Best dessert in the city?

I'm looking for a good place to get dessert in the city... Any suggestions?
Preferrably somewhere that is open later.

jakea wrote:I'm looking for a good place to get dessert in the city... Any suggestions?
Preferrably somewhere that is open later.

Chicago no longer serves dessert. Sorry.

Just kidding. I may myself laugh.

Favorite desserts in the city =

Any dessert at Nomi
Whatever's going on at Otom- the apple crisp was a favorite but I'm sure it's not on the menu anymore
Carrot cake at Rosebud

http://www.hotchocolatechicago.com/

I'm not a big fan of the barbeque at Fat Willie's. But, that Chocolate Pecan Pie they serve is da bomb.

PASTICCERIA NATALINA in Andersonville, but don't ask me to pick just one of their offerings. Either that or my own passionfruit mousse, Nutella cake, lemon floating island.Or you could go seasonal and have plum pudding steamed and served with eggnog ice cream.

Josephine wrote:PASTICCERIA NATALINA

The OP should be made aware that Pasticceria Natalina is a pastry shop type bakery, not a restaurant (although I think they have a little counter along the window that you can use to eat there). And they aren't open in the evening. They have great Sicilian pastry, but it doesn't sound like the OP is looking for a bakery.

If I had to think of one single dessert at a restaurant, it might be the sticky toffee pudding at Aigre Doux.

The best dessert experience may very well be the Chocolate Bar at the Pen. The Peninsula Hotel, off North Michigan Avenue, has a restaurant, The Lobby, alongside the hotel lobby on the fifth floor. On Friday and Saturday evenings, 8-11 pm, they have an all-you-can-eat buffet of chocolate desserts, which they call the Chocolate Bar. There are maybe 40 of them, most of them pretty good, and you'll probably find a few that you consider sublime. Also, they are served in small portion sizes so you can try a whole lot of them without wasting food. Not cheap, at around $32, but worth trying for anyone who loves desserts. Heck, eat dinner there, too; they serve a contemporary American menu, and I've enjoyed the food, service, and atmosphere every time I've eaten there.

The second best dessert experience may be the five-item dessert tasting at TRU.

For classic creme brulee, Bistro 110 is the only way to go.

jakea wrote:I'm looking for a good place to get dessert in the city... Any suggestions?
Preferrably somewhere that is open later.

Josephine wrote:PASTICCERIA NATALINA in Andersonville, but don't ask me to pick just one of their offerings.

nsxtasy wrote:The OP should be made aware that Pasticceria Natalina is a pastry shop type bakery, not a restaurant (although I think they have a little counter along the window that you can use to eat there). And they aren't open in the evening. They have great Sicilian pastry, but it doesn't sound like the OP is looking for a bakery.

I'd also vote for Pasticceria Natalina, my favorite pastry shop in Chicago. There's no seating but they're happy to plate any pastry to eat at the counter along the north wall. They also make truly excellent espresso. Their usual evening hours are Wednesday through Friday to 10pm, Saturday to 8pm and Sunday to 6. Ordinarily they're closed Monday and Tuesday but I think they're staying open for the holidays (check to be sure!). Sounds like it fits the original (not very detailed) request perfectly.

Pasticceria Natalina
5406 N Clark St
Chicago
773-989-0662

the best dessert in the city is gelato from bellezza gelato:

http://bellezzagelato.com/
3637 N Harlem Ave
Chicago, IL 60634
(773) 545-1239

i usually go for the risotto gelato, peanut butter cup, pistachio and dark chocolate hazlenut... though all their flavors are good.

If bakery desserts qualify, then I would also nominate:

a. the entremets at Vanille Patisserie on North Clybourn. These individual-sized mousse cakes are wonderful. Their croissants are excellent too. They have a few small tables and chairs where you can eat. Open till 7 pm on Friday-Saturday.

Vanille Patisserie
2229 N. Clybourn
Chicago, IL 60614
773-868-4574

b. the marzariners (almond-paste based pastries) and the marzipan roll cake (with whipped cream and creme patissiere layers) at Swedish Bakery in Andersonville, a couple blocks south of Pasticceria Natalina. No seating or in-bakery eating option. Open till 6:30 Monday-Friday, till 5 pm Saturday.

Swedish Bakery
5348 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640
888-561-8919

c. the bread pudding and chocolate brut (basically a chocolate-flavored bread pudding) at Fox & Obel in River East. Their other baked goods are excellent, including their heavenly cinnamon swirl rolls, best bran muffins in the universe, great brioche, and excellent rustic breads. They also do a surprisingly nice job with tres leches cake. Open till midnight and you can get served (everything from just a dessert to a full meal) at their cafe in the rear of the store. Or, for those first two items, take 'em home and pop 'em in the microwave - yum!

