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Categories: Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
Neighborhood: North EndHaymarket (Orange)
North Station (Orange, Green)
Aquarium (Blue)
Mon-Thu. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sat. 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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I go whenever I'm back visiting my parents in Boston. And it's always fantastic. Their chocolate chip cannoli with the dark chocolate dipped shell is probably my favorite dessert available anywhere. And you get a huge portion for under $4.
One tip though if you're saving the cannoli for later- the ones with the plain shell get soggy pretty quickly. If you buy it in the morning, it will be noticeably soggy that night, and completely soggy the next night. So I would advise eating those right away. However, the ones with the chocolate dipped shell stay crunchy for 1-2 days.
I try to go to Mike's every time I'm back home to Boston. Besides the high quality, another great… Read more »
Although the bakery is filled to the rim with cakes, macaroons, and all other types of tarts and sweet goodies, we came for the cannolis and that's all I got.
The place is large with displays in an L shape around the shop. The other wall has a giant refrigerator filled with cakes, and the area near the door has small tables to sit. They come and take your drink orders and you can enjoy a fresh cannoli with it.
We ordered a chocolate chip cannoli and a pistachio cannoli. Both were flaky and crunchy on the outside, and creamy on the inside. The inside is actually a cheese...I think ricotta and something else. They are quite large, so we only got 2 to split between 4 people.
The only difference between the two is the flavor chips on the end. I personally prefer the pistachio over the chocolate chip, and with tea or coffee, it's the perfect pair.
Cannolis...Cannoli's... Cannolis!
My Boss went to college in Boston and Mikes is the only place she told me that I HAD to go to. She said their cannoli's are out of this world. So after a HUGE breakfast at Mike and Patty's we decided to get dessert at Mike's Pastry's. The only bad part of this plan was the fact that we were all SUPER full. So the three of us decided to split one cannoli.. I know ONLY ONE? Well we had a hard time finishing that one. Those suckers are HUGE! We got a chocolate chip cannoli. The filing was nice and creamy and the shells crispy...
I think the fact that we were all full probably was a factor in the greatness of the cannoli's. I feel like we didn't get the full experience since we only got one thing. I guess next time I'm out in Boston I'll HAVE to save room.
Walking into this place reminds me of my days in Italy. There's just a giant mob of people and no distinct lines whatsoever. You just kinda wait and push your way to the front and hurriedly shout out your order. Authentic. Just how I like it.
This is a great place to get any sweets your craving. The line is always long and parking is a hassle, as it is anywhere in Boston.
Recommendations: The chocolate chip cannoli and the lobster tail. The lobster tail is GIANT but full of delicious creamy light fluffy goodness. YUM! And don't forget to get powdered sugar on top, just be careful when eating =)
Dear Mike's Pastry,
You have won me over with your thing-a-ma-bobble string machine. And your lovely cannolis. And you may have the only cupcakes in Boston worth eating. Big freakin *heart*.
sorry, it reminds me of van wilder whenever this type of pastry comes around.
But we did in fact try both this and Modern and although Modern offers the friendlier atmosphere and small shop setting, perfect for a date or something, Mike's got some pretty bad ass chocolate chip conolli. It reminds me of the Pepperidge Farm Brussels and then wrap that around cream cheese and chocolate...mmm. And after 1 bite, I'm already full.
But the interesting story is how we came across this little pastry shop, as perhaps 40% of the people that were in there as well. As we were walking around Hanover, we noticed smal white boxes, but wondered what everyone was carrying. It was like each block had 3 boxes. So as we got a closer look, we found Mike Pastrys.....and then our curiosity got the best of us. We searched our phones, read the reviews and followed the 4 people in front of us claiming they know where Mike's Pastry's was...and there we found it. A large shop with hundreds of pastries and long stretches of lines. True, it isn't as friendly and face to face with the customers as Modern is, but they do pump out them mean conollis like hot cakes.
