What a nice little treat! I was in the area meeting with a friend at the local cafe down the street and was craving something sweet. Here Lyndell's was waiting for me! The staff was very nice and helpful. It was my first time here and they suggested the moon pie. I was never a fan but figured I would get it to give it a try or to at least let my friends try it. It was buy 1 get one free! Service was 8/10. My favorite cake of all time is carrot cake, so I had to try some from here. It sorta tastes like one I can get from the grocery store I'm not gonna lie. The cream wasn't as fluffy and cake wasn't as moist. It wasn't made with nuts which is disappointing, but I guess with so many nut allergies I can see why. I would give this cake a 6/10. I haven't tried the moon cake or boston creme yet, but I will update this review once I do. read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Boston Cream, moon pie, carrot cake - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I have been getting cake' s and other baked items for over 30 years. I'll be looking for another bakery for our family events. If you do not like an over abundance of frosting order birthday cakes with " light frosting". They over do frosting in cakes and half moons. Quality and size of items have gotten smaller, at the same time, increased prices. Chocolate Drops once had a nice crescent shape chocolate top and bottom, large enough to hold the sweet cream. Not anymore! Now they offer the more expensive item with a much thinner cookie type chocolate top and bottom. No longer a fan, too bad. I will be getting baked goods for family events elsewhere read more

Amazing cake and pastries. I've become a huge fan - especially the cupcakes and cream puffs. The cupcakes aren't overly sweet, and both taste and feel really good. The cream puffs are so light and fresh. They're my new favorite pastry. Their coffee is ok and cookies are decent. I'm hoping to return soon to try out some of their other items soon. read more

Delicious!! Will be back very soon! Just another gem in the area for anyone looking for an owner operator business!

Got some danish/ not like they used to be or taste. The Mother's Day chocolate heart cake was dry and stale. The prices have increased and the quality has gone down hill. I guess the donuts are a big seller and I do enjoy the sugar cookies. read more

We ordered cupcakes for a friend's engagement party. The cupcakes were very tasty and soft. But a bit too sweet. The cupcake decoration was very pretty and looked gorgeous! I wish they somehow made it a little less sugary. read more

Oh. My. God. Hands down the BEST bakery in Boston since Finale Desserts closed. I have no idea what the name of most of the items I purchased were called, but they were all delicious-- except the whoopie pie was mediocre. 1) Two plain butter cookies with raspberry jam in between them: Whatever these are called, they were soooooooo amazing!!! I could eat 100 of them straight!!! 2) Oreo cup: My boyfriend is obsessed with Oreos and loved it. Enough said. 3) Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting: One of the best chocolate cakes that I have ever had, and I am not even a chocolate fanatic! 4) Whoopie pie: I really do not know what to say other than that maybe it was not sweet enough? My boyfriend hated the fact that when he took a bite, there was too much crea, and so the cream went everywhere. Service: Spectacular! I also love how honest the salesman was. I was going to buy these Italian cookies, and I asked him if they were any good. He honestly replied that they were not his favorite and made a face that they were not worth buying. Honesty-- love it! read more

Found a hair baked into a cake I got recently. Unsure if maybe it was from a brush they might have used or something but either way it was incredibly disgusting. Couldn't eat it anymore after that. read more

Went there for the first time yesterday. What a wonderful old-school bakery. Squeaky clean, eye catching confectioneries in clear glass cases. The woman who waited on me was friendly and attentive. I shall return. read more

I was very disappointed in the cookies and mini pastries that I purchased today. I ordered 3 dozen cookies and 2 dozen mini pastries. I placed the order yesterday and asked that the cookies be put on a tray. They told that it would be $10.00 extra. The cookies were $24.00 a lb. I spent over $137.00 today. I will never go back to Lyndells. read more

I ordered a cake for my dad's 75th birthday and it was wonderful. Gorgeous floral design and the richest chocolate frosting ever. Customer service was friendly and efficient. Thank you, Lyndell's! read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

