Been wanting to give this place a try for a month after seeing gorgeous pictures of their pastries…read moreon instagram lately. I stopped by on a Sunday early morning right after they had opened and tried several items on display including a plain croissant, a pear danish, blueberry danish, and a valentine raspberry special bowtie. While the pastries looked pretty for instagram, they all needed a LOT more work. Everything here left me sad. There were no flakes, no crumble, and no crisp to the pastries (just soft, limp, sadness). The danishes here are also not cheap, with the blueberry danish being $8. According to the staff, all the danishes had come out fresh out of the oven JUST 30 minutes ago. Can only imagine how much more disappointing the pastries would've been for the people that came in after me. Save yourself a trip here and go to Michette, Lakon, Colette, Cremux Patisserie, SALT, or Little L instead if you're looking for a solid danish or croissant. Will not be back.

Just made my first visit and I'm wondering why I've never visited before; this place is wonderful,…read moreand for several reasons: - It's a rare city place with a parking lot - Even the street parking is easy - Plenty of seating, soft French music - Friendly staff - First croissant was warm! - Fresh stuff - Extensive selection without having so many that it's overkill - Some nice innovation but not cheap gimmickry aimed at the Instagram set Almond Croissant: Gigantic, still warm, very crusty, very flaky, and a near-liquid almond filling that was in the mild side but naturally sweet rather than pumped up with additives. Good crunch to the bite, sending flaky shrapnel everywhere, but yielding to the tender center. Somewhat buttery. Chocolate croissant: Not as gigantic, but a steal at under $5. Not warm but very fresh, very flaky and delicate, cracking more intensely in the bite with even more shrapnel. Underneath, a very light and fluffy feel, along with a very buttery taste. Not greasy at all; just great flavor, and that's not even counting the dark chocolate, which was understated but effective. Pain au Raisin: Again flaky, but a bit (only a bit) on the dry side, even with the noticeably custardy notes. Good flavor to the dough. Minimal glaze if any. A rung or two lower on the impressiveness scale than the almond and chocolate croissants, but still solid. Blueberry Danish: Nice pastry, many layers, light, crisp and delicate, while still being soft and buttery. Good flavor to the dough and faintly glazed. Surprisingly, the crispness lasted well into the early evening, when tried as a take-home item. Lots of blueberries, fresh and not too fussed with, along with a bit of blueberry compote. No gimmicks, no bombast, just good stuff. Looking forward to a quick return. On my mental shopping list to encompass a few visits: chocolate almond croissant, chocolate chip cookie dough croissant (aka "cookie" and the only gimmicky item I saw), apricot danish, pear danish, pain suisse, and babka.

The Taiyaki NYC icecream always looks great, but is a bit overpriced for what it is. The matcha…read moreflavor is mild. It's more an aftertaste of matcha. The Dough Club sells some yummy mochi donuts and drinks! I did enjoy their strawberry cheesecake donut. It had a light, refreshing strawberry taste. Not too sweet. The dalgona coffee flavor is too light - you definitely taste way more milk than dalgona. Servers also forgot to give us our donut, so although they are nice they could've been more attentive with the order, especially since there were such few customers at that time.

Came here on a Sunday evening and the place was pretty empty - not a ton of seating space or…read moreanything so people were typically just in and out upon ordering. We ended up staying for a while after finishing and the place was pretty quiet/clean, just felt very lifeless. Staff was pretty nice and quick, although the quality of the food left something to be desired - the dough for the taiyaki we got was much too crunchy and burnt. When watching the staff make more, it looked similar as it was too dark and not very fluffy. The ice cream and presentation were fine, but the fish shell unfortunately fell flat for me. This spot isn't bad, but I probably wouldn't return - overpriced for what it is and not great quality.

Great service and delicious for an after dinner dessert!…read more We came here around 7/8 on a weekend and the place was still pretty busy, but we managed to get a table in the back. They have some seating, but it easily could be a grab and go spot as well. Space was nice and ambiance felt very warm. Three of us shared a flight and while pricy, it was a good variety and every flavor was surprisingly super well done. My favorite was the Dump Him as I'm a fan of a ton of toppings in one singular flavor. Overall, this was a great ice cream spot and I would love to come back to try more of their flavors!

Pretty great ice cream place. Very creamy and good on a hot day. Standout flavors are the matcha,…read morecold brew chip, and the bayleaf sorbet. Service is fast and it is also a cute place to study.

