Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery

Mazedar is an Urdu word for a food’s “essence” or “magic,” and this bakery’s signature desserts—dense with chocolate, buttered pecans, brown sugar oatmeal crust and salted caramel—certainly have a magical quality. The West Village spot’s founder, Umber Ahmad, is of Pakistani descent and is a protégé of Tom Colicchio's. She and executive pastry chef Shelly Barbera (ex-Aldea and Brooklyn Fare) found success with a wholesale business before opening this flagship shop, which has a few seats opposite the tantalizing dessert case and a communal table in back. The dark chocolate brownies and brioche doughnuts are scrumptious.