Dessert is an essential part of the dinner hour, and nothing tops off an incredible meal at La Famiglia in Reno than a slice of our scratch-made cheesecake. It’s a customer favorite, and we understand why! There are many versions of cheesecakes – different flavors, toppings, styles of preparations, even composition – but the La Famiglia version is a truly luscious cheesecake that blends the best of both New York and Italian styles. The result is a dessert you just can’t pass up.

New York Style Meets Italian

Most Americans are familiar with New York cheesecake, which uses cream cheese for a rich, dense texture and flavor. They also tend to be plain, with sauces for variation. Italian cheesecake, on the other hand, use ricotta to create a lighter and drier texture that is more like cake in terms of texture and taste. It’s the Italian cheesecakes that traditionally feature fresh ingredients baked into the cakes themselves for special flavors, while New York cheesecakes are the ones often draped in compotes or sauces. Really, you can’t go wrong either way!

At La Famiglia, we prefer cream cheese over ricotta to achieve that creamy, smooth richness, but our method of baking means the final cheesecake is more reminiscent of Italian styles in terms of its surprisingly light – not dense – texture. It really is the best of both styles. Fresh ingredients like peaches, raspberries or rich chocolate are baked right into the cheesecake. And for the final touch, we top some of our cheesecakes with a delicate layer of a complementary flavor, like caramel, and serve them with a bit of fresh whipped cream.

It’s become well-known around Reno that La Famiglia offers a rotating and seasonal selection of cheesecakes, from coconut to chocolate peanut butter to several fresh berry flavors.

Leave Room for Dessert

Next time you join us for dinner at La Famiglia in Reno, save room for dessert! Our cheesecakes are made by hand every day with fresh ingredients, and they go quickly. Enjoy the best of New York and Italian cheesecakes right here at La Famiglia Ristorante Italiano in Reno, and don’t forget to the Italian coffee to go with it!