Review: Sugar Sweet Sunshine

February 09, 2004 If it's true, as we've come to suspect, that we're living in Magnolia Bakery Nation, we can think of worse cultural fates. For the last month, we've been peeking in on Sugar Sweet Sunshine, a new Rivington Street bakery slash coffee shop (@ Essex/Norfolk) from two ex-employees of the West Village cupcake shrine. Verdict: Sugary goodness—our new go-to spot for all things cake in the hood, and a worthy addition to the Lower East Side's espresso explosion. (The banana pudding ain't shabby either.) Interesting historical note: the bakery used to be the retail home of Shapiro Wine Company, the wine maker whose kosher mural still adorns the facade above the north-east corner of Rivington and Essex. The company had quit the neighborhood in 2000, but has re-opened a retail spot in the Essex Street Market, the Times reports (last item).

Thumb-up for SSS. My ladyfriend went in there the other day while waiting for her Tiny's order, and she got a vanilla cupcake for her and just asked for "the most chocolatey piece of cake" for me. That slice of cake was so gigantic that I felt like I was eating the Torah. And I tried a bit of her cupcake (that sounds so gross), and it was easily the best one I've ever had, not that I'm much of a cupcake expert. Together I think they cost $5. See you all there.

Posted by: joey at February 9, 2004 11:58 AM

SSS reviewed by New York Press. [via the ever-watchful Ian]

Posted by: Lock at February 18, 2004 10:28 AM

Just lovely. Now there is no reason to have to go to the west village.

Posted by: :r at February 22, 2004 07:18 PM

The piggy puddin' is delightfully decadent and is one of the less cavity creating sweets found there. I know, this may spoil the fun for some, but I would love to see some naturally sweetened items on the menu, i.e., evaporated cane juice or fruit juice-sweetened goodies.

Posted by: Ken at February 29, 2004 08:53 AM