The cozy Ants Pants Cafe, which turns three this month, has fed the hipster revival of this South Street stretch on hearty brunches with an Australian flair. The Belaroma espresso comes from Sydney, and the arugula salad is called "rocket." But it's those wonderfully thick shakes whirred up with Violet Crumble candy bars that have me hooked.
The chocolate-covered Violet Crumble, a smooth Aussie take on the honeycomb-filled British "Crunchie," lends an almost malted flavor and textural snap to this frozen vanilla-bean elixir. Add a pouf of homemade caramel whip, and you can slurp your way into a creamy Down Under sugar buzz.