Who Has the Best Dessert in Town?
We shine the spotlight on Highland Park's many sweet options in this week's Readers' Choice.
Update April 20, 9 a.m.: The polls are closed! Check back at noon for the winner.
Earlier: What's your favorite dessert place in Highland Park?
That's not an easy question to answer. As Ed Brill pointed out a while back, there are a lot of sweet spots in this city. Highland Park's got some old standards like Love's and Dairy Queen, then it's got some newer additions like Frost Gelato, Highland Pop and Menchie's. Baked goods like cupcakes can be found at Marla's Sweet Bites, Turtles and Baker Boys.
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So what's your favorite?
As usual, readers can vote through our poll below and by reviewing your favorite store in our business directory. Help promote your favorite dessert places by leaving reviews. You can only vote in the poll once, but you're encouraged to leave reviews for as many sweet spots as you'd like.
And if you spot a place that's left out, leave a comment and we'll add it to the list.
Winners will be decided by a combination of poll votes and reviews on their directory page. Polls close at 9 a.m. Friday and we'll announce the winner later that day.
Editor's note: Turtles is not in Patch's business directory, so please leave reviews of the store in the comments below. Thanks for understanding!
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Mosaic53
10:18 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
BAKER BOYS has my vote, both for their Baked Goods & their homemade Frozen Custard!
John Leider
10:48 am on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Can NOT beat sea salt caramel from Frost!!
Ernie D
10:18 am on Monday, April 16, 2012
I love the cupcakes from Turtle's.
maryann garling
2:49 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Marla's sweet bites is my all time favorite. Fresh tasting, lot's of varieties, from American butter cream to Italian buttercream to whipped. Different sizes, holiday favorites. Each day offers a different flavor. If you have a craving or a big sweet tooth Marla's is the place.
Jennifer
10:50 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
My favorite too!
Doug Purington
3:27 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
You say this is a hard question to answer....WRONG! It's the Baker Boys in a landslide. The freshness, textures, selections of their baked goods (cupcakes, scones, croissants, brownies, cookies, cheesecakes, muffins, eclairs) and frozen custards are unsurpassed, not to mention the smooth Julius Meinl coffee!
minde korman
3:27 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
No question baker boys is the best place satisfy your sweet tooth in the north shore.
The Q
3:36 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
No Maria's bakery in Highwood.......I mean come on.
Beth Olderman
4:33 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
No doubt I'm a "Baker Nut". Baker Boys has the best treats in town. If I am blowing my diet it is definitely with a BB red velvet cupcake. Or maybe a banana chocolate chip cupcake. Or maybe with a peanut buttercup cookie. Or maybe..... you get the idea!
Gary G
11:14 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
Sorry all, Marla's takes the Cup Cake in this competition. I understand all the faithful BB customers but overall taste, flavor and creativity goes to Marla's in Highland Park.
Doug Purington
9:58 am on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Uh....I went to Sweet Bites once. Due to the poor texture and lack of flavor, I won't ever be back. Side-by-side taste test is no contest...Baker Boys is the creme de la creme!
Steven Gallagher
11:14 pm on Monday, April 16, 2012
BAKER BOYS!!!!
GHK
1:53 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Bent Fork in Highwood tops them all. GHK
Doug Purington
10:32 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
For a Highwood poll, I'd agree wholeheartedly! Mike & Liz do a terrific job! And they'd be followed not too far behind by Maria's Bakery.
David Smith
3:21 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
With a Spring that has already felt like Summer and the actual Summer season right around the corner, I look forward to the tasty treats of Frost! The gelato is fantastic, the service is spectacular and the atmosphere is unique. I can't wait to try yet another of Frost's delicious flavors! Yum!
maddie lawrence
10:56 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
i totally agree with you
Gary G
5:24 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Actually I am tried of all of this cupcake wars. We all have our favorites so let's just go there and endulge.
Doug Purington
6:13 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
No wars...just peace after endulging at Baker Boys!
maddie lawrence
5:24 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Im voting for Frost Gelato. it is the best Gelato place in the entire world.
kc
7:04 pm on Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Highland Park Pop...a great addition
Olivia Paitich
7:57 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Frost! No question about it.
sheila
7:57 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
the cheesecakes at baker boys are pretty amazing. sure, i like ice cream too, but if i indulge in a real dessert it would be that amazing cheesecake.
they offer a few flavors, all delish.
Edna Could
8:27 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
DAIRY QUEEN!!! If you are going to include Dairy effin Queen then McDonald's should be included. And why not just include 7 eleven donuts. Or Walgreens have those cookies at the cash register.
Baker Boys win, even if turtles pathetic owner votes 100 times and the brain dead continue to vote for dairy queen.
Doug Purington
10:12 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
How true!!!
Becky
9:03 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
FROST GELATO is BY FAR the best dessert spot in HP!
Doug Purington
10:24 am on Wednesday, April 18, 2012
It's clearly evident by now that there should have been different categories for this poll...one for frozen desserts and another for baked goods! Then, Baker Boys would clearly win in one category and Frost in the other. However, it's grossly unfair for the the many great independent entrepreneurs in Highland Park to be pitted against the franchise giants like Frost (over 600 locations) and Dairy Queen (over 5,900 locations). It's obvious that these two have "stacked the deck" and encouraged votes from across the country which should be a no-no! I sincerely hope that all this is recognized and addressed in the poll results and any subsequent articles in the Highland Park Patch.
JB
10:46 am on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Frost only has 5 locations. I wouldn't consider it a "Giant" by any means.
Mosaic53
9:47 am on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wow, Doug! I thought the same thing all along! Baked goods & frozen desserts should be separate categories . I had no idea everyone was so passionate about their choices. HEY JACOB NELSON/HP Patch - its not too late to re-think your categories!
Julie Howard
4:37 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Frost is by far the best. Not only is it delicious, but it is a treat for the eyes. I just love the display of the gelato! I can't get enough!!!
Doug Purington
4:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
What's wrong with this picture? Arriva Dolce goes from almost no votes to more than 500 within just a few hours?! Let's just drop this poll and admit that there are many places in Highland Park where people enjoy desserts, whether baked or frozen, and leave it at that! You're right...this poll is NOT scientific!
Mosaic53
7:05 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
This is hardly a fair poll to ANY of the HP entrepreneurs. Someone told me they were able to vote for the same store 5 times in a row.
Jacob Nelson
7:28 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Patch is aware of the fact that some people are trying to game the voting system. That's why the contest is determined both by votes and by comments/reviews in the directory.
Alec
7:34 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
I LOVE BAKER BOYS CUPCAKES!
marty rodriguez
7:34 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Baker boys has the best sweet treats ever!!
John Henry
7:38 pm on Thursday, April 19, 2012
Baker Boys has a wide variety of treats, it can not even be listed on the scale of dessert places that serve solely ice cream or solely cupcakes because frankly Baker Boys has all of it and it's better!
Saturnish374
12:17 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
Baker boys!
Redhead
8:29 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
Forget all of these - go to City Park Grill for bread pudding and the best warm chocolate brownie desert in town!
Mosaic53
8:39 am on Friday, April 20, 2012
Thanks for the response, Jacob.