Pasticceria Alati-Caserta

Since 1968, this Little Italy institution has kept the focus on what it does best: old-school Italian pastry, no frills, no shortcuts. Still run by the Caldarone family, it sits across from the Madonna della Difesa church and hasn’t changed much since Vittorio and Maria moved their original shop here in the ’70s. The cannoli—made using Vittorio’s original recipe—are the draw, filled fresh to order with ricotta cream that hits the right balance of sweet and tang. You’ll also find code d’aragosta, biscotti by the kilo, sfogliatelle with a citrus kick, and granita in the summer. The decor is a time capsule, and that’s part of the charm: the terrazzo floors, mirrored walls, and tiered cakes in the window have seen generations come and go. There’s no indoor seating, but the park across the street does the trick.