20 CT Restaurants for Decadently Delicious Desserts

The lights are dim. Conversation flows. A luscious, silky piece of chocolate cake arrives at the table.  You both pick up your fork, lean in, and dig into the silky decadence in front of you. Cakes, Soufflés, Cream Puffs, Tarts, Crépes, Brulées are more... Go enjoy some with your loved one this Valentine's Day.

Here are 20 restaurants that serve decadent, sexy desserts in Connecticut.

Vespa

This summer, Vespa debuted a new culinary team: Executive Chef David White and Pastry Chef Susanne Berne.  Berne dazzled guests with desserts including a Peanut Butter Crunch Cake, Pistachio Opera Cake, Coconut Panna Cotta, and family-style Zeppoles.

2A Post Road West Westport, CT (203) 557-9057

Community Table

“I want my diners to feel better when they leave then when they came in,”says Chef Joel Viehland of Community Table in Washington.  His playful and tasty desserts certainly help.  During one holiday season, he dazzled diners with an eggnog croquemboche.

223 Litchfield Turnpike Washington, CT (860) 868-9354 

Le Petit Cafe

Le Petit Café in Branford has received widespread acclaim.  USA Today named it one of the Top 30 Restaurants in the US and it was voted Connecticut’s Best Restaurant for Food by Zagat.

225 Montowese Street Branford, CT (203) 483-9791

Artisan Restaurant, Southport

Artisan Restaurant, located in the Delamar hotel in Southport, has a rotating menu of homemade desserts.  From cheesecakes in mason jars to fresh sorbets to specially baked cookie trays, guests can count on a delectable end to their meals.  Artisan relies on local, seasonal ingredients and brings that same approach to dessert.

Delamar Hotel Southport 275 Old Post Road in Southport 203.307.4222

On20

On20 in Hartford has been recognized as a destination for fine dining since its opening in 1983.  The New York Times praised it for its “cutting-edge food” and it’s been praised for its scenic views of the Connecticut River.  With dishes like “Black Forrest,” which consists of chocolate mousse, luxardo cherry macaron, lychee, and toasted meringue, its desserts are exceptional as well.

400 Columbus Boulevard (“One State Street”) Hartford, CT (860) 722-5161

The Schoolhouse at Cannondale

Connecticut Magazine recognized Tim LeBant’s Wilton restaurant in the “Most Romantic” category and “Best Desserts” category this year.  Its chocolate soufflé is a decadent dish for two.

34 Cannon Road Wilton, CT (203) 834-9816

Union Café

Parision-inspired Union Café has diverse dessert offerings.  The menu consists of 5 sections: Cheese Plates, The Classics, The Chocolate Side, Fruits in Season, and On The Light Side. 

1032 Chapel Street New Haven, CT (203) 562-4299

Bar Bouchée

“Bouchée” refers to a French bistro with a relaxed setting.  The restaurant lives up to its name.  The dessert menu contains their versions of traditional French sweets like a pistachio crème brulee and profiteroles. 

8 Scotland Avenue Madison, CT (203) 318-8004

Walrus + Carpenter

This popular Bridgeport BBQ spot won launched an all pie dessert menu that’s sure to thrill sweetooths.  Try their versions of classics like Key Lime Meringue Pie, or try their “Walrus Pie” that comes with bacon-chocolate chip cookie crust, bacon crumble, bacon candy, peanut butter ice cream, and chocolate! 

2895 Fairfield Avenue Bridgeport, CT (203) 333-2733

David Burke Prime Steakhouse

David Burke’s signature “Can O’ Cake” is the perfect ending for a delicious dinner for two.  The molten cake is baked to order, and comes to the table warm with a gooey center.  Guests can add chocolate chips, sprinkles, and other goodies to the already amazing dessert.  The dish is meant for sharing… and leftovers can be brought home in the can!

Foxwoods Resort Casino 350 Trolley Line Blvd. Mashantucket, CT 06338 (860) 312-8753 

elm Restaurant

Executive Chef Luke Venner welcomed Pastry Chef Kara Koehmstedt to the team at elm by way of NYC where she was the opening pastry sous chef of Enrique Olvera’s highly acclaimed progressive Mexican concept Cosme. During her time there the restaurant was awarded three stars from the New York Times and received a James Beard Nomination for best new restaurant. Prior to Cosme apprenticed with the then up and coming Chef Ghaya Oliveira at Bar Boulud in Manhattan where she refined her techniques even further.

