190430 Thu Jan 11 23:22:46 -0800 2001 10 18 Manhattan 0 1017166 These past few months, we've made it a custom to do dim sum brunch in Chinatown, then walk over to Little Italy for dessert and coffee. While we know a good place for dim sum, we're not at all sure about Little Italy. Because all the restaurants kind of look the same, we tend to walk into the first one we encounter, and can never remember their names or locations afterwards. But are we right in assuming that Little Italy restaurants are all of a muchness? Or would some be much better than others for decent coffee drinks and Italian cakes/cookies/pastries after our dim sum? Pls advise... Thu Jan 11 23:22:46 -0800 2001 0 sailor 1 1017167 You would do much better by walking a little farther north to Ceci Cela on Spring Street (near Lafayette St.) It's right near the Spring St. subway entrance. Fri Jan 12 02:10:31 -0800 2001 1017166 0 gary cheong 2 1017195 Bingo -- Ceci Cela is *the* neighborhood place for tasty pastries and coffee. However sailor is looking for Italian cakes and cookies, which s/he will not find at CC -- would probably be better off going to the place on Broome and Mulberry, whose name I, like Dena, cannot recall. Their espresso is quite good and canollis (sp?), the only pastry I've eaten there, were just fine. Mind-blowing Italian pastry is not to be found in the neighborhood. Sat Jan 13 15:37:01 -0800 2001 1017167 0 Jeremy Osner 3 1017196 I am not sure, the cafe Dena referred to might be Caffe Roma. It's better than most in Little Italy. Agree with you that there are no mind-blowing Italian pastries in the nabe. But if Sailor never tired Ceci Cela, he or she should go. Sat Jan 13 16:03:00 -0800 2001 1017195 0 Gary Cheong 4 1017198 Caffe Roma, yes that's the one I was talking about, can't vouch for Dena. Sat Jan 13 17:57:16 -0800 2001 1017196 0 Jeremy Osner 5 1017531 Cafe Roma, in my opinion, is way below good. I like a place called La Laterna off of West 3th near Washington Square park. The place is very romantic and has such a nice pastry menu. Go there and take your love, you won't be sorry. Sun Jan 28 05:53:15 -0800 2001 1017198 0 Robert 4 1017247 I really dislike Caffe Roma. I've been there several times (it's a favorite of a couple who are friends off my parents), and I've gotten stale and moldy biscotti, dry cannoli, etc. Even when everything was fine, it was just OK. I think that Veniero's in the East Village, much panned here, is far superior. A place I like down there is the place on the east side of Mulberry St. that's closest to Canal. Tue Jan 16 01:58:09 -0800 2001 1017196 0 Michael 5 1017280 must agree. caffe roma is maybe not as mcdonald-ized as ferrarra's, but it sure is over rated. dull, stale cannoli with starchy tasting ricotta filling, poor quality chocolate coating on dry sponge cakes, and sometimes acrid espresso. wish i could come up with something better in the neighborhood, but in the years i've lived there i've simply given up hope. veneiro's is better, but only relatively so. what's up with italian bakeries in new york anyway? (i've been up to arthur ave. in the bronx and was even more disappointed. worst cannolis in the world - though there was one bakery, whose name escapes me - opened relatively late on sunday - meaning, opened on sunday - that makes fabulous cookies. run by albanians, i think). Tue Jan 16 23:24:20 -0800 2001 1017247 0 jr 1 1017182 I haven't eaten lunch/dinner in any of the restaurants in Little Italy, but I have had coffee and dessert in Ferrarra's Bakery (Grand St near Mulberry St). Can't complain about the tiramasu or chocolate truffle cake. The coffee with Bailey's Irish Creme was also enjoyable. I don't know how this compares with the other Ferrarra's on Mulberry St (near Canal St), but its always been crowded when I've been there. They seem to have an extensive menu of desserts and coffee's. Fri Jan 12 15:39:00 -0800 2001 1017166 0 Ron 2 1017185 Sorry, have to disagree with you there. Ferrara's is pretty mediocre and a tourist trap. Fri Jan 12 18:47:32 -0800 2001 1017182 0 Gary Cheong 2 1017188 I don't have a problem with Ferrara's except for the summer weekend lines to get in. As an alternative, though, there's a little coffee-house/bakery whose name escapes me on the southeast corner of Broome and Mulberry. Coffee and pastries as good or better than Ferrara's, but no lines. Fri Jan 12 21:31:52 -0800 2001 1017182 0 Dena