The Chocolate Tarte

The Chocolate Tarte has amazing cupcakes for ONE dollar each. They’re not huge, but they pack a flavorful punch (I LOVE the red velvet with its Italian buttercream icing). They’re well worth the minimal cost. And NOW there are also delicious, buttery, chewy brownies! You can’t go wrong either way.
The owner is delightful to talk to while sitting in the storefront enjoying a brownie and a cup of her aromatic loose leaf teas (she’ll give you a tea bag to use if you’d like).
The store is easily accessible from BOTH the red and green lines. Get off at Davis square and take the 88 or 90 to Lowell OR take the 88 from Lechmere. Either way, you’re on your way to sugar town. And BOY it’s good!

Unfortunately, there’s some consistency issues here. The shop is often closed during scheduled hours (and even when the door is actually open), and sometimes the frosting on the cupcakes is randomly different and less tasty. (I suspect this might be due to some requests from vegans. Nice for them but not so much for me, as I’m inappropriately passionate about dairy.)

The best brownie I’ve ever had. It’s not even really a brownie — it’s too moist and amazing. I am so glad to have found this place.

Butter cream BLISS!!!
Simply said, OUTSTANDING!
I would call ahead, these delicate little beauties sellout fast!
The owner is accommodating and friendly; a welcome addition to the neighborhood!

I had been stalking the Chocolate Tarte all summer as it set up shop since it is within skipping distance from my house (what, you have another method of traveling to cupcakes?) I haven’t been terribly impressed with other local cupcake purveyors so I had very high hopes and holy crap have they been met. Their buttercream frosting (I can only assume it’s buttercream since it tastes like both butter and cream) should be a controlled substance. They should be worried about people shooting it up between their toes because it is amazing. The first time I went we got a chocolate and a red velvet which I’d never had before and now totally makes sense. Red velvet is like half way between vanilla and chocolate but no one would eat gray cupcakes so they pump it full of red. Brilliance.
The only worry you should have is that their cupcakes can go fast. One time I skipped over only to realize they had sold out for the day BUT in those cases you can console yourself with their chocolates which are also great and they seem to have tons in the fridge even if they don’t seem like there aren’t many on display so you never have to leave as thin as you came in.

I was driving to Porter today and saw the Chocolate Tarte for the first time. Surprised I hadn’t heard of this place, I made a mental note to stop in on my way back.
Which I did, and was not disappointed. I constructed a mini sampler pack for myself, just to get a well rounded perspective of the place. One regular sized pumpkin cupcake, a brownie, and two coconut oatmeal tea cookies. $ 6.50 and I was on my way.
I immediately devoured one of the perfectly moist but slightly chewy (and immensely buttery) cookies. Sweet, with a distinct nuttiness from the oats and a coconut finish… Dee-​friggin-​licious.
Tonight I had the cupcake and the brownie for dessert. Both are fairly reserved in size, the brownie about 2 inches square, and a quarter inch thick.
First off the cupcake– now I am an admitted fan of the simplicity of Lyndell’s cupcakes: they always have a great frosting to cake ratio and are always super moist. Granted, the flavors may not be the boldest, but usually simple is better when it comes to cupcakes.
Well, this pumpkin creation easily eclipses what Lyndell’s has to offer. Granted, they are twice the price at $ 3.50 per, but they’re worth it. There is definitely pumpkin in the batter of the cake… you can taste it! Incredibly moist with the perfect level of sweetness. And just a dollop of pumpkin spice cream on the top… And for once the sweetness of the frosting complemented, rather than overwhelmed the flavor of the batter. Best cupcake I’ve had in a long while.
Finally the brownie. After the cookie and the cupcake, I had high hopes, especially considering the relatively diminutive size of this chocolate square. And I wasn’t disappointed. The top crust is very thin, but maintains a decided crunchiness as the rest of the brownie melts into your mouth. And melt it does, into a bittersweet symphony of chocolaty deliciousness. Really spectacular.
Ok, so pricing is on the high end, but at what price quality? The treats in The Chocolate Tarte are exceptional, and well worth it. So glad to have this place in the neighborhood

Hands down, best brownies I’ve ever had! So rich and delicious and fresh. Definitely worth a visit!
Also, the atmosphere has a glow to it that is extremely welcoming and inviting. I can’t wait to go back as soon as possible!

