Photo courtesy of Eastchester Fish Gourmet
Eateries across the 914 surprise diners with Instagram-worthy takes on everything from Twinkies to dessert lasagna.
Think about it: When you go out for Mexican or to a fine seafood restaurant, is dessert really on your mind? Sure, we all crave something sweet at the end of the meal, but is dessert really what you’re thinking when choosing hard or soft for your taco shells, or whether you’d like that wild salmon cooked medium or medium rare? Us, neither.
But, as it turns out, there are a number of restaurants in Westchester that have unexpected — dare we say — surprise meal-enders at the bottom of the menu. And, in some cases, these sweet treats are the real showstoppers; as over-the-top yummy as the items that precede them.
Berry Napoleon
Eastchester Fish Gourmet
831 White Plains Rd, Scarsdale; 914.725.3450
Despite all the perfectly flaky fish on the menu, nothing quite compares to the way Eastchester Fish Gourmet’s Berry Napoleon melts in your mouth. Delicate pastry and homemade whipped cream act as the airy base for tart-glazed berries and almond pastry cream. A surprise you wouldn’t expect at a seafood restaurant, this dessert is satisfyingly sweet and won’t weigh you down at the end of your meal; on the contrary, you might feel like you’re floating after taking a bite.
Carrot Cake Twinkies
Truck
391 Old Post Rd, Bedford; 914.234.8900
Among the tacos and enchiladas at Truck hides this classic treat, baked in original Hostess twinkie pans. Made with organic carrot cake and cream cheese icing, this upscale take on a childhood treat is deliciously moist and light. Word to the wise: It understandably sells out quickly.
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Dough-wich
The Parlor
14 Cedar St, Dobbs Ferry; 914.478.8200
At a renowned wood-fired pizza restaurant like The Parlor, it makes sense that the desserts are also pizza-themed. The creativity applied to the savory pies is not lost in the sweets department. While you can order dough topped with apple pie accoutrements or Nutella, the real showstopper is a pie loaded with vanilla ice cream, Nutella crunch, bacon-caramel popcorn, and chocolate sauce. If you have a big group of four or more and are willing to wait a bit, you can order a giant version of this dessert to be built tableside.
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Moderne Barn Sundae
Moderne Barn
430 Bedford Rd #2002, Armonk; 914.730.0001
Moderne Barn’s signature sundae is a hidden gem that you won’t want to miss. Although the mains are irresistible, make sure to save some room! Stacked into a phyllo-dough basket, the upscale elements of this dish like crème fraiche ice cream, Grand Marnier caramel sauce, and blueberry compote come together for a sundae unlike any you’ve ever had. (If you really are stuffed, maybe just take a nibble of Mama Livanos’ house-made baklava. You won’t regret it.)
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Nutella Lasagna
Park 143 Bistro & Fish
143 Parkway Rd, Bronxville; 914.337.5100
If the term “Nutella Lasagna” doesn’t sound like indulgence to you, then we don’t know what does. With layers of filo dough “pasta,” mascarpone cheese, Nutella, hazelnuts, and melted marshmallow cream, there’s a good chance you’ll want to order this as your main.
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Valrhona Chocolate “Gift”
Crabtree’s Kittle House Restaurant & Inn
11 Kittle Rd, Chappaqua; 914.666.8044
This decadent dessert has been on the menu for more than a quarter of a century, and for a good reason. The crispy pastry dough exterior encases a rich center of warm molten chocolate waiting to flow out into the surrounding pool of vanilla-bean crème anglaise and whipped cream. An elegantly piped chocolate bow on top plays into the rightfully named “gift,” and will have you thinking it’s your birthday.
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