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This Bay Ridge eatery is a combo platter of Old- School Italian café experience and New Age raft

by Catherine Gigante-Brown • Photos by alex Barreto

According to Zagat, we New Yorkers spend an average (average, mind you) of $48.56 per person to go out to eat, a figure $8.03 more than the national average. If you go out twice a week with a date, that’s a $194 seven-day, $800 monthly, and $9,600 yearly expense. As glorious as these gustatory adventures may be, it’s clearly incumbent upon us, then, to embrace thrift whenever possible, and a lovely little outpost in Bay Ridge is in a position to help do just that.

Paneantico Bakery Café actually stands apart in many ways—offering a huge, thoughtful menu, innovative creations, and robust portions…that won’t break the bank.

Customers wax philosophic about the thick, gooey deliciousness of a trademark balsamic reduction that liberally dresses their sandwiches and salads (owners Frank Buono and Giuseppe Generoso also sell bottled balsamic glaze under the Roso banner), and their café has everything from prosciutto bagels to brick-oven heroes and fresh greens, complimented by the piping hot, crusty breads that give Paneantico (which means “old-fashioned bread” in Italian) its name.

The array of desserts seems to go on for miles: pignoli cookies, tricolor cakes, seven-layer cookies, sweet, flaky clam shells and lobster tails, chocolate pistachio cookies, red velvet cakes and cupcakes, cannoli and cheesecakes of every variety, fruit tarts, and simple, uncomplicated biscuits.

“Dessert-wise, our pastry, especially our cannoli, are our biggest sellers,” said Buono. “But everyone has their own personal favorite.”

Open since 1999, even after 15 years, Paneantico is still wildly popular, even on a stretch of Third Avenue that’s lined with eateries of widely varied ethnicities. “We’re very family-oriented and offer authentic, home-style cooking in a relaxed atmosphere,” explained Buono. “Paneantico is a neighborhood place. We know 90% of our customers. If you come in for coffee a few times, we remember how you like it.”

Northwell B22 SPREAD

And speaking of java…it’s phenomenal, with cappuccino varieties of almond and mocha as well as straight-up lattes, espressos, and macchiatos.

According to Buono, Paneantico’s most popular sandwich is grilled chicken, mozzarella, and roasted peppers. A close second is the eggplant parmigiana, and the steak and Fontina melt is sublime. Salads here are also awe inspiring, prompting a Yelper to comment: “My sister once said, ‘If I were on death row and could have one final meal, it would be a Paneantico salad.’”

Bread is baked fresh every day, with a delectable array of sandwich options. Heros are available on a choice of four pane varieties: brick oven, soft, Napoliton, and fiber (whole grain).

Even Paneantico’s tuna platter is a step above ordinary, accompanied by roasted peppers, mozzarella, aged balsamic, French cheese, and grilled eggplant. The vegetable carbonata with mozzarella and fried eggplant is also religion-inducing.

“Our bread is the base of everything here,” Buono said. “It’s what makes our sandwiches outstanding.” But it’s also nice touches like crisp arugula and imaginative combinations like grilled aubergine, smoked mozzarella, and smoked spicy Italian salami which win over the loyal local crowd.

Buono continued, “We truly want Paneantico to have a neighborhoody feel. We try to make enjoying excellent food an easy, rewarding experience, and strive to give the customer that one-on one feeling. They’re not just a number to us.”

Paneantico itself exudes a comfortable café vibe that’s distinctly European and unpretentious…Old World Italian excellence.

“Our dishes are made by our family, from family recipes,” said Buono. “It’s good, simple home-cooking at its best.”

Paneantico Bakery Café
9124 3rd Ave. / 718.680.2347
paneanticobakerycafe.com