Sometimes it's the small things that really distinguish good from great bakeries. Placed an order ahead of time (easy online ordering system), and they actually called ahead to let me know that my order would take a little longer (even though it was only 15 min later than my scheduled time). I really appreciated this since the last thing you want to be doing these days is waiting around somewhere or idling. The pastries were executed perfectly. Unique flavor combinations, and some really great patisseries that I have a hard time finding elsewhere. The Paris-Brest and the Religieuse were PHENOMENAL. Their Buche de Noel is really cute and they have a wide variety of sizes so they make great gifts. They even included cute little santa and present decorations on top. It was the highlight of my holiday desserts. The hazelnut buche de noel was delicious, as was the white chocolate and passionfruit. I'd easily pass by this place if I hadn't discovered them on IG and I'm sooo happy I did. For fine patisserie, I think their prices are fair as well and are pretty on par with similar bakeries in the area. I will definitely return here since they make a lot of pastries that other stores don't offer. They also have a great selection of teas and jams for purchase which make great gifts. Didn't get the chance to try any of their coffees, but definitely will next time along with their crepes! read more

Though finding street parking can be a little tough, it's worth it for this little unexpected nugget of authentic French delectibles tucked away in the greater Boston area. It is seriously the ONLY place I can reliably find my favorite French tea line, Mariage Frères. They sell varieties beyond what you find at Dean and Deluca, selling the more specialty teas, like their Héritage Gourmand line, which has the Cannelé flavor. I bought the Year of the Dragon and Calisson teas awhile back, and will be coming back to restock. The tins are gorgeous, and a pro tip: The standard black Mariage tins can be re-labeled to be used for other teas. Their price point is reasonable for imported tea, and comparable to what you'd pay at Dean & Deluca. They also carried the Favols preserves line (the fruits rouges is a personal favorite). The staff is a treat, and are always polite and helpful. I called in once to see if they had a certain tea in stock, and they cheerfully helped me out. The macarons I had weren't especially memorable when compared to what I enjoyed at Ladurée & 'lette though they share a similar price point, but I may give their other pastries a chance. read more

AMAZING PASTRIES! They are fresh and tasty! I'd say one of the few GOOD pastry shops in Boston!! The store people are also very friendly! I love this place I keep getting their Madeleine, Hazelnut pastry and chocolate eclair! read more

Praliné - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

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If you are looking for authentic French pastries -- eclairs, Paris-Brest, chocolate-caramel tarts, and macarons, made comme il faut -- this is the best place in the Boston area. (Go to Clear Flour in Brookline for breads and baked goods). The owners are themselves from France and happy to speak in French with you. It's not cheap, but the quality matches the price. There is also a selection of French imported products that are often not easy to find in the US. The flavored marshmallows (guimauves) are really good. read more

I bought the berry passion fruit tart and the hazelnut opera. The opera was decent but the tart was amazing. The desserts are on the smaller side but the croissants were "enormes"/ginormous. read more

Praliné - Delicious berry passion fruit tart! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

A tiny bakery in the middle of Boston. I'm in Boston about once a month or so. Each time I always try out a new bakery, since they have so many classic French Pastry shops litters about. I don't think I've come across to many sub par ones I ether. Praline was one of the best. -Lemon Meringue Tart, now that was a thing of beauty. Beauty to my stomach. I loved the lemony tartness. I'd say this is a must if your in the area. read more

Praliné - Lemon tart was solid. The meringue was from another bakery I think - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

Every now and then you find a place that transports you around the world. Praline does that. From the moment you walk in, it's apparent this is not just another bakery. Its a true French bakery that somehow creates a direct portal to the streets of Paris. It's as if the love that goes into each pastry wafts through the air and straight into your nose. The staff are always so sweet and helpful too! So next time you're wishing you could fly to Paris for a croissant, save yourself some money and just come here! read more

