The Best Cannoli Is...

Dave and I went to Boston this weekend sans kids. We took a photo walk tour. (I'll write more about that another time.) Our guide took us to the North End. She told us about the best pastry shops there. We decided to do our own taste test.

Our first stop was Maria's Pastry Shop. It was a quint little shop. There were locals chatting in the shop and others sitting outside enjoying their pastries. The cannoli was rich and creamy. They was not very sweet.

I thought we were just going to the one pastry shop. After tasting the first cannoli, Dave decided we needed to do the taste test. Mike's Pastry is very well known by tourists. There is a line out the door most of the day. The locals seem to think it is overrated. The main complaint is that the pastry is Americanized and not as authentically Italian as others in the North End. We got chocolate chip cannoli because the counter girl said they were the most popular type. They were delicious, creamy, and sweet. There was plenty of seating too.
Our last stop was Modern Pastry Shop. Dave doesn't embarrass very easily but he did make me stand outside with the two other pastry bags. We got the chocolate chip cannoli. They were creamy, rich, and not quite as sweet as Mike's. There was a couple of tables for patrons too.

Dave and I both agreed that Mike's Pastry was the tastiest, then Modern Pastry, and last but certainly not least was Maria's Pastry. It is all about personal preferences. I like sweet pastry so Mike's tasted the best to me. If I enjoyed the creamier more traditional taste, then Maria's would probably taste better. All were good. We have eaten in the North End many times, I have not found a restaurant that isn't good yet.

Dave, the official taste tester. Our next taste test will be pizza in Chicago this summer. If you know pizza restaurants we should try in Chicago, please leave it in the comments.