Fox & Obel
401 E. Illinois
Chicago IL 60611
312 410 7301

Though I've sworn off Frontera and Topolobampo for reasons expressed elsewhere, Bayless still makes the best dessert I've ever had, period. Crepas con cajeta--crepes topped with goat milk caramel and nuts and... [swoon]... Even when they're not listed, I've had good luck with a special request to the kitchen. (Okay, not a request, more like me grovelling on the floor, begging, abasing myself, and just generally being a nuisance...)

Good luck.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Keep them coming.

I feel my pants getting tighter already...

I cannot believe that it took me until this past weekend to make my first visit to Natalina. What a wonderful place! The pastry there was crispy and light. It shattered when cut with a fork. My pastry was filled with preserved berries. I also brought home a slice of that wonderful pine nut cake that they sell by the slice. It was not to sweet. But, so flavorful.

While I definitely enjoy many of the places already mentioned, I'll cast my vote -- along with Dave148 -- for Hot Chocolate. I think Mindy Segal turns out the absolute best desserts in the city, across the board.

=R=

Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-1747

You might want to consider one of Chicago's best known, and a really terrific dessert at Red Light...Jackie Shen's Chocolate Bag. Filled with white chocolate mouse, it is a must try at least once. Haven't had it there, but at Lawry's, but I would think it is still as delectable.

Red Light
820 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-8880

I love the dessert at one of my favorite, consistently overrated restaurants, Sura Thai Bistro. Their pomegranate ice cream fritter, sitting on a bed of sweet sticky rice and drizzled in cherry sauce, is DIVINE. It's always a fork-fight when I order it on date night.

a few of my favorites:

margie's candies ice cream w/hot fudge

the molten chocolate cake at roy's (cliches become cliche because they're good and this is the best version i've ever had)

the wonderful chocolate buffet at the peninsula hotel

ronnie_suburban wrote:While I definitely enjoy many of the places already mentioned, I'll cast my vote -- along with Dave148 -- for Hot Chocolate. I think Mindy Segal turns out the absolute best desserts in the city, across the board.

=R=

Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-1747

If you can get past the terrible service (in my experience) then the food is great.

That's odd. I went to Hot Chocolate for brunch a few months ago. The food was okay and the selection of hot chocolate beverages was decent, but I thought the selection of desserts was highly disappointing. (The only dessert on the menu was an assortment plate of uninspired tea bread type items and there wasn't much that impressed in the display at the entrance, either.)

nsxtasy wrote:That's odd. I went to Hot Chocolate for brunch a few months ago. The food was okay and the selection of hot chocolate beverages was decent, but I thought the selection of desserts was highly disappointing. (The only dessert on the menu was an assortment plate of tea breads and there wasn't much that impressed in the display at the entrance, either.)

I can't speak specifically about what sounds like an extremely limited dessert menu at brunch because I've never been there for brunch but the dessert menu that accompanies dinner is really spectacular, IMO. As for their non-dessert offerings, I'm not as big a fan.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:While I definitely enjoy many of the places already mentioned, I'll cast my vote -- along with Dave148 -- for Hot Chocolate. I think Mindy Segal turns out the absolute best desserts in the city, across the board.

=R=

Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-1747

I'm with you on this one Ronnie. While the dinner menu can still use a little work, I find the desserts (and pastries) at Hot Chocolate reason enough to eat dinner there. They are out of this world. Mindy has done amazing work at MK and now Hot Chocolate and her ultra-creative desserts are what make Hot Chocolate one of my favorite dining destinations in the city.

BR wrote:I'm with you on this one Ronnie. While the dinner menu can still use a little work, I find the desserts (and pastries) at Hot Chocolate reason enough to eat dinner there. They are out of this world. Mindy has done amazing work at MK and now Hot Chocolate and her ultra-creative desserts are what make Hot Chocolate one of my favorite dining destinations in the city.

I had heard reports like this, which is why I was really looking forward to having brunch there. I was SO disappointed! I can only guess that the dessert offerings in the evening are totally different from the limited one(s?) I observed at brunch.

nsxtasy wrote:I can only guess that the dessert offerings in the evening are totally different from the limited one(s?) I observed at brunch.

You guessed right.

The best dessert experience may very well be the Chocolate Bar at the Pen.

Could you elabarate more? Do I need to make reservations? This sounds kind of cool and my boyfriend is obsessed with chocolate, so this might be a good holiday idea.

Shaggywillis wrote:

The best dessert experience may very well be the Chocolate Bar at the Pen.

Could you elabarate more? Do I need to make reservations? This sounds kind of cool and my boyfriend is obsessed with chocolate, so this might be a good holiday idea.

You can make reservations; I'm not sure how necessary it is, though. On the several occasions I've done this, I've also had dinner there (at the Lobby) and I've made reservations, and I've had the Chocolate Bar on the early side (it may even have been before 8 pm). I'm sure you can make a reservation (they accept them through Opentable as well as by calling them), even if you aren't having a complete dinner, just doing the Chocolate Bar. Whether it's necessary, I don't know. I've never observed anyone waiting to be seated... but it's always a good idea, to eliminate the risk of having to wait.

