Yesterday was National Dessert Day and it has been far too long since I have posted so it’s time to celebrate with one of my absolute favorites: Black Tap Milkshakes!
Black Tap first made its way on the map with the help of a Buzzfeed article highlighting their extraordinary shakes. While the restaurant was initially known for the burgers (and they are gooooddd), the pictures of their over the top milkshakes got them on the map.
Just a note, if you are there for the Instagram upload, the restaurant’s ambiance is a bar and therefore darker, hence the quality is not like what you will see in the Thrillist and Instagram posts (proof below). It is, however, family-friendly- my little brother loved it! Also, getting on the map means waiting at least an hour in line, any time of the day. Pictured above to the left is the Cotton Candy Shake and to the right is the Cookies Shake.
Let’s start with what every child’s wildest fantasies are made of. The Cotton Candy Shake. Almost as if it came to us straight from Willy Wonka’s factory. A strawberry ice cream shake base is topped with a vanilla frosted rim with blue, pink & pearl chocolates. This is delicious in and of itself- strawberry, vanilla, and little bites of chocolate. But then the kicker, this is all topped with a pink lollipop, blue and pink rock candy, whipped cream AND cotton candy. These milkshakes really are extreme, a guaranteed sugar rush. The strawberry milkshake is thick and creamy and tastes just like the diner’s of your breakfast dreams. But then once you add all of the extravagant toppings, it becomes a whimsical dessert with smooth whipped cream, crunchy chocolate, melt in your mouth cotton candy and surprising rock candy. The whole thing is too much but it’s worth having a carnival in your mouth as an adult every once in a while!
The Cookie Shake is topped with a monstrous chipwich, another cookie for good measure, crumbled cookies just in case there are not enough, whipped cream, chocolate chips, and chocolate drizzle throughout. The cookie crumbles are the secret stars of this shake but who doesn’t love a chipwich, to begin with?! The cookies are crispy and leave a little to be desired as they can come off as stale. If you’re lucky enough to get one of the shakes with no staleness, you’ll find little fault with this guy.
Not pictured is the Black and White, my favorite from visits past! It is topped with whipped cream, a generous portion of chocolate chips, chocolate syrup that mixes throughout, and 2 perfectly baked brownies. I am not sure if it is okay as an adult to say brownies are my favorite food, but they are, so this milkshake really hits the spot for me. The chocolate and vanilla balance is just right and the star of the show, the brownies which were moist and not overly sweet unlike the shake itself which is overall a sugar rush.
Perhaps this sugar overload is not Black Tap’s fault, probably impossible to not be with that ingredients list. Pro tip: each milkshake has either chocolate or cookie crumble glued to the sides of the cup with icing. These bits and frosting are actually delicious and do not have shame, scrape them off and enjoy.
Definitely over the top, definitely gluttonous, and definitely a dentist’s worst nightmare and kids wildest fantasy. Look out for a review of their burgers and sides because they deserve some attention again too!
