pun) sweet.

Thirty years later and thankfully nothing's changed- except that I've long outgrown my allergies and can happily enjoy the amazing chocolates at Aigner's. The staff- now third generation owners- are friendly, knowledgeable and love to share the cool 80-year history of this much-loved neighborhood fixture. The quaint, Old World Bavarian-style shop is only one of a few original, family-run establishments in the neighborhood (including Eddy's Sweet Shop down the road). It is a welcomed sight amid the numerous big-name banks, chain drug stores and cash-for-gold storefronts that line the avenue. Aigner's is special. The new generation of proprietors blend the old world charm with modern comforts (such as WiFi & a newly-added counter top off to the side for laptop / tablet users). They also appreciate & understand the uniqueness and quality of locally sourced, artisanal goods and have added a coffee / cappuccino bar which sells delicious coffee from local small business Brooklyn Roasters.

But the big star here is the chocolate. My boyfriend lives for the dark chocolate peanut butter cups (it has become a staple in my Easter, Halloween, birthday & Christmas gifts to him). And he knows good chocolate- he used to work for Mariebelle's in Soho and said he's yet to enjoy a piece of chocolate as much as he did then....until we visited Aigner's!

Other favorites include the champagne truffles, dark chocolate sponges, raspberry truffles and now the coffee. If you're in the market for a decadent gift, you're in luck. Their Valentine's Day & Easter gift boxes filled with signature favorites are amazing and the beautiful packaging is sure to delight. The shop is also stocked with a nice selection of vintage-inspired candy, beautiful gift cards & unique home decor items.

Amazing chocolates in a quaint atmosphere!

We love Aigner's! xoxo