BEST CANNOLI in BOSTON?

OK Bostonians.....Where can you get the best cannoli in Boston???????? Not ones that are pre filled in soggy shells.....but someplace where they fill them when you order them....thanks......

The most popular places for cannoli are Mike's and the Modern in the North End of Boston. However, I recently found a new place, that was featured on Channel 5 Chronicle and Phantom Gourmet and TV Diner - OMG, these are the best I've ever tasted. It's called Montione's, but it's not in the central Boston area and has limited business hours because they bake wholesale. I just picked up their biscotti of the month, pumpkin pecan, yum.

Darcy

They may be prefilled, but the cannoli at Mikes are absolutely delicious! Between the six of us, we had five different kinds. Everyone agreed they were delicious, not soggy at all.

The Cannolis at Mikes are fine, but you'll get better at the other places.

And you'll be eating with locals, not tourists, at the other places, if that is important to you.

We've enjoyed Mikes.

Modern Pastry--they fill when you order them

Another vote for Modern Pastry on Hanover St. in the North End.

Modern but I like Mike's as well. :)

Agree about Mike and Modern but for a delicious bakery go to Flour by Chef Joanne Chang. Flour is in the Ft. Point Channel, which you can get to via the Silver Line from the Black Falcon Terminal. Yum!

Agree about Mike and Modern but for a delicious bakery go to Flour by Chef Joanne Chang. Flour is in the Ft. Point Channel, which you can get to via the Silver Line from the Black Falcon Terminal. Yum!

Great bakery, but I don't believe they have cannoli.

Im not a Bostonian, but I did partake in plenty of cannolis while visiting. Mikes was our favorite!

mikes cannolis by ikirumata, on Flickr

Mike's is full of tourists. Modern is where suburbanites go because Mike's is full of tourists. North enders go to Bova's.

. North enders go to Bova's.

Or they go to Cafe Paradiso to have a macchiato and watch the soccer game while they enjoy their cannoli. One of those places where, if you're a neighborhood regular, "everybody knows your name".

North End Pastry Shops:

1) Mikes. Where all the tourists go

2) Modern. Where the suburbanites go because Mike is full of tourists

3) Bova. Where folks in the North End go.

Mike's is full of tourists. Modern is where suburbanites go because Mike's is full of tourists. North enders go to Bova's.

Wow. Took it verbatim.

I guess I should feel honored or something.

North End Pastry Shops:

 

1) Mikes. Where all the tourists go

2) Modern. Where the suburbanites go because Mike is full of tourists

3) Bova. Where folks in the North End go.

 

 

 

Wow. Took it verbatim.

 

I guess I should feel honored or something.

As a suburbanite with friends that live in the North End I'd have to say that for a traditional cannoli I'd prefer Modern since they fill the cannolis to order so they don't get soggy. If the crowds are too heavy at Modern I'll go to Bova, but they and Mike's often sell prefilled cannolis that have lost their crunch.

However the florentine cannoli at Mike's, while non-traditional, is amazing. Instead of a fried dough cannoli shell they use a rolled florentine cookie (basically a nut brittle). I've seen it offered once at Bova, but if they don't have it it's worth the wait at Mike's.

Also, if you're feeling lazy, Maria's at the entrance to the North End across from Haymarket makes a pretty good freshly-filled cannoli.

I think the North-Enders only go to Bova because it is slightly less crowded (as most places on Salem street tend to be) and thus they call it "their own". Not that Bova has bad cannolis, far from it, but I honestly find Modern's cannolis better and fresher tasting. Also, there is certainly nothing wrong with Mike's Pastry, very high quality, and the largest cannolis of the three, just slightly less intense. Modern is still my top choice, based on taste alone.

Full disclosure: I'm a subrubanite.

As for pizza, there is something to be said for braving the line for a real Regina pizza (it really is better at the original), but if you just want slices/don't want to spend your entire day in Boston in a line, Ernesto's on Salem street is my favorite.

Another vote for Modern Pastry on Hanover St. in the North End.

Ditto for Modern Pastry... yummmm

Mikes are great ..

As much as I like Mike's, I have to say the cannolis from Modern were better.