Looking for Greek pastries

[EllenMM]

Which place in Arlington has the better pastries - the one in across from the Capitol Theater or the one across from Stop and Shop? Are recs for specifics?

[EllenMM]

I ended up buying an assortment of Greek pastries at the Arlington Bakery (ARLINGTON ZAXAROPLASTEION) across from the Capitol Theater. I'm not an expert on judging these, but my guests all liked them. I thought the baklava a bit heavy, but good flavored. The galaktobureko (sp?) was yummy. The owner explained each pastry to me - he was friendly, chatty and very helpful - reminiscent of experiences I'd had shopping at old-time bakeries in the NYC suburb where I grew up.

[peregrine]

I see someone has already mentioned Arax in Watertown, so I will add Sevan which is part of the same largely Armenian strip on Mt. Auburn Street. I believe it's Sevan that has a huge display of pastries for sale by the pound and stacks of carry-out boxes and spatulas for self-service. Without wishing to stir up ancient controversies as to which ethnic group invented which delicacy, I'll say that that the Greeks and the Armenians are close competitors in this style of pastry. And if you've never been to that area (the high 500's of Mt. Auburn St.) it's well worth a visit.

[ParisLady]

Olympos Bakery in Lowell...the best next to my Mom's. It's worth the trip! AND the spanachopita is great!!! Just google Olympos Bakery in Lowell and the info is on their website. I am Greek and that is my go to place when I do not have the time to bake. Enjoy!

[opinionatedchef]

Last yr. i tried a number of the cookies at arax and found them very Ugh. just sayin'.

[Emma1982]

I guess Athan's is ok, I had some last xmas- normal quality. Sophia's I am not sure, I did not want to try them because they carry them year round and that to a greek-greek is an abomination.Christmas cookies start in December, end in January, you OD, gain weight, lose it by Easter, and you long for them the rest of the year. But you could make melomakarona at home, they are so easy to make, and tasty. And cheaper by a lot. Same goes for baklava.
Kourampiedes now is another story. The tricky part is the sheep's butter. If you find that, then that is also easy to make.

[FrankJBN]

Why don't you buy pastries you like from each and compare and choose what you like better on your own. I always prefer my own choices as to what my preferences are.

[scavdog]

+1 for Athans.

1621 Beacon St
Brookline, MA 02446
[phone]
http://www.athansbakery.com

Their website appears to be down...

[teezeetoo]

I don't know the answer to your question because I don't know Arlington but do find the baklavas at Athans to be good and I often buy baklava and sesame cookies, etc. at Arax too. Not sure that's at all helpful!!

[opinionatedchef]

sometime in the last yr or 2, iirc, there was a thread on some specific items at the one across from the Capitol. Try a 'search' using the bakery's name.

just fyi, 10 minutes away in belmont, is Sophia's and she sells the best melomakarona (dark brown moist walnut cookies, shaped like flatish footballs, soaked in syrup) in my comparative search for them in boston.

plse do report back! there's almost no Greek pastry attention on this board. thx!