What: Cannoli, sfogliatelle, biscotti, and their ilk are as much a part of the Italian-American tradition in Philly as those Italian-meat-filled hoagies and spaghetti and meatballs. Not surprisingly, the best pastry shops tend to have been around a looong time.
Where: Since 1921, family-owned Termini Bros. Pasticceria (multiple locations including 1523 South 8th St. and in Reading Terminal Market at 51 N. 12th St., map) has been a fixture on the South Philly Italian pastry scene.
When: The original South 8th St. location is open Mon-Thurs, 8am-7pm; Fri, 8am-7:30pm; Sat, 7am-7:30pm; Sun, 7am-6pm.
Order: Definitely a cannoli ($3.50) or five—pictured is the delicious vanilla Italian cream variety, its crisp, golden-fried shell stuffed with exceptionally creamy and sweet innards, but there’s also an excellent ricotta cheese with chocolate chips cannoli and a chocolate Italian cream filling. Also consider the delicate ricotta-filled sfogliatelle, the pignoli cookies, and whatever else catches your fancy.
Alternatively: Another popular pasticceria—around for more than a century and dispensing award-winning cannoli, no less—is Isgro (1009 Christian St. nr 10th St., map).