I was so excited to order our son's first birthday cake from Lyndell's, but was really let down by customer service. I went to the store a week and a half before we needed the cake, spoke to team member about what we wanted, who was then going to discuss the design with the cake decorator and call me the next day with any follow-up questions. I didn't hear from them for six days, which made it too late to order a custom cake anywhere else, because a weeks notice is required at most bakeries. They can't do the design as requested, and I wasn't allowed to speak with the cake decorator directly to come up with a compromise. Lyndell's you let me down. read more

Oh Lyndell's, a bakery that understands and respects the appropriate cake-to-icing ratio. If you're a frosting FREAK, (like me,) you've found a place to plant that freak flag and wave it among the delicious cakes, half moons and cookies that Lyndell's has to offer. Polite and patient service, a variety of attractive pre-made cakes if you're on your way to an impromptu celebration; what more could you want? Please note: they will pipe sassy messages/vague innuendos on cakes for no added cost. Thanks Lyndell's for being a part of my neighborhood! read more

Items Ordered: Whoopie Pie Almond Buttercream Cookie Almond Canolli Rasperry Jelly Donut Boston Cream Pie Black & White Half-Moon Vanilla Custard Éclair Located just down the block from Ball Square Café and family owned and operated since 1887, Lyndell's Bakery in Somerville was one of those rare places that beckoned a visit despite no prior knowledge of its existence, the service and products both oldschool and pretty great. Not really identifying with a specific 'style' or nationality, and thus quite the opposite of newer Artisan spots focusing on French Pastries or the great Italian spots in Old North End, entry to Lyndell's immediately sparks nostalgia of a small town upbringing, the modestly dressed middle-aged women with distinctive Boston accents standing back and going about their duties until approached, but then happy to inform or recommend what is best. Not tossing about words like 'organic' or 'artisan,' and certainly not trying to reinvent the wheel, Lyndell's instead focuses on classic bakes, doughnuts and wedding cakes rich with thick buttercream or boiled frostings, first tastes of the Chocolate Whoopie Pie and dipped Buttercream Cookie not subtle in the slightest as sugar, flour and oil all coated the palate. Offering no lack of variety spread across a large floorplan with the bakery itself visible through windows behind the racks, Almond Cannolis had 'just been filled' according to the older of two bakers and true-to-words the mascarpone was nicely cradled in a robustly crunchy shell. Not particularly impressed by the Jelly Donut, granulated sugar clinging on tightly to a surface glistening with oil, better bites were found in a traditional Boston Cream Pie as well as the Vanilla Éclair with similar custard filling, the Black & White "Halfmoon" eating much like its Deli cousin, but with a fluffy base that was more cake-like and fluffy. read more

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These dudes make some bakery-ass donuts. None of that donut shop frip-frappery, just well-executed, tasteful classics. In other words, not nearly enough sweetness, variety or sprinkles for my nancy-boy post-Y2K Skittles-desensitized tastebuds. Rule of thumb? If you grew up looking forward to getting a single fresh orange for Christmas, you'll probably think their donuts are awesome. Otherwise, you'll get bored and wander off looking for something shiny. Like a walkman. Or Andre Agassi. Their raised glazed is the standout, thanks to its yeastiness and unusually robust glazulation. It's thick and solid enough that biting through it is a conscious act, yet it never flakes.The jellies and lemon-fillies are workmanlike, in that you have to plug their holes before you shove them in your mouth, or they'll spurt everywhere. Their cake donuts are exactly what every sad little supermarket "Donette" aspires to be when it grows up, so that's kind of awesome. They're weirdly hearty and wholesome tasting which, again, is the sort of thing I'd expect from a bakery that dabbles in donuts. I mix them in as a change of pace from my favorite donut shops, but they won't be cracking the starting rotation for the same reason that I choose Count Chocula over Cream O' Wheat. For the record, the vanilla half moons are the single best things in the shop and qualify for Best of Boston status. The danishes, while decent, can't compare with Patsy's (though, in all fairness, nowhere else can either). read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Old fashioned, with jimmies! - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

