Mike's Pastry

★★★★☆ 4.2 (9155)

"Listen, I don't begrudge a successful business that earns its reputation to the point where people are willing to wait in an excruciatingly long line. However, I do despise people who rudely cut ahead of me when the line subdivides into separate queues. A South Asian family of five did just that, and my only pleasure was derived when a couple of North End bros snapped at them. Regardless, waiting a half-hour gave me time to peruse Google.I thought it would save time to identify what were deemed the best of Mike's cannolis. However, the veteran server at the counter didn't appear to be in a hurry as she chatted freely with the neighborhood regulars in front of us. Of course, she sped up the moment I approached the counter, and her warmth suddenly left the building. She bundled our order and off we went. Now the best part of the experience. We found a playground hidden in an alleyway called Cutillo Park.There was a vacant picnic table where we enjoyed our purchases. We ordered what were proclaimed to be Mike's Top 3 cannolis out of 20 varieties. The first was the Espresso with a fluffy coffee cream filling and cinnamon powder (photo: https://yelp.to/tlMHB6X7Wh). The second was the Florentine with a vanilla cream filling and thicker, darker shell (photo: https://yelp.to/Ux-PHbB3iH). The third was the most straightforward, the Plain Ricotta Cheese with fresh ricotta (photo: https://yelp.to/y047jJCw_U).Each was $7 and uniquely delicious. We dared to order a fourth, the Pistachio which was way down in the ranking (#14) but creamy, tasty, and nutty just the same (photo: https://yelp.to/otrirTavSp). We noticed a couple of complementary Pignoli Macaroons that were freshly baked and meltably good (photo: https://yelp.to/nvSz2zENiw). The late Michael Mercogliano is the Mike who created his cannoli in 1946 and lived to the age of 90 in 2012. Thought you might want to know.CANNOLIS - 4 stars...genuinely well crafted, just a little too big and unavoidably messyAMBIANCE - 3 stars...a zoo but a well kept oneSERVICE - 3 stars...if you're not from the 'hood, fuggetaboutit...and somebody come out here and manage the damn queueTOTAL - 4 stars...best enjoyed in quietudeRELATED - Exploring Boston? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3XtfnFc"

Carlo's Cucina Italiana

★★★★☆ 4.4 (808) • $$

"The food was delicious and the portions are huge! It's a very nondescript restaurant. The location is very ideal for anyone who lives in Allston and for college students. It seems to be a popular place in the area. We ordered the antipasti, Caprese, veal pasta and seafood Arrabiata linguine was delicious. The Tiramisu was good too. My only criticism is that they should've told us the price of the linguine Arabiata since it was $44 a plate as a special! The ambience is casual. The service was friendly and casual."

Bistro du Midi

★★★★☆ 4 (784) • $$$

"Excellent service, food and ambiance. It was a perfect evening. Went with a group of colleagues after a long conference day and could not have had a better experience! We started with the Oysters Mignonette and Fois Gras. I had a 'Oui Chef' cocktail that was simply delightful. We also ordered a truffle flat bread that was reported to be amazing, too.For main courses we ordered the Bouillabaisse, a filet and a steak frites. All were simply lovely! We were so full but ordered dessert anyway; the chocolate soufflé and Creme Brûlée which were both amazing, but we could not finish them.The service was impeccable too."

Futago Udon

★★★★☆ 4.4 (545) • $$

"TL;DR: Udon place with lots of variety of cold and hot noodles, and so good!Stopped by here for a quick bite for dinner and was very impressed. I had never had cold udon noodles before, and it was great!Interior is cute with some nice decor and plenty of seating. Service was nice, quick, and attentive. FOOD: ~Cold Uni Udon (5/5): Cold dish! I love uni and ikura, so this hit the spot. The broth/sauce was a dashi flavor. Mixed it all up and was the perfect balance of umami and salty. The coldness of the dish really ensured the integrity of the udon noodles, and they were so perfectly chewy~Sukiyaki Udon (5/5): Hot dish! Tasted like hot pot! The beef was very tender and had a decent amount of cabbaged that was perfectly braised. I loved this dish.This is definitely a must try!"

