The most talked-about item at this bakery is called a lobster tail, and there’s zero seafood involved. It’s a crunchy, shell-shaped pastry packed with chantilly cream, and people bring it up far more than anything else in the case.
The family behind the counter has been baking for the Tri-State area since 1937. That’s closing in on 90 years, which is a serious run for any sweet shop.
The business also describes itself as a fourth-generation Italian bakery.
The case still leans proudly old-school, with cannoli, sfogliatelle, rum baba, and trays of cookies. All of it sits in one cozy storefront in North Jersey, New Jersey.
I love that a bakery this seasoned still lets you watch cakes come together right in the shop. So how does a family keep the ovens humming for almost a century?
Let’s go find out, one pastry at a time.
A Goffle Road Pastry Stop Worth Pulling Over For
Hawthorne sits in Passaic County, and Goffle Road runs right through the middle of its daily life. Along that busy stretch, Rispoli’s Pastry Shop (Hawthorne) keeps a case full of Italian classics ready for anyone with a sweet tooth.
The shop is a bakery first and foremost, not a restaurant with a dessert menu tacked on. Pastries, cookies, custom cakes, and coffee drinks make up the whole show here.
It also holds an impressive 4.8-star rating across more than 300 Google reviews. That’s a lot of happy people for one neighborhood pastry counter in New Jersey.
So who stops by? Families grabbing birthday treats, couples planning weddings, and folks who simply wandered in hungry all seem to end up here.
I like that the place feels rooted in its town while carrying a much bigger family story. The Hawthorne shop is part of a baking name that stretches back generations.
Getting your bearings is easy because the shop sits right on a main road. Once you’re inside, though, the bakery case is going to demand your full attention.
Good luck leaving with just one thing in the box. Most folks don’t even try.
Four Generations of Flour on Their Hands
Back in 1937, the Rispoli name started serving the Tri-State area with Italian baked goods. Nearly nine decades later, the family tradition is still going strong.
That kind of staying power is rare in the food world. Trends come and go, yet a lobster tail and a cannoli never seem to lose their fans.
The bakery describes itself as a fourth-generation Italian operation. That means recipes and techniques have been handed down through several sets of hands over the years.
The owners talk often about sharing their family’s tradition of quality with every guest. You can sense that pride in how they respond to nearly every customer note.
Hawthorne is the setting for this particular chapter of the story. Some newer customers even mention how glad they are that the shop opened right in their town.
I believe longevity like this says more than any slogan could. A bakery doesn’t last almost 90 years by accident.
Generations of cakes, holidays, and Sunday treats have come out of this family’s ovens. And the case still looks like it belongs to an old-school Italian pastry shop.
You’ll Want To Order The Lobster Tail Before Anything Else
Of all the treats in the case, the lobster tail wins the popularity contest by a mile. It gets mentioned more than cannoli, cookies, and cakes in the shop’s Google reviews.
For the uninitiated, a lobster tail is a layered, shell-shaped pastry. Its ridged shape is said to resemble a lobster’s tail, hence the funny name.
Fans keep coming back to one word: crunchy. Several people say the shell stays crisp, which is a big deal for a pastry that can turn soggy elsewhere.
One customer drove up from Morris County just for these. Another admitted they weren’t even a lobster tail fan until trying the version here.
The pastry also shows up on party platters and birthday plates. Staff have been known to recommend it to first-timers who can’t decide.
I can’t imagine visiting without at least one in the bag. It’s basically the house mascot, just more delicious.
If you only try one thing, make it this. Then plan your next visit around whatever caught your eye second.
That Chantilly Cream Is The Secret Inside The Shell
Crunch gets the headlines, but the filling does plenty of heavy lifting too. The lobster tails here come packed with a chantilly cream that customers keep singling out.
Chantilly cream is a sweetened whipped cream, often lightly flavored. In this case, it gives the crisp shell a soft, rich partner.
Some people describe the cream as buttery and light. That balance matters when the pastry itself is so crackly and layered.
One customer even noted the lobster tails still tasted great days after a party. That’s an impressive feat for a cream-filled pastry.
