Bar 32 Mixes Chocolate, Music, Drink Into Unique Experience
Image of Bar 32 in Atlantic City's Orange Loop by Meredith Winner, Mer-Made Photography
AC JosepH Media
ATLANTIC CITY – While the Orange Loop has created a unique blend of specialty establishments, few can argue Bar 32 is a one-of-a-kind spot.
The bar, which takes its name from the 32 bands that appeared at the original Woodstock in 1969, mixes music, drinks and chocolate made from scratch for a distinctive experience.
Co-owner Nicole Callazzo, a self-confessed chocoholic, has created a most special and intriguing space that blends cocktails, desserts, music, and chocolate into an experience you will want to visit and try at 121 South Tennessee Avenue.
From homemade chocolate delights, such as Mama Chocolate Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie, chocolate infused drinks and desserts, many regulars have skipped desserts at other establishments around the Boardwalk just to finish the night with a sweet treat at Bar 32.
“They will come in for cocktails and dessert after dinner,” said Callazzo, the wife of Mark Callazzo, the real estate owner who has helped lead the Orange Loop renaissance. “For me, one of the greatest compliments that people give us is the fact that they went to another restaurant that I know in town is amazing and has desserts and everything.
“They leave the comfort of that restaurant and tell us, ‘I was really craving your chocolate martini or our Mama Chocolate Cannoli cake’ or something like that.”
Situated next to Isabella’s Italian Pizza Kitchen and the Tennessee Avenue Beer Hall, Bar 32 offers something uniquely difference for the Orange Loop patrons – a vibrant, yet relaxing, low-key evening and music, drinks, and of course, chocolate. Callazzo said she has been a chocolate connoisseur for ages and the restaurant is practically heaven.
“I’ve been a chocoholic my whole life,” she said. “I think it’s because I enjoyed all the ingredients that go into desserts, but food, not so much. I’m very particular, very picky, because I have food allergies. Dessert seemed like a natural fit for me.
Along with her love of desserts, Callazzo expressed a bit of humor.
“I was always doing stuff with my kids for school. I was that annoying mom that, for example, on Pig Day, I would make cupcakes that look like little pigs or whatever. My kids would say, ‘Really?'”
Bar 32 makes its own chocolate from scratch in what Callazzo called from “bean to the bar.” Currently they are using beans sourced from Puerto Rico.
Enthusiastic about her journey in establishing Bar 32, she shared, “In the past, we’ve used beans from Uganda, Tanzania, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines.” Callazzo added that she tries to pick beans that are “ethically sourced” with a paper trail showing what plantations the beans came from.
“We go through the flavor profiles with them to see which would be the best fit for us,” she said. “This is the first time we’ve been using beans from Puerto Rico, and we’ve been using them for a little while now, and they’ve been amazing. I’m really happy.”
According to Callazzo, it takes five days to turn their cacao beans into chocolate bars and other products, putting their grinders into “24/7” mode. Once done, chocolate becomes the foundation of every dessert, chocolate bar and drink.
You can witness the equipment used to keep the chocolate-themed establishment harmonizing its delectable fair with its working factory seen through the glass panels set directly behind the bar itself.
Included in its ability to process the bare ingredients into masterpiece chocolatier creations you will find an assortment of desserts from cookies to scones, brownies and cannolis, wines, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages. There are wine packages available and other specials, depending on the date and season. The bar also offers regular wine tastings, as well.
Callazzo expressed to Front Runner New Jersey.com a call to create your special event and shared some of what patrons love about Bar 32. She goes into highlight that they are known for their signature chocolate cocktails, espressos, martinis, and other drinks that include their very own unique chocolate shavings.
“We make them as natural as possible,” she said.
Callazzo said Bar 32 is one of two locations in New Jersey that makes its chocolate from scratch, shining the spotlight on Bar 32 as it increases in exposure as a standout spot in the Garden State.
“When most people who don’t know about us walk in the door, they go, ‘Oh my God, it smells like chocolate,'” Callazzo said. “Some people find us on social media, or Google desserts in Atlantic City, and we pop right up there. They come to see us out of curiosity and want to try us out.”
Bar 32 also specializes in larger gatherings with comfortable group seating spots across from the bar. This includes their catering of private parties such birthdays, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, that accommodate your special occasion. Callazzo shared that Bar 32 is equipped and enthusiastic to whip up a special custom chocolate bar with wrapping for your unique and special occasion.
“We make chocolate bars with flavors,” Callazzo said. “If you want a crunch bar, like in the supermarket, we can layer them that way or have them look more like an artisan bar, as opposed to a major manufactured chocolate bar. Just about anything you can celebrate, we can do it.”
As for the chocolate bars, Callazzo said patrons have come up with their own design, or Bar 32 will happily design one of their own for you to commemorate and help celebrate your special occasion.
Another extraordinary feature about Bar 32 are the restrooms, which are extravagantly painted with their colorful and captivating murals.
“Going into our restroom, it’s crazy,” Callazzo said. “I believe that people respect the art. A lot of times you go into a restroom and people have paper towels thrown on the floor and everything else. Even at our busiest, the restroom is always clean and uniquely welcoming because of the way it looks.”
Callazzo highlighted that visitors often choose to visit Bar 32 before dinner as who says one has to wait until after dinner to indulge in the amazing and decadent options offered. She emphasizes with a smile and her upbeat and bubbly enthusiasm that, “We do get a lot of people that come in before dinner, because one of our mottos is, eat dessert first.”
We highly recommend giving Bar 32 your business by stopping by to enjoy both the must-experience atmosphere and of course its delicious and memorable delicacies while noting its extraordinary charm. They are open from 4-9 p.m. on Thursday, 4 p.m.-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and select Sundays from Noon-2 p.m.
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