We ended up spending $28 there for the 3 of us....WHAT normal person spends $28 on pastries for a presnack to dinner? (shakes head)
I swear this was the best cannoli that I ever ate. There were so many choices of cannoli, I chose the Florentine. It got chocolate chips on the ends.
So I was at a conference in Boston. The head of my dept told me that her husband's favorite bakery in Boston was Mike's and they make the best cannoli. So, I had a reason to talk up the freedom trail and get me one of these treats. it was so much better than I expected. The ricotta was not overly sweet of dense, it was just perfect. The shell, much different than the traditional cannoli, complemented the cream quite nicely.
In a weird way, I am glad I live so far away from this amazing Italian bakery as I could be 15 lbs heavier if I was closer.
PISTACCHIO MACAROONS! Only reason why I ventured out of my usual comfort zone for pastries to try the macaroon was because I obsess over my favorite color green. It's unnaturally bright green colored covered in powdered sugar, but ZOMG tastes so good. Everyone that I've introduced to this new found discovery has not disagreed.
Also, go during off-peak hours (anytime besides after dinner or after lunch) if you like to be able to look around first before buying. When it's crowded, good luck. Service is fast but you better know what you want.
The cannolis were ok, the cakes a bit dry, but the one pastry that I love is the lobster tail. They make amazing lobster tails.
The place can get really packed though so be prepared to wait for service. Theres really no line and depends on whoever the staff feel like talking to at the counter.
I never realized I liked cannoli's until yesterday. That's probably since I'd never had a good one until Mike's! My friend and I ordered and split the chocolate chip cannoli and it was delicious! It was huge, but we devoured the whole thing, shortly after proclaiming how full we were from lunch.
The line was not long, so it took us no time to actually order... once we knew what we wanted. Though there are SO many different types of pastries and desserts on display that it took us a long time to actually figure that part out. Everything is HUGE and is therefore great for sharing. I'm glad we ordered the cannoli, though those pecan brownies and the german chocolate cake looked mighty tempting...
The only problem with this place is that there is no place to sit unless you want table service. It was slightly annoying, but we made do with standing outside and taunting the passerby with our delighted moans of dessert-ecstasy.
What can be said that already hasn't - When in Boston you MUST go to Mike's and try something!!! I opted for the Cannoli and it lived up to the hype.
We were there during the week so we walked right in and ordered but walked by the mess on Saturday and laughed at the hour wait!!!
I would try Modern as a trial but as of now, my money is on Mike's!
Mike vs. Modern Cannoli Challenge
Mike's Pastry
1. Establishment - Big place, super crowded. Not sure where the lines start and end but you can just shove yourself forward.
2. Cannoli - Bigger (you pay about $.25 more than Modern but it's about 30% bigger). You can taste the mascarpone more vibrantly as well as the grainy cheese texture. The shell is on the flakey side.
Modern Pastry Shop
1. Establishment - Small (probably 1/3 the size of Mike's), orderly. It doesn't seem to be as hyped up as Mike's but if you walk around the North End, you'll see boxes from both places.
2. Cannoli - Smaller. What my friends liked most about this was the shell because it was not flakey and didn't crumble everywhere. It was still crisp but broke nicely with each bite. The filling is on the creamier side and feels smooth to the touch. I couldn't taste as much cheese.
Ultimately, it's up to your personal preference. If you are solely concerned about getting the most bang for your buck then go to Mike's. As for me, I liked Mike's filling a lot more. I found myself constantly sneaking licks while waiting for my friends to get the Modern cannoli.
Holy Crap! if you visit Boston and dont go to this place and order the almond macaroons and/or canoli, you totally suck.
I'm not sure why I'd write if there's already 500+ reviews.
The strawberry gelato was excellent, creamy, and a larger serving for $3 or 3.50.
Although it was packed, the teenage kid spending his Friday night working at Mike's was courteous and asked me if I needed any help (and I gladly stepped aside the line of the tourists unsure what to order and got the first things that came to mind - tiramisu and strawberry gelato)
(I've never been to any of the other bakeries in Boston for reference).
