Dessert Bars

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The eaters love chocolate, so the concept of a dessert bar is enticing to us. Recently, we went to dessert bars both in Chicago and Madison

Sucre
20 W Mifflin St
Madison, WI

Situated right on Capitol square, Sucre channels a hip, edgy downtown bar to a T. The design of the space is very minimalist, with white banquettes and clear orange plastic chairs and conceptual art on LCDs. The arty ambiance is different than most other night spots in Madison, and complements the upscale vibe of the cafe/bar. The nighttime menu at Sucre is, as its name implies, primarily desserts and unique drinks. Above and beyond just plain Martinis, Sucre offers Brazilian Cachaça and the Italian aperitif Fernet (which was described by our friend Marina as tasting like “Vapor Rub” ).

However, the desserts were really what caught our eye. We ordered a trio of Crème brûlées: Ginger, Vanilla and Blueberry ($7). The three little creme brulees were tasty and had expertly caramelized tops. The ginger was a standout, however, we aren’t so sure blueberry flavor translated to Crème brûlée as well. We also sampled a Lemon Tart ($7) and a Noir de Chocolat ($9), which was a combo of chocolate mousse, chocolate cream and a dark ganache glaze. The buttery lemon tart was surprisingly rich, and the noir de chocolate was even richer – and is recommended to chocolate lovers only. As a complement to the desserts we shared a pot of Moroccan Mint Tea. Sucre is definitely a good night spots for friends or a quiet place to impress a date (as long as they have a sweet tooth).

Hot Chocolate
1747 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL

This ultra-modern chocolate bar has the feel of sitting inside of a chocolate bar itself! Done in deep browns and creams, Mindy Segal’s restaurant has a full dinner menu, as well as the featured deserts and chocolate drinks. We weren’t really in the mood for another large meal, so we stayed in the lounge section at the front of the restaurant and sampled some of the chocolate drinks and dessert creations. As dessert bars usually are, this one was a bit on the pricey side. However, the delectable deserts were worth it.

We sampled a vanilla Crème brûlée with summer berries ($11) and a “Shot of Hot Chocolate” which was a tiny, rich brownie with a shotglass of chilled hot chocolate ($4). We also had a good sampling of chocolate-flavored alcoholic drinks such as the Chocolate Martini, with Stoli vanilla, Kaluah, Baileys and chocolate milk ($12). In this case, the alcohol tended to overpower the chocolate. Not bad, of course, if that what you’re going for. All in all, sampling the treats at Hot Chocolate is a great way to end the night and satisfy your sweet tooth. If you’re ever in the Wicker Park area, we recommend stopping by to at least check out the unique ambiance and delicious deserts.

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