"Any ice cream obtainable within a five-minute walk of McCarren Park is a precious commodity. At Caffè Panna in Greenpoint, that ice cream also happens to be some of the very best in the city. The beloved ice cream shop, which originated in Gramercy, is so highly seasonal that their menu of decadent, inventive flavors (lavender rhubarb, passion fruit rice pudding) changes daily. They’re known for their sundaes, capped with Italian-imported whipped cream, and their so-crazy-they-just-might-work (and somehow, always do) high-low mix-ins: things like chocolate-covered potato chips, Speculoos brittle, medjool dates, and Oreo ganache. photo credit: Liz Clayman photo credit: Liz Clayman photo credit: Liz Clayman photo credit: Britt Lam photo credit: Britt Lam At the height of summer, for example, Caffè Panna might have the instant-classic Sungold Sundae. An ambitious helping of Fior Di Panna soft serve is dressed with savory Tuscan olive oil, basil, saba (a balsamic-adjacent Italian grape must syrup), crunchy sea salt, and glowing orange Sungold tomatoes—little greenmarket gems. Think of it as a caprese salad for your sweet tooth and dig right in, because the soft serve quickly becomes a leaning tower in the heat. The Brooklyn location is also the only place you can try Panna’s unique granitas: soft serve on the bottom, whipped cream on top, and crunchy, fluffy flavored ice in between. Dessert this good justifiably commands a long line, but trust that it will move quickly. There’s ample, air-conditioned standing room inside the Greenpoint shop, and if you’re just ordering a pint, you can proceed directly to the pickup window. This location also has a private party room (for 15-25 people), so keep it in mind for your next birthday, work event, or dairy-centric celebration of any kind. Food Rundown Granitas The Granita Di Caffè is pleasant and refreshing (anything espresso-related here is reliably good, including the affogatos), but the Granita Di Strawberry is exceptional. Consider the potent, sweet-tart strawberry ice an apology from the universe for every pale, disappointing, bottom-of-the-basket supermarket berry that’s ever come your way." - Molly Fitzpatrick
