A take-out-style offshoot of Chikalicious Dessert Bar (located right across the street), “Dessert Club” specializes in pudding. Or, as their menu puts it, “puddin’” — in vanilla custard, adult chocolate, brioche bread varieties. OK, twist my arm why don’t you? If there’s one thing I like better than pudding, it’s take-out pudding, and Chikalicious is pretty fabulous so how could this go wrong?

I ordered the warm vanilla custard puddin’ ($3.50) which was served in a small plastic dish with a piece of spongey cake in the center. Perhaps it was a mistake to order it warm because the puddin’ had a creme-anglaise consistency unlike any proper pudding I’d tried, and the warmth seemed to contribute to its overall soupiness. It was effectively sopped up by the cake and it had a convincing rich custardy flavor, with the appearance of real vanilla beans. Still, the lovely thing about pudding is its smooth not-quite-liquid, not-quite-solid texture, and this didn’t quite have that.

By contrast, the red velvet cupcake ($1.60) was a complete miss. The icing was tooth-achingly sweet, and the cake itself rather papery-tasting. I might give the puddin’ another whirl but I’d steer clear of the cupcakes.

Seating, while a distinct possibility, is limited, but they are open until midnight (1am Fri and Sat). So if you’re a night-owl who loves creme anglaise, this might be your new happy place.

Chikalicious Dessert Club 204 E 10th St Mon-Thurs 1pm - 12 am; Fri 1pm - 1am; Sat 12pm - 1am