The Feisty Greek

★★★★☆ 4.4 (517) • $$

"I had the opportunity to try an "Authentic Pork Gyro" and some Greek Fries. On the positive side: the food was solid, the portions were large, and the service was friendly and fast. Where they fell short is the execution and, therefore, the meat. One of the things that hurt the gyro was the first bite. It was all meat and bread, no sauce, no veggies. When effectively on its own, I found the pork a little tough. While pork roasting on a spit isn't the most tender of cuts, the pieces were a bit thicker than at restaurants that thinly shave the meat. The flavors were okay, not mind-blowing, but it did seem to have the essentials of salt and pepper, which fits the bill since The Feisty Greek isn't going for any Michelin stars (yet!).Where the tzatziki, tomato, and bit of onion (I would have liked more) met the meat, now we are talking! The moisture of the veggies and sauce complimented the pork very well and helped make it softer and more tender. The only thing missing was hot sauce, but I believe hot sauce goes with everything but cereal, so that's just me being me. Another note is that the couple of fries they added seemed unnecessary (though it is authentic, according to reliable sources). Having the veggies and sauce applied throughout the entire length is all it would take to go from good to great!The side of Greek fries was delicious! The fries were cooked and seasoned nicely, and you can't go wrong with feta and oregano. I also asked for some extra tzatziki sauce on the side: this stuff was unusual but good unusual. They made it with cucumber, which added delightful crispness and freshness, but curiously no herbs.So, while this was a solid experience, I can't say it is worth repeating the trip to Norwood for the gyro alone."

Ristorante Saraceno

★★★★☆ 3.7 (605)

"We had a delightful experience at Saraceno welcomed by Franco el capo di capi when it comes to knowledge of Italian pasta. My wife and I dropped off our son to College and wanted to celebrate the event going to one of the very best Italian in the North End. We were not disappointed. We started with two Proseccos then a some fried calamari. I love the tagliatelle con Sarde. They made it with a tomato based fragrant sauce with onions, fennel, raisins, pine nuts, anchovies, sardines, and olive oil. I was absolutely perfect. The pasta a la vongole with white wine was also to die for. Service was very pleasant and attentive. The atmosphere was the best as we were sitting in the front spoke to everyone around us who were all natives from Boston and returning customers. The food was amazing. We will be back! Mille grazie Franko!"

Ramsay's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.7 (544) • $$$$

"When I'm in Boston I love to come here. Our server Lucas was amazing. Friendly n courteous. We came for lunch, we had started w a mimosa so good. Then oysters, petite beef Wellington n CT lobster roll. And of course we had yo finish w sticky toffee pudding ! It's to die for."

Orinoco

★★★★☆ 4 (388) • $$

"Step into the alley and discover delicious foods! My bf found this hidden gem tucked away from the main busy street. The restaurant is not that big but it has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. They have a big menu with many interesting dishes. I decided on their pollo adobo and wanted tostones on the side but they had run out. My bf got a savory meat dish and our friend ordered what looked like a pizza topped with shredded beef.The food was very tasty and very good! My pollo adobo was cooked perfectly and it came with a mushroom sauce and gnocchi. I quickly devoured it! The pizza looking dish was also very good. It had sweet flavors which was surprisingly delicious! My bf dish was also very good and very filling. He ordered shredded beef with a side of rice and beans. The service was great and the ambiance was nice. We had a great dinner and will definitely be back!"

Athan's Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.5 (483) • $$

"What a wonderful treat after a nice dinner here in Boston. It's a quaint European bakery with lots of delicious treats. They have everything form croissants, baklava, cookies, homemade pies, and other goodies such as candies and coffee. I opted for an almond croissant and my little one wanted a peanut butter cookie and a lollipop. On the other side is a cute quiet area to hangout and eat for snacks or even work. I loved this place! Next time I'm in the area I will be buying a whole cake!"

