François Chocolate Bar

Designed as a jewelry shop for chocolate in the Plaza Hotel, the bar is devoted to exquisite chocolate confections featuring signature Payard pastries, a line of verrines, macaroons and the Francois Quarre Quarts. Along with this multitude of treats they serve decadent hot chocolates, tea, coffee and cappuccino. The shop offers signature gifts and holiday specials.

Based solely on their Ice Cream Sandwiches, this place deserved 3 stars. Maybe 4 stars if they weren’t so expensive — $ 5 for what is pretty much a fancy looking ice cream sandwich, which is enough to get you probably 4 or 5 similar ones at a little bodega.
I tried the Chocolat With Cocoa Nibs and the Brownie With Vanilla. The Brownie With Vanilla is definitely good, but like I mentioned above, it is pretty much the same as the classic ice cream sandwich we all know and love from childhood. I would say you should go for the the Chocolat With Cocoa Nibs instead — the cookie portion is of macaron consistency, which is a good fit for an ice cream sandwich. It is nice and neat and stays together throughout eating.
I might up it to 4 stars too if I tried some of the other good-​looking stuff here, but it’s hard to with all of the other good options in the Food Hall.

yikes, was shocked this place was not good! the macarons are soggy in the middle, the flavors are unique, but are not executed well! Plus, they are way overpriced, like $ 3 each! Ordered the «chocolate decadence» and the «toute vanille», didnt like either! Those, were $ 6.50 each and tasted pretty bland. The textures were interesting, but didn’t want anymore after two bites. Never again!

3.5 stars. Worth checking out.
Macarons are solid. Lots of options.
Space is lovely. Great place to grab a coffee. Starbucks as per a reviewer? No chance, that is a commonplace ambiance, this place has an excellent one.
Some prices are inflated. Also there wasn’t anything that blew my mind or truly stood out to get 4 stars. But altogether solid and love the flowing water and fish nearby.

Okay, I’ll fess up-​I came here because they had a power outlet and I needed to charge my phone. I couldn’t believe that I paid $ 5 for a silly macaroon ice cream sandwich. It wasn’t anything extraordinary. Perhaps we should’ve gone to Starbucks instead.

Francois Payard has opened at chocolate bar in the Plaza, next to the famous Food Hall. Here, you can drink chocolate concoctions, nibble high-​end chocolates, and savor macarons.
I am on a high-​end chocolate obsession right now. My journey led to Payard.
I was impressed by the macarons. Interesting flavors tempted me. Passonfruit, green tea, lychee, rosewater. This isn’t your boring vanilla or chocolate selection here. I’ve been slowly trying macarons all over the city lately, and these so far are the best I have found at a retail location (I had homemade ones from a upcoming pastry chef that blew them all away though) $ 2.25 each. Pricey, but in this case, worth it.
The chocolates, however, didn’t steal the show. They were delicious, but not better than my favorite, Jacques Torres. I was most put off by the presentation. I purchased a 16 piece box for $ 16. This is pretty cheap for Manhattan, actually. I was disappointed that 16 chocolates were all crammed into a tiny little box. Most shops (Torres or Mariebelle, even Godiva) lay out the chocolates in presentable layers. Payard squished 16 chocoates into a 4 inch box. I understand it is cheaper to save money on boxes with layers, thus probably making the chocolates a very reasonable $ 1 each. However, I really feel the packaging detracted from the experience.
Furthermore, there was no list or legend that most shops offer. So I had no idea what I was eating. Most shops include a list with pictures. Even Whitmans knows better than that!
Poor packing, poor presentation, missing documentation, all added to the fact that the chocolates were good, but did not blow me away.