Pumpkin spice has been a staple autumn flavor for many years, with the taste of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves making its way to coffees, teas and cakes throughout October and November.
With about a month left before restaurants transition to peppermint and sugar-cookie-flavored treats, now is the perfect time to grab a pumpkin cake or latte. But be warned, not every pastry or slice of cheesecake is as good as it looks.
While some are worth the high prices of near-campus food, others are not so scrumptious. The Daily Illini tasted and ranked all the pumpkin treats and beverages we found around campus to guide you on what restaurants and cafes are worth the visit.
Stick to some items higher on the list to satiate your fall cravings without wasting your time and the precious money you allocate to sweet treats.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
Mia Za’s pumpkin cheesecake
Rating: 10/10
Pumpkin cheesecake is one of the most iconic fall treats, with various chains and local restaurants offering their versions every autumn. However, Mia Za’s delivers the very best version to the University area, with its creamy textured, soft graham cracker crust and layers of flavor.
The cheesecake has a pumpkin-flavored base, a vanilla top layer and a pumpkin pie filling, giving the slice several flavors that blend perfectly. The tangy cream cheese flavor makes the cake not overly sweet, which is one reason the slice can easily be finished in one sitting.
Caffe Bene’s pumpkin muffin
Rating: 9/10
A muffin is the most versatile pastry in most bakeries. It can be served warmed or cold with any flavor combo the heart desires, making a muffin the perfect carrier for the rich pallet of spice. Caffe Bene certainly provides the most enjoyable experience with this piquant pastry.
It is decadently soft and thick, infused with autumnal spice through the moist pumpkin-based batter. A spiced crumble coats the top, drizzled with a rich cream cheese frosting to top it off. The perfect bite will combine all these elements if you can get your mouth around this massive muffin.
Caffe Paradiso’s hot pumpkin chai
Rating: 7.5/10
Caffe Paradiso’s hot chai latte with pumpkin spice syrup is perfectly rich and creamy and a great treat to warm you up on a cold fall day.
Chai aficionados should run to Caffe Paradiso to get their hands on this drink. The only disappointment with this beverage is the chai’s already spicy flavor makes the pumpkin subtle, but it still adds a taste of autumn to this delectable hot tea.
Caffe Bene’s pumpkin cheesecake
Rating: 5.5/10
Caffe Bene’s pumpkin cheesecake is perfect for a photo op, with its pumpkin and cream cheese swirl and dollop of whipped cream on top. However, this cheesecake isn’t as good on the mouth as on the eyes.
It has a decent texture, although a bit softer than your typical slice of cheesecake. The flavor isn’t as layered or interesting as other similar cheesecakes, with its intense cinnamon and nutmeg spice completely overpowering the tangy cream cheese and buttery crust. Overall, the cake is very mediocre and not worth the price when a quick stroll to Mia Za’s will deliver you something far better.
Espresso Royale’s pumpkin pie latte
Rating: 5/10
The most classic treat of the fall season has to be the pumpkin spice latte. Gaining popularity in the early 2000s, this spicy beverage remains a tried and true staple of coffee shops around the country when the leaves start to change.
Though “spice” isn’t in the name as advertised, the beverage rings up as the classic PSL — this being said, Espresso Royale’s potent coffee completely overpowers any cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg.
While it is reminiscent of fall, this latte is much more pumpkin than spice.
Caffe Paradiso’s pumpkin roll cake
Rating: 4/10
Caffe Paradiso’s pumpkin roll cake is another item where the taste doesn’t match its appearance. The roll has a tasty cream cheese frosting between a stale, dry pumpkin cake. The cake is overly sweet, enough to turn you off from finishing it after just a few bites.
The cake would’ve been better if refrigerated or freshly made before serving rather than pulled out of a display case where it sits for an undisclosed number of hours.
Manolo’s pumpkin cheesecake empanadas
Rating: 2/10
Manolo’s pumpkin cheesecake empanadas have a delicious, flaky crust, but that is the only thing they’ve got going for them. The overly thick layer of filling, which has an unsettling meat-like appearance, tastes like hot yet undercooked pumpkin pie.
The cream cheese in the center would do a good job of balancing out the pumpkin if there were more than a tiny dollop inside. Manolo’s strong suit is their savory items, and we can only hope they don’t attempt a chocolate peppermint empanada in December.