Oy Vey!
Ok- first off- I'm already mad at myself that I didn't take more pictures of Mike's Pastry. Once I walked into this place my drool-o-meter went into overdrive- and in a very rare occurrence, my Yelp drive took a backseat to the overwhelming array of chcolate, cupcakes, and cannolis! It was only after I got back to my hotel room that I realized I took ZERO pictures of the magic I had just experienced, and quickly took two shots of my pastry haul(or what was left of it)
And now onto the real review...
I don't know if Mike's Pastry is one big tourist attraction- or if it really truly is every locals favorite pastry shop- but it sure seems like everyone in Boston loves Mike's Pastry! Everyone on the block was flooding into Mike's to grab something...
The Marzipan was outstanding. I love love love marzipan and Mike's tasted delicious. The cannolis were also amazing! Totally delicious. I also nabbed a chocolate brownie and a lobster puff. The brownie had little bits of chopped chocolate mixed in with the rich flavored cake- topped with even richer frosting. The lobster puff was soft and flakey, totally to die for.
Mike's Pastry was nothing short of 5 stars, probably the best pastry shop i've ever visited- and I'm totally glad I went here. If you're visiting Boston's North End- Try Mike's! If you're a local and have never heard of this place- you must be living under a rock. And Thanks for Yelper Gill C. for turning me onto this place!
And the heavens opened up and god spoke to this guy Mike and said "make amazing canollis and macaroons". And that is exactly what Mike did! I came here on the recommendation of a fellow yelper (Marie D). We stopped in after lunch and grabbed a box of goodies for our weekend stay. I am so glad I did! It is by far the best Italian pastries I've ever had! The pistachio macaroons were my favorite! I had never had them before and the chewy, crisp, sweetness of them had me hooked. If you love pastries, you must stop by Mikes when you are in Boston!
As Jim Rome would say ...IN-CREDIBLE, UN-BELIEVABLE, DE-LICIOUS!
This place is worth every bite of sugary calories! I only wish we had one of these in California...
I was REALLY hoping to be the 550th reviewer but I will take 549.
I guess there's not really much else to say. Do it! Go! Follow the boxes and you'll find Mike's Pastry. My mouth waters thinking about it.
Tips as a Boston tourist:
-Get the chocolate chip cannoli.
-Take cash - no credit cards
-There's an ATM across the street to get cash if needed
-Be a little pushy and work your way up to the front
Wow! I don't know if anything will ever compare...I feel damaged ;)
This review is terribly difficult for me to write, because it makes me *really* want a cannoli knowing full well that three thousand miles separate me from sweet, crunchy, creamy, luscious perfection.
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmike's.
Want to know how good Mike's cannoli are?
Many years ago I bit into one and found a cockroach. I ate *around* that motherfucker.
What? What are you looking at?
Would you turn down Mr. Right over a little case of pubic lice?
Don't answer that.
MAMA MIA!
The South End is one of my favorite parts of Beantown. Having family out there in addition to going to college there for a year - I am lucky enough to have excuses to go back as often as possible. You know when you re-visit a place enough times that you have favorite spots you need to hit up? Mike's Pastry is among the short list of places I have to visit when I'm back East.
I remember being at Logan airport before I was "in the know" and seeing all of these dainty little white boxes with blue and white string dangling from them. Then I catch wind of what Mike's Pastry is and I'm on the hunt to get one of those white boxes for myself.
First thing's first - bring a camera with you. I can attempt to tell you how awesome this place is and the description still won't be worthy. The colors of the confections, the shapes and intricate details, the smell - it's almost too much to take in! Although I'm not a huge fan of eating marzipan, I do like to check out all the funny things they can make with it. From little marzipan sculptures of realistic-looking fruit to things like baby pacifiers, cars, animals ... it's insane what they can do with this edible putty.
Chocolate lover? They've got you covered! How about cakes? Pies? Mike's Pastry literally has it all!
