Searching For Dessert In Rochester, NY
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Phillips European Restaurant.
26 Corporate Woods, Rochester, NY 14623. 272-9910. Rochester
International Airport. 328-3390.
Ellie Phillips knows what it takes to make good desserts and
how to serve them. I've been purchasing desserts from Ellie for years.
Sometimes, in the past, the quality of her desserts suffered as she endured
the comings and goings of pastry chefs. When I wasn't happy with the
quality, I let Ellie know. She always responded with intense interest
and courtesy. The desserts got better and better. Today,
they are the best in Rochester. Ellie's servers are very well trained,
provide excellent service, and deserve big tips.
When you visit Phillips European Restaurant you will
probably be overwhelmed by the dessert case just inside the door. Once
again, Ellie knows what to do. The person behind the counter will
explain the ingredients of every dessert to you in detail, with a smile.
The desserts are not inexpensive, but you get what you pay for. Like
European restaurants, you won't be rushed through your dessert.
Eat it slowly and have another cup of, excellent, coffee.
Is Phillips European Restaurant perfect. No. One
of the things you may notice during the summer and fall is that there is a
lack of desserts made with in-season fruits and berries. For example,
on one recent visit, during the height of blackberry season, I don't
remember a single dessert that used blackberries. Blackberries
are available from the Rochester Public Market starting late summer through
the first frost. New York apples are fabulous, but there are few
apple-based desserts displayed during apple season. It seems that
Ellie's pastry chef has decided to stick with a successful menu of desserts
rather than introduce new ones as the seasons change.
Having been to Europe and having tasted desserts wherever I
went, I can say that Ellie's desserts are not as good as the best desserts I
had in France and Belgium. Still, I repeat that her restaurant serves
the best desserts in Rochester, NY. However when you are competing
with chain restaurants that serve the same awful frozen desserts from the
same supplier, you don't have to try very hard. Another criticism of
Ellie's restaurant is the lighting next to the windows. If you are
unlucky enough to be seated next to the front windows at night, expect to be
bathed in some of the ugliest neon lighting imaginable. Black out
drapes or removal of the neon signs would solve the problem.
Even with my criticisms, the place that I would most likely
take a dear friend for a special dessert some weekend evening after a
concert would be Phillips European Restaurant.
I haven't been to Ellie's restaurant for dinner, but the
food I have seen being served looked delicious. Colleagues have raved
about the dinners.
What is your favorite dessert restaurant? Post your comments to the
Rochester, NY
Restaurant discussion.
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