114 September 19 - 25, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CONTENTS | READERS’ PICKS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | SPORTS & RECREATION Plano. Here they serve cardamon-scented lattes and honeycomb bread. Be sure to request Haraz spice to your coffee or latte, adding a slightly exotic flavor to your drink. The star of the show at this Yemini coffee shop are the milk cakes, which are light and fluffy milk-soaked cakes in pistachio, rose and saffron. The Turkish mosaic cake is wonderful as well. The place is packed on the weekends, so plan accordingly. 10009 N. MacArthur Blvd., No. 101, Irving, and 4341 14th St., No. 300, Plano harazcoffeehouse.com Best Ice Cream Sweet Firefly Small-batch gourmet ice cream is churned onsite at Sweet Firefly. It’s been a go-to in the Richardson area for one- of-a-kind flavors and well-done classics. It’s local and woman-owned with a welcoming atmosphere for friends and families. If you eye the small sign above the ice cream case, you’ll spot adult ice cream options by Cow Tippin Ice Cream like the piña colada flavored “Caught ‘n the Rain” and other boozy churns. One scoop is plenty, but you can’t choose just one here. The honey lavender and lemon-vanilla are a match made in heaven. 2701 Custer Parkway, No. 810, Richardson 972-635-5635, sweetfirefly.com Best Doughnuts Moreish Donuts You don’t have to blink to miss this under- the-radar doughnut shop in Oak Cliff. The sign “Donut Hot Donuts” didn’t give the impression that we struck a gold mine, but trust us, we did. They serve all the classics, but they’re just slightly different than your average doughnut shop. It’s all in the details: perfectly fried but not greasy. You can walk in and be welcomed by the friendly staff and walk out with a massive doughnut that costs you only $1. What a spot. Even if you shut your eyes and point at something, you’ll walk out with something good. Just get there early for the best selection. 2605 Fort Worth Ave., No. 400 214-623-0959, instagram.com/moreishdonuts Best Chocolate Dude, Sweet Chocolate Pastry chef Katherine Clapner founded Dude, Sweet Chocolate in 2009 with a mission to bend our perceptions of what chocolate can be. Using savory and sweet flavor profiles, along with quirky names, Dude will transform skepticism into addiction. Take FDA Chocolate Salami for instance, which has nary a bit of meat but rather figs, dates, almonds and dark chocolate mixed into a chocolate marzipan and formed into a salami-like tube. Fungus Amongus Soft Toffee goes great with a bit of cheese. And if you want to know why they call it Crack in Box, then try just one bite. 336 W. Eighth St. 972-249-6606, dudesweetchocolate.com Best Hot Dog Mike’s Gemini Twin When you’re standing in the warm, red- lighted embrace of Mike’s Gemini Twin, a cocktail order is incomplete without an accompanying glizzy. The bar-top hot dog roaster is an unpretentious setup, but not much is better after a couple cold ones than the all-beef dog stuffed in a classic bun and served in a flimsy white paper tray. Drink deals — like the $12 dirty martini and dog combo offered on National Hot Dog Day — have solidified the weenies’ rule over the swanky Cedars Bar. 1906 S. Harwood St. 214-377-9356, instagram.com/mikesgemini Best Road Trip Dessert Dessert Avenue Royally plated desserts, intricately patterned crepes and huge chocolate fountains are all trademarks of Dessert Avenue, a new dessert-themed cafe in Murphy. A 13-page menu of desserts makes decisions here a sinfully challenging task, but a delightful one for the sweet-toothed. Patrons can find a safe start in any of Dessert Avenue’s five signature crepes, filled with fruits, creams and syrups before being enveloped in a cascade of hot chocolate fondue; or with the pastries, sourced directly from local bakers. Fried cheesecake, molten lava cake and a signature sizzling brownie plate are other standouts on the menu that prove tempting, especially during late-night hours. 208 W. FM 544, No. 106, Murphy 945-296-9649, dessertavenue.us Best Spanish Tapas Si Tapas Situated in an intimate and historic Uptown cottage, Si Tapas is ideal for a dressy date night or a casual happy hour. Spanish-style tapas offerings range from the traditional to the adventurous. Some of our favorite dishes include the cauliflower gratin, baby lamb chops and marinated baby shark. True to the Spanish ethos, Si Tapas’ wine selection is as long as the food menu. If you find yourself out west, the restaurant recently expanded to a Fort Worth location. 2207 Allen St., Dallas, and 2949 Crockett St., Fort Worth 214-720-0324 and 817-615-9977, sitapas.com