Here's what you need to be prepared for... they only have 3-4 people working at any given time. The line can be out the door so you have to expect to wait. This can be good though as it gives you plenty of time to decide on your purchase. (It also gives you plenty of time to decide to buy more than you planned for because you can't make up your mind!)
And.. if I'm not mistaken they might still be cash-only. This is something I'd check on before going there!
Another bonus is that they offer shipping. If you're just visiting the area and you become addicted to their cannolis, you can save money on the flight to Boston and just pay for them to ship you whatever you want. Handy, right? Makes for good gift ideas!
The best cannolis I have ever had. I personally love the chocolate covered one. Its a chocolate explosion balanced by a delicious inner core. I could do without the chocolate chips though.
I tried the tiramisu and it was good but not the best I've ever had...so i'm just talking about cannolis here people. I cant wait to go back!
What really much more can I say about this place that hasn't been said. If you are either visiting for the first time or a crafty veteran, this place is awesomely good. I do love me some black and whites cookies. I love the iconic box and string as you order your treats. Watching them wrap up you're goodies at the counter is a treat in it's self. Located in the north end, the only downfall is it's tough to get to in terms of driving and in the store. But it's Boston, America's walking city so no wheels needed. Be prepared to wait and when you see an opening in a split line, take it before someone else does. It's fast pace so be ready.
Mike's Pastry is one of those buzzing destinations packed with the eager, sweet-toothed, and hungry from goodness knows where. As such, service is minimal and facilities spare. There is a small seating area, but customers who order at the counter are not allowed to employ it - a rather unfortunate policy if you ask me.
Coming off of two lunch stops, all I tried here was the chocolate chip cannoli. As to that, it was the best cannoli I've ever had. Most cannolis I've met feel mealy and overstuffed with hard chocolate chips and unmemorable shells. Mike's version boasts a perfect give on a delectable shell followed by soft, fluffy mascarpone and tiny chocolate chips that melt with the right tempo but not saying too much. That said, I wasn't blown away. I may just be categorically unimpressed by cannolis. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but it wasn't the kind of dessert that made my eyes sparkle and my glands go wild. Call me a sweets bigot, but I would take a solid scoop of ice cream over even this very excellent cannoli, and the chances of a revisit to Mike's on future Boston trips are relatively slim. Toscanini's, on the other hand, has got me by the scruff - hey, at least I'm not a racist.
We continued our North End experience with a stop in here for some coffee and dessert. This place was PACKED.. not sure I understand why they don't hand out tickets to customers waiting .. instead you feel like cattle waiting to be slaughtered.. at anytime your could be next.
We opted to get a table .. this way I am not cattle and I also get to sit and enjoy my pastry instead of shoving it down my throat as we walk.
We began with coffee and followed it up with a cream puff, black and white cookie and a chocolate chip cannoli .. and one of us got some goodies to take home.
Service was decent .. not amazing but decent. As we waited for our desserts to arrive we observed a woman walk into the bakery and STEAL a pie. It was crazy .. she just walked right in .. stuck her hand behind the pie display and walked right out. Terrible ..
Now on to the desserts .. my cookie was moist and Delicious, cream puff was also very tasty .. the cannoli looked good but I did not get a bite. Coffee .. it was sub par .. but I assume most people come for the dessert and not the cup of joe.
Overall .. not the most amazing place in the world but glad we came to see what the hype was about and you will not break the bank stopping off here.
NOTE: The smell coming out of the bakery is intoxicating and will make you want to eat more.
i was never really aware of Cannoli and all these italian pastry/desserts till i came to Boston to visit my buddy one time. but the Cannoli is hella legit, Boston Creme Pie was pretty bomb also and what better place to have my first slice of Boston Creme Pie than in Boston? The marzipan looked hella pretty but i think 3 pieces of dessert was enough as i had a boston creme puff also.
i heard this place was pretty notorious for their lines, but i got lucky and there was no line at all. just walked in and there was a few people but the employees working the counter seemed to outnumber the customers at the time i was there.
