Athan’s Bakery

When I lived in Boston I would often frequent this bakery/​coffee shop. They have delicious mix of classic cookies, cakes, and Mediterranean style deserts. I often stop by on my trips to Boston

I come here every now and again because I forget about how awful this place is. I don’t mind horrendous customer service if the food is good. Here, neither the service nor the food is even passable. Most of the pastries are heavy and poorly made– they taste like the Greek interpretation of what they should be (like the tiramisu and all the croissants). Having said that, the baklava is okay. But really, why not just go to clear flour?

Big fan of Athans, always a good place to study or meet friends. The baklava is worth writing home about, and the prices for bakery items and small meals are reasonable. Definitely my go to spot in the neighborhood.

Be warned. There is a weird rule that you can only sit at certain tables if you are using a laptop. Even when it’s empty! And you’ve bought a drink and food to eat… I hope the owner reads this. The two ladies sitting with me at the booths left because of how the situation was handled. I suggest this place considers letting people sit where ever they like when the place is empty. There was LITERALLY only two other people in the entire establishment.

My girlfriend and I stopped in here on a chilly afternoon for some brunch. On first inspection this is a roomy establishment with high ceilings and a lot of floor space.
Local Brighton folks were sitting with coffees reading books or fiddling with iPads and we seemed almost like an intrusion to their usual peaceful coffee spot by ordering food. Clearly this place has its fans and regulars.
We sat and waited for some time before my girlfriend finally asked the waitress if we had to place our orders at the register. She seemed surprised that we wanted to order something and said she would be with us shortly. This place seems sparsely staffed.
Once we had her attention though, we were greeted with speedy service, although there was a lot of confusion about the menu.
The 3 egg omelette has a variety of options, but they weren’t clearly spelled out. One option listed, «Ham bacon, prosciutto» which looked really good until I was informed that they were all separate options and an additional $ 2 each. So I got pancakes instead. My girlfriend wanted tea and was given the very lengthy tea menu as well as the «cup or pot» options which in themselves can be large or small. That’s a lot to choose from! In the end though, the food came quickly and was quite good!
I checked out the men’s restroom and it seemed pretty clean overall. Maybe it needed a brief touchup, but I was impressed nonetheless.
My only recommendations to the owner would be to promote the brand more strongly, hire a few more people, and make some edits to the menu. Otherwise this place looks pretty good! We will probably be back.

I frequent here quite often. Huge fan of their pastries, eggs a la greque, and coffee.
The baklava is really what keeps on bringing me back. It’s the moist type (my Arabic friend prefers the drier type) that I absolutely love, especially as a treat with a coffee.
Good sitting atmosphere, great food. Highly recommend if you’re in the area.

The service is excellent and the menu is creative. We recommend the brioche French toast, it comes with Cherry butter. Adorable addition to Brighton’s small business community.

Delicious baked goods and breakfast. Five stars for food, but service is verrrry s-​l-​o-​w!

ACTUALLY CLOSES WAY BEFORE 10pm.
I like Athan’s a lot. They have some really delicious desserts that spare no calories in their deceptively filling sizes. And the espresso and free wifi are great if you stay to eat.
However, this is probably the seventh time I’ve come to grab something to go at 9:30 and the door is locked. The door which actually has a sign that says they’re open until 10. I’ve been annoyed by this so many times that I’m writing my first Unilocal review just to say it. Two people have actually shown up since I’ve started typing. Needless to say, none of us are going home with desserts even though the door says we still have 20 minutes to buy them. I can also see an employee right inside who ignored the knocks of one rejected customer. This is also not the first time I’ve witnessed that.
If Athan’s wants to close at 9:30 that’s no problem with me. I, and many others, could just show up earlier. But why they persist in advertising that they are open until 10 despite consistently not being open is beyond me. They probably lost $ 40 in sales just in the time I typed this tonight.
I’d gladly review Athan’s much higher if they would either change their advertised times or stay open until when they say they are.

Athans today produced a cake that was damaged and could not be served (15 minutes before the party). They were unwilling to provide a replacement in time and cared not in the slightest. Any decent bakery would have made some vague attempt the fix the cake, or make a new one and deliver to the party. The owner’s response: «So don’t take it.»
The people at the counter — including a fat spotty teenager — were so dim that they didn’t seem to understand why it mattered.
This place takes it work ethic from the metropole of industrial productivity: Greece. I daresay there are plenty of other cake providers in the area, people who actually take quality and on-​time delivery seriously.
I would not go back based on this experience.

Had a great omelette there this morning with fresh spinach and gorgonzola, came with nice home fries, not overly greasy, and toast. Great coffee. I can only assume that most of the business from this location is catering and b2b since hardly anyone is there. But it’s a very pleasant spot, so I’m glad they can make it work.

