Best Desserts in a Chain

[steakrules85]

I never usually eat dessert when I go out but heres A few that I've tried and liked

Cheesecake Factory- Chocolate Tuxedo Cheesecake, Banana Cream
Famous Dave's Bread Pudding
Champps- Mile High Mud Pie
Red Robin Shakes

[NewDude]

Il Fornaio, SF: chocolate flourless cake. Done.

[steakrules85]

I will add some more....

Cheesecake factory- Godiva, Vanilla Bean, Brownie Sundae, Dulche de leche, White chocolate raspberry truffle, pumpkin pecan, pretty much any freakin thing.
Grand Lux- Strawberry Shortcake
Bonefish Grill- Brownie Sundae, Chocolate Creme Brulee

[choctastic]

The flan at El Pollo Loco is surprisingly good.

[vtt7]

Key Lime Pie - Houston's

The best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chew on That]

Cheesecake Factory's Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake is to die for!

[jujuthomas]

just had the peanutbutter black bottom pie at Sullivan's steak house. OMG. amazing.

[Davwud]

Cinnamelts.

DT

[steakrules85]

Since I started this thread here are some more

Cheesecake Factory- Pistachio Chocolate Swirl, Brownie Cheesecake, Dulche de leche, white chocolate raspberry, pumpkin pecan, pretty much anything.

Bonefish Grill- Brownie sundae thing they have is amazing.

Maggianos- Profiteroles, Chocolate Zuccotto cake.

Grand Lux Cafe- Apple Pie thing they have, Beignets!

[pak1789]

I love Olive Garden's Black Tie Mousse Cake. They also used to have a Chocolate Lasagna.

[sweetboy37]

Just had a totally indulgent dessert at Starbucks of all places. Seems they've replaced their usual cardboard tasting baked goods with "Sweet Street" desserts. I had a toffee bar that was sinfully good and my girlfriend had a decadent fruit bar. Yum!

[wskrz]

Rock Bottom makes a pretty decent carrot cake, which uses some of their pale ale in the batter. The frosting is awesome (I'd love a heaping plate of just the frosting...) and the caramel sauce they serve with it is a nice touch.

[cor]

I agree with whoever said the Applebees Blondie. That is so good.

Also, the creme brulee @ Ruth's Chris is pretty good.

[jessicheese]

I would have to say Cheesecake Factory's cake options put them above the rest.

I have a great story I have to share about CF. About 5 years ago I booked a meeting at my hotel where CF representatives were touting their dessert to a local food service chain. They shipped all their cheesecake samples and we let them set up their displays. That afternoon I got a call from the salesman saying they were finished and that there were leftovers up for grabs. I walk in to the boardroom and lo and behold- 20 different types of cheesecakes with ONE piece missing from each one are sitting there waiting for us. It was chaos!!! We got a cart and wheeled them back to our office with a stack of to go containers. Everyone took what they wanted, people came up from every department. There was cheesecake on the walls, chocolate on the rugs, we were covered in it! It was awesome!!

5 years later and we all fondly remember the day with the cheesecakes. And that's why they're my favorite chain dessert=)

[KaimukiMan]

I havent yet decided if a shake qualifies as a beverage or a desert, guess it depends on the circumstances. I was somewhat surprised last month when there was a short thread on Jack-in-the-Box shakes, and all dozen or so posts liked them. Perhaps the really finniky chowhounds don't stoop to even read the chains board, let alone comment on Jack's shakes... how was it put in The Lord of the Rings... all that is gold does not glitter......

[dream_of_giusti]

Long Horn- Apple Pie thingy, it has a real name that I can't remember.
Houlihan's- Apple Pie
Maggiano's- Apple Pie packet.
Olive Garden- Berry Crostada.
Are we seeing a theme? I love apples or any fruit baked in a lot of dough with ice cream. For some reason, many restaurants now serve more chocolate items than good ol' apple pie.

[luckylily]

Every few years, I'd get random cravings for the apple skillet with ice cream at Bennigan's... that was until Taco Bell's empanadas came into existence (already mentioned by katiepie). Outside of the States, KFC's egg tarts (in Asia) are incredible.