I'll make this short and sweet....
WOW! This place is simply amazing. When we approached Mike's Pastry (I'd never been there before), I could tell it was just PACKED. It was a Sunday afternoon and people were enjoying their favorite pastries from Mike's out of large boxes blocks down from it's location. It was making my mouth water. I had no idea how long we would have to wait for some calorie-conscious mega-pastries but I was not anticipating HALF AN HOUR. I thought, "these pastries MUST be incredible for people to wait this long for a cannoli!" Didn't realize it was cash only so thankfully my friend had cash, I understand why it is that way because they are way to busy to be swipping cards and taking signatures.
I wanted so many pastries and they have an amazing amount of variety in sweets (from cannoli's, what appears to be there 'signature item,' to homemade italian cookies, gelato, boston cream pie, whoopie pies, cheesecake, tiramisu, shortcake, and much much more!). I knew I had to know what I wanted immediately or I'd get pushed to the side, so we ordered; two chocolate cheesecake slices, one slice tiramisu, and one chocolate whoopie pie. It was boxed up very cute and durable enough to sustain a few elbows from trying to battle my way out of the crowd fighting over which line to hop into.
We went and sat down in front of the Boston fountains only a block away and had my first bite.... for this, I have no words. So tasty! The chocolate cheesecake I was hesitant about originally because I am sensitive to chocolate in the sense that it gets too rich, too quick. This was perfect! It was prepared as a normal vanilla cheesecake, with a layer of whipped cream and a small layer of chocolate cake and frosting on the top. JUST enough chocolate to justify the chocolate and not make me sick. The chocolate whoopie pie is basically chocolate cake formed into a cookie shape, with whipped cream in between the cakes. Tasted like the best cake I have ever had with fresh, home-made whipping cream in the middle! Talk about a treat!
The only complaint I have is the tiramisu, I had one bite and it was a total turn-off. WAY too much hazelnut and coffee taste in the ladyfingers that overpowered the whipping cream and cocoa powder on top. The ladyfingers were too moistened with the hazelnut coffee that it appeared to be almost prepared as cake. Truly a dissapointment and frankly gross part, but everything else, AWESOME!
If you ever GO TO BOSTON, you MUST GO TO MIKE'S!!!!!!
Read about this place in a travel magazine so being a fan of sweats, I had to try this place. Usually the lines for this place is for miles out the door, but my friend and I came during off hours so there were only a few people in the bakery. My mouth was drooling over all the amazing looking pastries. THey had everything you can imagine!
Their most amazing pastries are the cream filled canoli's and pistachio macaroons! Super sweet, but so amazingly delicious. They taste so fresh and are huge!
THere is no line, so you just have to be aggressive and move your way up to the front and tell the staff what you want.
The pastries are moderately priced and the staff is friendly, but rush you to make your order.
Wow, this place is awesome.
Just soy ou know THERE IS ALWAYS A HUGE LINE! SO BE PATIENT! CUZ lots of people wanT THE GOODNESS!! OMG THE GOODNESS!!!!
and BRING CASH! IT IS EASIER! EXPECT A HUGE CROWD! adn when they call on you YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU WANT! CUZ THERE IS A CROWD OF PEOPLE!
and the Canolli Chocolate Chip one, and yes it is GOOD! IT IS FUCKING GOOD OMG! I HAD MOUTHGASMS!!!!!
Good good stuff. :D
check it!
SO MANY YUMMY TREATS!!!
When I was planning my trip to Boston, I picked up one of those top 10 books and this was one of those places recommended and when I told my friend I wanted to come here, they were like "oh actually we were going to take you there anyway".
So we get there, and this place is PACKED with people. You practically had to shove your way in there. Their pastries were not the prettiest pastries you'll ever see, however, the look of them makes you feel like home, with imperfections on them. There was also so many choices! I ended up getting cannolis, boston cream pie, and tiramisu that I thought were all really good. Well, with the exception of the boston cream pie. I didn't really like it. It was just alright.
