The ribs- baked over beer between two cookie sheets before being tossed on the grill and sauced up- arrived hot, fall-off-the-bone, and very meaty.  The skin was drier than usual so we asked for extra sauce, a mandatory move, regardless of skin quality. The fries were spot on, crispy and cooked fresh.  Pass on the potato skins ($4), listed as a special, they arrived undercooked and underloaded.  The cabbagey cole slaw is sweet and light, a nice “palate cleanser” as King of Ketchup called it.  After the King and I polished off two racks of ribs each and paid our $64 bill, it was off to sugar Sweet sunshine for some of the city’s best Banana Pudding. 

The key to great Banana Pudding is simple: 1) Balanced ratio of ripe banana to Nilla wafer and 2) rich, creamy pudding.  sugar Sweet sunshine’s ratio favors the Nilla wafer, but it makes no difference, the pudding is so sweet and decadent, you’re forced to sit down in one of their comfy armchairs and enjoy the knee-buckling deliciousness. A $4 small cup is more than enough for two people. Their cupcakes are great as well, better than Magnolia’s. Go with the Ooey Goey (chocolate cake with dark chocolate almond buttercream frosting), it’s the co-owner Deb’s favorite. 

What makes the Banana Pudding so good is the perfect ratio of ripe banana to Nilla wafer immersed in an orgasmic vanilla pudding that is a few degrees thinner than peanut butter and which you should probably sit down to eat.

What makes Sugar Sweet Sunshine so good as a bakery and a place to be is that it’s such a homey, relaxed place with so many different amazing dessert options that you feel like you’re part of the family when you get there. Comfortable couches and chairs as well as some small tables line the room. The kitchen is in view in the back and you’ll usually see Debbie (co-owner), who is awesome and great for recommendations, working on the cupcakes herself.

LES SECRET TO SUCCESS: Here’s a tip for you if you’re a little wary of traveling down to the LES just for cupcakes and Banana Pudding (though it is worth the trip). Go have some fall-off-the-bone ribs (Rib Platter ($20) Ribs and two sides; get fries and slaw) at Georgia’s Eastside BBQ with a glass of sweet tea, and then follow it up with a fittingly-Southern dessert: Banana Pudding at Sugar Sweet Sunshine. This is a maneuver I’ve exercised at least 5 times and have been more satisfied each time.