I've wanting to try Praline for awhile now and I'm very happy that I did! I'm a big fan of Macarons, however, I have high standards after having studied abroad in Paris and had the pleasure of tasting some of the best! I went to Praline on a rainy Sunday and the store was completely empty. I got several pasties and a dozen macarons (I know it's a lot, but I really wanted to try most flavors!). I was actually a bit disappointed about the pasties - although the flavor was good, they didn't taste fresh and I felt like they've been sitting there for at least a day or two.. Maybe they just don't make anything new on Sunday :( But I did enjoy almost all the flavors of macarons and here is my ranking of the ones I tried (know that this is highly personal): 1. Salted Caramel!! (Perfectly crunchy on the outside but gooey and chewy on the inside. May have been THE best caramel flavored macaron I've ever had) 2. Black Current/violet (You'll love this if you like the tartness of the fruit filling mixed in with the sweetness of the crust) 3. Passion fruit mango (Juicy and refreshing) 4. Vanilla (The cream inside was so fluffy!) 5. Hazelnut (Get it if you like Nutella) 6. Raspberry 7. Coconut 8. Pistachio read more

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Sometimes I wish I believed in mermaids and unicorns. Or what if that 1890's NY Sun Editor wasn't just telling Virginia what she wanted to hear when he reassured her with a "yes, there is a Santa Claus?" Well, at least I get to occasionally encounter people like the guy who rang us up at this adorable little place. He exuded so much genuine positivity and light that I wanted to bow my cynical Brooklyn girl self down and say, "I'm not worthy.": Anyway, we stopped here to pick up a hostess gift to bring over to dinner with some friends in Lincoln. Aforementioned lovely counter guy was so very patient and helpful, suggesting the Religeuse, which consisted of, if memory serves, a couple Vanilla Pastry Cream-filled Choux Puffs stacked on top of one another, as his favorite. A classic French pastry dubbed for its supposed resemblance to a Nun, which frankly, I didn't see, we decided to go with this, along with a few other treats to share with the family we were visiting. Hubby, who is a total, ANNOYING coffee snob, also ordered an Espresso and lo and behold, gave it a major thumbs up. That Religeuse also turned out to be a big hit, followed by a simple, but perfectly executed Lemon Tart. Both a Hazelnut and a Coffee Opera Cake were good too, though perhaps not quite as impressive. For a previous dinner with said friends, who happen to be major Francophiles, we went to Ma France in Lexington instead for our hostess gift. All I can remember about that experience is that while the Hazelnut Paris-Brest we got looked gorgeous, it tasted disappointingly bland. And none of our other dessert picks were especially memorable. So am going with Praline ftw so far in our apparent quest for best French baked goods in the area. read more

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A great addition to the neighborhood! Delicious French desserts that are perfect for tea and cards or dinner party desserts. I always get compliments on their goodies. My personal favorites are the Chocolate Caramel Tart and their Croissants. Macaroons are also delicious! Tip: Pick their pastries over their chocolates read more

Praliné - Chocolate Caramel Tart ($5.50 Summer 2018) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

We went in for morning drinks and were sorely dissapointed. Overpriced... coffee was terrible, latte was bitter, chai was passable, hot chocolate was pure sugar. Avoid this place for drinks, undrinkable read more

Praliné - Coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

This is a review based off of some items from Praline that were brought home and shared with me. I haven't visited their location yet (sadly, probably for the best these days) but I'd seen the rave reviews and wanted to try and it definitely didn't disappoint. Best macarons ever. And I've had them in Paris and all over, but these are bar none the best I've ever had. I tried the salted caramel and raspberry and both were incredible. Lastly, I had their madeleines, which aren't my favorite, but they do them well. I'd love to come in someday and try more of their selections and make my own choices, but what I've had from them so far is very good... read more

I never really got into the macaron craze. Sure, they're fancy French cookies, but they're just cookies. Even after sampling macarons from Ladurée, I could still take or leave them. Well, these macarons converted me! They're the perfect texture--crispy on the outside, soft on the inside--and the flavors are so intense. You can get a gift box of 4 for $10, or individual macarons for $2.50 each. Definitely not cheap but worth the splurge! It was hard to choose from the huge selection of flavors, but I tried marshmallow, coconut, raspberry, and violet-black currant. The shells themselves just taste like meringue; the punch of flavor comes from a filling of buttercream, jam, curd, or ganache. Definitely don't miss the violet-black currant, which sounds weird, but it's a classic French flavor combination! The coconut buttercream was also super fluffy and full of flavor. The only flavor I wasn't crazy about was marshmallow; the marshmallow filling was weird, and the shell was a little stale. I definitely want to come back and try the pastries and espresso! Unfortunately at ~12pm there weren't so many pastries left. Praliné would also be the perfect place to pick up a fancy dessert for a dinner party or hostess gift! I can't wait to stop by this convenient Belmont Ave. shop again! read more

