Some of the best dessert recommendations come from the people who know the local food scene best!…read moreAdventure Buddy and I were enjoying dinner at a nearby restaurant when I asked one of the cooks where we should go for a good dessert afterward. Without hesitation, he pointed us toward College Treats. Well, when someone who works in a kitchen recommends a dessert spot, I'm certainly willing to investigate!
We arrived around 7 p.m. on a Saturday evening and had no trouble finding street parking just a few steps away. And then we spotted College Treats. Wait a minute. It's a little hut?!
I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but this adorable little walk-up dessert operation wasn't it! There's no indoor dining area or traditional storefront to wander through. Instead, you approach the hut, browse the menu posted outside and place your order using a touchscreen tablet at the service window. There was one very kind gentleman working when we arrived, and a few other customers were enjoying their treats in the outdoor seating area. The whole setup was simple, casual and honestly pretty charming.
What surprised me most was the menu! For such a tiny place, College Treats offered a much larger selection than I anticipated. We spent a few minutes browsing before finally settling on our desserts. I chose the Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cake ($4.99), described as a decadent chocolate cake with creamy hazelnut filling, crunchy kadayif, chocolate ganache and crushed roasted hazelnuts. Adventure Buddy went with the Traditional Lebanese Baklava Assortment, featuring five pieces for $4.99. Two desserts for less than $10? We're off to an excellent start!
A few minutes after ordering, the gentleman called out that our treats were ready, and we collected them at the window. We found a little table under the canopy behind the hut, settled in and got down to the very serious business of dessert evaluation. You know, in the name of science.
First up, Adventure Buddy's baklava. Unsurprisingly, it was fantastic! The pieces were moist, perfectly sweet and full of that wonderful flavor and texture that make good baklava so satisfying. Five pieces were a generous little assortment for the price and just the right amount for a light dessert.
Then came my Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch Cake. Now, this is probably not something I would've ordered under normal circumstances. But I was feeling adventurous, and the combination of chocolate, hazelnut and crunchy layers sounded interesting enough to earn my attention. And I'm so glad I picked it!
The best way I can describe the flavor? Imagine someone took a Kinder chocolate egg and transformed it into a light, delicious little cake. That's exactly what it reminded me of! The chocolate and hazelnut flavors worked beautifully together, and the crunchy elements added a really enjoyable contrast to the softer cake and creamy filling. It was rich enough to feel indulgent without being overwhelmingly heavy. A very happy dessert discovery!
What I appreciated about College Treats was how uncomplicated the whole experience was. We found convenient parking, ordered easily, received friendly service and enjoyed two delicious desserts outside on a pleasant Saturday evening. And the prices? Fantastic! At $4.99 each, both desserts felt like an excellent value, especially considering the quality and variety available.
Pro Tip: Don't let the tiny building fool you! Take a few minutes to look through the full menu before ordering because there's a surprising amount to choose from. And remember that this is a walk-up operation with outdoor seating, so plan accordingly for the weather.
I'm really glad we took the recommendation from that local cook. College Treats was exactly the kind of unexpected little discovery that makes exploring unfamiliar places so much fun. A tiny hut, a surprisingly big menu, reasonable prices and two very happy dessert eaters. Sometimes the best treats really do come from the smallest places! And to the cook who sent us there? Excellent recommendation, fellow foodie!
