[Photo: Kathy YL Chan]

The Black Moon ($5) at Caffe Falai is a fairly ordinary looking creation. Cocoa-dusted, with a thin white chocolate disc at top. You have to slice this dome straight down the middle to make sense of the name—Black Moon.

In the center lies an orb of chilly spiced cream with hints of cinnamon, surrounded by dark, near-bitter chocolate mousse. It's silky and heady, with a texture that borders on ganache. Semolina biscotti serves as the base—not the crisp crunch you'd expect, but a softened biscotti, tender with an easy give. Best to take a little of everything one bite for balance: the mousse alone is far too rich for a solo mouthful.

Caffe Falai

265 Lafayette Street, New York NY 10012 (map)
212-274-8615
falainyc.com