we celebrated with the most delicious and divinely decadent Lyndell's cake! freshly moist marble cake with a layer of german chocolate filling, and an additional layer of Boston custard! amazing!! we'll travel here to pick up a cake anytime! try their donuts, too! read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Stopped in after breakfast at Ball Square Cafe. Picked up some moon cakes and apple and raspberry turnovers. We tried the moon cakes this morning and wow....the look on the kids faces....orgasmic! The icing! So delicious! We saved the other 3 moon cakes for later...we want to savor every bite! read more

I have had many amazing baked good experiences from Lyndell's, from cupcakes to jelly-filled confections. However, my definitive Lyndell's experience occurred this week when I asked for an octopus-themed cake for my boyfriend's birthday. They asked me if it was okay that the octopus was rising out of the cake with its tentacles hugging it, and I was all, "um, YEAH!". Total magic. I've never seen such a pretty, cute and fun cake. Additionally, it tasted incredible, and everybody at the party loved Mr. Octopus. Lyndell's cakes are that magical (and unattainable, in today's bakery paradigm) combination of delicious and beautiful. Please give these people all your money. read more

Lyndell's Bakery - amazing octopus birthday cake - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

OMG where do I start... Im at work one day & my gf says to me, "Hey, want something sweet?" and as much as I dont love sweet, I decided "Sure"... So off we head to Lyndells... I walk in & instantly Im like in Awe... Not that I havent walked in a bakery before but it all looked soo nice & neatly lined up... We got some cannolis, Cream puffs, Eclairs, 1/2 Moons, Espresso Bars & Almond Macaroons (dipped in Choc)... $22... Seemed high and I was a little put off, like really!!! So being the fat chicks that we are, we get in the car & DIG IN!!! Ooh in my defense we got all the "mini" ones... The cannolis, Cream Puffs and Eclairs were as I have had at any bakery, nothing overly special about them, they were good... Just nothing like OMG thats the best... The 1/2 moon however, WHOA, now Im not a 1/2 moon kinda person because every one Ive ever had has been on somewhat of an anisette cookie or hard cookie*ish thing.. Well this one is cake & the bottom is all crunchy with sugar... OMG IT WAS SOO GOOD... Just next time I would get all Chocolate, the White Frosting isnt my fave... The Espresso Bar was good.. BUT OMG... THE ALMOND MACAROON... That might have changed my lift... It was the perfect combination of Crunchy (Almonds) Soft (Cookie part) and then sweet*ish (The chocolate)... I would have ate 10... and I have actually been back since just to get the macaroons, its just disappointing they are $1.50 each.. I love them but dont know if I love buying them at $150 each...Maybe if I could get a dozen for cheaper... But until then only once in a while... read more

A little far off any T stop.. but I've heard so much about this "locals favorite." They're famous for their half moons, which i thought were pretty bland and overly sweet. BUT, they bake loaves of bread fresh each day.. so I tried the honeycomb loaf. It's pretty freakin sweet, so it didn't pair too well with a savory sandwich.. BUT this bread is perfect with a quick toast and a pat of butter or spread of peanut butter. mm mmm! Our server was SO NICE and SO SWEET, so I feel bad giving less than three stars, but the quality of baked goods were subpar, in my opinion. read more

Lyndell's Bakery - DIA-BEET-US. - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Very cool and historic but the premade items just were not great. Perhaps they shine with cakes? I got the black and white which was more cakey than a traditional NY one but was good. The almond cookies were crazy hard and not flavorful. I really did not love the bakery but dont want to stop others from trying if you are in the area. read more