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Pastries aren't fresh or as tasty as they could/ should be. And it's pricey for mediocre pastries. This business def has room for improvements especially if they want to last in their location. read more

I have a slight macaron obsession but Boston has a lack of them, so when I heard of Praliné I had to go. It was a very easy trip from Harvard Square which was nice, and surprisingly a small quaint shop. They have a good assortment of macaron flavors; I tried pistachio and blueberry lavender. I'm not even the biggest fan of lavender but their blueberry lavender one was so good, I definitely recommend it. They also had an assortment of other sweets such as chocolates and cakes, though their cake stock seemed low when I visited. They also serve crepes!!!!!!!! I recommend Praline for anyone seeking macaroons. They're a little more expensive at $2.50 per macaron but it's something I'd splurge on every once and a while. Also be warned there's no seating here, though they have two window counters. I'd say the biggest downers are the price of the macarons and no seating but the taste does justify! read more

Praliné - Blueberry lavender and pistachio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

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This place typically closes on Mondays but thankfully they had special hours on Christmas Eve so I was able to pick up some desserts. This place was super busy and half their desserts were already sold out by the time I got there. I ended up getting the passion fruit tart and the opera cake. Both were good but not my favorite desserts. The passion fruit tart was very flavorful and had a strong passion fruit taste to it which was nice. I typically order chocolate type desserts so this was a nice change. Their macarons are supposed to be delicious but I'm not a fan of macarons so I didn't end up trying it. The prices are on the expensive side but the desserts are pretty good if you're in the area. read more

Given the lack of good French bakeries in Boston/GBA, Praliné was a serendipitous find. They have an excellent selection of patisserie and viennoiserie goods-- I would recommend the croissants and the raspberry-passionfruit tart, though to be fair most of the baked goods are quite decent. I come often to pick up macarons; they make an excellent present (6 for $18, 12 for $33) and come wrapped in a lovely box. As I have an tree nut allergy, I have never tried them but they are always well-received. If sweets are not your thing, they have quiches and savory (and also sweet) crêpes! read more

Really good macarons. Probably in my top 2 for macarons. The other place I liked a lot was in Lexington but it closed down many years ago. A lot of unique pastries. Great for photos if you're into food photography A tad bit more sweet than I like but comes across as more balanced than other places that are way too sweet. Very nice staff. Small space, better for shopping than dining. read more

Finding a true French patisserie isn't as easy as it may seem. Especially when you are trained in French pastry and have an incredibly high standard. This little gem has all the classics and a few gems in between. Ordered: plain croissant, chocolate croissant, dark chocolate crepe, almond pear tart, chocolate caramel tart, opera cake, chocolate macaron and a meringue cookie. The texture of the croissants are the perfect mix of flaky, tender and fluffy. The opera cake was the perfect height and didn't taste like "refrigerator" as many opera cakes that are left too long do. The shells on the tarts we nice and crunchy without the least hint of sogginess even though it was filled with a gorgeous caramel and ganache. I can't say enough about the quality and workmanship in these French classics and it made my heart and belly happy :) will be going back! read more

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Just visited for the first time to make a purchase for Father's Day. Haven't even tried any of the tarts I purchased yet but wanted to document the frustrating negative experience I had with the customer service (Behind the counter, from the kitchen). When I first walked in, I was met with a male employee, he was very friendly and courteous. I told him I wanted to buy some tarts but wanted to see if there were any tarts made with less sugar because of one of my family members is a diabetic. He immediately says he would go into the back to ask the chef which I thought was smart for him to do - who else would know better what goes into these tarts? When he goes to the back, I hear him ask the question. And then I response I hear about 3 female voices. It sounded like a lot of opinions were being thrown out but then I hear one or two of the female voices complain about why a customer was asking about the sugar. As if they were really offended. And then one of the young women walked across the kitchen entrance to get to the other side of the room and as I watched her pass, she said "Its not like we're going to change how we make things." I then also saw one or two of the females peering through the window to get a look at me, the idiot customer asking about how much sugar they use. The kind male staff then come back out to the front and says there was no consensus on which items have sugar. I then picked out 2 tarts and an almond croissant, paid and left. I left feeling pretty infuriated. I don't know why a simple question on the ingredients would cause such offense and crap talk. I wasn't complaining or asking for them to change how they made their tarts. And I've actually found other bakeries in Boston to be very accommodating in suggesting various baked goods for me when I tell them I'm purchasing for someone with dietary restrictions. Additionally, I'm a little surprised that the chef + multiple women in the back didn't have an opinion ... don't you measure out the ingredients you put the the tarts? Shouldn't you know how many cups of sugar go into making one type of tart vs the other? And naturally, being an recreational baker, I could at least draw some conclusions that a lemon tart could require more sugar to balance out the tartness of the lemon and a dark chocolate tart might need less added sugar because the tart would already have the richness and flavor from the dark chocolate or cocoa. I later ate the almond croissant but didn't finish it as I found a strange green substance baked into the croissant layer... examined it but can't figure out what it is, maybe a booger from one of the bakers. Bottom line, don't come here. Check out sofra around the corner or Danish pastry house for excellent cakes. read more

