5 Postcards
Fortunato Brothers, a beloved bakery in Williamsburg since 1976, delights with classic Italian pastries, creamy gelato, and an old-school charm that keeps locals coming back.
"The Dish: Sfogliatella There aren’t a lot of places where you can get handmade sfogliatella in New York, but Fortunato Brothers is one of them. The Williamsburg bakery, around since 1976, is a vestige of the old Italian neighborhood here, and you can taste a hint of that history in their sfogliatella. Filled with a ricotta and almond pastry cream with a touch of lemon, the pastry crunches like a stack of Pringles as you sink your teeth into it." - bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja
"You’ll see a few vestiges of the old Italian-American neighborhood in northern Williamsburg, like the Mt. Carmel Church, which hosts its sausage and pepper-fueled festival every summer. Fortunato Brothers, a bakery that’s been on the corner of Manhattan and Devoe since 1976, is one of them. Try and fight the urge to do a Tony Soprano impression while you order your sfogliatella, a crackly pastry filled with a ricotta pastry cream. Fortunato Brothers is one of the only places you can still get a handmade version of these in New York—and they're as iconic as Yankees players with single-digit jersey numbers. You'll find all the classic Italian bakery pastries here, so come for sfogliatella and espresso, and pick up a box of pignoli or rainbow cookies while you're at it. photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte photo credit: Kate Previte" - Will Hartman
"Before I headed home to transcribe and write my piece, I stopped at Fortunato Brothers for banana gelato."
"Some 100 different items are on offer at this family-owned, ornate, marble- and mirror-filled shop, so it’s easy to get carried away. Fortunato’s rainbow cookies are a solid choice, though the blueberry Napoleon is a must-taste here. Consider snagging a whole Cassatta cake — rich with ricotta mousse filling, nutty from a marzipan ribbon around its side, and sweet from the candied cherries, squash, pears, and apricots that garnish each one — for a party. Gelato and espresso are also available." - Daniela Galarza
"A stronghold of traditional Italian baking amid gentrified Williamsburg, Fortunato keeps things classic. In addition to lovingly made cakes, gelato, and other assorted pastries, the shop is famous for its fluffy tri-colored rainbow cookie. The staff’s charm is as old-school as the recipes." - Paul Schrodt
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