30296 Fri Jul 16 17:17:12 -0700 2004 12 1 San Francisco Bay Area 0 130108 I'm taking my girlfriend on a date and want to take her out for a really yummy dessert! What are some restaurants that serve a top rate dessert menu with good ambiance? Fri Jul 16 17:17:12 -0700 2004 0 jimbo 1 130109 I would say Cafe Jacqueline in North Beach. A popular place for romantic occassions. Fri Jul 16 17:44:15 -0700 2004 130108 0 HJ 1 130110 Jardiniere (their strawberry tapioca Napolean was one my all time favorites) Azie (haven't been for a while but they had a tower of desserts at one point with huge spun sugar decoration) Slanted Door, with great dessert wines to accompany your choice; Melanie and I managed to beg a seat in the bar area for this. next on my list, based on reports here, is Town Hall Fri Jul 16 17:45:49 -0700 2004 130108 0 Windy 1 130111 FARALLON. Like Emily Luchetti's "Small Endings" in addition to whatever she is offering in the gooey/chocolate category. (I mean I order both and share the Small Endings with whomever I'd dining with.) Link: http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/menus_recipes/dessertmenu.html Fri Jul 16 17:57:44 -0700 2004 130108 0 rssfromsf 1 130112 I recall M. Wong mentioning she stopped at the new Slanted Door venue when it first opened and sat at the bar and had only a dessert. Sitting at the bar may not be too romantic, but this strategy might also work at other places. Fri Jul 16 17:58:44 -0700 2004 130108 0 Gary Soup 2 130113 Late one night (after 11), we stopped into Postrio and had some fabulous cheesecake. Fri Jul 16 18:02:00 -0700 2004 130112 0 Nathan Landau 2 130117 yes, it's in my reply below, but we had to persuade them Fri Jul 16 18:52:49 -0700 2004 130112 0 Windy 1 130114 Cafe Jacqueline for a dessert soufle (though I imagine you'd need to tell them that you'd only be going for dessert when you make the res - dinner there can take 4 hours) Absinthe - Murielle Roux is a master of the dessert. The lavender creme brulee is mindblowing, as is the chocolate pot de creme. Fri Jul 16 18:06:55 -0700 2004 130108 0 fatemeh 2 130122 Absinthe's chocolate pot de creme sells out fast each night. If you go too late, they might be gone. Sometimes when we go for dinner, we'll have the waiter reserve one for us before we each start eating. Fri Jul 16 20:23:35 -0700 2004 130114 0 Wendy Lai 1 130121 DEFINITELY Cortez! Their desserts are interesting and taste great, they have a selection of dessert wine and cocktails, the place is hip and trendy (good date atmosphere), and you could sit at the bar, in plush chairs, or probably (if late) at a table. Fri Jul 16 19:49:11 -0700 2004 130108 0 wlw18 1 130124 I want to mention Town Hall. Janet Rikala was at Postrio for many years. I had a pineapple upside down cake there that was sublime and gorgeous. Their hot chocolate dessert should be shared between 4 though. I would second Farralon and I have heard that Quince is doing some nice Chez Panisse-esque stuff. (I just gave Margot these suggestions as well.) The Masa pastry chef is one of the best in SF but I don't know if you can get in there just for dessert. Same for the Ritz Carleton Dining Room........but maybe both are worth a shot. Fri Jul 16 21:53:54 -0700 2004 130108 0 sailorbuoys 2 130175 "The Masa pastry chef is one of the best in SF"--is this one of the new people Richard Reddington brought in? Sat Jul 17 18:46:27 -0700 2004 130124 0 Robert Lauriston 3 130178 No. The pastry chef has outlived a lot of chef's there, he has been there 15 years. Please remember that R.R. is temporary. (about one year) Sat Jul 17 19:52:59 -0700 2004 130175 0 sailorbuoys