Cafe Weekend

★★★★☆ 4.4 (256) • $$

"I've walked by this place multiple times and never once was curious what they served here until I saw a reel on IG and got influenced. This unassuming cafe is full of surprises. I was taken aback by how flavorful, amazing, and addictive their pastas are! The atmosphere is casual but service is very friendly. This place can get very hot during the summer as their AC is lacking. But they make it up with their drool worthy pastas. This is a must visit for their pastas! You won't regret it."

La Taqueria Taco Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.1 (262) • $$

"Experiences may vary. I quite enjoyed the enchiladas with al pastor- the meal was fresh and filling and huge/heavy, the meat was flavorful and juicy, and the Mexican rice and stewed black beans on the side were tasty and seasoned well. The tacos though had dry meat (various meats, including al pastor), like maybe they were under a heat lamp or something, and the refrieds were wayyyy too salty.We also tried the app sampler, which was nothing to rave about but not bad either: the cheese nachos were plain but the cheese sauce was flavorful, the elote was decent, and the chicken flautas were a bit on the burnt side but had lots of flavor. Mixed bag, but worth a try."

Sugar Bakery

★★★★☆ 4.1 (238) • $$

"I feel so lucky to only live a mile away from Sugar Baking Co. Their cannolis are to die for, their bakery items are fresh and perfect. The staff is kind and helpful. It is the cutest little bakery!!"

Il Capriccio

★★★★☆ 4.1 (234) • $$$

"Omg! The food was soon good here. This restaurant deserves a solid 5 star experience! The food was perfect in quality and perfectly portioned and balanced. The porcini soufflé was to die for! The beet salad was perfect with hazelnut crumbles. The lamb chops was perfectly medium rare and the scallops were fresh and perfectly seared on mashed potatoes parsnips! The pistachio Baked Alaska was good! It was a first class meal and my favorite Italian restaurant in Waltham. I will come here again! The service was professional and ambience was contemporary chic. I learned that this restaurant was 40 years old but this was a new location."

The Danish Pastry House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (283) • $$

"Marked this place for a while and finally had a chance to go.Got Kringle, which was so flaky, and buttery and I absolutely loved it. Mayer snail and French waffle with cream and raspberry filling were also delicious. Was having a hard time debating whether I want marzipan cookies, so the owner was explaining how it would taste like, and decided on the spot to let us have one instead -- wasn't my favorite so I went for other items. But instead she additionally packed us a huge bag of regular cookies, for free. Since we just went for the pastry and didn't know the anything about the neighborhood, she even gave us tips on exploring the neighborhood -- Shannon beach turned out to be a lovely little place we enjoyed much :) Loved the cute little place, bakery and the whole experience! So far I've been having amazing experiences with Danish food and pastry place, now I definitely want to visit actual Denmark at some point"

Moon Flower House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (200) • $$

"Some of the freshest crispy chicken put into a sandwich and this is it! The chicken does seriously remind me of the KFC chicken you find in China. It really takes you down a nostalgic memory if you've ever had KFC in China. Overall, the chicken sandiwch is really up there with some of the best I've had!! Just so juicy and crispy on the outside. The barbecue wings were just okay, but the fries were really good - potato-y on the inside and crispy shelled. In addition, I thought the cute cartoon with the moon face and flower in hand was super cute and a nice touch to their bags and packaging. It felt really nice and cute to unwrap my sandwich from a small bag with that cartoon. I will certainly be back often for more chicken sandwiches!!"

Modern Pastry

★★★★☆ 3.8 (206) • $$

"Went for dessert, line moved much quicker here. Touristy dessert spot in the North End. I had both Mike's & Modern. I preferred Modern. The Ricotta was fresh and tasty. So good."

