A to-go box of Viennoiserie from Maison Danel. (Courtesy of Maison Danel)
6 Cheat Day–Worthy Desserts & Treats for Takeout in San Francisco
10 August 2020
Whether you're looking for a way to celebrate in quarantine or just in the mood to treat yourself while catching up on Netflix in bed (we won't judge), you'll find plenty of offerings around the Bay Area to satisfy your every craving. Here are a few of our favorites.
On particularly long WFH days, we're thankful that U: Dessert Story's drool-worthy treats are available for delivery from the Berkeley, Castro, and Greenwich outposts.
On the menu you'll find a selection of massive sweets perfect for sharing or snarfing down solo, including chocolate cake filled with matcha lava, 15-layer crepe cake slices, and jojicha banoffie pie with Oreo crust. Wash it all down with a milk tea. Still need some convincing? U: Dessert Story uses organic ingredients when possible.
// Order online for pickup or for dellivery via Uber Eats, Grubhub, Caviar, or Postmates; hours vary by location, udessertstorysf.com
If you didn't get a chance to enjoy afternoon tea and equally delicious and 'gramable treats from Pâtisserie and Viennoiserie Maison Danel during the one month it was open pre-shelter in place, you can order the goodies straight to your doorstep.
Opt for a box of almost too pretty to eat macarons, buttery pain au chocolat, chausson au pommes, or an entire tarte—plus mouth watering savory eats including charcuterie and cheese plates, Niçoise salads, and croque madames. DIY afternoon tea at home (bonus points if you dress up!) complete with mini sandwiches, sweets, and loose leaf tea by ordering the Le Classique Box, or the L'Eugenie with a half bottle of crémant to go with.
// Order for takeout or delivery 8am to 2pm Sunday, Monday, and Thursday, and until 4pm Friday and Saturday; maisondanel.com.
Wine's more your jam? Treat yourself to a whole bunch of bottles perfect for curing the shelter-in-place blues—or worthy of any at-home celebration—courtesy of Verjus' bottle shop. Instead of selecting your own wines, let the experts do the work for you and order a mixed three-, six-, or 12-pack of white, red, and sparking. The best part? You can also satisfy your sweet tooth with gelato in flavors including mint stracciatella, chocolate velvet, and strawberry.
// Pre-order for pickup or shop the wine store (limited capacity)11am to 6pm Tuesday through Saturday, or shipping; shopverjus.com.
Venture out of your house to pick up the ideal duo—booze and ice cream—from The Ice Cream Bar. The old-school-style soda fountain's spiked milkshakes and floats are worth donning your mask and braving the outdoors.
Options include the Dublin Honey, a Guinness stout float with two scoops of caramelized honey ice cream, housemade Valrhona dark chocolate syrup, and Graham's 10 year tawny port; or the Royal Red milkshake with Duchesse de Bourgogne Flemish Red Ale, Toro Albala Don PX 2010 sherry, and morello cherry ice cream. You can also make your own float at home with seasonal fruit sorbet and Mumm Napa Brut Prestige by ordering the Sunday Morning Kit.
// Order for pickup Wednesday through Sunday from 3pm to 8pm; theicecreambarsf.shop.
You'll have to plan ahead for this one and also pick it up, but we promise you won't regret ordering up from Che Fico pastry chef Angela Pinkerton's popular new concept, Pie Society.
Flavors including first-of-the-season Gravenstein apple and passionfruit bay leaf meringue come in full size and and five-inch mini versions. Not into pie? Cookie boxes are on offer—are you more chocolate chunk and sea salt or Reese's Pieces?
// Menus are posted Thursdays on Instagram at @pinkertonconfectionery. Order two weeks in advance for pickup at multiple locations in SF and Oakland; angelapinkerton.com.
If you don't want to go all the way to Ghirardelli Square—even sans tourists—get the iconic chocolate shop's massive sundaes delivered to eat from the comfort of your couch.
Keep it classic with Ghirardelli's world famous hot fudge sundae or cure your caramel, white chocolate, and almond cravings with the new Gold Rush sundae. You can also opt for milkshakes and scoops by the cone, or stay warm on a foggy summer day with a whipped cream–topped sea salt caramel hot cocoa.
// Order pickup from Ghirardelli's multiple locations or delivery via DoorDash; ghirardelli.com.