William Dean Chocolatier

High quality chocolatier in Tampa Midtown with lots of variety like chocolate covered almonds or malted milk balls in 4 types of Valrhona couverture. Very creative as most chocolatiers don't go through the trouble of doing this and just offer 1-2 types. Another plus is they don't use confectioner's glaze for the chocolate covered items, which shows an extra level of care in ingredient selection. A nice surprise to see a gourmet tea selection and ordered an iced tea that was freshly brewed. Will be back!

Had the loveliest afternoon tea at William Dean Chocolates in Midtown Tampa with friends today!Three tiers of pure deliciousness and thoughtful vegetarian substitutions (double cucumber sandwiches instead of the tarragon chicken salad--yes, please!). I tried a ratatouille tart for the first time--creamy cheese, flavorful veggies, and a lightly sweetened crust that was surprisingly delightful. The scones (both sweet and savory) were spot on, and of course, you can't visit William Dean without sampling their stunning chocolates and treats. The teas were perfectly brewed (I went for the mango melange herbal tea), and everyone in the party gets to choose their own. The service was warm and welcoming, and the shop itself is pristine and inviting. I especially appreciated that they let us linger and catch up--it made the experience that much more special. So glad they've brought back their weekend afternoon tea! Midtown Tampa + William Dean = a wonderful weekend treat. Highly recommend!

These chocolates are so beautiful, I felt bad eating them. They are all like mini works of art. I had the Creme brûlée chocolate that was delicious. We also tried the macaroons: vanilla and red velvet, which were delicious and fresh. The store itself is super clean and bright. Excellent service, she offered great recommendations regarding the chocolates as well as explanations about the process.

Afternoon tea! This experience is always great! Today staff didn't skip a beat. We had tea time at noon but arrived a bit early. We checked in and were welcomed by the staff. We were able to choose a table and the server came right over to take our tea order. There is a set menu for the tier of food but you do get to choose your tea and whether you want it hot or iced. They serve TeaBella tea so all is wonderfully delicious! I had the blackberry royale tea today and it was great! Great time with friends.

I'll preface my review by stating that I don't have a sweet tooth, but these chocolates are WOW. I got on to them because our hotel gifted us a small box of assorted William Dean Chocolates when we checked in. After doing a little research, I found out they were made locally and decide we had to visit. William Dean is located on the corner of a shopping strip mall. Very unassuming cafe both inside and outside, so don't let looks deceive you. They sell chocolates, macarons, and gelato, as well as limited coffee beverages. The service was very friendly and the lady who greeted us gave us a rundown of the options. I had the PB&J, Peanut Butter Krunch, and a key lime macaron. The chocolate bites are out of this world. You can tell they're made with high-quality ingredients. Their individual design is also beautiful! You almost feel bad eating the chocolate because they look so perfect. Again, I'm not a sweet tooth person, but put some William Dean Chocolates in front of me and I'll eat them!The cafe offers an afternoon tea certain days of the week, so call ahead for details and to make a reservation.

We came in with a large group for Tea with a reservation. We were not told that large groups were put outside or I would have never made the reservation., Luckily they let us come inside..They have a nice variety of Tea to choose from Hot or Cold. They were served. They brought out the 3 tiered tower of goodies with mini sandwiches, quiche, scones and assorted desserts. A nice selection for all...they do not use traditional Tea cups here and you don't need a hat, it is a more modern twist on having Tea and don't forget to grab your gourmet Chocolates before you go home, so gorgeous you will not want to eat them...I have been to the other location as well and it is nice...only giving the 4 stars because of not being told about sitting outside in the heat for our group, that to me is a big deal of there was not room inside for 14 people ...everything else was good .

The chocolates are beautiful and the few that I've tried are delicious and not too sweet. They are pricey (possibly overpriced) so it's not something I recommend if you want a lot of chocolate. A few pieces are a nice treat but if you are looking for a more substantial dessert there are better options.

Date night with my little yelpie in training. My daughter and I enjoyed a lovely meal in midtown and wanted to try some different flavored chocolates. These beautiful handmade pieces were all delicious. I liked that you can buy a chocolate for $1.95 without the luxe box. Perfect for some sampling. All the flavors tried were delicious and these will make for a beautiful gift. On the weekends they offer a tea time with a beautiful array of sandwiches, cakes , biscuits and tea. Normally $30 per person. Coffee, teas and chocolates a great end cap to any date or hang out.

Really wanted to love the chocolate. The staff here is wonderful, and we bought a box of the 15 chocolates as well as a pecan tart (it's sort of a cookie with filling that seemed a bit off topped with a caramel).The first candy we tried was the pina colada and white chocolate. It was terrible.. and as we moved along, we were even less impressed with the flavors. Again, we wanted to love them. A friend of ours enjoys these very pretty confections (which is why I spent the $50 today in the shop for these sweets). It was just not up to par with other chocolatiers I have experienced in the past, and will leave the rest of these for someone else to enjoy.The staff, as I had mentioned, was very nice and attentive. The shop, clean, in an interesting area of shops. Just disappointed in the flavors we experienced.

I was so beside myself when William Dean's closed at the International Mall, as I was a regular there, so imagine my zeal when I find out they have a new location in Mid-Town! I love WD chocolates, but didn't want to go all the way out to Bellair Bluffs, but thanks to this new location, I don't have to! The best part is that unlike the International Mall location, this one offers so much more other than their delicious chocolates: gelato, pastries, tea, macarons, all of which I'm excited to try. But, of course, I have to get the chocolates. They are by far the best in the in bay if not the best...anywhere. Why??? On top of being delicious works of art, these fresh chocolates also have incredible flavors such as coffee caramel, earl grey, lavender (which are some of my favorites) which really, really pop out. You bite into each chocolate and there's an explosion of the flavor on your tongue! I also really love the store itself. It is always clean, and they have ample seating inside as well as outside, where Muffin is most certainly welcome. Staff here are very friendly and they are always helpful when I have questions about the products. One even offered my little Muffin some vanilla gelato which I now know she loves!