Big thumbs up from me. Perfect place to enjoy a sunny Sunday afternoon if you’re not in a hurry and want to enjoy some quiet reading with food. They have a high ceiling and a big airy space that is not over-​crowded with tables. While I was there I got a cellphone call from somebody with a soft and low-​pitched voice, but was able to maintain the conversation in spite of the dozens of other people eating there.
Big selection of sweet pastries, napoleons, eclairs, noisettes, etc as well as some savory pastries filled with cheese or spinach. Decent selection of panini, though using ordinary square bread was a false note.
Could use a little tightening up on organization — e.g. unclear whether to get in line for counter service, or sit down. I ended up ordering at the counter, then sitting down, then going back two more times to the counter to order extra courses, because for sure nobody was checking in to freshen my coffee or see if I wanted more. Nobody even seemed to be keeping an organized tab of what I was ordering — maybe they were but at some stage I listed from memory all the things I’d order to help the staff member I was talking to.
I personally like it that way since I never have the feeling that they’re in a hurry to move me on. But if you come in expecting table service and somebody fussing over you («hi my name is Django and I’ll be you’re waitron for tonight» «are you enjoying the dish I put down on your table about two minutes ago?» «are you still enjoying it now that it’s been five minutes?» «can I fill that water glass that you’ve taken two sips out of?») then you’ve come to the wrong place.

I love Athans. Here’s why: Almost never crowded, great staff, great food, great coffee, good music, not snobby, nice ambience, nice art, wood floors, spacious, high ceilings, nice lighting, great natural light when sitting up front, pastries are the bomb and just so chill. Oh and one more shoutout to the staff. They are sweet as the pastries.

I come here all the time. In fact, I’m here typing this. They’re prices are incredibly reasonable. They’re open pretty late for a Brighton Café. They’re Brighton location is open ’till 10 and they’re Cleveland Circle location is open until 12. They’re wifi works! Go figure. Fries are fresh and hand cut. Try them with a glass of beer for a total of less than $ 7. I love bringing my friends here to catch up or do work together. Try their chocolate Baklava. Dear God that with some wine for less than $ 10?! Perf. A cup of hot coco, delish. If I have a couple extra $$ I like to treat myself to dark chocolate macadamian nut bar or some pretty looking something in the glass case. They also have great breakfast all day long. It’s gonna be a regular spot ’til I move out of this neighborhood.

They have really good almond croissants :) that’s all I got from them, but I want to go back and try their other entrees!

3.5 stars.
I am a little bit torn writing a review for this place. This is certainly a wonderful place to go to for their yummy baked goods (they have really nice cookies), or sit down with a cup of coffee and relax with your book or computer. Having said that, I once had breakfast there with my family and we were definitely not impressed. We had pancakes and omelettes, all of which were very bland. Also service was very slow, there was only one person working there and we had to wait for our food for 30 minutes. Not worth it.

Worst breakfast experience I’ve had. Should have known by the lack of line. Sat down and ordered an omelet and the eggs Benedict. The omelet came out but never my eggs. The waitress who was new said oops I forgot to put in your order. So while my dining companion finished his meal I just sat and waited. And waited. I finally told them to cancel it.
Headed to Kikis for a breakfast sandwich now. Won’t be returning.

Oh my goodness, SUCH a guilty pleasure!
Athan’s is fantastic for baked goods and sweet things. Light, flaky dough and gently-​handled croissants make my mouth water just thinking about them. And their other pastries? Oh, don’t even start; I’m on a summer modeling diet and I am totally bummed that they’re off my plan right now. GUH! Sweater weather, where are you?
But even for the weight-​conscious among us, Athan’s has awesome sandwiches and great coffee. I prefer this place to Dunk’s and Cafenation up the street, honestly, just because they brew fresh and more often that those locations. No need to worry about a scalded bottom here!
Avoid the breakfast sandwiches, though. They’re overpriced for the size and are always cold, even if you eat there. It’s weird, but I’m not big on breakfast sandwiches anymore, so it’s just a word to the wise sort of thing. :3

For the record — I am slightly obsessed with Athan’s. It’s a major issue and I financially suffer because of it. With that being said, I don’t really give a hoot because this place is amazeballs.
I used to drive passed Athan’s Bakery all the time, and eventually I decided to go inside and check it out. From that point forward, my life was changed. Legit. Their croissants are buttery and flaky, comparable to what I’ve had in Paris. Yup, they are that good! Their raspberry boats are the same delicious pastry as the croissant and filled with the most delicious raspberry jam. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!
They have an extensive (and just as delicious) selection of pastries and gelato, and their coffee bar has a vast menu that is reasonably priced.
Overall, Athan’s Bakery is a little slice of heaven nestled in Brookline. Be sure you check it out!

According to the server at the counter, their cakes come to their store frozen. I found her to be helpful and patient.
I was redeeming a voucher and left with a box of 4 types of baklava ($ 12/​lb), one small mango cake $ 4.95 from the refrigerated case, and a frozen tiramisu parfait $ 4.45.
12 pieces of baklava were a smidge under a pound. The chocolate finger one was okay for what it was given that the chocolate core was solid. The date (or was it fig?) square bundles were okay. But I personally enjoyed the nut (walnut & pecans?) versions a lot more. And for me, the texture and resistance of the sheeted version was preferred over the one wrapped with phyllo strings.
The parfait was light and creamy and tasty enough. The mango cake was fruity, creamy, sweet, and very moist.
In the past, I’ve had their gelato, and would recommend it.
Street parking was easy to find each time I’ve visited thus far.