NYC best JUST dessert places?

[LVI]

Wife and I are heading out this evening and doing our own little tasting dinner. Planning on hitting 3-4 restaurants for different tastes (Pizza, Peking Duck are among the delights discussed) and will top it off with desserts. There are several places that get mentioned throughout this board but was looking for your favorite places. THANKS in advance for your help!

[jth]

I don't know about Veniero's I like them for cakes, not so much for smaller desserts.

for me it's Rocco's on Bleeker for a canoli (chocolate) and an expresso or cappicino depending upon the mood. They also do very good italian cheesecake.

[NAtiveNewYorker]

Second Rocco's

The table service stinks (if you are in any type of a rush) but the cannoli are second to none. Chocolate covered cannoli are good, but you will miss the subtle taste of the shell. (So get one of each...)

[liverfail]

How did Veniero's manage to escape this list? It's the mother of all dessert places.

[alex70]

I think their desserts are good, but a little heavy.

[csw]

Max Brenners new dessert place located at 841 Broadway http://www.maxbrenner.com/home.aspx

[tdchow]

Cafe Lalo on the UWS...I believe 83rd and Amsterdam.

[teresa]

I've enjoyed Serendipidity 3's desserts. They are a bit pricey, but they are huge. I enjoy the "Strawberry Fields" and even just the chocolate cake! It is also really crowded, but I was lucky enough to go when the line was short.

[Cheese Boy]

Loud, noisy, crowded. If that's okay, have a look:

Menu: http://www.serendipity3.com/food.htm

[emilia]

i second the nomination for Chikalicious...i am not a big fan of super heavy or rich desserts, and Chika seems to always make it not only very interesting pairings (cocoa and basil; peppercorn and vanilla, etc) but also just so lovingly prepared and never too heavy or too much.

the only thing is the space is tight so you may have a wait if you go at rush time. good luck!

[erikka]

Is there any other dessert only places aside from Chikalicious and Room 4 Dessert?

I like chika, but I feel like you get the *tiniest* portions and just peck, peck, peck at them and wait for the next to arrive.

[RGR]

Actually, I think ChikaLicious is the only *strictly* "dessert" only place. I've not been to Room4Dessert, but I've read on another food forum that in June, they began serving breakfast.

Sam Mason, who used to do the desserts at WD-50, will be opening a place in SoHo, where he will serve tapas, desserts and drinks. Supposed to be ready by the end of this year. No name yet.

[dkstar1]

I will venture a bet that Sam Mason's place will blow both Chikalicious and Room4Dessert out of the water. Neither of the current places are truly excellent - although both were interesting. Currently, the dessert tasting menu at WD~50 is probably the best of its kind.

[jasmurph]

Just to chime in, the dessert tasting menu at WD-50 was one of the 5 (3?) greatest eating experiences of my life. It was delicious, yes, but much more it was smart and satisfying and challenging. Chikalicious is renoir, sam mason is cezanne.

[sfslinky]

I agree. The dessert tasting menu at WD-50 was outstanding. I wasn't expecting it to be that good!

[adam]

does anyone know if they still have the dessert tasting, now that sam mason is gone? and if it's still as good?

[harryh]

Interestingly enough there is the possibility of another dessert only place opening in the moderate future. I was talking to one of the owners of Dash (also Tides), and they are apparently considering opening a dessert place. It seems like the focus might be on fresh fruit and chocolate. Possibly a fondue type of thing?

[kenito799]

I am a ChikaLicious fan (E 10th/2nd).
$19 for three course dessert with wine pairing, I have never been disappointed. She makes light desserts, no big chocolate/pastry bombs.
Amuse: usually a sorbet or ice cream on a gelee; gelees I have had: chocolate, rosemary, pear
Main: classics that are always there include a molten chocolate tart served with pink peppercorn ice cream (excellent), and a fromage blanc cheesecake served on ice which I haven't tried but has gotten great reviews.
Recently I had cherry soup with corn ice cream and cornbread; another time darjeeling panna cotta with peach sorbet and toasted almonds. These combinations of flavors were really exciting and I feel like Chika is on the same wavelength as me.
Final petit fours have been, for instance, coconut marshmallows, tiny fruit tarts (big enough for 1/2 a blackberry), usually chocolate truffles.
The selection of dessert wines is varied and good, including orange muscat, ruby port, madeira, brachetto, etc.
http://www.chikalicious.com/