What a gem of a bakery in Somerville! Every dessert on display at this cozy, Palestinian-owned…read morebakery looked so scrumptious. We had such a hard time choosing and settled on the walnut baklava roll and the muska kataifi pisatchio. Everyone working there was so friendly and helpful and even with a line out the door, they were able to keep things moving smoothly. They also gave us small chai samples while we waited to be helped (the chai was spicy and not overly sweet). The baklava and kataifi were perfect -- no notes. Baklava had a great ratio of flaky pastry layers to walnuts. Each bite had the right about of crunch and nuttiness. The amount of syrup used was just right also. Kataifi struck a similarly great balance: a crunchy and sweet shredded wheat exterior rounded out by the richness of pistachios. I wish I could come here all the time and try everything. Definitely keeping this place bookmarked for any future trips to Boston.

I'd walk past this bakery every now and then to find out it's been featured in Boston's Best…read morearticle so I added it to my list. Finally got to try them recently. Walked in and was greeted with a sample of chai and 2 sample desserts. Ordered the chocolate pistachio cake, This was like Dubai chocolate styled cake with the kataifi in the pistachio. This was nice, I personally could have done without the layer of chocolate on top since it's so hard to break evenly and it was thick in texture to the rest of the cake. The pistachio ricotta cake was phenomenal. I wasn't expecting it to be so light and airy, I had to hold myself back from inhaling the whole thing at once. Both were shared and I got a baklava for my personal treat. I'll be back again very soon!

This place is such an adorable neighborhood ice cream shop. They make their ice cream in house and…read moreuse a lot of local ingredients! They don't do samples, but everything I've tried has always been so good. I even got an ice cream birthday cake here and all my friends raved about it! Over the summer they can get long lines, but it moves fast!

No free samples. You can complain about a flavor if you don't like it (once ordered and paid) and…read moreget it replaced, but they throw the original all away. This is their policy and it's fine, just seems wasteful. This also makes it hard to try the unique flavors :( I wouldn't have had an issue (since it's their own policy) but the replacement portion was way smaller. I'm not sure if the staff was having a bad day or not, but it seemed like asking for a replacement flavor was purposefully made uncomfortable to deter you from asking? (P.S. Paying $6 for very little portions plus not having samples of flavors seems counterintuitive.) Also, Horchata is a rice based drink (with its main liquid being milk, water is also added though), so how can that be a vegan option? If they were able to actually have it taste like Horchata (with or without milk) that would've been fine, but it tasted like water + cinnamon. This was the flavor that brought me to this place so I was disappointed :( Overall, I might come back for the Cold Brew and Brown Sugar Vanilla flavors when I want a sweet treat (there are other sweet places for a better price and experience). But the fact that I ended up liking two of the most basic flavors out of the whole menu disappoints me :/

I've been meaning to try Lehrhaus for a while, and I'm really glad that I did! It seems pretty easy…read moreto get a reservation on a weekday, but you just have to watch out for its schedule since it's closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Jewish holidays. The interior is spacious and the service was great. I fell in love with the chopped not-liver ($13), which is a delicious eggplant spread that doesn't taste like eggplant but has a great savory flavor with a slight wine aroma. The pita bread that came with it was so warm, pillowy, and chewy. This dish was just perfection. There's an eggplant dip (Oren's eggplant) in the Bay that I have been craving, and now I have something in Cambridge that is just as good if not better. The haus smoked whitefish ($12) was also quite good. It had a lot of fish but wasn't too fishy, had good flavor and came with crunchy crackers. The fish and chips ($24) was tasty as well -- the chips are really crunchy and the fish was flaky and crunchy, and the sauce was interesting and spicy. Lastly, we got the halva ice cream sundae ($12), which was pretty decent with a lot of crunchy bits. I'm not a big fan of nutty flavors or milky ice cream, so I'm not sure if I'd get it again. There is a 20% gratuity automatically applied (we had 2 people, so I don't think it's due to party size). Service was great -- people kept checking on us and refilling our water. In conclusion, the eggplant chopped not-liver was amazing and it's everything I've been looking for. I'm excited to try more of their offerings.

First of all the ambience of this place is amazing. The service is very very good, and they have a…read morenice drink selection as well. I don't give it 5 stars because some of the food doesn't hit it for me. The poutine is not great, and not very well seasoned when I tried it. Their turshi however is amazing. But I haven't tried the entire menu yet so I may revise my review in the future.

