Midtown East Dessert: Coconut Cake at Smith and Wollensky’s
October 4, 2011
I love coconut desserts, but there aren’t many noteworthy options in Manhattan. That’s why I jumped at Smith and Wollensky’s coconut layer cake. Considering the massive slice of cake – topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and served with a curl of crispy shortbread cookie – the $10 price tag is fairly reasonable for a Manhattan steakhouse. Unfortunately, bigger does not equal better. The citrus-flavored rum sauce beneath the cake felt out of place and I was disappointed by the standard frosting and lack of coconut between the layers of soft cake. It wasn’t a bad dessert, it just didn’t make me weak at the knees. Save your space for steak and lobster.
Smith and Wollensky’s Link 49th Street & 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 753-1530 Open Daily for Lunch Monday – Friday at 11:45am, Dinner 7 nights per week 7pm-11pm, Wollensky’s Grill open 11:30am-2am daily
October 4th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Coconut Cake? What did you have for dinner? I want to hear about a perfectly cooked bone-in ribeye at 10 am, not co-co-nuts! Seriously, now I want steak… See, this blog is so good it makes me want food you didn’t even review. Viva la Foodguy!
October 4th, 2011 at 10:01 am
Was it sweetened or unsweetened coconut in the cake?
October 4th, 2011 at 8:07 pm
So where ARE all the delish coconut desserts??? ;o)
October 4th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Agree rum citrus-flavored sauce don’t match. Should have been coconut burbon rum flavored sauce with a piece of fruit like pineapple.
October 4th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
For a minute, I thought your blog was hacked!
October 5th, 2011 at 8:17 am
@Adeena,
Sweetened coconut.
@Laura,
I’m working on it! Check out the lamingtons at Tuck Shop for starters:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/07/02/tuck-shop-the-great-aussie-bite/
@Mo,
That may be your longest comment yet! Keep it coming.
@Smita,
What made you say that? The fact that there is actually new content on here?
October 5th, 2011 at 8:43 am
Larry, go try the toasted coconut cake at Miss Lily’s. I don’t think it will disappoint.
October 5th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Judging from the photo on Time Out New York’s best desserts, I reckon you’re right.
Check the link and click through to the coconut cake:
http://newyork.timeout.com/restaurants-bars/2019867/sweets?package=2031639
June 4th, 2014 at 7:19 am
I had a mango puree on mine just recently. It was fantastic!!!!