East Village, Manhattan · shop
An old-school Italian pastry shop where the display cases stretch from freshly filled cannoli and rainbow cookies layered with almond paste and raspberry jam to biscotti in every direction and a cheesecake with serious structural integrity. The glittering back room (stamped tin ceilings, bentwood chairs, and a flickering fireplace) feels lifted from another era. Order an espresso at the marble counter, then accept that leaving with just one thing was probably never the plan.
Dense NY-style cheesecake, no garnish, just pure old-school richness
Almond paste sponge in rainbow layers with raspberry jam, dipped in dark chocolate
Fresh-fried shell with cinnamon-ricotta cream, studded with chocolate chips. Buy one or a pack of 12