Need and excellent dessert restaurant, location not super important.

[tzurriz]

My mother is celebrating 10 years as a cancer survivor next week, and she wants to go out for amazing desserts. No dinner or healthy food allowed.

So, please, hit me, where should we go?

We live in the South Suburbs, but for this super special occasion, we'll go almost anywhere. Just not up as far north as Gurnee please. ;)

[nsxtasy]

The Peninsula offers the "Chocolate Bar" in the Lobby (that's the name of the restaurant) on Friday and Saturday nights between 8:00 pm and midnight. It's around $38 per adult and $20 per child under 12. You can find more details on the Peninsula website at http://chicago.peninsula.com

I'm a dessert lover and I've really enjoyed this buffet when I've done it. The desserts aren't as elaborate and complex as at many restaurants; some of them are as simple as chocolate dipped strawberries or chocolate chip cookies. But what I've found is that the small portion sizes lets you try a lot of them - they typically have 40 or more different items - and I always find at least a few things that are just heavenly.

I've also enjoyed dinner at the Lobby. The cuisine is contemporary American - not amazingly creative (while you're at the Peninsula, go to Avenues for that) but quite decent, and it's a very comfortable room, with spacious seating, high ceilings, and a full-length window on one side of the room.

[hoppy2468]

Congrats!
I would choose Tru. Downtown. I believe they do a special dessert "collection" in their lounge.
http://www.trurestaurant.com/
click cusine then dessert.
$40 perperson but worth it from what I've heard.

[tzurriz]

Ouch. I don't know if we can afford quite that much. I guess I should have put a price point on it? I was thinking around $20 per person, $30 at the outset, but I'll run it by my family tomorrow and see if they are willing to go that high. It does sound good. :)

[mlipps]

Same price, but these have always seemed neat to me, I know it's not a restaurant per se, but thought I'd offer the idea. http://www.chicagochocolatetours.com/

[chicgail]

Check out Hot Chocolate on Damen in Bucktown. Chef Mindy Segal's restaurant does savories, including lunch, dinner and brunches, but her reputation was made on desserts. And they are mostly @ $12 each so you can try a bunch of stuff.

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Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

[ferret]

Totally worth it. But Hot Chocolate should also be good if the price scares you away from here.

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Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

[tzurriz]

We tried to get reservations for Hot Chocolate, but they were all booked up. :(

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Hot Chocolate
1747 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

[nsxtasy]

Based on my experience there, it's no great loss. :)

[chicgail]

So sorry to hear that. It's been well-liked and full since they opened a few years ago. I love it from the baking aroma the moment I walk in the door.

If you tried on Opentable.com and they had nothing available on-line, you might want to call the restaurant. I've had luck that way. Tell them about your celebration and the purpose of your visit. You never know what they might find.

[tzurriz]

We did call, they are all booked up for Saturday. My sister wound up getting us a reservation at Cafe Borgia in Indiana. It wasn't my first choice, but she talked to the owner or manager or something, and they promised to make it very special for my mother so I'm sure it will turn out really well.

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Cafe Borgia
10018 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN 46321

[chicgail]

Have a wonderful evening.

[tzurriz]

Thanks. We plan on it. :)