Okay, I know the name of the store is Chocolate Tarte, but I am *addicted* to the chocolate cupcakes! They are amazing and I literally crave them. The brownies are also killer, and I’ve heard great things about the tarts (although I haven’t personally tried them).
Interesting what the other reviewer said below about the store being closed when he went — I know that the woman who owns the store is often the only one there, so perhaps she had run out for a minute? Either way, I’ve never had a problem stopping by to get my sweets fix for the day…

Wonderful!!! Except one fact they aren’t open! They had a sign up back in five minutes how about over 20 and still nobody bothered to show up. I got their mind you around 2:30pm so don’t waste your time even going here. If you have an open sign and you put an away message of five minutes you stick to it otherwise why bother being open at all I mean 20 minutes mid day and door locked? Just shut the place down. Plenty of other great places ehmm down the road like Petsi Pie or even the other cupcake place thats nothign special a few blocks down go there at least they are open even though the cupcakes are lousy at least you don’t waste a trip for nothing. 0 respect for deadbeat owners that run a joint like this. NEXXXXT Up!
(Follow up visit)
When they finally were open they had the nerve to ask for a meduim to small sized cupcake with minimal frosting that looked lame before you even eat it 3.50 i was like you guys out of your mind that tiny thing and hardly anything on the cupcake. They justify it saying some other people down the road charged a lot I was like look at this way you are more pricey then anywhere I ever saw a cupcake sold in my life and you give nothing for it and even very pricey and written up places like in mystic ct that was in the new york times that had great stuff at least gave you something for your money and guess what they even cost less gave you more and not just frosting but cake. Nothing is even on display except for some two inch tiny cupcakes and nothing was ready except one flavor of a cupcake and that was not on display but in some fridge which is not a good idea if you want a decent tasting cupcake that you don’t want tasting like a brownie. I told them get your act together and charge half the price, get open, display what you got, don’t hide the price or the cupcakes and them come back to me for now Petsi Pies, Circe Grotto, and Concord Teacakes for the best of the best. This place is a joke! Move on!

What a cupcake! Would give five stars if they were served with more frosting…

The frosting on the mini cupcakes is worth the 5 stars. I have never had such an addictive cupcake in my life. I recently purchased a dozen cupcakes so that I could have them at home for snacks and well, I ate every single one in one sitting. The brownies are just as good. And the iced coffee is great too. Totally worth every single calorie.

On my Cupcake Quest (
), I have eaten many, many cupcakes. These are the reigning champions in Boston. Mini bites of heaven. Go now.
The brownies and chocolate tarte are also spectacular.
Full review:

After hearing rumors of a new cupckae venue closeby I made my way to the Chocolate Tarte to see what all the fuss was about. Upon walking in I was disappointed to find a completely empty display case, but Linda turned my frown upside down when she said she had cupcakes in the fridge! I ordered one of each flavor — a chocolate, a red velvet and a white velvet. They were definitely mini cupcakes, but at only $ 1 each, comparable to other places in the area. Linda was so charming and it was obvious she cares a lot about her business.
The cupcakes were so moist and delicious, which was impressive, especially for minis. The white velvet was my favorite by far. The chocolate and white velvet had sort of a harder, whipped creamy frosting that I didn’t really care for, but the red velvet had a cream cheese frosting that was heavenly! Yum yum!

4.5 stars.
I read the reviews here, and decided to finally make my way over to the Chocolate Tarte for a sampling.
It seems (or at least I assume) that the space is still a work in progress– there’s one table with three chairs, so I presume that most of the business is takeout– and there’s not a huge selection (there’s tea, coffee, home made marshmallows, brownies — there was 1 brownie left when I was there — and cupcakes).
I went around noon (apparently they open at 11) and there were maybe eight cupcakes in the case– chocolate with white buttercream frosting, and yellow cake with white buttercream frosting. I ordered two (one of each). Sparse display cases always make me slightly anxious, but I suspect that some of this is because it’s a relatively new space, and some of it has to do with the fact that Linda replenishes all day.
The first thing to note is that these are small cupcakes– I don’t think size matters that much– but one should know that these are small for cupcakes (I think Lyndell’s is a small cupcake in this era of the bloated muffin cupcake), and Chocolate Tarte cupcakes are about the circumference of a quarter. Think mini cupcake. (At a mini price — $ 1 each).
The second note: I love the design touches that are visible– the cute awning and font, the cute labelled coffee cups. I hope this space does become more of a café, because it has all the makings of an interesting cool space, and there are far too few interesting, cool spaces in this neighborhood. I also loved the design of the cupcakes– these are adorable little things!
The third note: Linda (if it was Linda I met today) is lovely.
The cupcakes themselves are really good. The cake itself is divine– fresh, airy, light, moist– and with a sophisticated flavor. The frosting can best be described as a dollop of buttercream — the frosting to cake ratio is just right (again, both are small) though I found the buttercream almost a little bit too rich. I’d be interested in trying the red velvet because I hear it’s absolutely amazing.
All of this to say The Chocolate Tarte is really a good find– the cupcakes are definitely among the very best in our area (I’m willing to put them second only to Lyndell’s). I’m interested in seeing what their selection is like once they are fully up and running.

