Have you tried the desserts at these New West restaurants?

My quest to find a variety of dessert spots in the city began with a craving for cheesecake after dinner one night. I had no clue where to get cheesecake that wasn’t chopped up and mixed into a DQ Blizzard. Sure, I could have made a cheesecake, but, let’s be honest: I can barely muster up the energy to fold my laundry after 6 pm, so I knew that wasn’t going to happen. 

Since then, I’ve been keeping track of where I’ve found some of the most scrumptious dessert spots in the city. Some of them are obvious, others are part of a larger menu that would start with a meal.

So, here are five suggestions – from me! And if you have a favourite slice, share it!—we’ll include them in another round of recommendations. 😀 

The ek mek at Taverna Greka

Easily one of the best Greek desserts I’ve ever eaten in New West, this is a beautiful custard that’s topped with fresh whipped cream. On top of that soft layer is a sprinkling of walnuts and ground cinnamon; under the custard is a scrumptious layer of phyllo. If you’re not a dessert person, give this a try—it’s lighter but will definitely kill that sugar craving!

The tres leches cake at Paloma Bakery

I dare you to walk by Paloma Bakery without looking at their delectable cakes! Eating them is even better. 😉 This traditional Mexican cake is soft and sweet—but not too sweet—and comes with multiple layers for your enjoyment. 

Any cake at Flavour Balance

The problem with Flavour Balance is it’s tough to choose one cake. They’ve made it easier by offering a pretty sweet deal: Three cakes for $17.50. Confession: If I’m having a bad day, I will either go in or order, via Uber Eats, three of their cakes—usually the white chocolate mango cheesecake, the tuxedo, and the red velvet. Instant mood booster. 

The black forest cake or cupcakes at Take THE Cake

While Take THE Cake recently launched its cheesecake shakes and ice cream (yum!), their black forest cake/cupcakes are a wonderful go-to. Sweet, moist and filling, they’re a wonderful way to top off a meal. By the way, if you really like chocolate, give the tarte salted caramel a try. 

The buko pandan milk tea with sago at Sago Togo

Sago is considered a staple food in tropical countries, including the Philippines, and is smaller than the boba you might be used to if you drink bubble tea. (Boba and sago are not interchangeable!) 'Buko' is the word for young coconut in Filipino. Pandan is a tropical plant with vanilla notes, and is often found in cakes.

At Sago Togo, the buko and the pandan are mixed with milk (they'll add ice to the blend if you want it smoothie style!), then the sago pearls are dropped into the green concoction. Shake it up, stab the sealed top of the cup with your boba straw, and boom! Instant refreshment. I like to drink these after a long walk from downtown New West to the Sago Togo shop, especially when it’s sunny out!