151580 Sun Apr 17 23:31:49 -0700 2005 19 12 Boston Area 0 813646 I live on campus at Harvard Law School, and Three Aces is the closest restaurant. Unfortunately nothing there is even marginal--nothing except the baklava. This is the best freaking baklava I've ever had. It oozes honey, rosewater, and butter in a decadent way that the commonplace dry baklava triangles can't duplicate. If you're driving or walking by, it's definitely worth stopping for . I had to try baklava at approximately 10 other places before I was comfortable suggesting that anybody should walk inside Three Aces. But I'm addicted to my $1.80 dessert, and I will no longer eat the dessicated filo pastries purveyed by otherwise tasty Middle Eastern restaurants. Sun Apr 17 23:31:49 -0700 2005 0 Ryan 1 813647 ryan, r you positive? can that even be possible? how can a respectable hound even step into 3 aces? ok, i will try it tomorrow. btw any other hidden jewels nearby? my lab is only a couple blocks away. Sun Apr 17 23:49:06 -0700 2005 813646 0 newerjazz 2 813653 The roasted vegetable cuban along with a marvelous mojito at the Chez Henri bar is a favorite. (I'm a pescepoultriatarian so I haven't tried the real cuban). But less expensive and fancy? Not much. I've been disappointed about how weak the food in the area is. I had a surprisingly good chicken gyro at Harvard House of Pizza, but that might have been more a matter of exceeded expectations. Mon Apr 18 07:20:05 -0700 2005 813647 0 Ryan 2 813662 I consider the Aces to be a very Chowhound-y place... Look, it's not Gourmet, but what they do they do very well, much better than nearly any other corner pizza/pasta place I've been in the area... Have you tried their chicken penne with broccoli? Their lasagna is also excellent ! and they are one of the few Boston corner pizza places that automatically oven-toast their subs. Thoughts? Mon Apr 18 09:32:12 -0700 2005 813647 0 Al Fresco 3 813664 I only know of the place but also wondered why a "chowhounder" would never step foot in there. Isn't it about checking all sorts of things out? Mon Apr 18 09:49:56 -0700 2005 813662 0 Joanie 4 813693 i have been there many times myself ;-) and plan to go there to try the baklava today... in fact i am eating three aces sandwiches tonight; our group orders food from there every week for group meeting. so i may be tired of its food :() my main complaint is that the ingredients used tend not to be the freshest. if i were in that vicinity, i would rather spend my $6 at tacos lupita, zoes's (noodle soup or lunch special), RF O'Sullivan's (burger), Cambridge Common (meat loaf or burger), porter exchange (various japanese), Montrose Spa (cuban sandwich) etc. Mon Apr 18 15:06:02 -0700 2005 813664 0 newerjazz 3 813695 Wow. I have to respectfully but vehemently disagree re the Three Aces. I've tried the pizza, subs, and prepared food. Nothing has ever came remotely close to impressing, and more than one meal wreaked havoc on my digestive system. That said, I never tried the baklava. PS: Much better pizza and subs up Mass Ave at the Half Shell, imho. Mon Apr 18 15:29:35 -0700 2005 813662 0 a&w 1 813649 Could you please post the other 10 places at which you've had disappointing baklava (if possible, in order of preference) ? BTW, have you sampled baklava at Brookline Family Restaurant in Brookline Village? Thought it was pretty good, altho' your description of Three Aces makes me think the latter may trump the former's. Mon Apr 18 00:03:08 -0700 2005 813646 0 ju 2 813652 Hehe...well it would be hard to list these in order of baklava preference. They were generally similar and "okay." I'll order them from top to bottom in order of overall preference Reef Cafe (Allston), Moody's Falafel Palace (Central), Lebanese place near the MFA, Barada (Porter), Shwarma King (Coolidge Corner), Greek Corner (Porter), C'est Bon (Harvard), and Sabra Grill (Harvard) come to mind. Baklava on my to try list: Cardullos and Algiers (if only it wasn't so damn expensive--I'm sure it was $5!) Mon Apr 18 07:12:12 -0700 2005 813649 0 Ryan 3 813654 Add Sevan and Arax bakeries in Watertown... Mon Apr 18 07:32:53 -0700 2005 813652 0 rxrfrx 4 813663 Sevan's baklava is great! It also matches the original poster's description of the baklava at Three Aces (i.e. not dry). I'd also strongly recommend Sevan's bird's nests. Mon Apr 18 09:33:05 -0700 2005 813654 0 Ezra 5 813712 I actually think Sevan's baklava is not as good as Brookline Fam. Restaurant's, which is fresher, lighter and cripsier. I like Sevan's katayif (bird's nest) better than their baklava. Thanks, Ryan, for your list. Here's my take on the ones I've tried (a much smaller list). In decreasing order of preference: Brookline Family Rest. (in addition to baklava, the sobiyet and katayif are very good); Sabra; Sevan; Reef Cafe. Mon Apr 18 19:59:11 -0700 2005 813663 0 ju 4 813671 where in watertown Mon Apr 18 10:55:20 -0700 2005 813654 0 pizza 5 813688 Coolidge Square, which is Mt. Auburn Street in East Watertown. Mon Apr 18 13:54:33 -0700 2005 813671 0 rxrfrx 1 813675 Last I had Athan's it was pretty great too--several different kinds, including traditional, and they're all oozers. Mon Apr 18 12:05:47 -0700 2005 813646 0 italophile 1 813677 I can't believe no one's mentioned Tabrizi in Watertown! That place is honey heaven. They have these wonderful honey filled flower-shaped fried things that are amazingly sweet, plus several types of baklava. For the record, I worked near 3 Aces for seven years, and never heard anyone come back from there raving about the baklava. I only ate the pizza as takeout. Wish I had known.... Mon Apr 18 12:11:40 -0700 2005 813646 0 Bluebell 2 813713 Tabrizi's version is nice, with the addition of cardamom, characteristic of Persian baklava. Mon Apr 18 20:34:56 -0700 2005 813677 0 Limster 1 813692 Hi Ryan: thanks for the fond memories. Sounds like "Three Greases" hasn't changed a bit -- in 20 years! Prof. Louis Loss (the father of securities regulation) used to eat at Three Aces regularly (someone told me he did so every night), and he lived to a ripe old age so the food may be really bad but it won't kill you. Mon Apr 18 15:02:58 -0700 2005 813646 0 Bob W. 1 813722 as promised, i sampled a huge three aces baklava. It's laden with moist, rosewater-flavored honey with a crushed walnuts sandwiched between 2 pieces of layered baked dough. it's pretty good but no the best baklava i have had; the honey is really sweet but lack fragance, the dough is nice and flaky and not too soggy; overall i like it and will probably get it every other week. thanks, Ryan! Mon Apr 18 22:56:33 -0700 2005 813646 0 newerjazz 1 814121 I've also had the baklava at 3 Aces, and found it good but not great. I wanted to point out that 3 Aces is the home to what in my mind is a great junk food indulgence. The "3 Aces Special" sub is roast beef, turkey ,bacon & cheese w/ mayo toasted in oven until cheese very melted (& bread crisped). Have it with everything + hot peppers. The combo of the juices of the cool vegies, the grease & the mayo with the warm sub is a juicy, fatty, junky delight. A researcher from Germany that used to come to the lab where I worked became so obsessed with it that he insisted that he & all of his post docs order it each time they were there - he literally wouldn't let anyone in his group order anything else!! Fri Apr 22 14:11:32 -0700 2005 813646 0 Heathen & Spells