Italian-American pastry.
No, it actually doesn't get any better than this. A huge counter that spans three walls - crammed with cookies, pastries and nougat.
How good was it? Great. After a few cookies, I gave in and bought three boxes.
What should you buy? You must buy a couple of the almond cookies in different colors. This is the quinessential Italian-American pastry shop cookie.
Real food? Buy their "Riccota Pie". (It's called "Cassta" by everyone else in America.)
It's an Italian cheesecake, make with .... riccota (like that needed to be said). It's serious food. The cookies, the nougat - they're all good. The other pastries are fine (oh - get a half-moon - those rock). But - this is truly beautiful. Nothing sublime - this is in-your-face kick-butt stuff.
Side note: Walking into the airport with my three boxes of Mike's Pastry tied with the blue and white string (who wants a tiffany box - give me Mike's any day!!), the gate agents offered me a free upgrade for the Mike's boxes :)
Cravat - The large chocolate pastries are just way too sickly sweet for me.