Lyndell's is totally a nostalgic thing for me. Their cakes bring me back to my elementary school days, when classmates would bring in cupcakes on birthdays and I would hold my breath for a vanilla cupcake with chocolate, peach, or strawberry frosting (the best kinds, in my opinion). More recently I've discovered that their Boston cream pie is the best! The thick layer of rich chocolate frosting and the simple vanilla pudding go so well with the light vanilla cake. This is my ideal birthday cake! They also make a cake with white frosting and a chocolate glaze poured over top that is both attractive and delicious. The black and white cookies are the real deal as well. However, I would stay away from the more exotic flavors. For example, the lemon Bavarian cake was just OK due to the overly fake lemon flavor. Sure, you can find fancier, more impressive cakes out there, but 9 times out of 10, Lyndell's is exactly what you need to please a crowd. It's a Somerville classic for good reason! read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Lemon Bavarian cake! - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

We've now tried a bunch of their stuff over multiple trips. Date bread is definitely my favorite till now. But the turnovers, cookies, cannoli, tiramisu have all hit the spot. Will definitely stop by everytime we're in the neighborhood. read more

Maybe we just choose poorly, but we weren't wowed. The half-and-half cookie was delicious, especially if you like a lot of frosting like I do (it was as much frosting as it was cookie). On the other hand, the mini whoopie pie was too dry, and the cannoli shell wasn't as crispy as it should have been. If we had chosen better maybe we would have been happier, but as it was we've had better... read more

After a year I can happily say that other than the moons, I have finally been able to taste and discover the beauty (for the most part) that is there other kinds of pastries. Here is my assessment: Canolis- I've read some people received them when they were not as fresh, but this hasn't happened to me. The cream is perfectly light without being too sweet, and the crust is crisp and tasty. I also like the chocolate covered ones...yum! Eclairs- When you take a bite and taste the cream inside, you won't be disappointed. However, the chocolate stripe for me is a little weird because it's made of the same stuff they use for their chocolate frosting. I'd prefer a lighter chocolate to balance off the cream, but overall these are decent. Red Velvet Cake- This was my first time trying this cake flavor, so I can't really compare it to others. However, I can say theirs has made me a convert! Red velvet is oh so delicious and I like their cream cheese frosting. Can't wait to try this one again. Specialty Holiday Cookies- Each holiday they make sugar cookies decorated in frosting. This time around I tried ones for Halloween and they had cute shapes like pumpkins, ghosts, and bats. Kids would definitely find these cute, and although the taste was good, they were a bit hard. Fruit Tart- Never again! I really like fruit tarts and I have ordered this on two different occasions in hopes the first bad one was a fluke. The custard in the shell is really bland, the crust is dry and hard, and the fruit consistently taste as if were doused in a lot of medicine. It's to bad, because they look so pretty, but don't make my taste buds dance. Tiramisu- This is just good tiramisu...not the best, and not bad either. I'd prefer a stronger coffee taste, but the texture is right. Assorted Donuts- When you get these warm right out of the fryer they are awesome. I really like their sugar donuts especially. Great alternative to bringing a box of DD to the office to share. read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Our wedding cake was chocolate...not so traditional, but oh so delicious - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

This review is for a birthday cake that I recently bought, and for another birthday cake order that I tried to place. First cake - when I called to order, the person on the phone gave a very small number of options (yellow or chocolate cake, white or chocolate frosting, and a "flower color"). I thought that was strange because they are known for custom cakes, but I didn't question it at the time. My cake was made as requested, but the chocolate cake itself was dry and not very tasty, and it seriously had at least 4 pounds of very sugary frosting. I know frosting is sugar, and sweet, but that's all we could taste. Nothing but sugar. No one was impressed, and for $46 for an average size cake, I expected a bit more. Second attempt - I wanted to try again, because some friends raved about their custom cakes. I called to order a cake for another relative, and they initially gave me the same limited options. I asked if there were any other cake flavors, and they said, only yellow, chocolate, or a mix of the two. I asked why, since they do custom cakes, and the person said that they have a few more options for "larger cakes" but not for smaller cakes. Ok, fine. So I wanted buttercream frosting instead of the not-great sugar frosting, and the person on the line said that they can make buttercream, but only plain buttercream, no flavors. I wanted strawberry (or some other fruit), and he said no, only plain. I decided not to order, and I was really hoping to get a great cake from them. read more

Vest black & white cookies. More like pillowy soft enormous muffin tops with old school not-too-sweet simple frosting!