[jword2001]

1. Keylime pie @ Bahama Breeze 2. Dulce De Leche Cheesecake @ Cheesecake factory 3. Butterscotch,or Hot Fudge shake @ culvers 4. Lemon passion cake @ Macaroni grill 5. Monkey Madness ice cream @ Bruster's ......man all of'm sound good right now,no wonder I'm fat!

[AnnaEA]

The chocolate volcano cake at Don Pablo's..... There's just something about a large plate with a super moist chocolate cake surrounded by a bubbling lake of seething hot chocolate sauce, all topped with vanilla ice cream. There's a faint whiff of cinnamon and caramel about it all, from being broiled, I think.

[Rolen18]

If you like chains and are funny you have to read this!
http://chainoffood.blogspot.com

[calabasas_trafalgar]

Dog Sundae at Outback!

[Emme]

Cheesecake Factory- Oreo, Vanilla Bean, Original cheesecakes
California Pizza Kitchen- key lime pie, brownie sundae or just the brownie
Jack in the Box- Oreo Shake

[sarahvagaca]

The beignets at Grand Lux Cafe!! They're really more like doughnuts than true NO beignets, but whatever--they're made fresh and they're freakin' delicious. The vanilla and raspberry sauces they come with (there's also a chocolate sauce) are both tasty. I also like their Chocolate Lava cake with vanilla ice cream. I guess any baked good made to order is bound to be fairly decent.

[jinet12]

Key Lime Pie at Houstons...the best, I think....How come they only serve it during "key lime season?"...they used to serve it year round, as does other restaurants...Has the "key lime season" changed? don't get it....

[katiepie]

The carmel apple empanada at Taco Bell... slurp!

[smith11]

CPK Key Lime Pie is outrageously good.

[Amuse Bouches]

I don't know if it's the place that immediately comes to mind when you think chains, but the coconut cake at Asia de Cuba is really good.

And McCormick and Schmick's used to have a chocolate bread pudding that was to die for.

[ipsedixit]

Key Lime Pie at Morton's Steakhouse.

[lolfuture]

Second that.

[OCAnn]

It's been a while, but I like the chocolate cake @ Carl's Jr.

[gsmoose]

Roy's - chocolate souffle... mmmm...
Buca di Beppo - tiramisu (love the big bowl to share!)
Cheesecake Factory - that Godiva cheesecake

[callitasicit]

I am from Toronto Ont and I have not been impressed with many desserts where I live. Thank goodness for the States! I travelled to Boston and went to UNO Chicago Grill and had that deep dish chocolate chip cookie with ice cream and it was incredible. I will have to try the Cheesecake Factory in Buffalo NY as it is only about 2 hours away from me.

[piccola]

I hope your comment refers only to chains - I would find it really sad if you thought U.S. chain had better desserts than Toronto bakeries and independent restaurants.

[jword2001]

Sorry to hear that,if you ever travel to Pembroke Ont,try the Irving big stop,yes it's a truck stop,that being said they bake their own sweets,and bread...i HIGHLY recommend the raisin pie!,get it hot with ice cream mmmmmmm,man wish i could get it here in Fl.

[callitasicit]

How far is Pembroke from Markham Ont? I could go for a nice piece of pie right now...

[Brioche For The Girl]

Apple Walnut Cobbler at Houston's. Yum!

[carinole]

Applebee's blondie. I don't eat anything else there but that.
Cheesecake Factory vanilla bean cheese cake

[swsidejim]

Mortons Steak House - Desert Souffles, excellent, one of the best deserts I have had.

Pappadeux - Banana Wafer Pudding, the pudding is rich, and the wafers good, and
they serve it in a mason jar you can take home.

[Mari]

The tiramisu at California Pizza Kitchen.

[spyturtle008]

I have a friend who swears by the watermelon roll at Friendly's, which sounds intriguing, but I have yet to try it myself...

[NiKoLe1625]

the watermelon roll from friendly's is quite possibly one of the best desserts i've ever eaten! i havent had one in YEARS, but they are SO good!

[justagthing]

ok...what exactly is it comprised of...sounds odd/different

[Put a Sake in it]

Its just watermelon sherbert, with a lemon sherbert rind and chocolate chips for seeds. It is Delish!

[JudgeMaven]

I could go for a (slice of a) Wattamelon Roll right now. Too bad it is seasonal.

[BabyLitigator]

The Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Sundae, late of Friendly's, and now at Baskin Robbins. I can finally get my PB fix here in L.A.!

