DeRobertis Pasticceria and Caffe on First Avenue near East 11th Street is one of my favorite places in the neighborhood ... the business has been run by the same family, now in its 4th generation...
Photographer Gudrun Georges recently captured the 108-year-old Italian bakery in these photos ... and she shared them with me ... (find more here) ...
In addition, John the owner invited her to have a look at the in-house bakery, an area not in view to customers ... it's located below the cafe...
You can find more of her bakery photos here.
I kind of wish there was some longstanding feud between DeRobertis and Veniero's - Montague and Capulet style.
ReplyDeleteA true neighborhood treasure, and so far beyond that poor old tarted up tourist trap Veniero's (which, before its lamentable re-do in the early 1980s, had equally the charm and vintage decrepitude).
ReplyDeleteAgree with Gojira, however, I was saddened when DeRobertis redid it's interior as well. (I don't know... early 1990s?), They took out all the great 1930s fluorescent tube light sconces and other fixtures. Maybe redid the tables? (can't remember) stopped serving espresso with "real silver" demitasse spoons.
ReplyDeleteStill a great place though.
Always preferred DeRobertis,never cared for Veniero's.
ReplyDeleteDe Robertis is also one of my favorite places. Thanks for the reminder that I need to go in there more often.
ReplyDeleteThese are great behind-the-scenes photos - only wish she'd of captured the lovely 1920's era seating in the back.
ReplyDeleteSpent many a romantic night over coffee in there.
Highly recommended folks...
LOVE DeRobertis! Miles better than Veniero. Especially the ice. And the people are terrific: the Venierians are (except for the front counter) sullen and slow. DeRobertis and Russo's are the only two remnants of the Italian 'hood around 1st and 11th...Veniero has become a yuppoid tourist trap.
ReplyDeleteDo they own the location?
ReplyDelete