Comments on: Yes or No?

By: Teresa

Teresa — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:32:51 +0000

I share the same thoughts of many of the people who have already commented. What quantifies the nights when I don’t order dessert? Most often, it is because it’s the same dessert list we see everywhere. Chocolate cake. Creme Brulee (no spirit, no individuality), Ice Cream de jour, Sorbet.

The things that make me stand up and take notice are the things that break the same-old-same-old mold. These items often include the seasonal fruit creation signaling that the pastry chef is tuned in to to the fresh sheet at the farmer market. Or, if not, it’s the item that brings the fresh twist on the old favorite. Ginger Creme Brulee. Caramelized Pear (Not Apple) Tart. Etc.

These touches, at the end of the meal, speak the loudest about the care and attention put into the entire menu from start to finish. A complete dining experience, in harmony with the flavors/theme/feeling of the restaurant, can make or break it for me.

By: Michael Natkin

Michael Natkin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:06:26 +0000

For me the decision is more about the occasion. If I’m eating out simply as a matter of convenience (traveling, or no time to cook, that sort of thing), then I don’t think to have dessert. If my daughter is with me, I’ll try to snarf a bite of her sundae if my negotiating skills are up to the task. But if I’m eating out as the “main event”, trying a restaurant because I’m excited about it or revisiting a place I’ve loved, dessert is automatically in my plans. I’ll try to share an app or go easy on the bread to make sure I can eat dessert with a reasonable degree of comfort, because it adds that final note of satisfaction. And it lets us linger at the table longer, prolonging the pleasure of the meal.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:44:27 +0000

It’s a professional courtesy for me to order dessert when I’m out to dinner, so I always try to. Especially if I’m at a joint where I know the desserts are solid. Of course it always depends on where I’m eating.

When it comes to your menus, I pretty much always order one of everything, and then spend the next day fasting : )

By: Leora

Leora — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:27:16 +0000

I look for something a little “different”. Which is why I always have to have the dessert thali because I can’t go to Poppy and leave without those nutter butter thingamajigs and the pate de fruit , no matter how full I am. And the salted peanut ice cream at Spring Hill.

By: Roberto N.

Roberto N. — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:59:25 +0000

I have to agree with Justin on this one. If it’s interesting, or I have a special sugar crave at the moment, I might. Or if I’m at a new restaurant, I usually will go for dessert for the sake of discovery. But most meals usually end up with no dessert. Specially casual, weeknight dinners.

By: Justin

Justin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 04:55:00 +0000

As a chef I love eating good desserts, but as other comments have said I usually skip them (even though I always have room for dessert) because nothing is interesting. I like to experience my food not just consume it.

By: Seattle Tall Poppy

Seattle Tall Poppy — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:45:02 +0000

As you know, I’m a dessert hound. I often request a copy of the dessert menu with the dinner menu so I can plan whether I want to save room….And lean towards the sweet over savory every time, but last night, for example: chocolate cake, chocolate cheese cake, or creme brule. Totally boring, uninspired offerings. Even the names were terrifically boring. But when the desserts came, they presented really well and then I was sorry I didn’t order one! Tempting a diner with dessert has a number of elements…from intriguing offerings, fun descriptions on the menu, and finally the presenation. There’s a lot of “selling” that goes into dessert long before I pick up a fork!

By: kerri miller

kerri miller — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:56:00 +0000

I usually say no because I’ve made and eaten enough creme brulee, tiramisu, sub-par sorbet, or mochi to last a lifetime.. those 4 items alone account for 80% of most places dessert menus.. why bother, unless its interesting?

Seattle doesn’t seem to be much of a dessert town. :/

By: Luke D

Luke D — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:46:59 +0000

I typically say no. There are many reasons for this, and they vary by the night. Here are a few:

* I came to this restaurant for x/y/z, none of which are desert, so I ate as much as I wanted of x/y/z and am satisfied.
* There is another place down the street that has the best x/y/z, so I’ll go there for desert.
* The deserts look like they were added to the menu because “you have to have a desert menu”.
* Often, I have better desert fixings at home that I can eat in comfort, after my meal has settled, and at a tiny fraction of the price.

That being said, I do feel that a true end to end dining experience isn’t complete without a little something to follow up the meal. Any special occasion that I am a part of will be finished with a desert and a glass of something. There are also a select few restaurants (Poppy will be in this category) that have such excellent desert menus that they simply can not be ignored. When I come to one of these, I’ll almost always get desert, even if I’m full.

By: Sean

Sean — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:14:17 +0000

The dessert at most restaurants is pretty sub-par, so why waste the calories? That’s why I usually end up saying “no.”