Just Sweet, an Asian dessert house, opened on 3rd Avenue in the East Village over the weekend. From the looks (and taste) of it, they need to pick up their game, or they won't be around for long. Saint's Alp, its main competitor, is two blocks away, and significantly better for slightly cheaper prices. I ordered the Grass Jello with Tapioca Sweet Soup and was instead given Grass Jello with Soy Milk Ice ($4). You can easily concoct this drink at home with ice and ingredients from Chinatown—a can of grass jelly and a bottle of soymilk. A lady next to me ordered a crepe, which wasn't delivered until a solid thirty minutes after her order. A glass of Red Bean Ice ($4) turned a classic Asian dessert lackluster, and proved too heavy on the red beans. It was more of a filling meal than dessert. The menu, all sweets, is more extensive than Saint's Alp (which offers sweet and savory food). But what they have looks a bit depressing, from the florescent mango syrup over shaved ice to the the freezer burn glazing the chocolate ice cream in a parfait. Won't be back—no point when the neighborhood is filled with so many excellent dessert spots.

Just Sweet

83 Third Avenue, New York NY 10003 (map)
justsweetnyc.com