LA's BEST desserts????

[Food snob]

Hey,
I'm looking for some of the most decadent desserts found in restaurants in LA. If anyone has had a dessert that was really unusual or just plain amazing, please let me know what it is and what restaurant had it.
Thanks!!!

[Diana]

Dessert tasting menu at Providence

Midnight madness at Jerry's Famous Deli (I know, it's Jerry's) big slab of cake, lotsa ice cream, fudge.ooohhh!

Gelson's Victor Benes chocolate cake with those caramel ribbons all over

Mashti Malone's ginger rosewater ice cream.

leeda's giant choclate chip cookies.

Special Tiramisu at Il Tiramisu

[LisaStitch]

Kaiserschmarren at Spago (pancake-like dessert with warm strawberries)

Blackberry Cobbler at Cynthia's

Banana Banana Banana at Chaya (both locations)

the Souffles at Arnie Morton's

[Emme]

Second the vote for Cynthia's.

Creme Brulee w/ Huckleberries at the Four Seasons.

Chocolate Souffle at Bistro Gardens

Nata's natas

Linda's Fabulous Fudge Cake and White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake at (gulp!) Cheesecake Factory

[westsidegal]

speaking of creme brulee, i thought the rendition that was served to me at ocean ave seafood in sm was really quite good.

[altjane]

And the chocolate croissant bread pudding at Chaya

[SauceSupreme]

Does the yuzu drink at the end of the Sushi Zo omakase count?

My vote is for the chocolate mille-feuille at Hatfield's

[gomagoma]

Any one of the desserts at Hatfield's. On our recent visit, we had the panna cotta with passion fruit sorbet and rasberries, lemon tart with yogurt sorbet and blueberries, chocolate and peanut butter petit cake, caramel ice cream and espresso ice cream.

The one other dessert they had that same evening (with the 3 course dinner) was a seasonal cherry tart with yogurt sorbet, which also looked delicious.

If you haven't been, I highly recommend you get the chef's tasting menu (7 course) as both course 5 and 6 are desserts. Everything there is delicious!

[pinkrainstone]

I will definately second Sushi ZO...forget about regular dessert, the sushi there is so decadant and melts in your mouth that it is dessert. This is coming from a sweet fanatic. Suchi zo gives you a reason to believe.

[dinami]

I love the key lime pie with whipped cream at Houston's. Churros dipped in chocolate at Literati II are also divine!

[thericequeen]

Sansrival cake from either Goldilocks Bakery or Red Robin. YUMMY!

[thericequeen]

Whoops! You specified restaurants. The Lemoncello Sorbet @ Cafe Paradiso on Wilshire Blvd., in Santa Monica.

[PlatypusJ]

The entres are aweful, but the griddle pan chocolate chip cookie a la mode at O-Bar in West Hollywood is one of my favorite drunken desserts when served with Kaluah on the rocks.

I don't like Cynthia's Blackberry cobbler because it tastes, to me, like a jar of Smuckers.

the Souffles at Off Vine

Red velvet cake at Doughboys

[Pei]

Banana ice cream bar dipped in butterscotch coating from MILK ($3.00!)

Peanut butter chocolate cup from Grace: http://www.chezpei.com/uploaded_image...

Berry Blossom Cake from Susina Bakery

[slacker]

Does Susina have cakes by the slice?

[Pei]

yes! Sadly, I have gotten one slice before that was mysteriously devoid of berries. Whoever did the sprinkling should be chastised!

[riceflour]

Puprle yam yokan with coconut tapioca at Hirozen Gourmet.

Stay away from anything labeled "creme brulee," though. I had the pumpkin last fall, expecting it to be a seasonally tasty creamy treat, and instead found it resembled a heavy, overly-sweetened failed souffle. Blech.

Hirozen is also good for inventive, non-maki Japanese-esque dishes like blue crab wrapped in rice paper, lobster roll tempura, and an interesting foie gras-toro "tower" (which isn't a tower, but is still really good).

Hirozen Gourmet
8385 Beverly Blvd. (@ Orlando)
it's in the crook of an L-shaped strip mall, which I guess makes it an L-mall or something

www.hirozen.com

[SauceSupreme]

I really like Hirozen though I've never had dessert there. I'll have to give it a shot.

Speaking of purple yam, I'll chime in for the ube milkshake at Oinkster.

[riceflour]

A friend reports that Fosselman's has ube ice cream and will make it into a shake upon request. I have yet to try it, but if you get to it first, please report :)

Ditto on Oinkster--I haven't gotten around to it yet, but ube always hits the spot. That's on my "must try" list now. Thanks!

[jenngen]

The polenta dessert at All Angelo is truly remarkable!!