Horrible customer service. I'd leave a 0 star review if I could. Yesterday I was YELLED AT 3 times while ordering- 1- my very small child refused to wear a mask correctly and 2-was yelled at bc my kid was 'too close to the counter( he was more than a foot away) 3- when my kids got cookies, while leaving the store- they decided to try them and I exited to a slur of more yelling. The cookies were dry and too sugary. The cupcakes were also dry and bland. read more

Not sure where all the positive reviews are from? The cake was dry, tasteless yet somehow overly sweet (we got the yellow round with coconut on the outside). There was no taste of vanilla, no richness at all, quite frankly it was almost stale! Supermarket cakes have more flavor (and this is not saying a lot). Didn't try any pastries but those looked decent, not a place you want to get your special occasion cake from, incredibly disappointing :( read more

Exactly the type of cupcake bakery we were looking for! We read the yelp reviews and they were spot on! The cake is moist while the icing is light and fluffy but not overly sugary. Our daughter was delighted that they have pink frosting and sprinkles. And at $1.35 to $1.65 per cupcake it seems like a veritable bargain versus some of the higher priced not as yummy bakeries we checked out which helps when one has to place a big order for a toddler school party. The other baked goodies look yummy as well. I would happily gain so much weight living near this delightful bakery :) read more

For their 120th anniversary great cupcake (and coffee) give away yesterday and today, I ventured off from Brookline, through the unknowns of Davis and Powder House Sqs to arrive at Ball Sq for some delicious baked goods. Yesterday, I received not only a free orange and pineapple cupcake and a nice hot cup of coffee but also wonderful friendly service. I wanted to try more so I bought a blueberry muffin ($.80), scone ($.80), and raspberry crumble ($1). Unbelievably cheap! I had the cupcake and coffee on the way back to Davis, which was simple but nice. I saved the others for breakfast the next day. Unfortunately, they were just okay overnight. I thought freshness might be an issue so I went back again today to try their half moon cake on the spot (and more free cupcakes, of course). It tasted good and moist, but there was no wow factor to it. Same with the strawberry cupcake that I got. The reason for my second visit was because after reading Yi-Hwa's review, I thought about the bakeries I visited in Ginza, Tokyo and Taiwan where you can immediately smell the fresh bread coming off the oven that makes you want to buy EVERYTHING! Not has much here at Lyndell's, even with closer olfactory observations the second time around. read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

The perfect cupcake, truly. Moist, fluffy, and has the best frosting over any other place in town. Don't forget to snag a free cupcake on their birthday - December 1! read more

Lyndell's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Somerville, Massachusetts

Unpretentious, home-y bakery with a great value. Tried a Bismark, cream puff, and half moon cookie here with an iced coffee. High expectations on the half moon cookie. The frosting was a bit too sweet for me, but the cookie (cake) definitely helped balance out the sweetness. The Bismark had a donut bun, filled with berry jam and a heavy/decadent cream (think Whole Foods whipped cream). The cream puff was bursting with an airy, lightly sweetened cream and drizzled with dark chocolate. This was probably the best cream puff I've ever had in my life (I'm quite experienced in this domain...) Although they are known for their half moon cookies, don't sleep on their other pastries. Bonus: free parking lot in the back! read more

If you are from Somerville, lived in Somerville or have just driven through Somerville you should know about Lyndell's. Been around since Moses wore short pants. Classic bakery that brings me back to childhood birthdays. Always got our cakes here. Went in to for a pound of cookies to send South to mom and got a dozen praline cookies for myself. FLASHBACK! NOSTALGIA! and yumminess all wrapped into a chocolate drizzled cookie. Mom loved the cookies for her birthday as well... read more