Praliné - Strange green object baked into the croissant layers, maybe a booger. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

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Bought some French macarons for my wife for Valentine's Day and they were incredible. Best she's had in the Boston area. Looking forward to going back to try some of the other pastries. read more

The caneles are burnt gloriously for a buttery, bitter, custard-like bite that's at first disarming, then complex and wonderful. And Praline does them right. Know what else? Macarons. Oh damn. Their pastry is a dual-textured marvel, with floral flavors of lavender or a decadent, earthy nuttiness in the pistachio. And Praline does them right. Croissants, though. Just one frustratingly flakey croissant in every person's hands, and there'd be no room for violence. Because all our hands would be full of croissants, and like Nana used to say, "hands full croissants can't make mistakes." So, stock up on croissants. And Praline does them right. Savory palmers for $1.50? I buy them all. No palmiers for you. Eat your bundle of hand croissants. read more

Praliné - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

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This place deserves every single star. After reading through other people's reviews, I knew I had to pay this place a visit. And I am so glad I woke up early for this. This place has the most authentic, beautiful, and delicious French pastries and desserts in the entire Boston/Cambridge/Belmont area, and it is certainly worth going out of the way for. I tried the Almond Croissant, the Madeleine, and the Macarons (Pistachio, Orange Blossom, Salted Caramel, and Hazelnut). The Almond Croissant is to die for - this pastry has to be the single most fluffy, flaky, and buttery thing I have ever eaten. Even better, it was warm when I bit into it, and I think the heat made the almond paste become even smoother because it had almost a cream-like texture. Every single bite was mind-blowing, and if you only have stomach for one thing when you come here, this is it. Get it. Oh, and the macarons. I can say with confidence that I have found the best macarons in Boston. The macarons are soft, chewy, and very pillow-like. They are extremely consistent and the best part is that the almond mixture completely fills the inside of the shells; thus, no hollow or "air-pocket" shells. These come in pretty boxes and are the perfect gift for friends and family, and there are so many flavors to choose from. The Madeleine was also very good - slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I am so happy I found this bakery, and I am already planning my next visit. I hope this place wins Best of Boston or something because it is truly that good! read more

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This is one of the best bakeries I have ever tried. Their desserts are simply delicious. There is not one dessert that they make great but all of the ones they serve are absolutely wonderful. I went there to get a birthday cake to find out they only make them only if it's preordered (During COVID). So I had no choice but buy the ones they had on the shelves. I was a bit hesitant as each slice was between $5-$7, I didn't want to buy too many and end up paying more than I'm supposed to and not enjoy the desserts at all. Finally, I decided to get 4 different types of small pastries. No exaggeration, they were all delicious. We were 4 people so I sliced each pastry into 4 pieces so everyone would get to try all of them and we all loved the freshness and flavor of their desserts and will be definitely coming back. read more

I was excited to find a Parisian style cafe, but I wasn't very impressed. I got a plain croissant, almond croissant (both were bland) and a cannelle (not as good as Cafe Madeline in the South End). I also bought a jam that was pretty good. I would actually recommend the croissants at Bakehaus down the street! read more

Devine French pastries similar to the ones in Paris. Just the right amount of crust, cream, sour flavor and sweetness. The crossants looked mouthwatering too. We will be back to try the crossants next time. read more

Praliné - Lemon tart $4.80, raspberry passion fruit tart $6.50. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

