Boston's Best Creme Brulee

Creme brûlée is a time-tested classic dessert that is always a hit. Though it is tough to save room for dessert after a big meal on the town, these are the restaurants where you really need to make an effort. Their classic creme brûlée recipes are perfectly crispy on top with rich vanilla cream just below the caramel crust. Served with cookies, fruit or ice cream, an order of creme brûlée is always drool worthy. And for creme brûlée fans who are looking to try something a little different, Row 34 serves up a fantastic butterscotch pudding that simply had to be included on this list.

Deuxave
371 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 517-5915
deuxave.com

Just off Boston's ever-famous Newbury St., Deuxave boasts a decadent dessert menu featuring several beautiful presentations of classic sweet dishes, including Crème Brûlée. Made with brown butter pound cake, fresh yogurt mousse, candied baby carrots and carrot-citrus sorbet, Deuxave's take on creme brûlée is both fresh and rich. This dessert is the perfect way to end a decadent meal at Boston's little-known, but much-loved, French fusion eatery in the Back Bay.

Brasserie JO
The Colonade Boston Hotel
120 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 425-3240
www.colonnadehotel.com/brasserie-jo

Executive Chef Nicholas Calias serves a classic Crème Brûlée at Brasserie JO. The contrast of crisp torched sugar and creamy vanilla custard has been a guest favorite since its opening in 1998. Brasserie JO is known for its classic French cuisine, so there is no better place to try creme brûlée, as it is a traditional French dessert! Their creme brûlée is rich and sweet without being overwhelming.

The Independent
75 Union Square
Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 440-6022
theindo.com

The trendy Union Square restaurant, The Independent, also serves up a delicious take on crème brûlée. Theirs features real Madagascar vanilla beans, fresh fruit and sugar cookies. They make it using a classic French recipe with a creamy custard base and a hard caramel top. It is a great dessert to split, and at just eight dollars, it really won't break the bank either. The creme brûlée is a good complement to the American comfort food on their menu of entrees.

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Row 34
383 Congress St.
Fort Point, MA 02210
(617) 553-5900
row34.com

For something slightly different, head to Row 34 in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood and try their famous butterscotch pudding. Though this isn't exactly a creme brûlée, it has a similar flavor and is still decadent and creamy. Any creme brûlée fan is sure to enjoy this pudding. You would never expect an oyster bar to have such fabulous dessert, but the butterscotch pudding is an absolute must! Their recipe is original and completely house made with real scotch. However, the butterscotch flavoring isn't overpowering and the pudding is almost light as a creme brulee.

Even the Italians get this classic French dessert right. Head over to Nico in the North End and skip the cannolis in favor of their delicious creme brûlée. Though this Hanover Street hotspot is better known for its calamari and veal parmesan than its desserts, nothing goes quite as well with a glass of wine at the end of the evening than something sweet. Plus, with the cozy candlelight at Nico, an order of creme brûlée is the ideal way to end a special date!

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