Soleil Cafe

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I wanted to get some opinions from neighbors on the new Soleil Cafe. Have you tried it out yet? I walk by every day 2-3x a day with my dogs so I have been keeping an eye on it somewhat. The first few nights there was nobody there, but I would say in the last week it is doing better than I ever saw the older management do.

Every night I see people sitting inside enjoying coffee and pastries. I know personally I am trying to stop myself from going there because I cant eat a fancy dessert every night unless I wanna gain weight! Its hard to not go in because the few things I have tried were delicious. I sampled the gelato and that was yummy as well.

I don't know if the staff is the same during the day that is there at night...but the couple of people I talk to at night are super friendly. Last night I was buying something and I said its bad that I live so close because I can't not get something while laughing and the man was very interested in my opinion overall since I am a neighbor.

The one thing I would change is that their are no small signs explaining what each pastry is so you have to ask what each one is. This isn't so bad if they aren't busy but when there is a line it is harder.

Comments

[sungold123.livejournal.com]

The have gelato??! Wonderful. If it makes you feel better, gelato has about as many calories as frozen yogurt - much better than ice cream :)

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Yes, when you walk in the gelato is straight back. There was about 5-6 flavors I think. I tried the sour cherry swirl (which wasn't too sour...just tart enough) and I forget the name of the other one (it was a strange name but the woman told me it was similar to a custard).

I know gelato is not too bad for you...but I have only gotten various rum cakes lol.

It really depends on the ingredients.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Gelato does not necessarily have fewer calories than ice cream.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I've eaten there, it's pretty good, if a little pricey in terms of the neighborhood.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Pricey for the food or desserts? I think the price of the desserts is pretty standard if not cheaper than what you pay almost everywhere else for the size.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I went there, got a sandwich, a dessert and a drink and paid about $13. That's a little pricey for a cafe, in my opinion. Not that I won't go BACK, mind you!

[m00n.livejournal.com]

If you consider the desserts are individually made (as opposed to, say, cookies) I'd say that sounds pretty standard for a place that specializes in desserts....

[inahandbasket]

The pastries I've had were fantastic, and they make a pretty good cappuccino too.
A friend had a sad sandwich there the first week they were open, but I haven't tried their "food" myself so consider that hearsay.

[boywonder.livejournal.com]

My BF and I both got sandwiches here the other day and they were better than the ones the old owners used to make. Fresh focaccia and fresh ingredients. One of the best sandwiches I have ever had.

Also have gone in for some pastry a few times, and it's pretty good as well. Glad to see it's been busy when I go by too.

[volata.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy these people took over the café. :)

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I have only had coffee there. I don't particularly like Raoul's coffee, so I was sort of "meh". I do need to get the gelato or pastries one of these days...

[ron_newman]

"Raoul's" -- is that Rao's, the coffee that Mr Crepe sells?

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

Err, Yes. also the same coffee that Soliel USED to sell...

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

No kidding, Rao's was a big hangout in Amherst. Didn't realized their coffee made it up here.

[unferth.livejournal.com]

They have it at Mr. Crepe in Davis Square, Yada Yada down by Fort Point Channel and apparently still at Cafe Soleil. Probably elsewhere as well, those are just the ones I've run into.

[ron_newman]

Also at Good Food Cafe on Mass. Ave. in nearby North Cambridge.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

IMHO the problem is not the brand of the coffee. If you buy a cup of Rao's espresso at their cafe in Amherst it's some of the best coffee you will ever have, at least in New England. The problem is that making an espresso is an artform requiring a great deal of skill and experience to perfect and most cafes put very little effort into learning how to do it right. The one exception being Diesel, who apparently put several of their baristas through Intelligentsia's "barista training course" which had a *noticeable* impact on the quality of their espresso drinks.

Yum

[ravingwanderer.livejournal.com]

I live a short walk away from Soleil. We've had cookies, pastries (cannoli, lobster tail, mini tarts), gelato, and sandwiches. All good. (We haven't had a need for their entrees yet.)

Prices seem to be comparable to e.g. Dave's and Mr. Crepe (this is just an impression, not based on hard numbers).

[faux-eonix.livejournal.com]

I'm the sad sandwich eater referenced by inahandbasket.

My sandwich really was gross. The rice was undercooked, the chicken was overcooked. The wrap was rice mixed with buffalo sauce and some grilled chicken which was then wrapped in a cold tortilla with no discernible vegetables.
I'm not a terribly picky eater, but I ended up throwing most of it away.

Also, my co-worker ordered a cannoli there and thought it was good, but we both noticed a few boxes in the back labeled chocolate dipped canolli shells. I'm not a huge cannoli fan so I don't know if purchasing pre-made shells is the norm or not.

The staff was really nice though and I might be convinced to try them again, just not for lunch.

