Anyone who has called New England home for any length of time will tell you that the food scene in this part of the country is unmatched. Sure, the South has barbecue and fancy mayonnaise-based salads, the Midwest has hotdish and casseroles, and the West Coast has overpriced avocado toast and subpar tacos (can you tell I’m a little biased?). Nothing truly beats New England fare, which is as steeped in flavor as it is in history. Boston, the capital of Massachusetts, has a particularly vibrant culinary scene. While some of its most popular and associated dishes can be found outside of its metro area, the city and its restaurants are home to many iconic treats that justify a visit to Beantown.
I currently live just outside of Boston’s metro area — in southern Rhode Island — but I am no stranger to the Amtrak ride north to visit my favorite pastry shops, Boston-area attractions, and restaurants. If you are looking for a top hits list for your next trip to the city or are asking for a definitive answer as to where the best place in the city to get a cannoli is, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of my favorite Boston delicacies that are worth trying, whether you call the city home or are just visiting.
Lobster tails
Whenever I make the two-hour trek northward to Boston, I absolutely have to stop at one North End pastry shop in particular. People may know Mike’s Pastry for its cannoli (stay tuned for more about that), but my go-to from this iconic Italian pastry shop is the lobster tail. If you have 24 hours to spend in the city, I recommend paying Mike’s a visit and standing in line for at least an hour of your time for one of them. While the line outside is usually pretty long, so much so that you may wonder if it’s truly worth it, this massive pastry, complete with layers of delicate, crunchy pastry dough shaped into a cornucopia and filled with a combination of ricotta, whipped cream, and Italian boiled cream, is a sweet tooth’s dream. There is almost as much filling in this pastry as there is shell, meaning that your face is bound to get absolutely smothered in that sweet, light, and flavorful cream. The pastries are the best on the day they’re bought — which, unfortunately, is bad news for someone looking to bring a dozen home.
Mike’s Pastry has several locations in the Boston area, including its OG spot in the North End (on Hanover Street), as well as in the suburbs of Somerville and Cambridge. While you can order its lobster tails for nationwide delivery, I like to think that standing outside in line on a blustery winter day for one of these pastries makes that first bite even sweeter.
Boston cream pie
The iconic Boston cream pie is easily one of the most recognizable desserts in the city. This regional cake (which is not technically a pie) calls the city its home. It was first added to the menu at Boston’s Parker House (now Omni Parker House) when the hotel opened in 1856. Its chef, Augustine François Anezin, made the vanilla sponge cake base in the same tin as was used for pies, which is likely how it developed its inaccurate moniker. The cake is served with a decadent pastry cream filling and topped with a chocolate ganache. It’s a very heavy cake, compared to some of the lighter and airier sponges I’ve had over the years. While I don’t think its flavor is particularly remarkable, there is a strong identity that ties this dessert to Boston’s identity and sense of pride, making it one sweet worth ordering. It’s even the state’s official dessert!…