I stopped in on a simple craving. No plan, no research. Just a sweet tooth and a door framed in pink roses and seasonal flowers that made it impossible to walk past. That impulse visit to Strawberry by Lemon on New York Avenue turned into our new go-to spot for dessert in St. Cloud, and I have been thinking about that Dubai Strawberry Cup ever since.
The outside of Strawberry by Lemon does most of the recruiting. The brick facade is wrapped in a full garland of pink roses, peonies, and greenery, with a plaid bow above the door and a straw scarecrow standing guard out front. Pink bistro tables sit on the sidewalk. A sandwich board at the corner shows the logo. It reads like a place that cares about the details before you even step inside, and that impression holds once you do.
Inside the Shop
Step in and the ceiling stops you. Real green boughs run the full length of the room, with string lights woven through them and a neon sign shaped like an ice cream cone glowing underneath. The walls are salmon pink. The floor is dark wood. The menu board, bright red and mounted on the far wall, lists drinks, ice cream, and chocolate-covered treats. The whole room is small, warm, and put together with obvious intention. The employee behind the counter was welcoming from the moment we walked in, the kind of easy friendliness that makes a first visit feel like a return.
The Dubai Strawberry Cup
The Dubai Strawberry Cup is the signature item here, and it earns that title. The cup comes loaded with strawberries that were genuinely the sweetest and freshest I have had in years. That matters, because the fruit is the foundation. Chocolate and pistachio cream are layered in, and then kataifi, the shredded wheat pastry that the Dubai chocolate trend made famous, is added for a real crunch. Every component pulls its weight. The chocolate is rich without being heavy, the pistachio cream has just enough savory depth to cut the sweetness, and the kataifi gives the whole thing texture you do not expect from a dessert cup. Nothing in that cup is filler.
If you have had the Dubai chocolate bar and wondered what it would be like built around fresh fruit instead of a candy shell, this is the answer. It is a better version of that idea.
What Else Is in the Case
The glass display case runs the length of the counter and it is worth taking your time with. The bottom shelf holds a full row of Dubai Strawberry Cups, already assembled and ready to go. The middle shelf shows whole cheesecakes, sliced and plated on white stands. The top shelf carries chocolate bonbons and what appear to be chocolate-dipped caramel apples alongside other Belgian-chocolate pieces. The menu also includes macarons, lemonade, custom ice cream, and milkshakes. This is a proper dessert shop with real range, not a one-trick setup.
The cheesecake slice in the photo tells its own story. Dense, smooth, an even golden-cream color, and a properly baked graham crust underneath. That is not a cheesecake made from a mix. It holds its shape and looks like something made with care. I will be going back for a slice on a future visit.
Birthday Cake Truffles and the Broader Chocolate Program
The truffle tray near the counter stopped me. White chocolate shells, rainbow sprinkles on top, labeled clearly as Birthday Cake Truffles at $3.00 each. Next to them, a row of dark chocolate bonbons with copper-colored drizzle. Three dollars for a truffle is a fair price for something this finished-looking, and they make an obvious gift option, especially packed into one of the glossy red Strawberry by Lemon bags on display near the register. Those bags, printed with the shop's logo, website, and WhatsApp number, make the packaging part of the experience.
St. Cloud's food scene keeps showing up in ways that surprise me. Places like Brenda's Cake Shop have proven that this city supports serious craft in the sweet-treat space, and Pollos To Go showed that a specific, deeply personal vision can find its audience here. Strawberry by Lemon fits that pattern. It is not trying to be a chain or a franchise concept. The attention to decoration, to fresh fruit quality, to the construction of each cup, points to people who genuinely care about what they are putting in front of you.
Hours and Location
Strawberry by Lemon is at 1012 New York Ave in St. Cloud. They are open Sunday through Friday from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM, and Saturday from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. That Saturday noon opening is useful if a mid-day dessert run is your style. For those who prefer to order ahead or pick up, they are reachable at 407-498-4185 and online at strawberrybylemon.com.
If you are exploring the broader dining stretch in St. Cloud, Mizu Sushi makes a strong case for dinner before you end the night here. The Dubai Strawberry Cup is a worthy final course. This is our new go-to when we are craving something sweet, and I highly recommend you check it out. Have you tried the Dubai Strawberry Cup yet, or is there another item on the Strawberry by Lemon menu that has caught your eye?
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