Benson Y.
Yelp
Having spent many of my formative years in Brooklyn, I had ready access to classic, old school bakeries that sold rainbow cookies, cannolis, cakes, pies and tons of cookies. Whenever I see a bakery that has a "rough around the edges" look such as this one, I always want to try it so the other day I passed by La Delice and went to take a look purely on the merits of the classic New York style looking store front.
Inside it truly felt like a bakery from my days in Brooklyn. A lot of glass cases with polished steel. Some plastic display cakes that had long lost their luster, but among all that was an array of cookies, breads, rolls, cakes and other confections. I decided to target one of my favorite items, chocolate dipped cookies with a fruit preserve in the middle and of course, sprinkles! I wanted to only get a couple to try, but I was told a quarter pound (6 cookies) was required. I think in the outer boroughs this would have been a deal breaker for me, but in Manhattan I wasn't shocked so I went for two of three different types of the same cookie.
I took my camera out to take a couple shots of the interior (you'll see one in my photos) but I was quickly told that there were "no photos" allowed inside. The old lady behind the counter was rather firm about it. Not "mean" exactly, but not particularly "nice old lady-ish" either. I was rather put off by this. I explained to her that I thought her work was beautiful (and it really is, the gingerbread houses were especially cute), but she didn't relent. This, my friends, is why this is a three star review instead of a four star one. In this day and age, people take pictures of businesses all the time. It's not like she makes anything in there that's a corporate secret so her attitude confounded me.
Anyhoo, the cookies were really good. They were light and crunchy while the chocolate, sprinkles and filling in the middle were just the right sweetness and consistency, not overly chewy or tough.
Much like other old time businesses I've been to, don't go here expecting a particularly cheery staff or reception, but what you can expect are good cookies!