Finale

I am usually not a big fan of desserts but my friends really wanted their signature molten chocolate cake. We shared the magnanimous molten (the bigger portion) and the apple a la mode. The molten chocolate cake was definitely the better choice. It came with three flavors of gelato (vanilla, chocolate and coffee) over some crunchy milk covered almonda perfect combination with the warm chocolate cake. The apple a la mode was decent but I’ve had better at other places so it was not as memorable. It would have been better with a little more vanilla gelato because it melted too quickly on the warm apple tart. The service was great and the desserts were served rather quickly.
3 stars for dessert because I’ve never had dinner at Finale to give an overall review but it’s a great spot for desserts — it’s open late on weekends too. The atmosphere is pretty quiet so I would recommend this place for a date.

Terrible Finale, No table service before 4pm, cold and dark inside and general feel of a dumpy place. Will not be returning.
How can a place serve tea with no teapots!!!
Avoid at all costs…

I’ve been walking past this place for so long now, and every time I drool over their desserts (in my mind… I make sure of it =P).
Yesterday, I decided it was finally time to go and figure out if their food tastes as good as it looks… so on a Friday night, the boyfriend and I trekked to Coolidge Corner.
We got there relatively early, around 7ish, and the place was pretty empty — only two tables were taken! However, instead of seating us downstairs with the other two groups, the waitress led us upstairs (there is an upstairs?!?) into an empty dining room. It felt a bit awkward for a second, just the two of us, in a medium-​sized dining room full of empty tables and chairs… but let’s roll with it ;)
I got the Spinach Arugula Walnut salad, and my boyfriend got the Chicken Caesar salad for dinner (hey, gotta leave room for dessert!!!).
I have to say, I’ve had better salads. I really like the kind with dark leaves, some nuts, fruit, and a crumbly cheese, but this one had a tad too much red onion, and the dressing was a bit overpowering, so I probably wouldn’t get it again.
The Chicken Cesar salad had toasted baguette pieces instead of the croutons, and while that looked like a cute twist on the usual croûton idea, they were toasted so much that for 10 minutes, my boyfriend couldn’t hear himself think because of the crunching noise they made.
Well, if the salad experience was not so great, then let’s move on to dessert… it can probably only get better ;)
And it did get better!
We shared the crème brûlée and the chocolate mousse. Both of them were so rich that we could finish neither (my thighs are probably thanking me).
The crème brûlée was good, but not warm anymore. Maybe this is weird, but I like slightly warm crème brûlée, because it seems fresher to me (cause the torch used to make the sugar crust heats it up a bit). I liked the fresh fruit with it, it went really well with the heavier custard, and it tasted quite refreshing.
The chocolate mousse was… chocolatey! I also came with two scoops of blackberry gelato, which was delicious.
Bottom line:
Would come back here.
I’d choose a different dinner (both salads were somehow underwhelming) and maybe explore their dessert samplers and/​or their gelatos.
I think the dessert sampler could also be fun in a larger group.

Finale is such a perfect little dessert spot. The deserts are always so tasty pleasant servers are always so pleasant.
The dessert sampler is the way to go.

I’m usually not a big sweets person, but I’ve been hearing great reviews about this place for a couple months now, so I finally checked it out.
We ordered the Molten Chocolate and the Dessert Sampler to get a little taste of everything. We chose the following for the Sampler: Crème Brûlée, Manjari Mousse, Finale Cheesecake, Boston Cream, Whoopie Pies, Apple Cranberry Tart, and Pineapple Upside Down Cake.
The Molten Chocolate was delicious! It’s basically a warm chocolate cake with a gooey fudge center, served with coffee gelato, milk chocolate covered almonds, and Valrhona chocolate sauce. FREAKING DELICIOUS! Best part of everything.
I was also looking forward to the Crème Brûlée was okay. Since it was a Sampler size, we couldn’t get the real taste of it. My friend tried the regular Crème Brûlée before and said it was amazing though. If you’re a fan of Crème Brûlée, get it regular not Sampler.
Overall, a very good dessert place. I will definitely try this place again in the future.
Pictures:
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Holy crow, this place is amazing! Why are there not dessert-​specific restaurants ALL OVER? I want one in Albany.
When my friends suggested we go to Finale, I shrugged and said «sure», not knowing what to expect. If ever someone else suggests Finale, my response will be «Oh heck yeah! Can we go right now?»
It’s an intimate little place, very classy. They have an extensive dessert and cordials menu that I can’t imagine I could ever make it through, even if they were just down the street from me. Their samplers are a wonderful idea, allowing a newbie like me to get an excellent idea of what this place is all about. I loved everything i tried, but the crème brûlée most of all.
They also make a mean cup of cappuccino, which is really all it takes to make me happy. As much as I’d hate to see this place become a chain, I would love to see something similar in more places.

