Palombo Caffe
Palombo Pasty Shop Caffe
601 E 187th St
Bronx, NY 10458
Palombo Shop Caffe: A Pastry Shop
On the day of our food tours, the Belmont Group split up to visit several stops along Arthur Avenue. I knew I wanted to visit a bakery/pastry shop, but there were too many to choose from. On 187th st., I stood across the street from Palombo Pastry Shop Caffe and was immediately drawn into the elegant, yet casual presentation of red awnings, outdoor coffee tables, and diverse clientele. The exterior of Palombo Caffe makes the shop seem larger than it is inside, as indicated by the closely-placed tables, chairs and columns that seem to give the setting an intimate feel. The shop is bathed in the warm sunshine that comes in through the large glass front, and clients are free to sit down at any of the small tables. I walked in and immediately went to the secluded gelato refrigerator, where Palombo’s own gelato sat in small containers labeled Hazelnut, Stracciatella, Pistaccio, and more. I took my favorite, Stracciatella, since I was in the mood for something light, and different from the usually thick and milky gelatos of Bindi, which are sold at most Italian pastry shops that do not make their own gelato. I was able to get my snack for a cheap price, and for $3.00, two scoops of Stracciatella on a cone were mine to enjoy. This was a very good deal in comparison to what most other pastry shops in the area were offering; DeLillo’s gelato racked up to about $6.00 per cone.
With a welcoming atmosphere, and a large, scrumptious selection behind the glass panels enclosing the counter area, Palombo’s would definitely be a place to bring a friend over for a good snack, and a relaxing time. From the gelato I had, I was sure the rest of the food in the shop would taste great, given the care with which they were displayed, and the taste of course. I especially liked the size of the café, and the space would seem comfortable even if it were filled with people (I had gone on a lazy, hot, afternoon, when not many were out.)
Stracciatella gelato with Chocolate chunks.
Stracciatella gelato is an Italian ice cream churned without the egg or cream of conventional American (or Northern Italian) ice creams. The chocolate bits in the gelato give it an occasional crunch, making up for any richness lost in the lack of cream that most Americans are used to in their cold treats. Palombo Pastry Shop Caffe is far from a creamery however, since it concentrates mostly on its warmer, freshly baked pastries and breads. The lobster tails looked huge, and the petite fours looked vibrant in color, with thick chocolate shells. The bakery’s selection caters to a mostly Italian clientele, but there were many Hispanics in the shop as well, who were comfortable ordering the pastries I am used to seeing in my own home neighborhood, which caters to the Hispanics who live there. Conclusively, while Palombo seems authentically Italian, it has a broad range of pastries to choose from that are not necessarily Italian in origin. All can feel welcome to order whatever looks tastiest at this café.
