Serious Eats: New York
Sugar Rush: Tiramisu at Paradiso
Paradiso, on the corner of 7th Street and Avenue B in the East Village, is a sort of fairytale husband-and-wife cafe. The music is gentle, the WiFi free, the seating plentiful, and the service, nicer than need be. As for the food? The main attraction is the house-made tiramisu, offered in five flavors: classic, chocolate, amaretto, chocolate-banana, and strawberry.
On a late Sunday afternoon, I tucked into a window seat with a slice of the classic tiramisu ($5), plated and delivered to the table. Save for the unnecessary finish of chocolate sprinkles, which add a silly crunch, the tiramisu is quite good, though a touch sweet. Ladyfingers sponge up a jolting dose of espresso and the mascarpone-based cream is almost buttery, smooth and thick. Far better than the cake-and-fluff tiramisu found throughout most the city, this is one I would return for if in the neighborhood.
Sandwiches are also on the menu, as well as baked goods and baguettes from Balthazar.
105 Avenue B, New York NY 10009 (map)
212-777-0234