Pistacia Vera
Pistacia Vera is a little gem known to those of downtown Columbus and German Village. With a storefront in the North Market as well as in German Village, it is a popular spot for high-end sweet treats and is known for their delectable macaroons. With slightly steep prices, this spot is definitely one to visit when the parents are in town or for a special occasion. My absolute favorite treat is a buckeye macaroon from Pistacia Vera after eating lunch at the North Market. This special shop is a must when making one’s way through the city as well as German Village.
Greater’s Ice Cream
Greater’s is a sweet shop full of delectable ice cream and other floats, malts, and milkshakes. Being that my family is from Cincinnati, Greater’s has been a staple in my household for as long as I can remember! Living in Columbus for a semester now, I have found that one is either Team Jeni’s or Team Greater’s. I must say… I am a Team Greater’s fan! The ice cream is extremely rich, and the Buckeye Chocolate Chip ice cream not only satisfies my peanut butter obsession but also seems fitting being that I am an Ohio State Buckeye. I had to bring a pint home to share with my roommates. Additionally, Greater’s is easily accessed due to its location in Upper Arlington which is simply West of Campus. I definitely recommend checking out this Ohio favorite!
Pattycake Bakery
Pattycake Bakery is a unique twist on a traditional bakery being that all of its products are 100% vegan and made from all natural ingredients. Being that my sister is a vegan, this shop was particularly interesting for me to visit. I have found that many “vegan” sweets are simply not tasty, so when I tasted Pattycake for the first time, I was floored. My friends and I tried a variety of things as well as bringing home a few treats to my sister over fall break. I definitely recommend visiting this spot, but if one is not a vegan there are many other bakeries that might offer cheaper treats and are just as good.
Whit’s Custard
Whit’s Custard is another alternative to Jeni’s in the Short North. Not as high end as Jeni’s, Whit’s is a simple ice cream shop offering a variety of traditional flavors. I am rather bias toward’s Greater’s and Jeni’s, so Whit’s was not necessarily my absolute favorite but simply alight. I enjoyed spending less money on my ice cream than the other two shops, yet what one gains in the price breaks one loses in quality. This shop is more of a regular spot for one rather than simply a special occasion treat. I would recommend Whit’s if one is simply looking for a sweet treat on a weeknight or so!
Reflection
My favorite experience of the Deserts and Sweets to-do list was definitely Jeni’s and Pistacia Vera in the North Market because it forced me to explore the North Market and also broaden my Columbus knowledge by exploring other Columbus pop up shops in the Market. Most importantly, I learned through this project that Columbus has so much to offer outside of Campus. This to-do list forced me outside my comfort zone and forced me to explore so many places that I didn’t know existed and showed me places that weren’t even on the lists. I also found that I would definitely like to explore German Village further. German Village is neat little area, but I unfortunately didn’t have time to explore as much as I would have liked to. I recommend that one who is exploring this list might spread out their explorations because a sugar tooth will only last so long, and a stomachache might set in if one attempts to taste all of these spots within a short period of time!! 🙂