Is this a sandwich you got at Soleil?

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

What kind of Italian cafe puts rice in a sandwich? From your description, it sounds more like a burrito to me. Pre-made cannoli shells? Obviously, not the real deal. They should at least hide those boxes.

Re: Is this a sandwich you got at Soleil?

[somertricky.livejournal.com]

Pre-made shells for cannoli makes at least some sense to me, unless you've got a, what, deep-fryer?

Pre-filled, though? No way.

Re: Is this a sandwich you got at Soleil?

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Somerville is home to a cannoli shell factory: Golden Cannoli (http://www.goldencannoli.com/) on South Street outside Union Square.

Re: Is this a sandwich you got at Soleil?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

When I was buying a pastry the other night I saw a box of cannoli shells behind the register...it said it was made in Somerville. I forget the street address but this may be it.

[whitefire.livejournal.com]

If you pass by it so frequently why don't you just, you know, go in and try it for yourself?

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Did you not read my whole post. 1. I posted my opinion on my visits to the cafe 2. I asked for others opinions since there was a lot of negativity before the new management.

[duffless2323.livejournal.com]

I live right near there and haven't been in yet. I wonder about their choice not to change the name, most people I know in the area stopped going there under the old ownership due to limited selections and poor hours. I don't know that people know it's changed ownership.

The little ice cream sandwich shop next to PJs also has me curious, they keep strange hours, not sure how people expect to be in business when they aren't open.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I agree on both comments.

Even when you walk in...the menus are still Soleil, their aprons etc. I wodner why they didn't want to change the name.

That little ice cream place is NEVER open when I expect it to be. I don't know if they changed owners again...now it says they sell Brighams ice cream whereas before I think it was Lyndells or something similiar. Either way I got ice cream their once or twice but I didnt like it. I felt as though the ingredients were not fresh and tasted off (whether it was the cones, cherries etc). They also use lame Hersheys syrup rather than real hot fudge.

It costs money to change the signs and all...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

But, given that the place was not doing well before, it seems like a no brainer that a new name is needed.

Re: It costs money to change the signs and all...

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

It definitely costs money I know this...I work in advertising/marketing. However the name is not associated with good things in the community :)

Although- Soleil did have a good reputation for catering so maybe that was a thought.

Advertising? Cool.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Would love to see some of your work! :)

Re: Advertising? Cool.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

I just graduated in May with advertising as my major. Right now I am working as a marketing communications associate in the tech field. I have marketing emails and event invites Ive made so far though :D

Re: Advertising? Cool.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Oh and I cant forget the ever so cool web pages on the horrible website we have haha.

[ron_newman]

This is not a good time to be a Brigham's franchisee (or whatever they are). Brigham's web site went offline shortly after Hood bought them, and stayed that way for weeks. It's back now, but the list of restaurants (including the Teele Square one) is still missing.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

Well that place is now closed. There is white paper taped up on all the windows.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

I work right near the new Soleil and I am enjoying it so far!

Their foccacia is very yummy and I buy one for making my lunch sandwich with if I feel like a treat.

For a coworker's birthday, we bought a number of pastries and split them. Everyone RAVED about them, particularly the cupcake and the amaretto item.

Yesterday I saw they had the standard "Italian bakery cookie" type of cookie so I got a chocolate one. It was very fresh and delicious - much better than the norm!

Plus, everyone there is very friendly! Maybe we should all suggest to them that they should at least have a banner about "grand re-opening" or "under new management" because I agree that many people probably gave up on them long ago.


As for the Holland Street Cafe, I can't figure that out either. The owner allowed me to hang up a farmers market flyer and was really nice, asking about the market and expressing interest in getting ingredients there. But I can never figure out when they're open.

[jamiesquared.livejournal.com]

The amaretto and rum items Ive had have been oh so good. I saw those cookies last night too but I couldn't resist another rum type treat lol.

[jovianconsensus.livejournal.com]

It's almost embarrassing how friendly they are. A grump like me can't handle it. The pastries I had were excellent. The pizza (weekend evenings only) was excellent. The one sandwich I had was decent, but not at the level of Dave's Pasta.

cannoli shells

[truebostonian.livejournal.com]

Regarding the cannoli shells...I lived in Italy for 6 months and experienced various desserts...yum!

Even if they use premaid shells at Soleil, that is indeed the norm - at least in the Boston area.

If you go to all the North End Bakeries you will find the same shells from Golden Cannoli Factory - that someone mentioned in another post
What you want to make sure is that the cannoli are filled in front of you and that they are not prefilled.

Mikes pastry sells them prefilled - and they are awfully soggy....

But the shells are good and comparable to some of the best ones I had in Italy.

By the way? Have you tried the brioche with gelato? Now, that is a very Italian thing to have.

Hope this helps!