Founded by sisters Marcia and Sherrie McCall in 2000, what makes this spot magical is its heartwarming origin story and the family recipes that have been passed down through generations. The Plano location is now owned by Selvin Flores and his parents, who began working at the original Richardson restaurant when he was just 14. His dad was the main server, but around 2008, he got injured playing soccer. Rather than miss work, he asked if his son could carry the drinks.
Flores gradually took on more and more responsibility from the two whom he describes as his second mothers, pitching in over his summer breaks from school. At 18, he helped open the Plano location, and when the ladies were ready to retire, they offered his family the opportunity to take over in 2016. Now, it’s Flores's eight-year-old daughter who’s helping out as they look to expand to more locations.
Tea for One
Quickly realizing I was not their primary demographic, which made me feel young for a minute despite a rather unfortunate birthday this year, I noticed the spot was much larger and more bustling than I expected for the midday, midweek crowd. There were already a number of ladies lunching. I actually forgot they had a normal lunch menu, as the afternoon tea service is only offered Mondays from 2–4 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays from 2:30-4:30 PM and Saturdays from 3:30–5:30 p.m. I quickly found myself eavesdropping on the conversation of the ladies next to me. One of them was regaling her friends with tales of boyfriends across the globe. I chuckled to myself, as it was such a refreshing and wholesome distraction from the typical black hole of cellular doomscrolling.
In a city where afternoon tea can easily run you $50 to $100 per person at upscale spots, at just $28.99 per person, Chocolate Angel remains one of the most affordable options in Dallas, and the experience is humble yet charming. You select two of their six teas: one to accompany your main course and another to complement dessert. They recommended toasted almond and caramel nut, but since I’m not one for sweet drinks, I opted for ReVive, a more traditional blend of lemongrass and mint.
Rather than an imposing tower of treats, you’re presented with a plate of small bites to savor: a mini quiche, a ham and cheese puff pastry, cucumber and pimento cheese finger sandwiches, a decadent white chocolate scone with whipped cream, a chicken salad tartlet, and a fruit cup with a surprisingly delightful poppyseed dressing.
The rotating dessert courses feature whatever the team feels inspired to whip up that day. On my visit, I sampled their signature chocolate fudge pie, a macaron and a zesty lemon bar. The fudge pie, which inspired the name Chocolate Angel, is a gooey, brownie-like consistency that’s hard to replicate. Legend has it that the original matriarch’s fudge recipe was so heavenly that, despite countless attempts, no one could recreate it, so the sisters devised their own sinfully indulgent version.
Plates of Nostalgia and a Throwback to the ‘80s
Beyond the tea service, Chocolate Angel’s menu is brimming with nostalgic flavors. Their award-winning Some Like It Hot sandwich, crowned “Recipe of the Year” by Southern Living, layers old-fashioned pimento cheese with toasted pecans, chopped candied jalapeños and bacon on sourdough, served with a side of jam. But the real crowd-pleaser is the Strawberry Pretzel Salad, a literal time machine in dessert form. It could've been directly imported from your grandma's kitchen with a salty pretzel crust, fluffy cream cheese, and a strawberry Jell-O topping. As Serious Eats once put it, “Few foods can tell us more about life in 20th-century America than the wobbling jewel of domestic achievement: the Jell-O salad.” For me, few dishes encapsulate growing up in the ‘80s quite like a Jell-O mold, and I texted my mother to tell her I’ve never so vividly tasted my childhood.
Though under different ownership, the Richardson location serves the same beloved menu. Reservations are recommended at both, especially on Fridays and Saturdays.
Chocolate Angel, 800 Central Express Way (Plano) Monday - Saturday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.