The desserts cover a fairly wide variety, all within a chocolate theme: cakes, mousses/puddings, cookies, dipped fruit, candies, etc. As I mentioned, the portion sizes are small, which is great if you want to try a lot of different things without wasting any (and you can have as many as you want if you find something you love). One of my favorites was a white chocolate tapioca pudding. They usually have hot chocolate (beverage) this time of year.

The Chocolate Bar might be overkill if you're eating dinner at Avenues or maybe even Shanghai Terrace, both of which are also in the Peninsula. Both are excellent places to eat, but both (especially Avenues) offer plenty of food. If I'm not mistaken, the same pastry department/chef serves all three restaurants.

I really liked the savory part of the menu when I ate dinner there as well. I had an excellent sauteed skate, and they were serving a chocolate-infused iced tea that was excellent.

The Lobby is a lovely room, with very high ceilings (30? 40? 50? feet), and floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall, looking out on the city. There is a nice feeling of spaciousness, including ample distance between tables. Business casual attire is typical. The service I've experienced there has been excellent.

If you're interested in giving it as a gift, you can purchase a dining gift certificate on the Peninsula website. I see they are selling them specifically for the Chocolate Bar for $94 for two people. That also includes coffee/cappucino/espresso, which are normally extra; I don't know whether it includes tax and tip as well. I went there maybe a year and a half ago and the Chocolate Bar was around $30-32 (not including tax or tip). Of course, you can always call the hotel to ask.

HTH - If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

we did make a reservation when we went to the chocolate buffet, but it wasn't necessary, as they were only about a quarter full. this was on a friday night.

we had a light dinner at quartino first--just wine, cheese, salumi, olives, etc....so as to save room to lay waste to the chocolate bar. it didn't disappoint. they make lots and lots of little things so you can try a big variety.

highly recommended.

While I wouldn't call it the best dessert in the city, I have to echo the recommendations for Chocolate at the Pen. Or the Chocolate Buffet. Or the Chocolate Bar - whatever name they have for it now; the name used has changed almost as often as the price since it debuted

At any rate, while there are better individual desserts to be found at various restaurants and bakeries, I do believe the Chocolate Bar at the Peninsula should be visited at least once by any chocolate lover. I would also recommend a light dinner beforehand to allow for greater sampling of their offerings. And seconds or thirds on any particularly favored items. From reviewing the Peninsula's website it appears that they now have a live jazz trio playing in the Lobby on both Friday and Saturday nights from 8:30 onward - I only recall a trio being present on one of my past visits. Their presence definitely added a great deal to the evening, so I would make a point of not arriving promptly at 8:00 when the Chocolate Bar opens.

Eminently more enjoyable than the formerly offered Saturday night Cupcake Buffet in the Greenhouse at the Ritz-Carlton, though my wife may disagree after seeing Goran Visnjic pass our table at the latter en route to the bar. Several times. Ensuring that I was all but forgotten that particular evening - I'm not sure she even remembers that I was there with her

That same lobby bar/ restaurant at the Peninsula also serves a dinner menu of sorts. It's awful, so be sure to stick to the chocolate. On our one visit last year, we had had well-past-its-prime sushi and other prepared-yesterday type stuff. Service was impossibly slow and clueless, but when we were eventually able to find a manager, he very generously comped the whole meal. Unfortunately, free wasn't cheap enough.

If you're interested in giving it as a gift, you can purchase a dining gift certificate on the Peninsula website. I see they are selling them specifically for the Chocolate Bar for $94 for two people. That also includes coffee/cappucino/espresso, which are normally extra; I don't know whether it includes tax and tip as well. I went there maybe a year and a half ago and the Chocolate Bar was around $30-32 (not including tax or tip). Of course, you can always call the hotel to ask.

The GCs include tax & tip (the details are on the website).

Kennyz wrote:That same lobby bar/ restaurant at the Peninsula also serves a dinner menu of sorts. It's awful, so be sure to stick to the chocolate. On our one visit last year, we had had well-past-its-prime sushi and other prepared-yesterday type stuff. Service was impossibly slow and clueless, but when we were eventually able to find a manager, he very generously comped the whole meal. Unfortunately, free wasn't cheap enough.

As noted above, that's quite the opposite from my experience with several consistently-excellent dinners there. The dinner items I ate there were fresh, properly-prepared, and tasty. (I eat cooked food though, not bait. ) Also, on one occasion there, I was dining solo, which can be the best test of the level of service. The serving staff was extremely gracious and accommodating, even offering to provide reading material if I was interested, and was available without being overbearing. It was one of the very best service experiences I've ever had as a solo diner.