[Photograph: Kathy YL Chan]

No need to get too fancy. Chocolate and salted caramel, two creatures made for each other, come together in this slice from Empire Cake. The classic chocolate cake is layered with even, dense crumbs and caramel-spiked ganache. The salted caramel is potent (no kidding around with the salt) and smooth. It's an easy cake to love that doesn't pull any surprises. A perfect start to the weekend and fairly priced at $4.50 a slice.

Empire Cake

112 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10011 (map)
212-242-5858
empirecake.com

About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan blogs at Kathy YL Chan, where she chronicles her eats and travel adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.