[greengelato]

* pumpkin pie and coconut pie from urth cafe
* banana banana banana from chaya venice
* bread pudding + scoop of gelato at al gelato
* chai panna cotta with orange ginger creme fraiche from primitivo
* red velvet cake from doughboys
* berry blossom cake from susina bakery
* any of the cakes from jin patisserie
* hodduk in front of california market on 5th and western (a korean dessert)

[lillizkat]

Banana cream pie at Susina Bakery--has chocolate and caramel..not traditional...but oh so good!
Chocolate Parisian--Porto's

[riceflour]

Speaking of Porto's...guava and cheese pastries.

And I second Susina's banana cream pie. It's incredible.

Has anyone tried the pies at Honey's Kettle in Clver City?

[brekkie_fan]

For amazing, the "Simon Junk Food Sampler" at Simon LA (excerpt from my blog below):

Sweet treats #'s 1 & 2: Krispy rice treats (regular and cocoa). Chewy with just enough sweet.

Sweet treat #3: Vanilla bean milkshake. Enough said.

Sweet treat #4: Snoballs! Pink rolled in cocount shreds.

Sweet treat #5: Their version of a hostess cupcake - squiggly line and all. Rich and chewy.

Sweet treats #s 6,7,8: Chocolate chunk, oatmeal butterscotch, and white chocolate pecan cookies all bagged and ready to go. Chewy happiness all the way home.

Sweet treat #9: Grilled doughnut holes. Coated in cinnamon!

Sweet treats #s 10 & 11: Peanut butter ice cream (fudge above *and* below) plus some lime sorbet.

and lastly,

Sweet treats #s 12 & 13: A faceful of pink cotton candy planted in a base of caramel popcorn.

Enough for four to share with some to take home! About $25, i believe....

[Frank_Santa_Monica]

Mastro's - Butter Cake
Cut - Chocolate Ganache

[eat_n_run]

Oooh, yes! Mastro's Butter Cake is simply amazing.

[Diana]

Pumpkin or apple pie from Costco -yeah, a chain, but a GOOD pie!

The Cheesecake at Valley Inn in Sherman Oaks.

Robin Hood's spongecake with lyle's golden syrup and lovely warm custard!

Those little honey soaked balls at the buffet at Woodlands Pure in Chatsworth

Bea's bakery Rugalach

[real]

My favorite place is Porto's Bakery in Burbank, on magnolia and hollywood way.
The lines there are huge.

[Mando]

2nd this .. The original is in Glendale off Brand. Ambiance and wait can be extreme but you won't find a better quality/cost ratio for desserts and I've never had anythign bad there.

Also if you're in San Gabriel Valley Try Vanille in San Marino off Huntington. Think the guys a chinese dessert chef trained in france .. whatever it is he makes damn good desserts.

Can't go wrong with diddy reese ice cream sandwiches.

[ihrtfud]

Portos' individual mousse-based cakes are affordable, true, but I'd rather shell out the big bucks for a high-end pastry from Jin Patisserie (coupled with some macaroons and a pot of tea). At Portos, I'd stick to the sweet cheese rolls (addicted to them!) and the savory items, like their croissant with spinach and cheese.

[riceflour]

I forgot last time to mention La Conversation's chocolate-filled eclairs. Where most places I've encountered fill their eclairs with pastry cream or something, then glaze the top with chocolate, La Conversation puts the chocolate both inside and outside of the shell. And their mocha eclairs aren't bad, either.

[hippodeir]

amandine bakery on wilshire (and 26th or so) in santa monica has wonderful pastries--

[Ndelible]

The coconut cake and sweet potato pie from 27th Street Bakery

[hpcat]

Auntie Em's had a blueberry tart that was to die for. I love all their desserts.

[lillizkat]

blueberry tart sounds delicious! do they have it all the time? I always end up getting the cupcakes. The chocolate cupcakes are my favorite. The
dark chocolate doesn't make it too sweet. The coconut ones are fab, too!

[hpcat]

I've only seen it there once. It had a wonderful graham crust with slightly sweetened creme fraiche and fresh blueberries covering the top. It was in a large pie pan and served in slices. Other desserts I've had there have been great, too. I love the cakes, the brownies, and the assorted fruit crumbles.

[stacey8989]

I really like the desserts at Angel Maid Bakery. It's a small Japanese bakery on Centinela. The cakes might be lighter and less sweet than what most people are used to.
4538 S Centinela Ave
Los Angeles, CA
90066
Phone: [phone]

My favorites are the mini cream puffs, chocolate dobash cake, white cake w/fresh strawberries (I don't know if it has a name), and the fruit tarts.

