San Diego Reader

• Restaurant | Bakery | Hillcrest

d Bar Desserts

• 3430 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103 | Directions
• 619-299-3227 | Website

Dessert becomes performance art at d Bar Desserts, sort of a pastry chef’s version of a sushi bar. The long, sleek counter runs the length of the room and affords a bird’s eye view of chef Keegan Gerhard or one of his talented staff plating your picture-perfect dessert.

The Cake and Shake is three layers of moist chocolate goodness under a not-too-sweet Madagascar chocolate frosting and your choice of a thick, frosty chocolate, vanilla, or raspberry shake or malt. Milk and Cookies (chocolate chunk, peanut butter bull’s eye, snicker doodle, and oatmeal raisin) are popular. So is the Molten Chocolate Thingy that Everyone Has, pairing the aforementioned molten thingy with raspberry compote and pistachio ice cream.

Libations haven’t been overlooked amid the sweets — a Peppermelon (Bombay gin, black pepper, honey, and watermelon) will cool you off on the hottest day. The beer and wine lists are short and uncomplicated; nearly all wines are available by both the glass and bottle.