Eggs & Thai Café

★★★★☆ 4.2 (167) • $$

"We have been here a few times and will always come back. This time was our first time ordering take out. We've been there a couple times as dine in and it's a cute little spot. We called our order in and easily placed it. The lady answering the phone was super friendly and reviewed our order prior to hanging up. We ordered 2 Thai teas, Pad See Ew with beef, and Pad Thai with crispy chicken. The Pad Thai just has the right flavor. We didn't ask for it spicy because our toddler was eating it, but even as take out, the flavor held so well. The crispy chicken was definitely crispy and complimented the Pad Thai so well. The Pad See Ew was packed with flavor. The noodles were cooked perfectly with veggies that still had the right crunch to them. The beef was super tender! Our Thai teas hit the spot. Just the right mix and we could not stop drinking them. We definitely will be back. We recommend this place as take out or dine in. Either way, you're going to have a fantastic experience!"

The Aztec Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (171) • $$

"I recently learned that Horchata is not, in fact, an alcoholic beverage. I also learned Horchata is freaking delicious. Why has this been hidden from me for 30 years?!After plans for sushi fell through, a close friend and I decided to go here for dinner. I tried the Tacos Al Pastor and, of course, that lovely rice milk beverage.With the Tacos Al Pastor, these were very good, but just a little shy of perfection for my taste. I like that they seemed very traditional and authentic. Comprising them were protein, onion, cilantro, and a sauce. Everything was well-balanced. The onion and cilantro were not overdone at all and made themselves known without turning a taco into a taco salad. The sauce added flavor but was not overpowering. Where the taco comes short has to deal with the protein. While flavorful, I found it heavier on the acidic and salty side than I prefer. I was also unable to pick up on any pineapple notes that one usually finds in Al Pastor-style meat. I am not sure if this is a result of the meat, the sauce, or my own ignorance as to what makes a real Al Pastor.When it comes to the Horchata, this one was divine. It was not too sweet, and the flavors of rice, cinnamon, and vanilla (I believe), all came together in beautiful, rich harmony. Thanks to The Aztec Restaurant and, of course, my friend, this is now a beverage I will seek out every time I'm at a Mexican restaurant, and the bar has been set high!Finally, the location was cute, and the service was friendly and speedy. Alas, The Aztec Restaurant is a little out-of-the-way for me, so I wouldn't be able to go there very often. However, I will credit them for being a wonderful alternative to the sushi that fell through, even though the categories are different. Was I a little bit closer, I do see myself coming here on occasion."

Base Crave

★★★★★ 4.7 (117) • $$

"Awesome flavorful food in a cute family owned restaurant. I've tried a lot of different appetizers and entrees and you cannot go wrong. The stir fry chili plates are my favorite. I love how they allow you to decide on the spice level from one to ten. I've tried both seven and eight and they are indeed spicy and not for those who are not a fan of spicy. I will go up to a nine or ten on my next trip."

HoneyHoney Dessert Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (166) • $

India Palace Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (163) • $$

"The perfect location paired with an omnivorous smorgasbord ranging from best in show paneer entrees to cravable vegan appetizers make this surgically authentic downtown hometown hotspot an absolute go to wether you live near by (this location is less than a mile from our house), or are visiting. The Bindi Pyaza is literally the most amazing iteration of okra that has ever graced these cynical lips. Pro tip; order more then one."

Nando Ristorante Enoteca

★★★★☆ 3.9 (144)

"Really enjoyable. Nando reminds me of my faves from NYC Little Italy. I mean that in a good way. We made a rez (a must-do) for a Sunday dinner. It turns out that in August there are festivals every weekend, and we caught the tail end of one of the bigger ones. It was busy, loud, and looked like crazy fun. We watched everything from our window table. The windows were out so it was like we were part of the party.Our five-top ordered an array of apps, main dishes, desserts, and a great chianti from their extensive wine list. There was not a bad dish in the mix. Some were daily specials, some were menu items.The staff we interacted with was exceptional.A special bonus was the young man, from Colombia I think, who serenaded us with opera tunes in Italian. Come visit Nando, you won't be disappointed."

