Puddin’

Puddin’ is so good that I once went there four nights in a row, and I don’t even live in the East Village anymore. The only thing that would make it better is if they opened a branch by me in Williamsburg, which would probably seem right at home between the burg’s very own Crif Dogs and Caracas Arepa Bar. It’s not just that pudding is the best dessert ever (take that ice cream, with your tooth-tingling cold and annoying meltiness!) but the puddings at Puddin’ taste the way pudding should taste and never does. The butterscotch is made with real scotch and has a caramelized flavor like the sugary scorched crust of a crème brûlée. The vanilla flavor tastes like real vanilla bean, the lemon has a citrus tang, and the chocolate tastes like authentic dark chocolate. I haven’t tried the coffee, banana, and rice puddings, but I did have the vegan coconut pudding, and didn’t miss the dairy. When in doubt, a free tasting of each flavor should help you settle on your pick.

But it gets better! There’s a multitude of different sauces and toppings, like salted caramel, marshmallow creme, hot fudge, maple toasted granola, graham cracker crumbs, and red velvet cake ($1 extra). You can choose one of their three sizes ($3-$8.50) and layer as many different pudding flavors and toppings as you wish. Moreover the counter people seem excited as they ring up your custom parfait, like you’ve just created something new and awesome. Or maybe this is like a rigged painting competition for kids, with the cup as canvas and pudding as paint, and everyone’s an artistic genius here. No matter. As long as I get my puddin’ you’ll hear no complaints out of me.

Puddin’
102 St. Mark’s Place between Ave. A and First Ave.
Mon-Thu 9am-11pm, Fri-Sat 9am-1am