Used to love Lyndell's. Haven't been there in awhile. Got cupcakes recently and the icing was still good but the cake was beyond dry. It used to be moist and delicious. Are they cutting back on eggs/ingredients because of inflation or something?! read more

First heard about on Phantom Gourmet. They said: "best half moons ever." We love half moons, and had to go. We live in Worcester, one hour away, but we go here when we go into Brighton once a month. We have been going thru Harvard Square for years to get to Lyndells, but now looking for alternate routes (HS sucks on a good day). The point: These are the best halfmoons ever! Hate to call it a cookie because this brings up the image of a crunchy cookie like oatmeal or choc chip. These are built on a cake layer and they are moist. Then, of critical importance to me, is the icing to cake ratio. These have a very healthy covering of icing and the cake below, sort of like a cupcake with half the bottom removed, my ideal! You have options: half choc and white on yellow cake, all choc frosting, or all white, or the same options on choc cake bottom, so be prepared. Save some travel and just buy a dozen. Warning, you have to like sugar. We often eat just a slice of the half moon and save the rest for later. (I microwave for a few seconds before devouring). ( An entire cookie at one time might result in coma). They also have excellent eclairs which I will score this Friday. Can't speak for other items, but they look good. Will try Boston Creme donut soon based on reviews. read more

Ever since this place changed hands it's been terrible. I keep giving it one more try, but I'm done. The last cake I got here tasted no better than a grocery store cake, and it was 3x the price. The staff is unsanitary - I saw one guy handling money and food with the same glove on and another handling her phone and then food. It's too bad - for 20 years, this was my favorite place for cakes, cupcakes, and more. read more

If you asked Rockwell to paint a picture of a neighborhood bakery on a winter's day, he'd give you Lyndell's. I could've easily spent $50 in there on my first time thruogh, and I was just browsing. Their cakes looked amazing, their cookies were delicious and the service is friendly and patient. The place is worth driving to, and since it is a couple of blocks away from Powderhouse Square, the parking it pretty abundant. It is worth a trip if you're in the area. Come hungry. read more

Soooo worth the trip: it takes me 25 mins each way to get to Lyndell's, yet on this grorgeous, warm, sunny February day, as usual, it's worth being in the car!! I'm a life-long lover on Half Moon cookies, and these are the best in Boston. There's 4-5 varieties of Half Moon, so if you can't choose, just get a box of each. They have a great website with a "countdown clock" of how many hours they have been open; they opened in the 1800's, so it's close to 39,000 hrs. That's a lot of baked goods! Free parking in back, and I scored a turnover, 3 half moons and 3 cupcakes for $12.00. The same loot would cost about $20 in Faneuil Hall or the North End, and not be nearly as delicious!!!! read more

So...The items I've tried were mostly just sugar and not enough flavor of any sort. I feel like I've missed something with all the great reviews for this place. I've given them at least 3 tries over the past year, tried out their cannoli, half moon cake, carrot cake, M+M cookie and more. I especially wanted to like their black&white (half moon cake) because its a sentimental childhood favorite cake of mine... Honestly I've had much better and would put their baked goods on par with most basic supermarkets (not including Whole Foods). I wish I could like this place and to support a local family-owned store... the few times I've been the people have been fine to work with but not welcoming or overtly friendly. I tried to ask about pricing for tiered cakes and the young woman I spoke to either didn't know or didn't want to go into a conversation about it and suggested I look at the website for ideas. But, after trying individual servings of their products (and they said the large tiered cakes are made of same batter and frosting) I'm glad I didn't go into more detail because, again, all sugar and not enough flavor. I might come back again to give them a 4th try and see if maybe there are different baked goods that they make better... but it'll only be when I'm in the area. read more