For some people, dessert is the best part of a meal. And if it were socially acceptable, hearty food would forever be substituted for cakes, cookies, and creams. Alas, that's not possible. Get the next best thing by ending a plate with a post-grub sweet.

Instead of basic treats such as ice cream or a slice of chocolate cake, try something classic. Dessert has been an American staple for centuries, and these five restaurants specialize in resurrecting and revamping age-old favorites.
5. Profiteroles at Le Zoo
Philadelphia-based restaurateur Stephen Starr opened his French brasserie Le Zoo nearly a year ago. The eatery, which is situated inside the Bal Harbour Shops, has continued to transport diners to the streets of Paris and the shores of Saint-Tropez with its Mediterranean- and French-style dishes, including its profiteroles. The small round cream puff originated in France in the 16th Century and made its way to the States in the 1800s. Le Zoo's iteration features praline, banana, and vanilla ice cream profiteroles, which get a tableside drizzle of warm bittersweet chocolate. The cream-filled, chocolate-showered treat costs $11 and can be shared between two diners.
4. Root Beer Float at the Sarsaparilla Club
Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth's Sarsaparilla Club is known for its spin on dim sum. But there's more to the American- and Asian-inspired restaurant. On your next visit, try the root beer float. Born in Windsor, a city in Ontario, Canada, the treat is attributed to a man named Richard Popovich, who was selling flavored drinks and ran out of ice. As a quick alternative, he used vanilla ice cream instead, creating what most now know as a root beer float. Also known as the “black cow,” the root beer float quickly made its way into the States and has remained a favorite. Find one at the Sarsaparilla Club ($4), which substitutes toffee ice cream for vanilla and filthy cherries for an added kick. Or forgo the drink and order the root beer chocolate cake, which features rainbow root chips glazed in honey butter and sea salt ($9).