Chantilly cream doesn’t stop with the lobster tails, either. It’s a natural fit for the kind of Italian-style cakes and pastries the shop is known for.
I like how a simple filling can make or break a classic. Here, it seems to be one of the reasons people drive across New Jersey for a box.
So when you bite in, pay attention to that center. The shell may grab you first, but the cream is what sticks in your memory.
Cannoli Bragging Rights In A Very Crowded State
New Jersey takes its cannoli seriously, so any bakery claiming bragging rights better deliver. Cannoli rank among the most-mentioned items at Rispoli’s Pastry Shop (Hawthorne).
One bride-to-be even called them the top-rated cannoli in the state. She made a drive of over an hour and felt it was worth the trip.
The cannoli spirit spreads beyond the classic tube, too. The shop has made a cannoli cake with fresh strawberries for at least one wedding.
That couple said nearly every guest named it one of the best cakes they’d ever eaten. Not a bad review from a crowd of hungry wedding guests.
Cannoli also appear in a sneaky way inside the rum baba. More on that delightful mashup in a moment.
Honestly, a cannoli is a fine test of any Italian bakery. The shell, the filling, the freshness all have to line up.
Grab one for the road, or grab a few for the house. Sharing is optional, and nobody here will judge your decision.
Rum Baba Stuffed With Cannoli Cream, Because Why Not
Here’s a pairing worth a double take: a rum baba with cannoli filling tucked inside. One customer named it a personal favorite right alongside the lobster tail.
A baba is a soft, syrup-soaked Italian cake with deep roots in Naples. Rum cake in general gets regular mentions among people who visit the shop.
That same customer grew up eating pastries in Rome, Bologna, Verona, and Venice. They said the quality here reminded them of those family trips.
Sfogliatelle also pop up in the case. These clam-shaped, many-layered pastries are a true Italian classic and a fun one to crunch through.
Not everything is strictly Old World, though. One longtime customer pointed out that much of the case is Italian-American rather than purely Italian.
Honestly, that blend may be part of the charm. North Jersey grew up on Italian-American bakeries, after all.
Either way, the case gives you plenty of old-school choices. Pick a baba, a sfogliatella, or both, and call it research.
Cookies That Double As Tiny Works Of Art
Cookies earn more than 50 mentions in the shop’s reviews, and the variety helps explain why. You’ll find traditional Italian cookies sitting alongside American favorites.
Oatmeal cookies have a dedicated fan club among Hawthorne locals. One family named them a top pick right next to the lobster tails.
The custom sugar cookies are a different story altogether. Customers describe them as creatively designed, with detailed royal icing work for every kind of occasion.
One baby shower featured custom royal icing cookies that matched the party’s Peter Rabbit theme. The host said they tasted just as good as they looked.
American fare rounds things out nicely. Brownies, half moons, and cupcakes also show up in the lineup.
Cookie trays make easy gifts, too. One customer sent cookies and pastries out and was thrilled the delivery arrived the same day.
I like that you can go classic or whimsical depending on the mood. A box of cookies here might be the easiest crowd-pleaser in town.
Celebration Cakes With A Flair For Themes
A six-year-old’s mad science party might be the best test of any cake designer. Rispoli’s took on that exact theme, and the customer said it wowed every kid there.
Custom cakes are a big part of what the shop does. Birthdays, baby showers, communions, engagements, and weddings all show up in its order history.
Flavor options go beyond plain vanilla, too. Customers mention mascarpone with raspberry filling and chocolate mousse among their favorites.
Design work gets plenty of praise. One couple said the team matched their wedding colors perfectly, while a birthday cake reportedly beat its inspiration photo.
Results can vary, as with any bakery. One holiday cake customer was unhappy with dryness and the box, so it’s wise to talk details when ordering.
Delivery is also possible for big events. One wedding cake even made the trip to a venue in Pennsylvania.
Planning something big in New Jersey? A consultation at the counter is a smart first step toward a cake people remember.
