New Paradise Bakery — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

The gelato is great, but that's about it.

Seeing another recent review about a terrible sandwich inspired me to share my recent experiences. It seems like there's a pattern forming here.

I've gotten a few sandwiches lately and every time it takes at least 15 minutes for them to make it. I got the pepper and egg breakfast sandwich yesterday, which yes, took 15 minutes. When the worker handed it to me, I was immediately concerned because the sandwich wasn't hot. At all. I opened it up and, sure enough, lukewarm at best. It also was literally just eggs and slices of green pepper. No salt. No pepper. No cheese. Served on a baguette that was very hard to chew. Complete waste of money.

On top of that, the employees they've had recently (seemingly an entirely different staff than last summer) are just straight up angry about something, all the time. I came in and ordered a sandwich for lunch a couple weeks ago and I obviously ruined the girl's day. After being in the back for at least 5 minutes, she came out and told me that they didn't have any basil so I couldn't get the sandwich I ordered. Cool, so I get to order a different sandwich and the waiting clock starts over again. The communication was awkward and made it feel like I was in trouble or something. Sorry for ordering a thing on the menu. My bad, I guess.

Meanwhile, other people are coming in and lining up with no one behind the counter to help anyone because she's in the back waiting for the vegetables on my sandwich to finish growing.

Having a sandwich menu should not disrupt the flow of service that dramatically. If you can't staff someone to make sandwiches as they get ordered or train and equip your counter staff to make sandwiches quickly, do not offer sandwiches.

Final thought, get some music playing in there. Standing around by myself (waiting for a sandwich) with no sound other than being serenaded by the hum of refrigerators is not a good atmosphere. Having some music playing is...

New Paradise is an absolute hidden gem. Every bite here is a delight, and I can’t help but rave about their savory offerings. The Arancini Carne is a standout: a perfectly crispy, golden ball filled with tender rice and rich, flavorful meat—utterly mouthwatering. The stuffed pizza puff is unlike anything I’ve ever tried before. The dough has a soft, buttery, almost donut-like texture with just a hint of sweetness. Inside, the gooey mozzarella and savory sauce create a pizza-dough-donut hybrid that’s pure heaven.

The Focaccia is another unexpected treasure—soft, pillowy, and bursting with buttery flavor. This is how focaccia should taste, unlike the dry, stiff versions you often find elsewhere. But what truly sets New Paradise apart is the cannoli. As someone who’s never been a fan of cannolis (they’re usually too sweet, soggy, or just not right), I was blown away by how fresh and perfectly balanced these are. Each cannoli is filled on the spot, keeping the shell crispy and the filling sweet but not overpowering. It’s the perfect bite.

And don’t even get me started on the Tiramisu and Pistachio Tarts. Both have won over even my mom, who’s usually very particular about her desserts.

What makes New Paradise even more special, though, is the heart behind it. The owner, John, pours so much care into everything he does—his food, his space, and especially his customers. In a world where so many businesses prioritize quantity over quality, it’s places like New Paradise that truly deserve our support. Thank you, John, for crafting authentic, delicious products that make our community better. I can't wait to return for more of your amazing...

What an exciting new business! We visited over opening weekend, and they were quite busy, but overall the line moved pretty fast. The best strategy is to get some gelato and eat it while you wait in line. ;)

They were "temporarily cash only" this weekend - not sure how long that will last, but I would bring plenty of cash with you, just in case.

The cannoli were great! The shell was light and crispy and the cream was delicious. I am honestly not much of a cannoli fan, but these were some of the best.

The big draw for me is the fact that they sell gelato. Sadly, the coffee gelato was not my favorite iteration. I have had this flavor a lot - here, in Italy, all over, so perhaps I am a bit discriminating. I think it had undertones of hazelnut, but I would get the nocciola if that is what I craved. On the other hand, the chocolate was good, and the pistachio was great.

I think they could diversify the gelato flavors a little more. I feel like they asked themselves "what do Americans like to eat?", and so there were too many versions of chocolate-like flavors, and flavors I don't crave in my gelato, like Oreo. The addition of lemon (and/or other citrus), crema, coconut, etc., would be welcome. As it is, I think there were only like 3 fruity flavors. I believe they were strawberry, raspberry, and mixed berry. To reach for the stars, they could even consider the addition of granita to...