True French patisserie. Don't pass up the espresso eclairs. And for the bonafide foodies with refined palates- make sure you try an assortment. (They've perfected their tart crust) read more

Praliné - Espresso and chocolate eclairs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

Cool small space. I like that it is small because you know they have to concentrate on only what they are good at and be efficient. The macarons and the croissant were awesome. They have solid espresso beverages and tea options, too. read more

Outstanding pastries; love their croissants and eclairs in particular. They also have a nice selection of beautiful jams and candies -- great for a quick gift. read more

Wowza, their pastries are phenomenal. I picked up a coffee opera cake and a raspberry and passion fruit tart. I paid 6 or 7 bucks for each. The opera cake had the darkest, richest chocolate on top and the tart was incredible. Very tart, fruity, and refreshing. Their croissants are good too and pretty large for only $3. Highly recommend! read more

Praliné - Raspberry passion fruit tart, coffee opera cake - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

Love their bakeries I've tried many if their tarts. Their thanksgiving special was amazing. Their passionfruit tart is always soooo good. So glad I live near by read more

This place is Love. I love their pastries, specially the 'Opera'. They outdo themselves with each new introductions. Also a big fan of their coffee which comes from the George Howell coffee house. I wish there were more savory options in crepes for vegetarians. Still a 5 star because its such a cute little boutique cafe and the owner and staff is super friendly. read more

This little bakery is cooking up something big: perfect french pastries. I had to try a little bit of everything, pastries, tarts, and cookies. I am over the moon about each of them. For $16, I got: Almond croissant (cooked dark and crispy) Lemon macaroon (good, but not tart. more of a floral taste) Orange blossom macaroon (beautiful floral tea-like flavor) Madeline (delicious with a pound cake texture) Raspberry Passion Fruit Tart I'm quite glad I don't live near by because my wallet would be empty. Until then, I will have to put in orders for my next birthday! read more

This place is a Jen! The White Chocolate Mango Passion Fruit Buche de Noel, the Opera Cake, and The Passion Fruit tart were beyond amazing! I will definitely be coming back! read more

The best French pastry I've had outside of Europe. It's expensive, but you get what you pay for. I haven't tried the chocolate yet, but the Viennoiserie, cakes, and especially the macarons were excellent. read more

I live around the corner from Praliné and regularly buy their tarts. Top notch quality, but at a price. Service is always very pleasant. Avoid the baguette and croissants. Quiche are good, but expensive when you order the ham and cheese, but you have to be an archeologist to find the ham. We love the religieuses, lemon tart, eclairs, and raspberry tart. read more

Lovely service. Honestly found their pastries to be just average though. Had a croissant which was run of the mill and a Madeleine that was denser than I'm used to. read more

The reviews for the macarons are so good, but I wasn't a big fan. The flavors were too punched up, to the point of feeling pretty artificial, and I prefer a more subtle approach to these already-delicate bites. The orange blossom was heavily perfumed in a way that was kind of unpleasant, and the pistachio was also strong in a way that range false. (I recently had gelato that tasted almost exactly like eating an actual pistachio, so that's my direct comparison right now.) The mint chocolate and the hazelnut praline (I think that was the flavor) I preferred slightly to the first two. The space is very cute though and the guy behind the counter was friendly and helpful, so that's something. read more

Praliné - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Belmont, Massachusetts

Best macarons ever. Try the mango passion fruit- it'll change your life! The chocolates are a game changer as well and make the perfect thank you gift. We're only ever in Boston once a year, so this will definitely become our annual pit stop on our way home! read more

Delicious French macaroons, yummy hazelnut pastries and what looks like the best mini cakes in the world. I loved the little vibe in here as I popped in during an afternoon with my little one. The two macaroons I chose to sample were rose & espresso. The rose was light and delicate with a sweet, flowery taste. I LOVED it. It was airy and left me imagining how difficult it must have been to have the baker make it to be so perfect!! The espresso was delicious and I enjoyed the flavoring much better....but the rose was by far a better pastry. The biggest problem I had was that the coffee was just mediocre. I know it's a pastry shop and I shouldn't be overly impressed, but as someone who is dairy free - a soy latte with mediocre espresso just wasn't cutting it for me. Overall, delicious pastries that I'll definitely be back for...but grab your coffee elsewhere. read more