Skip dinner, go straight for dessert. 8 Pensacola treats that steal the show

“Would you like to see a dessert menu?” a server will usually politely prod after a satisfying meal.

And whether dessert is a rare indulgence for birthdays and anniversaries, or you've secretly been waiting to satisfy your sweet tooth the whole meal, there’s nothing that can disappoint like a dessert that is only an after-thought. Something that doesn’t match the same level of creativity and precision that the restaurant takes pride in.

That’s why we did they dirty work and found eight of the most interesting, indulgent and excellent desserts hiding on Pensacola’s restaurant menus.

Here are eight items worth making the reservation for and skipping straight to dessert:

Union Public House - Cordillera Chocolate and Balsamic Torte

309 S. Reus St.

Union Public House's Head Pastry Chef Britt Slovik, otherwise known as the Salty Pantry Chef, has spent the past eight months crafting desserts that matched Union’s specialty of making taking creative twists on old classics. The bones of Slovik’s signature Cordillera Chocolate and Balsamic Torte is the feel-good comfort food of her family’s small-town Georgia roots, the Mississippi mud pie. While one crunch into her homemade nut brittle will tell you the dish is special, you won’t know just how intricate it is in until you see the marshmallows that Slovik hand toasts before each plate is delivered or learn how the balsamic blended in with the dark chocolate gives it more depth of umami flavor, Slovik says. Every component of the dish is made from scratch, starting with a milk chocolate torte that serves as the base, then come all the toppings that bring the extraordinary blend of flavor: the dark chocolate balsamic cremeux, the toasted marshmallow, the balsamic reduction, the caramel drizzle, the mixed nut brittle and final touch, a Maldon sea salt sprinkle.

Jackson's Steakhouse - Jane’s Key Lime Phyllo Purse

400 S. Palafox St.

Jackson’s Jane’s Key Lime Phyllo Purse is not only striking in appearance, with ribbons of raspberry drizzle adorning the plate, but expertly balanced with a variety of flavors and textures. From the light and flaky outer pastry layer to the rich and creamy filling and tart raspberry and lime flavors, the perfect bite includes a little bit of everything. The dessert is baked to order and made using a sweetened cream cheese, key lime sauce and a raspberry oulis. For key lime lovers, this dessert is a detour away from the traditional pie that you will be glad you took.

Agapi Bistro + Garden - Crème Brulee Flight

555 Scenic Highway

Agapi takes a new twist on the classic crème brulee, the custard dessert topped with a caramelized sugar crust, by offering three different flavors to sample with their unique crème brulee flight. The platter always ensures two set flavors, one vanilla, one chocolate, along with one rotating Chef’s Choice, which is typically a more playful and hard-to-find take. Some past Chef’s Choices include a Bushwhacker crème brulee, gingerbread, lemon rumchatta, and currently, an orange creamsicle. If you’re looking for an interactive dessert, full of tapping and cracking the outer shell, Agapi’s Crème Brulee Flight is a must-try.

86 Forks Bar + Table - Thai Tea Tiramisu

11 Palafox Place Suite B

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If you’ve had a traditional, neon orange Thai tea beverage, 86 Forks’ original Thai Tea Tiramisu brings all the beloved flavors into a layered, light and airy dessert. The drink is based off a black tea and sweetened with condensed milk with undertones of spices. The dessert version captures this prolifically, using lady fingers soaked in Thai tea paired with a condensed milk mascarpone. With all the familiar comforts of the traditional light and layered Italian dessert, the Thai Tea Tiramisu take takes a creative spin on the flavors.

Restaurant Iron - Icebox Nutella pie

22 N. Palafox St.

https://www.facebook.com/restaurantiron/posts/pfbid0unc5pTcwKWF7nWh6mKbvghMJ6RHzjvSdSN6N7fALcVX2DV8EARgU6j532FHsSXRWl

Iron’s Icebox Nutella Pie is a sweet and salty match made in heaven. Filled with a Nutella cremeux atop a toasted pretzel crust, drizzled with a caramel sauce and sprinkled with Maldon’s sea salt, this chilled dessert is famous for a reason. The pie picks up Nutella’s signature flavors of cocoa and hazelnut without overwhelming the dessert with sweetness. While icebox pie is a Southern classic, Iron’s Nutella version elevates the pie and leaves you wanting more.

Angelena’s Ristorante Italiano - Limoncello Cheesecake

101 E. Intendencia St.

Angelena’s limoncello cheesecake is a rite of passage for all lemon lovers. Bursting with rich citrus flavor, Angelena’s limoncello cheesecake is creamy and indulgent, delicately dripping with a limoncello crème anglaise and filled with a light lemon inner layer that will keep you gently nudging your spoon in for more. While cheesecake is sometimes known to create a heavy full feeling after a dense slice, Angelena’s limoncello version is just the opposite and sinfully simple to devour.

The Grand Marlin - TGM Signature Praline Basket

400 Pensacola Beach Blvd.

Tucked away in a crisp nest of pecan praline is TGM (The Grand Marlin) Signature Praline Basket. The house dessert is famous for a reason, with a harmonious blend of creamy vanilla bean ice cream, light seasonal berries and rich house-made caramel and chocolate sauces that all line the praline’s outer shell. Think of an ice cream sundae where you can - and should - eat the bowl. The buttery, nutty praline paired with the smooth ice cream and tart berries makes for a dessert you’ll be longing for.

The Wine Bar on Palafox Place - fresh baked cookies

16 Palafox Place

While there’s a simplicity about this dessert that differs from the other entries on the list, Pensacola's Wine Bar proves that some of the most understated desserts can be spectacular when done correctly. What makes the Wine Bar’s shine is that their house cookies aren’t even made until a customer orders them.

Designed to be ordered toward the end of the customers meal, there’s something magical about a half dozen cookies being pulled out of the oven fresh for you and being hand-delivered to your table. Not to mention the aroma.

The cookie’s flavor changes every week, keeping customers on their toes. That means when the flavor is double chocolate, like it was last week, they’ll come out warm out of the even with a crisp powdered sugared outside and piping hot molten lava chocolate center. While the Wine Bar has experimented with plenty of unique flavors, like the maple bacon or raspberry lemonade, the one that hits the hardest for chef Chris Williams is the tried-and-true chocolate chip.

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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Where to find dessert in Pensacola: 8 treats sure to blow you away