Dizzying Desserts: Three Best Spots to Get Your Sugar Fix

You've got some pavlova on your chin. Here, let us get that for you.

We've got a lot more where that came from, thanks to Best Desserts, a new category in the Reader Restaurant Awards for 2013. Scroll down to see the winners, or better yet, go try them out for yourself.

Best Dessert: Capital M

Capital M offers some of the very best desserts in Beijing, not to mention one of the most impressive views of the city, the perfect setting for European culinary indulgence.

Their dessert platter and pavlova puts reviewers into food comas. They're probably still recovering at the time of writing.

“If I could break all the rules about fine dining, I'd most certainly ask for my dessert to be served ahead of all the other courses. Every time we go to Capital M, I anticipate my dessert platter. The pavlova is their signature dessert which I enjoy a lot.”

Just listen to all these delectable artery cloggers offered on the platter. It isn't called "grand" for nothing, after all.

“Grand Dessert Platter that included a tasting of their entire dessert menu – 3 various sorbets/ice cream, raspberry souffle, creme brulee, orange and cardamom canaloni and our favorites: the baked bananas and M’s famous Pavlova (meringue with passionfruit ice cream and topped with fruit). Best dessert platter ever – it was so good it practically put us in a coma. Their pavlova alone is reason enough to go back.”

Fongyee Walker and Xixi Cheng voted Capital M for Best For Impressing Visitors (Non-Chinese Cuisine), Tom O’Malley and Xixi Cheng also voted the restaurant for Best Outdoor Dining (Fine Dining). O’Malley and Emily Young agreed that it is the Best Place for Celebration (Fine Dining). And Young also likened the place Best for a Romantic Dinner.

Outstanding: S.T.A.Y., The Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing

S.T.A.Y. (Simple Table Alleno Yannick) serves simple, communal-style French food by a Michelin Chef. At the dessert bar, individual desserts are displayed in glass cabinets and jumbo candy jars are filled with toppings, sides, and mignardises. This eatery also features DIY style soft-serve stations that offer – get ready for your mouth to water – caramel brittle.

“Again and again, what really blows people's minds at S.T.A.Y. is the dessert. The strawberry macaroon was scrumptious: tart and sweet, with lightly crisp edges and a chewy center. If you show up at S.T.A.Y. with a group of friends and all go in on the half or full branch from their pastry library, you'll enjoy a nice setting and some mind-blowing desserts (cheesecake balls dusted with sliced almonds, pistachio-topped cream puffs, chocolate and raspberry sorbet) without totally breaking the bank.”

Emily Young chose S.T.A.Y. for Best Desserts.

Outstanding: Cafe de la Poste

Your quaint neighborhood bistro, Café de la Poste is filled with candle-lit tables, reasonable priced wine, and friendly service. The menu offers simple French fare, praised by the reviewers for the vegetarian selections and outstanding steak cut and cooked the French way. The crème brulee sells out quickly, but de la Poste also offers La Banane flambee (Banana caramelized in rum toffee).

Café de la Poste has been rated for its consistency in service, steak, and last but definitely not least, the dessert!

“Living in Beijing for 5 years, sometimes you want to have a place that you know will be there, be consistent and unpretentious, and when I went to la Poste a few days ago I realized how under-appreciated it is in that regard”

“I recommend the egg & truffle for starter, the hanger steak for main course, and the death by chocolate for dessert. The house wines are nice.”

“Cafe de la Poste gets a thumbs up in having the a down-to-earth, gregarious waitstaff, along with a damn fine steak.”

Expert Xixi Cheng chose Café de la Poste for Best French (Casual) and Best Steak (Casual).

Photos: m-restaurantgroup.com, lumdimsum.com, www.tripadvisor.com