Recently, I had a stranger come up to me and ask “What’s your vice?” I don’t know why he tried to strike up a conversation in this manner, but I guess he has had previous success using this line. Unfortunately, that is a dead-end conversation for me, because if you are hoping for interesting drinking or drug stories, you will not get any. My two vices (in my opinion) would be buttery pastries and crate digging. So, unless you want to discuss the merits of vinyl or croissants, you probably shouldn’t ask me about my vices. Instead, you can do what my cousin Hasheem did and bring home a pastry from Carberry’s (and maybe Mulatu Astatke’s 1972 album “Mulatu of Ethiopia”).

After my first exposure to Carberry’s delicious pastries, I knew I had to return, and I have done so at least 20 times in the last year. Their pastries are probably one of the best in Boston, and my two favorites would have to be their maple pecan Danish and the almond macaroon (which tastes like it actually has real marzipan in it!). I rarely go to Carberry’s to get real food, as their premade veggie pizza was quite disappointing (despite having an outstanding pan-style crust).

Carberry’s has a DIY sandwich option, which is probably the most convoluted DIY system I have ever seen for sandwich assembly. I think it is because they segregate categories to include in the sandwich based upon price of ingredient rather than type, which makes things way too complicated. So, after spending 15 minutes trying to assemble my ideal sandwich based upon the categories afforded to me, I decided to erase everything and just go with the Greek wrap (a usually solid choice).

The Greek Wrap never disappoints and this occasion was no exception. However, considering the outstanding quality of most of the baked goods at Carberry’s, I feel disappointed that there is no good vegetarian option using their foccacia or other housemade breads as an option. I am excluding the DIY option, as I said before, it is like trying to decipher the Enigma code. The sandwiches I have had previously at Carberry’s were not very spectacular, though that may be because I have raised the bar of expectations based upon the baked goods quality.

Overall, the baked goods at Carberry’s are quite delicious, though the real food is pretty average. Disappointingly, there are little to no vegan options available, which is surprising for a bakery in Cambridge. As a result, I’ll give Carberry’s two and a half cheese sandwiches, as an un-vegan friendly café is as evil as an un-vegetarian friendly restaurant, no matter how delicious their buttery pastries are.

Carberry’s Bakery and Coffee House
74 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139-2503 
(617) 576-3530