Dessert restaurants in USA
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A
Graeter's Ice Cream
It's a local delicacy, with scoop shops around the city. The flavors that mix in the gargantuan, chunky chocolate chips top the list.
reviewed
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B
Matsumoto's
For many people, the circle-island drive isn't complete without lining up for shave ice at Matsumoto's tin-roofed general store. Often Honolulu families drive to the North Shore with one purpose: to stand in line here and walk out with a dripping, delicious shave ice cone, drenched with island flavors, such as liliko'i (passion fruit), banana, mango and pineapple.
Hawaiian shave ice is drenched with industrial-strength sweet syrup like the snow cones found on the US mainland, but it's much better because the ice is more finely shaved. A medium-sized cone with a combination of flavors usually costs about around US$2, a bit more if you add a local favorite, red azuki bean. …
reviewed
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Tara’s Organic
Ice cream is what to order at Tara’s Organic, after you’ve had your fill sampling the tasty lunch specials. All the ingredients are locally grown – the lavender comes from Los Poblanos, a small town near Albuquerque, the green chiles are harvested on an Espanola farm. But back to the ice cream: Rosemary’s combined caramelized pear and allspice is the latest in a stable of all natural ice-cream flavors that often taste as wild as the nearby mountains – sage anyone?
reviewed
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C
Waioli Tea Room
What a gorgeous setting wrapped up in shade trees and long, flowing vines in a green nook of Manoa Valley. The stone house is a vintage specimen from the days when it was the kitchen for the Salvation Army Young Ladies' Orphanage, whose bakery truck was so successful that it threatened to put local shops out of business. The main event here is the afternoon high tea from 14:00 to 16:00, but others filter in for breakfast chats with friends.
reviewed
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Short 'n' Sweet
Sweet or savory - that's the question at this quality, two-table bakery. In the morning choose between a breakfast panini or delicate, French-style croissant and pastries, or, on Sunday, eggs benedict. Midday brings sandwiches on house-made focaccia bread and salads (often local and organic) with homemade dressings. On Friday and Saturday evening locals pack in for pizza made from scratch. As if that's not enough, the sweets are incredible.
reviewed
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Chez Pierre & 2 Chez
Southern charm meets French sophistication at Chez Pierre, a Midtown charmer located in a beautiful antebellum house and serving excellent, authentic dishes like beef bourguignonne, tuna nicoise and saffron-scented lobster ravioli. Its lower-priced, more casual adjoining 2 Chez, is a lovely outdoor café, specializing in raw-bar offerings, steamed mussels and burgers.
reviewed
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D
Kailua Candy Company
Founded in 1977, this stark chocolate shop once ranked in Bon Appetit magazine as among America's top 10. Try its celebrated macadamia-nut honu ('turtles'; nuts and caramel covered with chocolate) and truffles in flavors like passion fruit, Kona coffee and guava-rum. To get here, turn mauka on Hina Lani St off Hwy 19 and right on Kamanu St.
reviewed
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E
Keoki's Paradise
If you're a fan of tiki restaurants, you'll love the tropical onslaught here. Although the whole experience shouts 'touristy,' the food is colorful and tasty. Stick with the fresh fish and the simplest 'naturally grilled' preparation. Save room for Hula Pie, a decadent hunk of mac-nut ice cream over chocolate-cookie crust.
reviewed
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F
Gazebo Restaurant
This open-air seaside restaurant has an unbelievable setting and damn good food. Sweet tooths will salivate over the white chocolate macnut pancakes, and the chock-full omelets have few rivals anywhere. Big salads, hearty sandwiches and flavorful lunch plates, too. Get there when it opens to beat the breakfast queue.
reviewed
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G
Tex Drive-In
A malasada is just a donut, but Tex is famous for making them fresh, fat and delicious. They come plain or filled. Tex also serves an above-average plate lunch, with crisp green salads and tasty renditions of the classic meats, like Korean chicken. There's also an attached gift and garden shop.
reviewed
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Fondren Beverage Emporium
Children and sweet-toothed adults will turn cartwheels upon discovering the Fondren Beverage Emporium, an amazing shop specializing in rare soft drinks and strange candies. This is the place for gourmet lemonade, bacon-flavored breath mints, cucumber-flavored water and two coolers full of root beer.
