Since moving to Chicago, I’ve tried to pick up a few new hobbies. One of those is bar trivia, finally utilizing all of that movie knowledge I have from scouring IMDb since my late teens. Our bar of choice is The Pink Squirrel, a dive in Logan Square that hosts Trivia every Friday. They also happen to have a variety of milkshakes, perfect for our alcohol-free squad.
But on their menu is another alluring item: the Caramel Corn Sundae. The first time we went here I tried to order it but was informed they didn’t have it that night. Devastated and downtrodden, I figured supply chains were to blame. Perhaps they might have the necessary ingredients upon our next visit.
So the next visit came. I ordered a root beer float to have some guaranteed sugar fix, but also floated a question about the sundae. Again, I was told they no longer carried it.
Alas, I figured my chances at the sundae were forever thwarted. I would have to actually seek out hot fudge sundaes rather than simply stumble upon them when it was convenient for me.
Our server brought us our milkshakes and root beer floats while we noodled on the latest trivia question. Then, out of nowhere, he also came back with a sundae.
What sat before us was a run-of-the-mill sundae. Vanilla ice cream with a criss-cross of sauces atop whipped cream.
Quality of Fudge
It was chocolate sauce. But considering it was taken off of their menu, perhaps they were working with what they had? I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. You’ve got to award points for ingenuity and impeccable service!
Scratch that, I looked at the menu again and they specifically mention chocolate sauce, not fudge. No doubt, thus no benefit.
Quality of Toppings
Nothing particularly fancy; caramel sauce, whipped cream, and a maraschino cherry. There was probably too much whipped cream, but the caramel sauce was quite tasty. The cherry was not secured well to the peak of the whipped cream. It slid off onto the table before any of us took a bite. But I just took that as my queue to begin eating, much like how the ball dropping in Times Square beckons so many to return to the gym for two days.
Level of Comfort Ordering a Hot Fudge Sundae
It’s complicated. Seeing as I was refused the sundae and then received it not 10 mintues later, it felt like both a surprise treat and unwelcome visitor to our table. But not too unwelcomed, as it is ice cream.
Would I Rather Get a McDonald’s Hot Fudge Sundae?
Hard to say. Price is often a determining factor for this part, but this was actually free. My friends and I on the trivia team used a $50 gift card from our last visit since we won trivia night (this is a flex). So if you’re good at trivia and can wait a week until you can use the gift card, go for it.
Final Score: 6.1/10
Hot for Fudge 