Image Courtesy of Benvenuti PR. All Others By Gail

Do you like pastry? I sure do, but my  favorite pastry shop in my east village neighborhood closed years ago and now everything is a trek. Fortunately, I just discovered an amazing pastry shop and café that’s literally across the street from my office. Let me introduce you to Masseria Caffé!

Masseria Caffé expands the Masseria brand (which includes fine Italian dining at Masseria Dei Vini just next door, and another caffé location on 48th Street near Times Square), with this   traditional Italian bakery and café in Hell’s Kitchen. I paid them a visit last week after work to pick up some pastries and see what the buzz is about.

Aside from the brightly-lit cases filled with tantalizing pastry treats, the first thing you will notice upon entering the café is how warm and inviting it is. The interior space was designed by Libby Langdon, who transformed a former beauty salon into a café with high ceilings, blue floral Italian tile floors, large glass display cases, and walls adorned with black and white photographs of the Italian countryside alongside artistic shots of coffee latte art.

Everything was custom designed in Italy, including the ovens, the stainless-steel coffee counter, and the shelving. There is also a small shop of imported artisanal Italian products, all hand-selected by the owners, including Masseria group’s branded olive oil, and homemade grissini and biscotti.

Nutella-filled Occhi di Bue

Traditional Italian pastries that are made on premises include Occhi di Bue, an Italian sandwich cookie, similar to  a Linzer tart, filled with raspberry, apricot, or Nutella. They also have hard-to find, chewy-crisp Pignoli Cookies made with almond paste and topped with toasted pine nuts. Divine!

You’ll also find a variety of Croissants, and Cornetto — comparable to a croissant, but made from a softer pastry with less butter and filled with cream and Amarena cherry, or pistachio cream from Bronte a village in the slopes of Mount Etna!

Assorted Bombolone Filled With Apricot or Raspberry Jam

Of course, they have the classic Cannolo Siciliano, filled with sheep’s milk ricotta and Bombolone, which are Italian doughnuts filled with Nutella, custard cream, or marmalade.

This scrumptious Nutella-filled Bombolone came home with me, and was especially delicious after being warmed in the oven.

I have to personally also recommend the Lemon Meringue tart, which was exceptional in every way.

The espresso, cold brew, and nitro brew are all made with Lavazza coffee in the state-of-the-art espresso machine, the Victoria Arduino. Highlights include cortado, shakerato, espresso shaken with ice cubes and simple syrup; and other classic Italian staples such as espresso, macchiato, and cappuccino.

The pastries are not the only menu items that steal the show, as Masseria Caffè also offers lunch items including assorted savory pizzas and focaccias, and Pan Brioiche with  Italian ham, and asiago cheese or eggs, spinach, and tomato.

Special sandwiches include the Parma, with prosciutto, homemade mozzarella, arugula, and extra virgin olive oil; and the Tacchino, with roasted turkey breast, asiago, rosemary aioli, and arugula.

Huge salads, made fresh to-go include the house specialty Insalata di Grano, with Apulia grains imported from Italy, seasonal vegetables, lemon, and dressed with extra virgin olive oil. There’s also the eponymous Masseria, with arugula, endive, radicchio, mushrooms, olives, and roasted peppers.

Full-sized cakes (perfect for a co-worker’s birthday) are available for preorder. All menu items are available for catering and are ideal for special occasions and other social gatherings.

Masseria Caffé is Located at 891 9th Avenue, Between 57th and 58th Streets in NYC. Visit their Website for More Information.