Not in LA- but the best chocolate souffle I've ever had was at Turner New Zealand near South Coast Plaza. I was disappointed with the steaks, but I'd definitely go back for dessert.

[woofer]

godiva chocolate cake @ morton's
banana pudding @ baby blues bbq
donuts @ grace
i know i could do it at home but i me some pazookie from bj's

[HungryLaw]

Donut Man -- the strawberry (or other fruit appropriate per season) filled donuts... it's a bit of a drive, but damn, was it worth it.

915 E Route 66
Glendora, CA
91740-3608
Phone: [phone]

[Diana]

I loved the pizookie, too, till I did it at home myself.

To make it good, I made a gianter cookie with white, dark and milk chocolate chips.

But to make it sooper dooper ooper good, I topped it-still hot- with Mashti Malone's ginger rosewater ice cream!

YUMMY

[downstagecenter]

I'm diabetic so I don't get to eat a whole lot of really good desserts but I'm surprised to see no mention of the Three Berry Cake at Sweet Lady Jane.

[Pei]

There's been a lot of negative posting about SLJ on this board, both in terms of service and quality of food.

Personally, I just prefer Susina's berry blossom cake to SLJ's triple berry. I think the dark colored frosting at SLJ is unattractive and tastes like chemicals, whereas Susina's light frosting with meringue chips is refreshing and not too sweet. SLJ's cakes were also try the two times I got slices, but Susina's have always been moist.

Plus the people at Susina are just so much more pleasant to deal with, and their space is gorgeous.

[Dommy]

ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto ditto....

--Dommy!

[sel]

Although I don't doubt the veracity of all the negative posts; I must be the only CH poster that has not had a bad experience at SLJ! I tried the Triple Berry Cake once or twice and liked it as I recall and didn't notice any chemical taste. Now you're making me go back to try it again and compare it to Sugar Plum Bakery’s, oops - Susina's Berry Blossom Cake which I shared with a friend recently and found to be wonderful! I have to say that although I haven't been for a while, I still love SLJ's overpriced but oh so tasty Lemon Meringue Tart with a French Press of their Coffee!

[bulavinaka]

I too find their lemon meringue tart to be supreme for lemon lovers, but still can't digest their tart attitude... the owner is in total denial...

[jaydee]

i recently had the chocolate chip and ginger cookies with malted milk at grace - man, they were great!

[mlgb]

Buttermilk panna cotta with key lime anglaise (Benley in LB) refreshing in summer

Fresh berry pies from Polly's especially ollallie berry and strawberry.

I guess it may not technically be dessert but I loved the kesari at Annapurna in Artesia. They occasionally have it in the buffet.

Nice to see Pizookie mentioned.

[carter]

anything made by Danielle Keene, ex-AOC, Campanile, Blairs and Water Grill pastry person extraordinaire, and currently working at the Wilshire in Santa Monica. she trained with Silverton and some of the other bests around town, and her take is beyond most of the competition consistently.

[2ndAvenue]

Can't beat Roy's chocolate souffle.

[Kris P Pata]

Runner-Ups:
Pistachio Financiers @ La Maison du Pain
Mahal (Kalamansi Citrus) and Oscura (Lapsang Souchong) Chocolates @ Boule
Ube shake @ Oinkster

The Best dessert in the Universe:
Cielo de Coco Cake @ Asia de Cuba

[Fru]

Blueberry cream cheese pie at Du Pars. Banana cream pie at hof's hut. If they still have it (its been a long time) the hot fudge brownie at Houstons.

[brandygirl]

Houston's does indeed still have the brownie hot fudge sundae, and you are right--one of the best desserts in LA.

[marisabeast]

Pie n Burger's olallieberry pie is unusual and fantastic, but what really takes the cake (i'm so punny) is there pumpkin pie. i pre-order a whole pie from them every year for thanksgiving and i refuse to tell anyone that i don't make it myself. i couldn't give up all the compliments on how it's the best pumpkin pie ever!

[cls]

I have no idea what the best may be but a couple to try:
Dessert omakase at Jinpachi in West Hollywood.
Chocolate croissant bread pudding at Masa Echo Park
Cappucino ice cream at Dan Tanas

[adevejian]

• Nut Cake - Paru's
• White Chocolate Spring Roll - Nobu
• Cinnamon, Peanut Butter Gelato - Tutti Gelati
• Cobbler a la mode - The Cobbler Factory
• Cheese Roll - Porto's
• Halawet el Jeben, Knafe Jeben - Vrej Pastry

[jerseygirldawn]

Mortons - Godiva Molten Cake
Grand Luxe Cafe - Lava Cake, Beignets (served w/ 3 dipping sauces), Warm Cookies (they are all really good)
Yummy's Cupcakes - OMG!
The back of the Farmers Market @ The Grove. It is back by the cajun stand. There is a green cake called "Princess Cake", it's delicious. It is $5 per slice.
Lawry's Prime Rib - CC Browns sundae

[jerseygirldawn]

On the advice of the ChowHound boards I went to Susina's to try the banana cream pie. I think perhaps the build up was much for me. Meaning I thought it was going to be MUCH BETTER than it actually was. If you are a fan of "sweet" sweets, you will be disappointed. I definatly was. :(
It was big though. For all you who do not prefer SUGARY sweet, you may love it. It cost $8 and you get a mini pie. It is definatly big enough for a couple people to eat.

