Cheesecake Royale

9016 Garland

214-328-9102

HOURS: Mon-Sat, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

$$-$$$

Twenty years of making cheesecake allowed Dino Roidopoulos to perfect the process. No matter your favorite flavor — chocolate, strawberry, key lime, amaretto, spumoni or plain Jane — chances are Cheesecake Royale sells it. The company’s recent purchase of local cheesecake institution Mazelle’s expanded its already long list of flavors to a whopping 25, and that doesn’t include the gourmet three-layer cakes, tiramisu, bundt cakes, brownies, key lime pie and mousse cakes. Most of the desserts are sold to area restaurants, but lucky for us, Cheesecake Royale has a storefront that invites people to walk in and buy the pie or cake of their choice. No need to order ahead; every dessert is typically in stock and prices range from $12-$30. Unfortunately, buying it by the slice isn’t an option, but if you can’t make up your mind, try the sampler — 16 thick slices of New York plain, chocolate, white chocolate, strawberry, amaretto, black forest, key lime and raspberry for $27.

FIVE

“WORTH BREAKING THE DIET FOR” DESSERTS

East Dallas

1 BLACKBERRY COBBLER WITH VANILLA ICE CREAM

Your mouth will turn shades of purple, guaranteed, but don’t let that stop you.

Ozona Grill, 4615 Greenville

2 WHITE CHOCOLATE CAKE

Don’t wait for a birthday to celebrate with this dessert, made with white chocolate liqueur.

Romano’s Bakery, 6465 E. Mockingbird

3 LEMON SHORTBREAD BAR

Go ahead — indulge. It’s made with fruit, after all. (Just don’t think about all that sugar and flour.)

Dallas Affaires Cake Co., 2307 Abrams

4 CHOCOLATE BANANA CREPE

Topped with cinnamon, walnuts, powdered sugar and plenty of warm chocolate sauce. Mmmm.

Café Brazil, 2221 Abrams

5 TURTLE CAKE

What’s not to like about a cake covered in caramel icing mixed with butter cream icing sprinkled with pecans?

Casa Linda Bakery, 10819 Garland

Lake Highlands

1 ROCK CAKE

Named after the outer layer of chocolate meringue, this chocolate mousse and chocolate sponge cake (brushed with rum) is topped with a Kahlua cream sauce.

ST Café, 9090 Skillman

2 PEACH COBBLER NUGGETS

They look like tater tots, but don’t be fooled. These treats, bite-size and fried, are fabulous a la mode.

Curly’s, 9310 Forest

3 TURTLE CAKE

What’s not to like about a cake covered in caramel icing mixed with butter cream icing sprinkled with pecans?

Casa Linda Bakery, 10819 Garland

4 COCONUT ICE CREAM WITH WARM STICKY RICE

Unusual, yes … but that’s all the more reason to try it. You won’t be sorry.

Royal Thai, 5500 Greenville

5 SWISS MADRISA CAKE

Often mistaken for tres leches because of its moistness, this yellow sponge cake is covered with fresh fruit and roasted almonds.