TLDR: You can't go wrong with a warm, freshly made waffle…read morehere, but people definitely have their individual preferences. My recommendation is to go with the Liege waffle with berries and your pick of any other toppings. With a cozy atmosphere and the smell of warm waffles, this is an especially good spot during the colder months, but still a favorite in the warmer months too. ------ FOOD: THE LIEGE (5/5) The Liege waffle is the classic here and the one I'd recommend. Sweet, thick, and a richer snack (i.e. the satisfying treat you're probably looking for if you're stopping by a waffle shop). All of the topping combos are classic, and the berries they use here are high quality. Waffles come out hot and fresh after just being made, so if you order ice cream or whipped cream, know that you'll have to eat quickly if you don't want it to melt into the waffle. THE BRUSSELS (4.5/5) Besides the Liege, the Brussels waffle is an interesting choice and very different from the Liege. As the menu describes, it's definitely significantly lighter, and it's crispier in a different way (not from the caramelization of the pearl sugar but from crisped up batter similar to an Ego waffle). It's extremely delicate, so I'd recommend just doing some powdered sugar and maybe a chocolate drizzle or some whipped cream. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE: * Small shop on the edge of Harvard Square. Some window seating and a few small tables best for groups of 2 - 4. * Given how small it is inside, finding a seat during peak hours can be particularly challenging, and lines can be out the door too. ------ SERVICE: * Order at the kiosk and then find a seat (if you can). When a waffle is done, they'll call a name and come to you once you indicate that it's for you. * Water and utensils are self-service, and the expectation is that you put your plates, utensils, and cups away in a bin inside by the counter.

Perfect for sitting quietly on a sunny afternoon, especially when you're feeling down…read more Gourmand Waffle: Liege waffle/banana/whipped cream/caramel. The ultimate sweetness is evident from the ingredients. The waffle was light and crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside; the sweetness of the banana and caramel is mellow and rich, the pearl sugar was slightly caramelized, and the sweetness of the cream was natural and light. Every bite offered a different layer of flavor. But most importantly, it was really sweet, and sweetness is the most soul-stirring enjoyment. It was sweet enough to bring peace, allowing you to temporarily escape the world and focus on this plate of beautiful fairytale. Café au Lait (Latte): Beautifully layered, with a natural milky aroma. But what does the menu mean by confusing café au lait with latte?

Mike's Pastry in Cambridge brings the famous North End bakery experience to Harvard Square, making…read moreit easy to enjoy their iconic pastries without heading into downtown Boston. Located on Dunster Street, the shop is designed for efficiency, with a straightforward layout that keeps the line moving even during busy hours. There are a few counter seats inside, but it's primarily a grab-and-go destination where most people leave carrying one of the bakery's signature string-tied pastry boxes. The cannolis are the main reason to visit, and they certainly live up to their reputation in terms of size. The classic chocolate chip cannoli is generously filled from end to end with a rich, sweet ricotta cream, while the crisp shell provides just the right amount of crunch. If you're looking for something a little different, the Florentine cannoli is an excellent choice. Its honey-nut shell adds an extra layer of texture and a subtle caramelized flavor that pairs beautifully with the creamy filling. Beyond the cannolis, the bakery offers an impressive selection of Italian pastries, cookies, cakes, and other desserts. The lobster tails are another popular option, with flaky layers surrounding a rich cream filling, and the display cases are filled with enough variety to make it difficult to choose just one item. Prices are a bit higher than your average neighborhood bakery, but the portions are generous enough that many pastries can easily be shared. Service is quick and efficient, with staff focused on keeping the line moving throughout the day. Since seating is limited, it's worth taking your pastries to nearby Harvard Yard or the Charles River, where you can enjoy them at a more relaxed pace. Mike's Pastry may be best known for its North End flagship, but the Cambridge location delivers the same oversized cannolis and classic Italian desserts in a much more convenient setting. Whether you're craving the original chocolate chip cannoli or one of their many other pastries, it's an easy stop whenever you're spending time around Harvard Square.

A return trip to Harvard demanded a visit to Mike's Pastry at Harvard Square. Mike's has been a…read morefixture in Boston since Mike Mercagliano opened his first shop in the North End at the end of World War 2. Anyone who has spent time at the Widener Library knows that you have to wrap up before 10 p.m. to get a late night fix of sugar at Mike's (how many bakeries stay open that late, I ask you?) Mike's has an outstanding selection of pastries and gelato but the star here is the carrot cake. We ordered the Boston Cream pie as well and while it is delicious it is the carrot cake that carries the day. Any visit to Boston demands a stop at Mike's for the carrot cake!