[sel]

I really like that tart at Sugar Plum Bakery, oops, I mean Susina Bakery & Cafe. The problem for me is that when I had one a few weeks back, after dinner and followed by a walk elsewhere that after polishing one off by myself I was full till dinner the next day! It's really tasty but so filling. Best shared with someone you love!!!

[junipersong]

Kalamansi gelee with white chocolate coconut soy milk soup and lychee-shiso sorbet at Providence, but really, any dessert at Providence.

Any dessert at Patina - almond chiffon cake and panna cotta are standouts.

Butterscotch budino at Pizzeria Mozza...salty, sweet, unreasonably delicious.

Chocolate croissant bread pudding at Chaya.

Guava chiffon cake with strawberries, whip, and passion fruit drizzle.

[uhockey]

Bread Pudding at Sweet Lady Janes
Valrhona Chocolate Soufflé, Milk Chocolate Sauce, Whipped Crème Fraîche, Gianduja Ice Cream at CUT
Sweet Potato Pie at Roscoes
Tiramisu at Little Next Door
Chocolate Ganache with Peanut Butter, 'These Pretzles are Making me Thirsty' and Chably Noire Beer Ice Cream at Providence
Carmelized Meyer Lemon and Polenta Pudding with Lemon Sabayon at All Angelo
Buttercake at Mastro's
Red Velvet Cupcake at Sweet Lady Jane's
PB&J Cupcake at Yummy
Smores Tarte at Vanilla
Cinnamon Muffin at Toast
Amaretto Cookie Semifredo - Iced Milk Amaretto 'cookies' served with fresh fruit at La Botte
Apples “Carlota” Bread pudding with saffron sauce and milk icecream at The Bazaar
Bombolini with mountain huckleberry compote & vanilla gelato at Osteria Mozza

[pasadena8696]

I echo uhockey's recommendation of the "bombolini with mountain hucklerry compote & vanilla gelato at Osteria Mozza" -- absolutely amazing!

I don't see it on their current menu, but I still dream of a vanilla ice cream with poached fig dessert I once had at Maison Akira.

A scoop of just about anything from Bulgarini Gelato while watching a free Italian movie in their courtyard.

[Cinemaverite1]

The mini dutchess hazelnut chocolate cake from Urth. It's like a ferrero chocolate in cake form.

[a213b]

Both the Tres Leches Cake with Dulce de Leche and the Cinnamon Sugar Donuts with Caramel at Animal ... especially the Donuts, dear god are they tasty.

[pinkrainstone]

Chocolate Souffle at Madeos on Beverly Blvd

Straberry Tart at La Provence on Olympic

Yellow cake or devils food cake at Al Gelato on Robertson...dont forget the vanilla gelato!

Giradelli chocolate zuchotto cake at Panini Cafe in Beverly Hills on Santa Monica.(Say Star sent you!)

Haagan Dazs anything anywhere...the sundaes are the best, vanillla, chocolate, and cookies n cream with hot fudge, whip creamoreos, and a cherry on top! Beverly center and the Grove(but the grove is stingy).

[westsidegal]

any of the ice creams from the case at Delicieuse at 2503 Artesia Blvd in Redondo Beach, CA 90278

[HappyYummyDay]

When it comes to desserts, I am very much partial to European-influenced-Japanese patisseries:
Patisserie Chantilly in Lomita
Amandine Patisserie in West LA
Frances Bakery & Coffee in Little Tokyo
Cafe Blanc in Costa Mesa

[Pei]

Amandine is one of my favorites as well, especially the pear genoise. Thanks for the other recs!

[Cinnamon]

Incredible bread pudding at The Minotaure in Playa del Rey.

[Cinnamon]

Banana custard cake at Rock Sugar in the Century City Westfield mall.

Review here and a pic in one of the links:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/628131

The cake is a yummy, moist banana cake that's not banana-bready, topped with a gorgeous, rich banana custard that is then caramelized on top. They serve it with milk chocolate ice cream. I would go back just for the cake alone.