Maprang Bakery & Cafe

★★★★★ 4.9 (75)

"Last time. This place is honestly my favorite cafe of all time. Best coffee.Awesome staff. Every is great"

Cappella Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4 (105)

"Italian restaurants in the Northeast are light years better than Italian restaurants in Texas where I live.This is upscale Italian so it is reasonable to expect higher standards.I could not tell you where Cappella rates compared to upscale Italian restaurants in New England.But Cappella is freaking amazing.Pure and unadulterated happiness on a stick.I don't care if Cappella is #1 or #63,598.I want to eat there again and I want to eat there all the time.* * *The bartending is very good at Cappella.I was drunk and happy at Cappella so my memory of details is not as "accurate to the fifth digit" as I would like it to be.The menu changes frequently, so using the internet menu as a spur to the memory is not all that helpful.I will tell you what I do remember - because what I remember was completely happy and wonderful.a) There was a house original mixed drink was. Whatever that drink was - it was powerful and amazing. (Heckler at the back: It was forgetfulness potion!)Yeah, Heckler. Maybe it was.b) I had a modern appetizer and a traditional main course. The modern appetizer got an A. The traditional main course was A +++++++++++c) The appetizer was thinly sliced tempura acorn squash with pistachios, butter and drizzles of a white dip.Acorn squash is just good. New Englanders get acorn squash all the time.We in Texas get acorn squash rarely. The squash travels just fine and the squashes are good.But you would pay more for a car than you would for an acorn squash in Texas.(Cars are cheap in Texas. Pickup trucks are even cheaper.)Note that just a plain ordinary baked acorn squash cut in half with the seeds removed and butter in the middle would have utterly delighted me.The tempura coating here was so light as to be nearly non-existent.All the better to taste your squash with - my dear.Sauteed pistachios are just good.I would have gone with any white dip they wanted for a sauce as long as it was not Crest toothpaste.I was happy.d) The follow up was the chicken parmigano of my dreams.Which is like saying the follow up was the honeymoon sex of my dreams.Yeah the sex looked like the sex had by everyone else on the planet.But I kind of suspect I had a superior version of a classic.We have had ho hum parmigano dishes before.Heck you can get a chicken parmigano at any one of four hundred sub shops in the Boston Area.No surprises as to what was good here.A good natural tomato sauce. No marinara. No spicing. Just very good tomatoes doing their job.A fine crusting and saute on a very good chicken breast.Cheese being cheese.That was all I needed.I was in complete bliss for most of an hour.e) It broke my heart I couldn't have dessert.I would have exploded all over the restaurantWhich might have been distasteful for other patrons.f) I sat outside on Chapel Street.Chapel Street down where Cappella is is both scenic and not scenic.The good news is that you get lovely views of both Needham Town Hall and Saint Joseph's Church.The bad news is that you are in the heart of the dry cleaning district - and next to a gas station to boot.(A major one that services the needs of much of the Needham population.)There are a lot of diners going to and from Cappella or the other well frequented restaurants of Chapel Street.So there is a scene to watch - and some beautiful buildings to look at.If I had spilled tomato sauce on my shirt - which I didn't,I had a broad choice of places to bring my dry cleaning the next day.* * *Altogether a wonderful and magical evening.An evening to remember served with magical potions of forgetfulness."

Broadway's Pastry & Coffee Shop

★★★★☆ 4.3 (88)

"Broadway's was a quaint coffee shop that I visited while traveling to Boston. I grabbed a iced chai latte and an oatmeal cookie. There were a lot of delicious food options.My iced chai latte had a nice flavor but I like mine to be on the sweet side. Not sure if it was supposed to be like that and I needed to ask for or add sweetener. I was in a time crunch so I didn't have time to go back. The oatmeal cookie was extremely sweet and mouthwateringly good. I grabbed my items to go but noticed inside and outside seating options. Overall, a convenient choice for pastries and a beverage while in South Boston."

