gabriella gershenson

It’s a toss up whether this popular Upper West Side dessert spot is best known for its cameo in You’ve Got Mail or for the more than 100 cakes, pies and tarts that overwhelm its sweet selection. From the outside in, the mood at Café Lalo is decidedly pseudo-European-light-strewn trees announce its presence on a brownstone-lined block and fin de siècle posters brighten the interior, though Central Perk-style oversized mugs and a track of throbbing house music give this meeting spot a decidedly youthful spin. A perfect place for teenage girls to share an illicit slice of heath bar cheesecake (or not—there are 27 other flavors), the crowd here at any given time is a lopsided mix of young and old. A limited menu of salads and sandwiches, day-long brunch, plus some kosher selections add variety to the sugary repertoire.

201 W. 83rd St., between Broadway and Amsterdam Ave.
212-496-6031