Sweet Revenge (4160 Main Street, East Vancouver, 604-879-7933) looks like an English afternoon teahouse but is really an evening patisserie that serves old-fashioned desserts to die for. Its seasonal signature delectables include a butter-and-chocolate cake with a bitter-chocolate coating and an Italian zuccotto — rich beyond rich.
If your afternoon calls for Stilton cheesecake, almond mascarpone, or chocolate-hazelnut dome, make your way to Sen5es in the Crowne Plaza Hotel Georgia (801 West Georgia Street, Downtown, 604-633-0138). Chose among treats by pastry chef Thomas Haas, ensconce yourself at a window seat, and observe the passing parade at this stra¬tegic downtown corner. No — concentrate on your edibles, because this is about as good as it gets. Sen5es and Haas picked up first and second prizes at a recent high-falutin’ dessert competition.
Notte’s Bon Ton Pastry and Confectionery (3150 West Broad¬way, Kitsilano, 604-681-3058, www.nottesbonton.com) teeters out of the bakery category into sweets. Suffice it to say that its mocha-walnut torte, chocolate-almond pound cake, almond-apricot flan, and assort-ment of super-delicate cookies and old-style pastries are unadulterated decadence. For decades, the Bon Ton was a downtown institution with a loyal following; its new Kitsilano store and tearoom is just as nice.
An inviting space for late-night desserts and piano music is Cheese-cake, Etc. (2141 Granville Street, Central Vancouver, 604-734-7704). The confections come in various guises; “etc.” stands for beverages such as hot cider and cappuccino. It’s open every night of the year and can be busy
Alternatively, indulge your sweet tooth in a quiet atmosphere at Trafalgars at Sweet Obsessions (2603 West 16th Avenue, Kitsilano, 604-739-0555). I can attest to its lemon tart — and add, not very humbly, that this citrus devotee knows her lemon desserts.
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