Rasheed Williams, owner of the late-night dessert lounge Carolina Caramel, has a rigid standard when it comes to baked goods: Every treat he serves has to taste (almost) as good as grandma’s. So before Williams opened his, as the tagline says, “room for dessert,” he nibbled his way through mounds of cake before finally taking the perfect bite. A local bakery's moist cakes made the grade, and it delivers freshly baked ones, in flavors like lemon, red velvet, German chocolate and, of course, caramel, to Carolina Caramel daily. “Every woman wants something sweet,” says Williams. He also offers oversize cupcakes meant for couples or friends to divvy up. A blend of Intelligentsia coffee (there's no booze here), created especially for this spot, pairs superbly with the cupcakes (and helps de-buzz customers who've come by for a post-bar-hopping bite.)

Following the decorative advice of a female friend, Williams swathed the space in Ralph Lauren's robin's egg blue and chocolate brown paints. He slung ornate mirrors up on the wall and set up a plush, candlelit seating area. To spice up the sweet ambiance, live DJs perform piano-bar style—taking requests (and tips) and spinning everything from The Police to Al Green.

But despite all the estrogen-friendly nuances, this place appeals not only to girls. “Carolina Caramel is a celebration of diversity,” says Williams. “I see everyone from police officers to old married couples and children in here; and people wear everything from jeans to a tux. This is your space.”

Centerstage Reviewer: Jennifer Berg