Extraordinary Desserts

I know people who moved to San Diego for this cake. Seriously.


Synopsis
If you ever want to see a woman melt, ask one of the many, many fans of Karen Krasne's Extraordinary Desserts to describe this restaurant. She will lose coherence as she starts gushing about cake, chocolate, sauces, and flower petals. There's little on the menu here other than sweet, sinful decadence.

Data
Extraordinary Desserts • 2929 Fifth Avenue • San Diego, CA • 92103-5919 • map
(619) 294-2132

Neighborhood: Hillcrest
Dress code: Casual, but look good

Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 8:30am - 11pm
Friday: 8:30am - midnight
Saturday: 10am - midnight
Sunday: 10am - 11pm

Comments
This is truly one of San Diego's great restaurants, even though you can not order a proper meal here. It's all desserts, all the time. Extravagantly rich desserts, colorfully plated with sauces and flower petals. Straight from the menu, I present:

• Gianduia. This exciting combination of bittersweet chocolate cake, touched with Meyer's rum, is layered with hazelnut buttercream, chocolate mousse, homemade boysenberry preserves and covered with crushed prailine.

• Ivoire Impérial. An exquisite torte made of fine layers of vanilla bean soaked pound cakes and creamy white chocolate mousse bursting with fresh raspberries and cranberries. This delicate mousse torte is hidden by white chocolate shavings dusted with powdered sugar.

If those sound good, there are about twenty other cakes, tortes and confections available on their menu. Don't read the descriptions and get your heart set on a particular dessert, as only a handful are available at any one time. Before waiting in a long line, savvy customers sneak in the side door, next to the water cooler, to check the selection in the case so they can mull their options as they wait. The lines are long at night, especially on weekends, so you could be mulling for 30 minutes. Apparently, there are many others like me who are willing to wait in a long line for the opportunity to pay $8 for a slice of cake.

The clientele is largely composed of petite females, choosing to make their one meal in the last 72 hours a sinfully decadent one, covered in berry coulis and decorated with flower petals. A girl's gotta eat, you know.

Finally, a quick nod to their newer location at 1430 Union Street in Little Italy. As of late 2004, you can get your dessert on in this more spacious location with a wine bar. There's even a savory menu, for those willing to try "grains", "proteins", and "vegetables".

Menu

• Menu Page 1
• Menu Page 2
• Menu Page 3
• Menu Page 4
• Menu Page 5
• Menu Page 6
  

Links

• Extraordinary Desserts website
  


• Gayot review
• SignOnSanDiego review
• Great Chef's article on Karen Krasne

Articles on their other location, in Little Italy:

• SD Reader article February 2005
• Union Tribune restaurant review November 2004
• San Diego Magazine October 2004

If you know of anything else that belongs here, let me know. I just might add it.