I can see why some people don't like their cannolis but they're still good. Their pastries also aren't outrageously expensive so you can buy a big box of goods for 5 or 6 bucks.
I'm not sure that I'd frequent this place but it should be tried at least once.
Love at first bite! It's a good thing I don't live close to the North End because I would literally be here every day. I'm obsessed with the cannoli at Mike's, especially the ricotta filled florentine cannoli with chocolate chips- it's as close to heaven as you can get without dying. Though I can rarely bring myself to stray, Mike's offers a plethora of other pastries, cookies, gelato, etc. Literally everything you could ever want is displayed in bright and tempting piles behind the long counters and it's fun seeing what other people order and trying to decide what you should get.
It's usually super crowded, but food this good is worth waiting for. I wouldn't recommend sitting inside; get your treasures to go and enjoy them outside while people watching. Keep in mind it's cash only, and try and have an idea of what you want by the time you get to the front so you don't hold up the line!
This 100th review is dedicated to Mike's Pastry & to fellow Houston Yelper Billy P...
I've visited Boston twice in my lifetime,and both times I've wandered over to the North End to line up at Mike's Pastry in the dead of winter just to have their famous cannolis and eclairs. I am a huge cannoli and eclair fan, and everywhere else that I've traveled, I will always try their versions...but NOTHING ever compares.
A few weeks ago, fellow Yelper Billy P was headed to Boston, and asked for suggestions on Boston eats. I mentioned this joint. Little did I know that he would come back to Houston with a box of half a dozen chocolate eclairs, hand-carried, just for little old me!!!
I swear to God, a tear almost fell when I realized I was about to taste those tasty treats again!!! And when I first took a bite of that succulent outer crust with the cream filling, I just about fainted. I felt like my life flashed before my eyes! I shared the treats with my family, who were also very impressed at the flavor.
THANK YOU, Billy P and Mike's Pastry for making my life worth living again!
This place already has a million reviews... because EVERYBODY knows it. I feel the need to share my opinion because it has recently gone up.
My family is originally from the North End, I spent many weekends as a kid here going to get a cannoli for breakfast and I always loved it. But in recent years I found the quality and the service slipping.
Today, for my mom's birthday, I stopped in to get her some rum cake (her absolute favorite- it was her wedding cake), and I figured, "Well, I'm here, might as well grab a cannoli and a cappuccino!" I was pleasantly surprised.
Not only was the service incredible for a busy Sunday morning (and yes it was busy) but my cappuccino was perfect, served with rock candy, something I love more than anything and my cannoli was like I remember them being when I was a kid. I had just a plain shell with yellow cream but it was the ideal consistency and flavor. I was also so happy to see the prices so reasonable still. 1 cannoli, 1 cappuccino, 1 piece of rum cake and a box of biscotti cost me $15 including a small tip for the counter girl.
Thank you, Mike's for being awesome again. I still tend to favor Modern Pastry across the street solely because it is far less crowded on weekends/in the summer/other touristy times of year but Mike's really is a must for anyone visiting this fine city.
As a tourist visiting Boston, from what I heard from so many people was "no trip to Boston is worth the flight unless you go to Mike's Pastry."
So to Mike's we went.....
Quick Note - the hours on Yelp are incorrect, as we were there after 9:00 on a Thursday evening and they were open and packed - filling white box after white box of tasty treats.
So I guess I'm not a Cannoli (yes, Sicilians - shudder the thought). My companion, who is Italian, was not a fan of it either. We ordered two; one regular creme filled, the other filled with ricotta. The filling just didn't seem thick enough - kinda light without much flavor. So for all of the Cannoli hype, we left disappointed.
We did leave with two chocolate dipped biscotti that we had the next day in the hotel dipped in coffee, and that was probably some of the best biscotti we have ever had. 5 stars for that, FOR SHURE.