Cafe Darq

★★★★☆ 4.2 (92) • $

"I've been to this boba spot twice during my visits. I've gotten lucky and gotten myself some tasty drinks. The Vietnamese coffee is hella strong and sweet, would have liked it less strong. My husband's lychee green tea was super duper sweet, I don't think he adjusted the sweetness. I LOVED the jasmine green milk tea, I swapped out for oat milk, boba was perfect. You can skip the dragonfruit smoothie, my sister said it was way too sweet, too much condensed milk and coconut. Also very expensive boba drinks IMO, like $7-8 before tax and tip... wow! Super nice interior, could totally be a cute hangout spot."

Royal Punjab

★★★★☆ 3.5 (128) • $$

"We found this great little place just a short walk from the Hampton Inn Boston/Cambridge. They had a great selection of vegetarian dishes, and we chose the vegetable pakora, Paneer Kadai, garlic naan, and chai. All was very good. They appear to be family owned and operated. They advertise a daily lunch buffet for $9.95 which I would definitely try if in this area again."

Mister Q Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (67)

"Was looking for an early dinner and stumbled across this gem near Bunker Hill. I saw that their special for the day was Cinnamon Roll French Toast so I had to ask about it. They take a 4-5 inch cinnamon roll, slice it in half and put egg batter on it and fry it on the griddle...sounds heavenly right??? It was sooo good! I would give them 6 stars if I could. Also only $8ish dollars. Definitely have to come back for this again!"

Elm St Bakery

★★★★☆ 3.7 (103) • $

"My friend picked up some savory and sweet treats on a Thursday morning. We got to try their pizza squares, pizza bagels, blueberry muffins, and an assortment of pastries. Everything is freshly prepared and tastes great! As someone who believes crusts can be a hit or miss on pizzas, this one was certainly a hit for me. The sauce was slightly sweet and I can only imagine how much better it would have tasted fresh from the oven or sitting in the fridge. Would come again!"

Oh Ye Coconut Dessert

★★★★★ 4.6 (64)

"My new favorite cafe the matcha jasmine latte was incredible - what a unique combination. And the fresh mango with the coconut jelly is so light and refreshing. Not too sweet too. I would highly recommend checking this place out. Also the coconut jelly comes in the cutest glass jar"

Tawa Tandoor Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (65)

Peruvian Taste

★★★★★ 4.8 (45)

"El Sabor de el Lomo esta muy Bueno pero la Porción de carne muy chica pero si que esta muy tierna tal vez es filete y eso es caro pero no creo de todos modos todo esta caro en estos tiempos el plato sale a $20 el arroz esta hecho perfecto y es jazmín tendré que volver a probar algo chifa.The flavor of the lomo saltado is very good but the portion of meat is very small but it is very tender maybe it is tenderloin and that is expensive but I don't think so everything is expensive in these times anyway the dish costs $20 the rice is perfect and it's jasmine. I'll have to go back to try something chifa."

Boyles Market

★★★★☆ 3.8 (67) • $

Civility Social House

★★★★☆ 3.8 (61)

"Had an excellent dinner at this spot located right off the assembly row stop near the T. The vibes were good and staff very friendly. I tried pretzels with cheese which had the cheese dip heated by a candle which was neat. Tried their chicken sandwich and for dessert the skillet cookie and ice cream. Huge amount of food for an excellent price. I will definitely be returning and highly recommend this place for a casual dinner and drinks"

Moon & Flower House

★★★★☆ 4.3 (44)

"Card minimum $15.Amazing food. Got the popcorn chicken and wings and slush drink. All were amazing!Wings are spicy despite not being sauced up.Their popcorn chicken too has a neutral batter taste.Slush is very slush -- like very much an iceeSmall space - no place to eat or restroom."