Café Renaissance
Bananas Foster
The towering inferno inside the rum-filled pan seems to keep climbing. And then Café Renaissance owner Saeed Abtahi pours in the banana liqueur. You’re close enough to feel the blast of heat, but not fear for your wellbeing. The result is one of the only Bananas Fosters in the region, and a rare example of tableside dessert preparation. The bolstering blend of fruit, brown sugar, walnuts, and booze is covered in vanilla ice cream that quickly diffuses atop the buttery concoction. Nothing remains unmelted in the face of this sweet relief, least of all your heart. 163 Glyndon St. SE, Vienna
Tummy YumYum Gourmet Apples
Funnel Cake
This State Fair classic may trace its heritage to the Pennsylvania Dutch, but there’s nothing Plain about the version at this takeout window. Tummy YumYum Gourmet Apples owner Sharita Rouse specializes in ornate candy apples, but her freshly fried pastries are just as far over the top. The jumbo piles of crisp dough are flavored with everything from strawberries and Oreos to banana pudding. Eating it in a heated car on the way home is part of the rough-and-tumble appeal. 9119 Church St., Manassas
Agora
Künefe
Stretchy cheese in a dessert? Trust us, you’ll love it. Especially when it’s served in an elegant Turkish restaurant. At Agora, the broadly Middle Eastern dessert that tops that cheese with shredded phyllo (kataifi), is dusted in pistachios and crowned with rose ice cream. The 15-minute wait while it bakes will only have you salivating more when the syrup-soaked treat arrives. 7911 Westpark Dr., Tysons
La Petite Loulou Creperie
Nutella Crepe
After you order at the counter of La Petite Loulou, step into a private greenhouse for outdoor dining or stay inside and curl up with a lavender latte. Either way, crepes are in the name here for a reason. We like the hot, made-to-order pancake spread with Nutella. It’s dusted with powdered sugar, but other additions include fresh strawberries, bananas, or thick-cut bacon. Yes, you can have your crepe and meat it, too. 713 E. Main St., Purcellville
Della J’s Delectables
Peach Cobbler
First order of business at Della J’s Delectables: Eat some fried chicken. Done? OK, it’s time for the main event. Warm peaches, served in a balmy dish also filled with almost-raw biscuit dough, may look like a serving big enough for two, but tell your dining partner to order their own. The surprisingly light dessert, topped with a cinnamon-sugar-dusted globe of vanilla ice cream, goes down perhaps a little too easy. 6558 Backlick Rd., Springfield
Feature image by Rey Lopez
This story originally appeared in our January issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to our monthly magazine.
