Frommer's Las Vegas 2004
Frommer's Las Vegas 2004
Frommer's Las Vegas 2004
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
162<br />
CHAPTER 6 . WHERE TO DINE<br />
Sweet Sensations<br />
Plenty of opportunities exist in <strong>Vegas</strong> for satisfying your sweet tooth,<br />
but for the discriminating, here are four spots that you may have to<br />
make a detour for. We think they’re worth it.<br />
There aren’t lots of doughnut places around town, and most of the<br />
ones you’ll find are of the chain variety—fine if you have a yen on the<br />
spot, but in reality, you might as well be eating frosted foam rubber. If<br />
you’re a connoisseur with a car or happen to be checking out the<br />
restaurants in the Chinatown area on Spring Mountain Road, go to<br />
Ronald’s Donuts, 4600 Spring Mountain Rd., at Decatur (& 702/873-<br />
1032). Hours are Monday to Saturday from 4am to 5pm, Sunday<br />
from 4am to 2pm. Some have called these doughnuts celestial. You<br />
decide.<br />
Do a comparison taste test with Krispy Kreme Donuts, just a few<br />
more minutes down the road at 7015 W. Spring Mountain Rd., at Rainbow<br />
Boulevard (& 702/222-2320). There are more convenient but<br />
more crowded (and higher-priced) Krispy Kreme locations in the<br />
Palace Station, Texas Station, Boulder Station, Treasure Island, and<br />
Excalibur, as well. Krispy Kreme prompts rabid devotion in its fans—<br />
like us, who on our first visit ate two of their famous glazed (don’t<br />
bother with any of the other varieties) before we even cleared the<br />
drive-through. These are better hot, or at least nearly, and the “hot<br />
donuts” sign flashes from 5 to 11am and 5 to 11pm. Dine-in 5am to<br />
11pm, drive-through Sunday through Thursday between 5am and<br />
11pm, Friday and Saturday between 5am and 1am.<br />
Another favorite is Freed’s Bakery, 4780 S. Eastern Ave., at Tropicana<br />
Boulevard (& 702/456-7762), open Monday through Saturday from<br />
7am to 6pm. If you’ve got a serious sugar craving, this is worth making<br />
the 15-minute drive from the Strip. Despite the minimalist setting,<br />
it’s like walking into Grandma’s kitchen (provided you had an oldfashioned<br />
granny who felt pastries should not be fancy but should<br />
definitely be gooey, chocolaty, and buttery). The chocolate coffee cake<br />
is especially good. They also have fresh bread, napoleons, strawberry<br />
cheesecake, cream puffs, hamantaschen, sweet rolls, Danishes, and<br />
doughnuts. Some may find the goodies too heavy and rich, but for<br />
those of us with a powerful sweet tooth, this place hits the spot.<br />
Hot <strong>Vegas</strong> days call for cool desserts, and frozen custard (softer than<br />
regular ice cream, but harder than soft serve) is a fine way to go. Head<br />
for Luv-It Frozen Custard, 505 E. Oakey, at the Strip (& 702/384-6452),<br />
open Monday to Thursday from 11am to 10pm, Friday from 11am to<br />
11pm, Saturday from noon to 11pm, and Sunday from 1 to 10pm. Since<br />
it has less fat and sugar than premium ice cream, from which it also differs<br />
slightly in taste and texture, you can even fool yourself into thinking<br />
this is somewhat healthy (hah!). Made every few hours using fresh<br />
cream and eggs, Luv-It Frozen Custard has basic flavors available for<br />
cup or cone, but more exotic ones (maple walnut, apple spice, and<br />
more) in tubs.