73 elm street, new canaan (203) 920-4994 

L’escale

At the Delamar Hotel’s Greenwich location, L’escale offers scenic waterside dining.  It has enticing desserts, created by Pastry Chef Wendy Young Laurent.  Laurent worked in Belgium to learn classic French cuisine and ultimately went onto La Cremaillère, where she helped pioneer the pastry program.

500 Steamboat Road Greenwich, CT (203) 661-4600

The Cottage

Celebrated Chef Brian Lewis opened The Cottage in December.  The farm-to-table restaurant, located in Westport, boasts a changing selection of desserts.  Dishes have included an Apple & Quince Tarte Tatin and a Vanilla Ice Cream Sundae with huckleberries and toasted almonds.

256 Post Road East Westport, CT (203) 557-3701

Arethusa's Al Tavolo

This Litchifeld restaurant began as a dairy farm.  Today, they use milk from their 350 cows to make cheese, cream, butter, and other items for the menu.  The same holds true for their dessert offerings.  They have housemade yogurt, ice cream, cheese and more.

828 Bantam Road

Bantam, CT (860) 567-0043

Mama’s Boy

Mama’s Boy Southern Table and Refuge is the destination for good old-fashioned comfort food.  Their layer cakes are legendary, with flavors like classic red velvet, carrot, and coconut available by the slice or full pie.

19 North Water Street South Norwalk, CT 06854 203-956-7171

Avert Brasserie

This West Hartford restaurant was also recognized in the “Best Desserts” category by Connecticut Magazine for 2015.  Diners can opt to finish their meal with cheese or go for something sweet, like profiteroles. 

35 A LaSalle Rd West Hartford, CT (860) 904-624

The Whelk

Pastry chef, Jessica Shure, creates almost painterly dessert plates with playful twists. Diners will find a nice tension between sweet and salty as well as soft and crunchy. This can be seen in her signature dessert, Banana Bavarian, featuring banana mousse, house made gelato, cashew fudge, candied cornflakes, bourbon caramel and espresso salt.

575 Riverside Ave, Westport, CT (203) 557-0902

Chocopologie

Chocopologie Café and Bistro is the destination for artisan chocolate- and the perfect place to share some sexy desserts.  From truffles to cakes to chocolate martinis, decadence is on the menu!

133 Washington Street Norwalk, CT (203) 854-4754

Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar

Barcelona Restaurant and Wine Bar’s Connecticut locations provide chic and sexy atmospheres for date night.  Combine this with desserts like “Warm Chocolate Hazelnut Indulgence”, “Churros y Chocolate”, and crepes with dulce de leche, and you have a recipe for romance.

Greenwich, Norwalk, New Haven, Fairfield, Stamford, West Hartford

Paci Restaurant

Paci Restaurant is the perfect backdrop for romance.  The 150-year-old building once functioned as a train station, but has since been transformed into an open, elegant space that won a James Beard Award.  Paci’s modern Italian menu boasts an array of tasty desserts and dessert wines to complement them.

96 Station Street Southport, CT (475) 999-4950

Basso Café and Wine Bar

Basso Café in Norwalk recently added a wine bar and expanded its menu.  One of its new dessert creations, the “Tartallete of Duce de Leche,” has emerged as a clear favorite.  The tartallette is encased in chocolate ganache, adorned with chocolate ribbons, and served with housemade vanilla ice cream.  The whole thing is then finished with a raspberry reduction.

124 New Canaan Avenue Norwalk, CT (203) 354-6566

Mill Street Bar and Table

Mill Street Bar and Table, by Chef Geoff Lazlo, opened in Greenwich this past October.  Its pastry chef, Caryn Sabinsky, has an impressive resume.  Past experience includes time at Oceana, wd-50, Urena, elm, and Monkey Bar.  She also received a Time Out New York Critic’s Choice Award and was nominated for Food & Wine People’s Choice Award.  It’s no surprise that the desserts are extraordinary.

230 Mill Street Greenwich, CT (203) 813-3323 

Kensington’s

Kensington’s in Norwich offers traditional desserts like cake, tarts, and sorbets.  However, they also have a treat made for date night: their chocolate sampler.  It comes with six pieces of artisanal chocolate made in Connecticut.  As an added romantic touch, the restaurant is located within the Norwich Inn, which also houses a luxurious spa.

607 West Thames Street Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 425-3500

South End Uncorked

South End’s second location, Uncorked, offers its own rendition of an Ice Box cake.  A  graham cracker crust is filled with chocolate pudding and topped with vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce.

15 Elm Street New Canaan, CT (203) 920-1212