Best of 2000: Best Hotel Desserts

The Dining Room at L'Auberge
Del Mar
1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar
(858) 259-1515

Unless you're staying at the hotel, you don't feel comfortable walking in and ordering dessert only. One hotel that not only welcomes you but encourages desserts-only diners is L'Auberge in Del Mar. You can walk around downtown Del Mar and then come into the "Dining Room" -- the name of the restaurant -- for dessert, served until 9:00 p.m. Every night executive chef Tom Atkins prepares a half-dozen desserts. There's a fresh fruit cobbler; a flourless chocolate cake; a variety of sorbets; and best of all, fresh butterscotch pudding served in a tall glass and topped with whipped cream.