reviewed
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H
Paulette Macarons
Sorry, Oreo: the competition for the ultimate sandwich cookie is down to Paulette’s Sicilian pistachio and passionfruit French macarons. Declare a winner from your seat on a macaron-shaped pouf, or go for a second championship round: caramel fleur-de-sel salt and violet cassis.
reviewed
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I
Jo-Jo's Shave Ice
While still a worthwhile stop with dozens and dozens of syrup flavors, the quality is inconsistent (eg skimpy syrup or gritty ice). Still, the colorful sign above the rickety screen door is a beacon and, heck, a small cup is just two bucks. Try unusual flavors like lychee, tamarind and rum.
reviewed
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J
Tasaka Guri-Guri
For the coolest treat in town join the crowd at this hole-in-the-wall shop dishing up tangy homemade tropical sherbets. The guri-guri, as it's called, is so popular that locals pick up quarts on the way to the airport to take to friends when they go off-island.
reviewed
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K
St Francis Fountain
Tender nostalgia and a mean griddle account for lines out the door for breakfast on weekends, but lunch and soda-fountain treats deliver a similar kick without the wait. Share the chocolate malted, and offer to carry your date's books home from school. Works every time.
reviewed
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Kaua'i Pasta (Lihu'e)
Locals prefer rice to pasta, but Kaua'i Pasta has proven popular. Colorful salads meld diverse flavors, such as peppery arugula, creamy goat cheese and sweet tomatoes. Hot foccacia sandwiches, classic pasta mains and luscious tiramisu are well made and generous.
reviewed
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L
Payard Pâtisserie
A dramatic, high-ceilinged pastry shop and espresso bar feels more like Paris’ Left Bank, thanks to third-generation French chef and chocolatier Françoise Payard. Delectable candies, petit fours, truffles, tarts and pastries are perfect grab-and-go treats.
reviewed
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M
Hawaiian Blizzard
For the island's best shave ice, stop at the white van parked outside Big Save. Owner Aaron Furugen is the low-key guru of shave ice, perfecting the art since the 1980s. Kids flock here after school and neighborhood regulars hang out and talk story.
reviewed
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N
Snowizard Sno Ball Stand
A corner take-out stand worth finding when you've overheated. A shaved-ice 'sno ball,' with 80 different flavors to choose from, will cool you off right away. They can also provide you with milk shakes, cones and soft drinks. Cash only.
reviewed
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O
Waiola Bakery & Shave Ice Ii
For a lesson in shave ice, Waiola is the place. The superfine ice and the add-ons set it apart: try azuki beans, condensed milk, mochi (sticky-sweet Japanese-pounded rice cakes) and island-style li hing mui crack seed.
reviewed
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P
Pastiche
Awash in soothing colors and warmed by a fire in winter, Pastiche offers a seasonal dessert menu. In summer, you might try the apricot almond chiffon cake, or pick up a favorite such as mascarpone tortes or chocolate layer cake.
reviewed
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Q
Bailey's Chocolate Bar
It's pure brilliance. Bailey's specializes in chocolate desserts and alcoholic beverages (with some brilliant combos: white chocolate raspberry martini, anyone?), with cheese plates and pizzas thrown in to conceal the decadence.
reviewed
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Kimball Farm
This dairy has achieved more than local fame for its sinfully creamy ice cream that comes in 40 flavors and unbelievable portion sizes. It also serves sandwiches and seafood specials – mostly of the deep-fried variety.
reviewed
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R
Bubbies
In a college strip skilled at pouring draughts, this neighborhood ice-cream shop is the sweet-tooth's alternative to beer. Homemade ice cream comes in luscious tropical flavors or decadent chocolate-on-chocolate creations.
reviewed
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S
Ice Cream Parlor
Make sure you stop in at this traditional ice-cream parlor for a spot of dessert. Thick milkshakes, hot-fudge sundaes and the mountainous Star-Spangled Banner Split taste fantastic in this quaint Victorian-era setting.
reviewed