I have been seeing the sign up and having been meaning to stop by. GLAD I DID! The cupcakes were mini and were $ 1 each. I bought two of each flavor and they were all yummy and the perfect bite size piece. Quite honestly I like them better than Kickass. They were moist, basic and straight-​to-​the-​point kind of cupcakes. Plus I would rather pay $ 1.00 than $ 3-​$ 4 for one cupcake! I will hopefully get to try more of their offerings soon!
Thanks Linda!

FINALLY!!! Linda’s been providing her confections to local businesses for years and I was psyched when she finally opened her retail shop. Her cupcakes are soooo much better than Kickass, not nearly as sweet and no bizarre flavor combinations — just simple chocolate, vanilla, and a scrumptious red velvet — all with delectable butter cream frosting. I understand she makes a mean seasonal pumpkin cupcake in the fall. Her brownies are great too, and I’ve heard great things about her custom wedding cakes. I’m not vegan and I don’t have gluten allergies, but Linda provides delectable offerings of both.
One of the best things about this place is how FRESH everything is… Linda bakes right there in front of you behind the counter, and chats away with customers while frosting or mixing or washing dishes.
It’s so great to have this place in the neighborhood.
Oh, and she keeps beach buckets filled with water out front for the doggies!

Sold! Per John S.‘s recommendation, I stopped by The Chocolate Tarte on a weekend morning. I wasn’t expecting such a stark interior, but I was immediately impressed by Linda’s charm. I spoke with her a bit about what I had been hearing about her red velvet cupcakes, and she told me about her busy wedding catering schedule. She told me about the care she puts into her products, and how much baking for weddings means to her. Basically, I was sold on ordering a wedding cake from her even though I’m not getting married in the near future.
So before I had even tasted the product, I was impressed. I ordered four mini cupcakes (two for me and two for boyfriend). Two chocolate with white buttercream frosting, and two yellow with the same frosting. They were AMAZING. Obviously homemade cake that was the moistest I’ve had at any cupcake shop. The frosting was so light and fluffy and tasted more like homemade whipped cream than frosting, which complimented the moist cake wonderfully. Oh, and it was four dollars for four of them. Great deal!
I can’t wait to go back.

Red Velvet Cupcake with Cinnamon Butter…
You win, Red Velvet Cupcake with Cinnamon Butter. I’m buying two hundred of you for my wedding.
People of Unilocal,The Chocolate Tarte is open. It’s on Highland Ave. Drive there right now. Mini cupcakes are ONE DOLLAR. And they’re heaven.

I was not a cupcake girl. They are so 2009, a by product of the recession when people turned to retro comfort foods in an effort to distract themselves from their dwindling 401ks. They are so much more likely to be dry, with all that surface area and a greater chance of being chalky than a nice, satisfying slice of normal-​sized cake. It’s so easy to get the icing wrong, whether a result of an unpleasant icing: cake ratio or a flavor that overpowers or clashes with the cake.
Linda, of The Chocolate Tarte, just transformed me into a cupcake girl. To be precise, her red velvet cupcake with cinnamon butter cream icing did the trick, but she sure helped, as did her bakery. I have eagerly observed this naked storefront morphing into a clean, sparse oasis of real butter, free of artificial additives, funky flavors, and (gasp) shortening. Today, its doors were open, and I scampered in to meet Linda, who is so friendly and warm. Linda bakes for businesses and restaurants around Somerville, as well as for lucky brides and grooms looking for delicious wedding cake. Her doors will be open Wednesday (today was a soft opening), and you’ll have to get in line behind me for cake, tarts, coffee, and conversation with the lovely Linda.
So, back to this cupcake, which is probably what you really care about. It was ethereal. So light and fluffy, with that distinctive and authentic red velvet taste. The icing was a smooth, not-​too-​sweet cinnamon butter cream, curled into a seductive dollop atop the cake. It was moist and fresh and I wanted another one, which I had, which is fine because it was a mini cupcake and I can probably rationalize 3 or 4 of those as a normal-​size cupcake equivalent.
The point is, I’m a born again cupcake eater, one who plans to visit The Chocolate Tarte as often as I can.

There isn’t a store yet, according to the website, but I ordered a box of truffles from making a donation to WBUR last year and the owner, Linda, was so great because I had totally forgotten about them and she sent them in December for the holidays but I was away so when I returned I found a box of moldy truffles and couldn’t remember where they were from! I called the number and she explained that her truffles are made with pure ingredients (no preservatives) so they needed to be refrigerated. She immediately let me know she would send a replacement box when she makes her next batch and they arrived in the mail today. I haven’t tried anything else, but I really appreciate that she sent me another box out of her own pocket so I could still enjoy my donation thank you gift :)