[Janet from Richmond]

When I was a teenager, my Mom and I would go to Friendly's and have the Reese Peanut Butter Cup Sundae for dinner.......good times. Damn, I miss that woman.

[manraysky]

Oh, that was my favorite! Is it off the menu now? I'm now longer living in Friendly's country.

[charmedgirl]

Perish the thought. Not that I've been in over two years, but there is not a snowball's chance in youknowwhere that Friendly's got rid of either the Reese's PB Cup or Reese's Pieces Sundaes. They are classics, and quite likely some of their best sellers. If I had to guess I think BL meant there are no Friendly's in LA so now she gets her fix at Baskin Robbins....

[summeranne]

My husband loved the Apple Chimicheesecake I think it was called at Applebees. We'd go there just for dessert so he could get it... it's no longer on the menu so we no longer have a reason to go to Crapplebees.

[ElsieDee]

Not much of a chain person, but I do have to admit to having a soft spot (read: occasional serious craving) for the Pizookie at BJ's (but that's all we get there - have been sorely disappointed with their general food).

[janetofreno]

I've eaten at our local BJ's (NOT to be confused with the local barbque place of the same name!) exactly once: at their opening party (DH set up the TVs for the place so we were invited). I have to admit that the chocolate chip Pizookie was seriously good.....and I don't even LIKE chocolate.

I had never heard of BJs OR the Pizookie until that night. I've been seriously tempted to go back just to have one. The rest of the food has no appeal to me....

[susancinsf]

What exactly IS a pizookie?

[janetofreno]

It is a cookie baked in a deep-dish pizza pan...The one I had was chocolate chip but I think they have others. It comes out as a single big cookie, warm from the oven, and still in the pan, and its thicker than the usual cookie. So its soft like a just-baked cookie. They serve it with ice cream on top. One was enough to serve our entire family.

Think a big fat cookie just out of the oven, still in a pan, that you eat with a spoon, with ice cream on top.

[little audrey]

That's exactly what they have at Uno, and it is awesome

[L_W]

I honestly like ALL of Cheesecake Factory's cheesecakes. Whatever "style" they are is what I love....
Cheeburger Cheeburger and Fuddrukkers's shakes
And the Reese Pieces sundae at Friendly's (maybe with a vanilla Fribble to wash it down...)

[steakrules85]

A shake to wash down a sundae lol thats great

[aynrandgirl]

Steak n Shake - Strawberry shake
Cheesecake Factory - Adams Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple
Morton's - hot Godiva chocolate cake

[jes]

Mile High Mudd Pie at Red Robin!

[chica]

I like the ones at Grand Lux Cafe (sister of, and better than, Cheesecake Factory) - I never not order a 15-min. pre-ordered chocolate souffle there.

Claim Jumper is okay with its mud pies. Everything else is a bit too much.

In n' Out shakes

The mocha cheesecake at Seattle's Best.

The Oreo-crusted ball of vanilla ice cream at BBQ Wood Ranch & Grill.

And I confess, a BJ pizookie once in a while satisfies the sweet tooth.

[Uncle Ira]

It's been more then 20 years since I've had one, but I remember loving the shakes at In n' Out.... Glad tho hear they're still just as good.

Uncle Ira

[little audrey]

The dessert souffles at Morton's
The hot chocolate chip cookie a la mode at Uno
The shakes at Chick Fil-A and Cheeburger Cheeburger

[starbucksbrew]

Yes! Cheeburger milkshakes!

Also:
Banana Dream Cake at TooJay's
Seven Layer Bar at Starbucks

And the best of all time, but which is no longer:
Sticky Chewy Chocolate Sundae that Swensen's used to have. They discontinued that ice cream flavor a few years ago. Disgrace.

[TampaAurora]

I second the banana dream cake at TooJay's.

[callitasicit]

I love the hot chocolate chip cookie a la mode at Uno, sooo good!!!

[lollie424]

I had a Handspun Cookies and Cream Shake at Chickfila for the first time the other day.....so absolutely delicious.

[iLoveFood]

Houston's: Key Lime Pie (only available during key lime season)

[Calipoutine]

Do you really think they're using Key lime juice?

[justagthing]

not a huge dessert person, especailly in a chain resto..but the chocolate calzone at claim jumpers was pretty good when i had it eons ago.