cannoli to-go-li?

[hondodog]

So I ask...who has the best cannoli around here? There are huge lines at Mike's and Modern and it seems like every place where you can sit and have an espresso has cannoli, but I say "feh"! I've had much better. (The better ones I've had are at Lo Coco's on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, CA).

I want a fresh-filled cannoli, with a dark brown reasonably fresh fried shell that takes a bit of fork muscle to break and a creamy sweet filling which almost all ricotta and not some pastry goo. Soft, light brown fluffy shells just don't make it.

Extra points given for bits of small cut up dried fruit tacked to the ends (I haven't seen those around here at all).

I am suffering withdrawal symptoms, so all and any help appreciated.

[scratchie]

Arthur's Pastry Shop in Medford.

[teezeetoo]

antoines in newton - royal in cambridge

[Onehundred20]

If you don't mind driving a bit, you could try Wholly Cannoli in Worcester.

http://www.whollycannoli.com/

[hondodog]

So how good (or not) is Wholly Cannoli? Are they worth a trip for flavor and texture or just for a mind-numbing number of types/variations on cannoli?

[trufflehound]

Mind-numbing numbers, over the top silliness. OK if you are in the area. I wouldn't travel for it. But hey, the Phantom Gourmet loves 'em.

[Allstonian]

I know that a little finely chopped dark chocolate and candied orange peel mixed into the ricotta is traditional in many places, but for some reason it's not done at any bakery that I know of in Boston. Too bad - it is nice! I suppose if you got a cannoli "kit" - unfilled shells plus the filling, to pipe into the shells at home - you could doctor the filling yourself. I know that Capone's in Somerville/Cambridge sells such kits, and the North End bakeries might be willing to do the same.

[CocoDan]

I know no one will believe this, but villa Francesca's has a terrific canoli. Very fresh, and I'm telling you, you won't be disappointed. You'll need some muscle to break the shell. They fill them when you order. Sit at the bar, order an espresso with sambuca della notte, and enjoy your canoli. "The Best"!
Enjoy,
CocoDan

[lergnom]

Try Maria's on Cross Street - that's the one that faces the Greenway. Next to Pace.

[Alcachofa]

Agreed. Check out Maria's.

[viperlush]

Has anyone else noticed a decline in Maria's? I haven't been going there for long (about a year now), but the last couple of times that I have gone (Thurs or Fri early afternoon) the black and whites have been stale and the chocolate icing discolored, the marzipan has been harder than usual, and the cookies seemed off. Thankfully their cannoli has remained top notch.

They will dip the ends in chocolate chips if you ask. I wonder if they can also dip in candied orange peel if you ask? Worth trying.

[another_adam]

Hmmm,not sure about a decline-I typically only get the cannoli! But I'd been worried recently after I overheard her mentioning a while back that it was getting tough to run a business in the neighborhood, or something to that effect. We hardly ever eat cannoli in our house, but I've been trying to make it a point to go in regularly, to do my small part to keep business flowing!
She'll definitely pack the shells and filling separate to go, so you could easily augment with dried fruit yourself if you like (not sure if you can request them already with...)

[catsmeow]

I agree...definitely gone downhill. I got several different kinds of cookies the last time I went to Maria's and most were stale and got thrown out. I didn't get a canolli. Yesterday, I met some friends in the NE for lunch(not my choice on a crowd packed Sat) but surprisingly, I got a parking space on Hanover St 30' from the restaurant! Afterwards, I got in the long out the door line at Mikes but it went very quicky...about 4-5 minutes. The canolli was worth it. Even after taking some time to work my way home, when I finally ate it, the shell was still nice and hard and the filling was delicious.