We also had (gluttony was our middle name that day) two creme filled puffs dipped in chocolate. FANTASTIC. If they used that creme for the Cannoli's, I would have been a much bigger fan. So creamy with lots of flavor. I would get more in a heart beat!
$ - Seriously; we ordered 2 cannoli's, 2 chocolate dipped cream puffs and two biscotti - all under $13.00! Impressive price, and something they could charge more for but do not (so not gouging the customer gets them a high rating in my book).
Over crowded, unhelpful service, annoying tourists galore and soggy canollis. This place started off nice until they renovated and grew to a become factory instead of bakery. Way over-rated. Pretty much only go here if you're from out of town and sporting a fanny pack.
I came right in and got helped before I knew what I wanted. No waiting around for me so maybe I got lucky since it was raining. I got two cannolis - custard and chocolate chip. Honestly, the chocolate chip was disappointing to me, but maybe it's because I'm a HUGE custard fan. I should have eaten the custard last. Very very good and so filling. I probably gained another butt cheek from that one. I did try both this place and Modern, and I honestly think both are equally good. Mike's just has more options. I wasn't full off of Modern's cannoli but this one made me feel really stuffed. Don't know if I need to eat another one though. These things are really rich but delicious.
As Bakeries go this one is good. Not the best in the North End but definitely a crowd pleaser.
If you have friends come in from out of town take them here, if you have GOOD friends from out of town; take them down the way to Modern Pastry.
Mike's though does offer some great variations on the cannoli and also has a gelato bar, plus there are always people around so its quite busy and you can sit and people watch. I do enjoy their Florentine cannoli and creamy lobster tails.
Other than that I can say much more than what has already been said.
Mike's Pastry, you complete me.
I went to college in Boston and became obsessed with the cannoli at Mike's Pastry. Who wouldn't? They are the best cannoli on Earth-- creamy and flavorful ricotta cheese filling surrounded by a flaky, crunchy pastry. YUM.
Now that I live in L.A. I miss these cannoli like I can't even tell you. I've been all over town looking for a suitable replacement and it just doesn't exist. It's Mike's or nothing for me. So, on a recent trip back to Boston one of my first stops was the North End. I shoved to the front of the line, ordered up some cannoli, resisted the urge to lick the pastry case and hug the guy who handed over that little white box. I ripped it open on the T... couldn't even wait to get back to the hotel. So, to anyone who saw a girl shoving cannoli in her mouth on the orange line last week, I apologize for nothing. These cannoli are completely worth looking like a pig.
I noticed a sign in the bakery that says Mike's Pastry now ships nationwide. Seriously? That is very, very dangerous.
Chocolate chip cannoli!
Meh. Over-rated tourist trap. Cakes were dry, service was slow and rude (even though there were only about three other people in there).
Maybe we should have stuck to cannolis and macaroons; we just left, wondering exactly what all the fuss is about.
So maybe Mike's Pastry doesn't need yet another review since it's on the cusp of its 500th, but this North Texan remembers his visit from 5 months ago as it was yesterday and I've put this off long enough.
If you haven't had a chocolate chip cannoli here, it's safe to say you've missed out. The regular cannoli with its rich, way sweet ricotta filling is the stuff of legends as is, but add chocolate and you'll be mmmmmm-ing like Homer Simpson. No disrespect meant for the shell (not heavy or greasy by the way) but a part of me wishes they'd sell the filling by itself, like soft serve or somethin.
I have to knock this place down a star because it let me down on one of my favorites, Tiramisu. I should note that I'm NOT a fan of any dessert that is a sugar avalanche and I do like those where some bitterness cuts through that. In the case of Mike's version, the bitter from the espresso drowned everything else. Seriously whoever made it that day put too much in, there was a pool in the bottom of the box. So tragic ..... but the cannoli was excellent and the florentine cookie was decent as well.
No mystery why we stopped here the same day we arrived.
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Bakeries
Boston, MA
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: North End
Category: Bakeries
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Local Flavor
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