Nice dinner - with great ice cream at the end?

[Nate1212]

The wife and i have a tradition of having ice cream sundaes on our anniversary (We had them at our wedding in lieu of cake). I'm looking for a nice place for dinner that happens to have a good ice cream dish for dessert (doesn't have to be a sundae).

The rest of the meal is a higher priority than the ice cream, so we're looking for a very good high end place to eat a celebratory meal - that happens to have a good ice cream dessert.

Thanks.

[steakrules85]

Peter Luger has the best sundae in the world. Holy Cow Hot Fudge Sundae. Get it with half chocolate chocolate chip and half vanilla. Drowned in seriously thick hot fudge , crowned with creamy gluttoness schlag (homemade whipped cream from God), walnuts, a cherry, and chocolate cow. Ahhh heaven.

Other great ones are at Keens - Hot fudge and coffee cantata.

Convivio- The affogato is seriously delicious.

BLT Prime- Chocolate chesnut sundae or whatever the sundae they are featuring will surely be incredible.

I also enjoyed Gramercy Tavern's corn and blueberry sundae but they took it off the menu. Didn't think the meal was worth it but their desserts were fabulous.

Modern Bar Room also has good sundaes.

Craft usually has a great assortment of ice cream flavors, however not traditional sundaes.

[daffyduck]

i thought peter luger's ice cream was just haagen daz?

[steakrules85]

It is indeed but thats good enough for me. What's wrong with haagen daaz? It is quality ice cream and the combinaton of the hot fudge and homemade schlag which is my favorite is just amazing.

[hcbk0702]

I like the schlag at Peter Luger (though it is hardly unique), but their ice cream is of middling quality. I'm not sure how they can have the "best sundae in the world" if their ice cream is unexceptional.

[Motosport]

Juniors Mile High Sundae is fabulous. It's not a fancy place but the food is decent.

[RGR]

"The rest of the meal is a higher priority than the ice cream, so we're looking for a very good high end place to eat a celebratory meal - that happens to have a good ice cream dessert."

In what way does Junior's fit the description of what the o.p. is looking for?

[Motosport]

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. In modern English, my bad!

[jycnyc]

Jack's Luxury Oyster Bar. The food is fantastic. Oysters are fresh, but even if you aren't into oysters, it has other dishes that are delicious. As for ice cream, last time I went, it had bacon ice cream. I know, it sounds gross, but the saltiness from the bacon and the sweet ice cream was heavenly.

[hcbk0702]

Many good pastry chefs will be able to make great ice cream and sorbets, so if you're not dead set on having a sundae, you'll have lots of options.

I'll echo the suggestions for the much-loved affogato dessert at the Michael White restaurants (Alto, Marea, Convivio). Heather Bertinetti is the pastry chef overseeing the pastry programs at all three restaurants, so they're pretty similar across the board.

I think the single best pastry chef in NYC is Michael Laiskonis (Le Bernardin, 2007 James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef Winner); housemade ice creams and sorbets are available on the dessert menu, which is the absolute best in the city IMO. He also has two fascinating blogs about his work that are worth checking out if you have any interest on the subject.
http://mlaiskonis.typepad.com/
http://michaellaiskonis.typepad.com/

After Le Bernardin, I think L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon has the best desserts in the city (the off-menu "Le Sucre" is tremendous). IIRC, there's a profiterole and ice cream dessert on the current menu. Alex Stupak (ex-Alinea) at wd~50 is also incredibly talented, but his desserts are quite avant-garde and don't necessarily feature ice cream prominently.

[daffyduck]

my restaurant ice cream desserts have been otto and quality meats (donuts and ice ice cream). I think babbo serves the same gelato as otto. for a anniversary dinner maybe try getting a reservation for babbo? if u have room i'd also recommend their maple mascarpone cheesecake, i think that cheesecake is the stuff dreams are made out of. i believe keens also does a good sundae but I haven't been there.

[ttoommyy]

Babbo does serve gelato, but not the copetta that Otto does. Perhaps Babbo for dinner and Otto for dessert?

[RGR]

At Keens, the hot fudge sundae is delicious. But my first love is the coffee cantata: coffee ice cream, raspberry and chocolate sauces, and whipped cream. Ambrosial! And big enough for two!

Of course, the food at Keens is not exactly too shabby.

Photos of our most recent meal at Keens, including the sundae and the cantata, can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

[ttoommyy]

It's not the most romantic or high end of places, but Otto has the best gelato and they make an amazing copetta (Italian version of a sundae). They usually have about four to choose from at any given time and they change with the seasons. Maybe you can go somewhere more romantic for dinner and then to Otto for a copetta and aperitivi.

[taboo]

Four Seasons Restaurant. GREAT food, service and at the end they have a cotton candy dessert but inside is filled with ice cream. Decadent yet fun.....

[RGR]

The ice cream at EMP is of superb quality, as are the sorbets.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/4208480317/in/set-72157622933229433/

As already mentioned, the affogato at Marea is fabulous!

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391@N03/4308085439/in/set-72157623170508583/

Tocqueville's sorbets are delectible.

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11863391...

[JMJD]

I think Blue Ribbon has outrageous sundaes....
I also think Otto has some fantastic ice cream desserts though it's not maybe the best place for your high end anniversary meal.

[fm1963]

If you're in the mood for Italian, the tartufo at Lupa, torrone at Alto, and affogato at Marea are really wonderful.

[fooder]

Heard great things about the fudge sundae at keens. It's also just a great steakhouse with good atmosphere as well.

Big fan of EMP, if they still have the popcorn ice cream that's pretty special too.

[hellomarisa]

Not so high end and probably not the environment you want... but Mary's Fish Camp has great food and serves a great ice cream sundae.

[uwsister]

Another casual rec, DBGB has a great selection ice cream sundae.

[goodhealthgourmet]

i've heard good things about the ice cream at Bouley and EMP - maybe search the board for details on those. Peter Luger also supposedly does a great ice cream sundae.

personally i think the banana ice cream at the BLT restaurants is fantastic. it's usually served with a peanut butter chocolate mousse.