Best of Boston
Best Pastry Chef
Renae Connolly, Moëca
Cambridge
Nothing ends a meal better than an ethereal dessert, and no one makes one quite so otherworldly as Renae Connolly, who’s been spinning sugary tales [...] read more»
2022 Best Pastry Chef
Brian Mercury, Café Beatrice, Geppetto, and the Lexington
Brian Mercury can do it all. He has to, as the pastry powerhouse for Will Gilson’s trio of restaurants under a single roof in Cambridge. [...] read more»
2019 Best Pastry Chef
Dee Steffen Chinn, Fool’s Errand, Sweet Cheeks, Tiger Mama
As sweets guru for Tiffani Faison’s restaurant empire, Steffen Chinn’s versatility stuns—from down-home desserts to elaborate, whimsical platings. read more»
2018 Best Pastry Chef
Brian Mercury, Oak + Rowan
Boston
Since earning this accolade four years ago, Mercury has somehow managed to up his game even further in his current role at Oak + Rowan. [...] read more»
2017 Best Pastry Chef
Renae Connolly, Benedetto
Cambridge
Renae Connolly's desserts are such exquisite works of refinement and balance, we've come to think of her as a real-life Sugar Plum Fairy. Whether you [...] read more»
2016 Best Pastry Chef
Meghan Thompson, Townsman
Boston
Meghan Thompson’s seasonal desserts aren’t merely a source of Instagram envy—there’s nostalgia and accessibility beneath the aesthetic. Take her frozen yuzu soufflé with poached quince, [...] read more»
2015 Best Pastry Chef
Rachel Sundet, State Park
Cambridge
One of our favorite pastimes has been a movie at the Kendall chased by a chilled espresso martini and one of Rachel Sundet's home-style desserts [...] read more»
2014 Best Pastry Chef
Brian Mercury, Harvest
Cambridge
We tend to approach modernist desserts with caution—though striking, can an elaborate plate of gel, fruit leather, and crumble actually taste good? In the hands [...] read more»
2013 Best Pastry Chef
Monica Glass, Clio
Boston
A touch of sumac to balance a rich chocolate cremeux; a hint of briny olive to bring out the zing in Meyer-lemon beignets—Glass is known [...] read more»
2012 Best Pastry Chef
Craigie On Main
Cambridge
Pity us. We're so inclined to stuff our bellies full of chef Tony Maws's house-made pastas and glorious takes on pork that we have a [...] read more»
2011 Best Pastry Chef
Maura Kilpatrick, Oleana and Sofra
Plenty of pastry chefs around town put together fussy, high-styled confections that scream "innovation." But if you're looking for someone versatil—someone who can do comfort [...] read more»