Mike's Pastry, Boston

If you've ever flown out of Boston Logan airport, you have likely encountered Mike's Pastry, a Boston institution, known for its cannoli.  Seriously.  I don't think I've ever boarded a flight there without seeing someone getting on with a Mike's Pastry box, a white box, blue logo, tied up with twine.

Mike's is famous, and people go kinda crazy for it.  At least, tourists certainly do.

"Founded in 1946, Mike’s Pastry is located in Boston’s historic North End on Hanover Street. Michael Mercogliano (the “Mike” behind the famed Mike’s Pastry) created the one-of-a-kind cannoli that keeps loyal Bostonians and tourists coming from around the world to enjoy. Going to Mike’s has become a Boston tradition when in town whether visiting family, friends, sporting events, college, or any other event. We hope that you continue the tradition and come see us and grab a pastry."

The North End, original, location is a madhouse, always.  But, they opened a location in Cambridge, right off Harvard Square, and after dinner nearby at Alden & Harlow, we decided to swing by to pick up some backup dessert.  Because, um, me and dessert.

To be honest, I don't really like cannoli that much, and I knew I had thought "eh" when I had Mike's before, but I was happy to try again.

Menu.

I was shocked to find that there were literally no crowds.  One family sat on the side eating a pastry.  A couple came in after us.  And that ... was it.  So very very different from the North End location.

It gave me a chance to actually see the goods, as you usually can't due to the hoards.  They also had a menu posted on a chalkboard, although it was fairly general, included everything they make regardless of it they had it, and, had no prices.  Pastries, cupcakes, cakes, cookies, cannoli.  Got it.

Cakes, Cupcakes, etc.

 It was better to look with our eyes anyway.  The lineup was vast, all fairly super sized creations, large slices of assorted cheeseake, layer cakes, and Boston cream pie.  Italian cookies, right alongside whoopie pies.  A large selection of huge brownies, fudgy, and loaded with toppings.  "Cupcakes" that really were decadent looking mini cakes, with fairly involved toppings.  And don't forget all the cream filled items, cream puffs in several varieties, eclairs, and GIANT lobstertails.

I really was eyeing the lobstertail, but it was truly enormous, and we had just had a huge feast, and no one else wanted it.  They just wanted to all try a cannoli.

Cannolis.

 So we moved straight to the cannoli, available in many flavors, mostly with classic mascarpone filling and different toppings.

Pistachio Cannoli. $4.50.

Our group of 5 had two people who had never had a cannoli before, one person who doesn't eat dessert, and one person who really wanted a cannoli.  And me.  So we got only two, and let the person who actually likes cannoli pick it.

He went for pistachio.

The cannoli was ... fine?  Again, I just don't find the shell very interesting (just a pastry shell), and the filling, while rich and thick and creamy, just isn't enough to excite me.  Pistachio was good for crunch and didn't detract.

My review remains the same.  "Eh, its a cannoli."  Probably a very good one, but, just a cannoli.