Pastry Boards That Steal The Party
Some desserts quietly sit on a table. The pastry boards from this shop tend to become the main event.
Customers use them for weddings, communions, engagement parties, and holidays. One couple called theirs a true showstopper that guests kept talking about.
A typical spread can include mini pastries, cakes, and decorated cookies. Lobster tails often make an appearance, which seems only fair given their fame.
Parfaits are another option for party trays. One baby shower host ordered several flavors and enjoyed every one.
Staff sometimes suggest a board when people are unsure what to serve. One communion host took that advice and said everyone loved it.
It’s a neat way to let guests sample the whole case at once. Nobody has to pick a single favorite, which avoids plenty of family debates.
Boards can be a splurge, as one customer admitted. Still, that same person planned to order another one for an upcoming holiday.
Espresso, A Comfy Seat, And A View Of The Bakers
Pastries taste even better with something hot alongside them. The shop serves coffee, espresso, and lattes to pair with your pick from the case.
There’s also a seating area for anyone who doesn’t want to eat in the car. That’s a nice perk when a lobster tail simply cannot wait.
Here’s a fun bonus: you can watch cakes and pastries being made right in the shop. Seeing the craftsmanship up close adds a little theater to your snack.
Kids may especially enjoy that peek behind the scenes. It turns a quick bakery stop into a small show.
One customer even described the place as feeling like home. Another said the food, people, and environment were all a perfect ten.
I like that you can linger without fuss. Coffee, a pastry, and some cake-decorating entertainment make for a cheap little outing.
Grab a table, sip slowly, and watch the bakers work. It’s hard to beat that kind of afternoon break in New Jersey.
Everyone Seems To Know Rose By Name
Friendly staff earn more than 100 mentions in the shop’s reviews. That’s even more than the beloved lobster tails get.
One name keeps popping up over and over: Rose. Customers praise her for guiding cake choices, suggesting pastry boards, and handling last-minute changes calmly.
A fan affectionately calls her Grandma Ro. That same person urged others to stop in and say hello.
The kindness extends beyond one person, too. During the rush before Thanksgiving, one customer said the counter team stayed fast, polite, and friendly.
Then there’s the bread story. A tired customer arrived late on a rainy evening to find the bread gone, and a baker made them a fresh hot loaf on the spot.
Moments like that stick with people. They also help explain why so many customers describe feeling like family here.
Great pastry gets you in the door. Warm service is what keeps the door swinging for nearly 90 years.
Plan Around A 6 PM Closing And Closed Mondays
Timing matters here, so set a reminder. The shop sits at 1103 Goffle Rd, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.
Hours run 9 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Friday. Saturdays open earlier at 8 AM and also close at 6 PM.
Sundays are short and sweet, running 8 AM to 2 PM. Mondays are closed, so don’t schedule a cannoli craving then.
One customer offered sensible advice: get there early. A 6 PM close can sneak up on you after work.
Weekends can get busy, especially Saturdays. Holiday eves may bring a flood of pick-up orders, too.
If you’re ordering a custom cake or pastry board, give yourself plenty of lead time. Popular dates fill quickly, especially around wedding and communion season.
Prices vary by item and order size, and custom work may cost more. A quick call or stop at the counter can sort out the details before your big day.
A Sweet Reason To Point The Car Toward Hawthorne
Nearly 90 years of family baking is a pretty convincing résumé. Rispoli’s Pastry Shop (Hawthorne) still fills its case with the Italian classics people crave.
Start with a lobster tail, because almost everyone else does. Then add a cannoli, a rum baba, or a handful of cookies for good measure.
Planning a celebration? The custom cakes and pastry boards have marked plenty of milestones for families across the region.
The welcome may be the real highlight. Friendly faces like Rose make even a quick pastry run feel personal.
It’s an easy, affordable treat for a day trip around North Jersey. You can sit with an espresso, watch bakers at work, and leave with a box under your arm.
I believe places like this are what make New Jersey so lovable. They’re proof that the best things often come from one family, one oven, and a lot of patience.
So go early, skip Mondays, and bring someone to share with. Or don’t, your call.
