The Fat Man strikes again!
After dinner not too long ago on the LES we decided to take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood. My girl’s family actually grew up in this hood so we like to wander around and check out their old haunts. All of a sudden The Fat Man taps on my shoulder and points me in the direction of Veniero’s. Yes, I can’t resist so we decide to head on in.
Just had to wait on line for a few minutes for a table. When is there never a line here? At least you get to view the gigantic pastry counter with all its wonderful sugary offerings. All types of pastries, cookies, and gelato flavors. We were seated pretty quickly and handed the menus. There is so much stuff packed onto it that the actual letter size is super small to fit it all on the pages! Went with a regular coffee and trio of miniature pastries each. Hey, I’m trying to watch my figure as summer is just around the corner! I’m not fat – I’m just a bit oversized!
Mini cannolis, eclairs, napoleons, baba rum – all wonderful and tasty. OMG – the cream they use is amazing! Soft, rich, and light at the same time. The cannoli is the standard bearer and is perfectly made. A must when coming here. Also, the trio only costs $4.50 so it won’t make a big dent in your wallet, and offers a tasting of a few different things here. I did see many trays of normal sized desserts going by and they don’t skimp here – the slices of cakes, gelatos, and others treats were huge! The Fat Man approves!
My only knock on the place is that the seating is kind of cramped and you can basically lean over and start eating your neighbor’s desserts. ( I did actually start to do this in a moment of sugar insanity but a well placed fork stabbed into my hand halted that and jolted me out of my trance! ) The waitress service is kind of spotty. I could have used a refill on the coffee but no biggie. It was a perfect little dessert stop after a nice dinner, and I did not feel like a big fattie! Definitely a must visit if in the area. They have been around for over 100 years so this is a testament to their quality and loyal following.
Fat Man, sometimes I hate you. I’ll give you a pass tonight as this was a good call.
A few final points –
My fat ass had to be pushed out the door or I would have bought a ton of stuff to take home for breakfast time!
Had a view of a large picture of the former owner with Frank Sinatra hanging on the wall. Very cool when ol’ blue eyes is in the room.
Veniero’s Pastry Shop – http://www.venierospastry.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/venieros-pastry-shop-new-york?sort_by=date_desc
The Fat Man is a cruel, evil soul. I’d say more, but I have to look up airfares to NY and figure out subway stops for East Village. I wonder if just looking at Veniero’s website is adding hip-inches?
I like your comment. YES, it will add more than inches to the waist.
Hey Rum Punch!
The Fat Man gets his jollies over ruining our diets!
Hey Barb!
The Fat Man is devious. He lures me in all the time. My pants are way too tight because of that bastard!
LOL . .sure the fat man love to eat 😀
Hey Ben!
The Fat Man lives to make us eat all the bad stuff that tastes so good!
If a short, skinny, Middle Aged Man could get fat from looking at photos, these would make me look like a fridge with a head.
At least I would have “done it myyyy waaaaayyyyyy”. 😀
Hey Fearless!
I swear whenever I walk by this place I gain two pounds! Yet, the pastries here are so good it’s worth it!
Veniero’s Pastry Shop is a health retreat place for the skinny folk who need to put on a few pounds. And the day they can’t fit into the cramped premises, is when they know they need to get back out running again, ha ha ha. All those skinny bodies running past me, makes me feel quite ill. Why can’t they just eat like me and you?
Those cakes look a really delicious. It’s another lick the screen moment.
Hey Rum Punch!
LOL – that is one way to look at it! Everything they make here is delish! Anothe reason why I keep going to the gym!
I have to admit that looking at those beautiful desserts, I’d love to be able to lean over and start eating my neighbor’s desserts. Of course if they tried to touch mine there could be blood spilled.
Hey Karen!
HA! I could see you starting an all-out food fight there! Those pastries are worth fighting for!
Another lively review, Phil. Not sure it would be on the weight-watchers recommendation list. And to use a phrase from my grandmother, we are not fat, just big-boned.
Hey Gary!
I’m sure you would eat up a week’s worth of WW points in one sitting here!
We are all big boned!
Well now, those 2 cookies I had for my lunch dessert seem boring. But, I didn’t have to wait in line for them either. Pros and cons.
All looks yummy and sometimes we have to just have to pay homage to “the fat man.”
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
Hey Patricia!
The Fat Man owns us, and he knows it!
Yet, I never mind paying homage to this place. Hand me a cannoli!
Holy cannoli!!! One of my best food memories about NYC is the cannoli I got somewhere while wandering around in Little Italy. I can’t remember the name of the place, but I definitely remember falling in love with that cannoli 🙂
Hey Jeri!
There is nothing like a good cannoli and they make a great one! There are a bunch of spots in Little Italy that make them. During the San Gennaro Feast there are carts selling them in the street. Yum.
Phil, why you always gotta do me like this? All of that looks and sounds SO freakin’ amazing and I’m way out here on the West Coast where carbs are the devil. My inner Fat Lady is so very green with jealousy!
Hey Jessica!
What can I say? I’m a real tease aren’t I!
You west coasters don’t know what your missing. Give in to the Fat Lady!
Ooh, I’m a sucker for desert. That Fat Bastard…err, I mean,fat man, would’ve lured me in too.
Here’s to sweet!
Hey Hazy!
That Fat Bastard ruins me time and time again!
Dessert here is worth the pain!
Those pastries looks really tasty! Mini versions are great (you can eat 10 pastries before you’re full:))
Hey Mitzie!
Yes, and when eating the minis you kind of feel that you’re not eating as many calories! Wishful thinking. 😉
Hey Phil, This place looks great for some sweet treat samples. I love mini versions so you can give everything a bit of a try. Thanks for sharing yet another destination to enjoy!
Hey Peggy!
It’s an old school place that is a legend here in NYC. Worth a try if in the area. Such tasty stuff!
Oh yum, everything sounds so good and my sweet tooth would enjoy it all!
Hey Emily!
It’s great! I feel like I should be wearing sweatpants when I go there. Offers more expanding ability!
I LOVE little places like that. The ones that feel like they’ve been in the family for years.
Oh man, those cannolis. You were right to go in! I love them and they are also my Italian dude’s weakness. I hope the Fat Man go back into his dark place so are you able to enjoy getting into great shape… he can resurface sometime in May 😉
Great one, Phil!
Hey Jean!
I’m sure the Fat Man can seduce us all with a good cannoli! He better stay away until after July. I need to get in shape and his evil ways will lure me in!
You’re right about this place. It’s like a family friend.
If you love me even just a teensy bit, can you send me a few of those…..pretty please???
Hey Mother!
I would send you a few treats but I already ate them all! I’m a bad boy!
I’d love to eat a cannoli… And by that I mean>right now, Phil!!!
Yummy treats… Such a great review!
Best wishes, Aquileana 🙂
Hey Aquileana!
I’d love to eat one right now too! Glad you enjoyed and hope I made you hungry!
Oh, cannolis. I’m going to be thinking about them all day. 🙂
Hey Coleen!
We have too many tasty pastry spots here tempting me all the time!
Lovely cake with cream and lovely pastry with yet more creamy stuff. Yum! It’s a good thing you’re on the other side of the Atlantic Phil, as those desserts are not made for sharing. Making me all home-sick now!
Hey Victoria!
Gotta love all the creamy treats to stuff ourselves with! No sharing is a rule!