A restaurant dedicated to desserts ONLY? If there’s a god and there’s a heaven, please let this be my eternal fate. I promise I’ll be good on earth and eat as many desserts to prepare for my everlasting duties on my chocolate mousse cloud.
Besides loving the concept, it’s also a wonderful experience to visit Finale. It’s open late which would obviously be the first «must» for a dessert restaurant and the ambiance is romantic without being stuffy. It’s bustling, it’s crowded, it’s fun and worth the wait. Our wait was about ten minutes which wasn’t bad considering there were a few people in front of us. Once we got seated we had spot-​on service. Everyone was very friendly from the hostess to the waitress who was extremely enthusiastic about serving us. Although I think I would be too if I were handing plates of sugar to people all night long. As you flip through the huge pages of their menu, make sure you really hone in on what kind of taste you want for the night. Since I’m all about chocolate we ordered the Molten Chocolate (a no-​brainer) and the Boston Crème. I have to say that I loved the molten chocolate which oozed perfectly and paired great with the coffee ice cream, but I was addicted to the whoppie pies in the Boston Crème. The bavarian cream itself wasn’t anything too special, but the flavor and texture of the pies was *muah* perfection.
As if this wasn’t enough sugar to make you a diabetic overnight, we also ordered two specialty cocktails, which, I gotta admit, sort of rivaled the desserts. The hazelnut martini was mouthwatering delicious. There’s nothing subtle about it – it’s an intense hazelnut taste with a nice silky texture, so if you’re a fan of hazelnut then you’ll love this. We also ordered the root beer float, which was supposedly alcoholic, but if it was, we couldn’t really tell. Don’t get me wrong though, it tasted good, there was just hardly any zing to it, but perhaps that’s naturally how ice cream masks liquor. But I would definitely rate the martini over the float.
Overall a lovely, indulgent experience. Yep, it’s pricey and maybe not as gourmet as you may think with those prices but I think it was well worth it. For elegant presentation (that you can actually watch in the mirror above the chefs!) and excellent service, I’m starting to crave Finale just writing about it. Lucky Bostonians…
Unilocal challenge: #16/​365

I went here for one of their summer cocktail and dessert tastings this week, which overall was a decent time. For $ 20 (plus added requisite gratuity), you got the following:
* Tropical Sunset Cocktail paired with creamy Cheesecake
* Wild Berry Mojito paired with a refreshing Lemon Tart
* St. Germaine Sparkler paired with a classic Crème Brûlée
* Chocolate Bliss Cocktail paired with fluffy Tiramisu
* Espresso Martini paired with Chocolate Decadence
When we arrived, the dining room was full of mostly women staring sadly at the already-​plated desserts and already-​poured and arranged cocktails sitting in front of each. I didn’t really care for this and question how long these had been sitting out… no harm done with the desserts (in fact, sitting out actually made them better), but the cocktails started to get watery and de-​mixed which was a bit unappetizing. Everyone looked a bit confused as to whether we should just dive right in or wait for some kind of intro, and I think they could have easily remedied this by bringing the drinks/​food out right when the event started instead of prior to seating.
Finally we got started… the manager would give us a spiel on the cocktail, and then the pastry chef would comment on the desserts she had made, and then we’d try each while they walked around to interact with the guests. We got some helpful tips («try both ways, eating first and then sipping, and sipping and then eating») and it was neat to chat with the pastry chef because she’s obviously passionate about what she does. But I thought they left too much space in between each pairing (it doesn’t take 20 minutes to finish a bite-​sized dessert and drink your 3 oz. cocktail)
As for the food: I was a fan of almost all the desserts. The tiramisu had too much bitter chocolate powder on top that made it unappetizing (plus I accidentally inhaled it which wasn’t fun), and there was no rum which was too bad because that’s the main reason I like tiramisu. But the others were all really solid, especially after learning about what went in to each and why the chef made the choices she did. I was impressed with the cheesecake, it was light and flavorful and not like a typical NY style, and the Chocolate Decadence was rich and velvety with a great flavor that got even better as it got warmer (that was one of the tips given, to heat it up).
Drinks were less than impressive, I really liked the St. Germaine Sparkler, but the others were just average (the ‘mojito’ wasn’t really a mojito, the Tropical Sunset tasted like college aka your run-​of-​the-​mill Sex on the Beach, the Espresso Martini had begun to separate).
I thought this was a decent deal, they were all tasting portions of course but I was satisfied by the end. I liked hearing from the pastry chef which added to the experience, and she did have some tasty desserts to share. But the whole set-​up/​schedule was strange and the cocktails could have been better.

I got dessert from Finale on New Years Eve, so please forgive me if my memory is a little bit hazy…
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Actually, there’s not much to say. I remember getting a platter of uninspired (but very expensive) desserts and feeling left cold. If Finale’s DESSERTS are that insipid, I can only imagine how the rest of the menu is.

Out of all 3 locations I like this one the best. Always get better service at Coolidge Corner location. Love most of their dessert menu, however am not a fan of some (Those are the ones that I have found to be better at other places in Boston).
The seasonal desserts are usually awesome, had the apple seasonal special once and it was even better then the Apple a La Mode (which is pretty good already).
I would recommend having their Crème Brûlée, Butterscotch Pudding, or if you are with a certain someone try the Dessert Sampler.
Although it is primarily a dessert place ordered the Truffle Macaroni and Cheese once and it was pretty good.
Coffee is pretty good. Have a great (though a bit on expensive side) Dessert and Ice wine selection.
PS become a member of sweet rewards if you are regular here. It’s free and you get free desserts also.

I used to go to Finale weekly in college. I would order from the to-​go bakery or get a molten chocolate cake at the tables. Unfortunately, I soon got sick of it and barely came back. The molten chocolate cake is often inconsistent. Sometimes the cake is warm and moist, other times it can be cold and a bit dry.
My boyfriend wanted dessert so we came here. We got a bit greedy and ordered the 9-​piece dessert sampler and a molten chocolate cake. I didn’t like their Apple Spice Cake or Apple Cranberry Tart. I’ve had better at other restaurants that don’t specialize in sweets. I also didn’t care for the cheesecake or the sorbet. I did, however, really like the Hot Fudge Sundae (brownie with vanilla ice cream). It was so misleading because when I stuck my spoon in it, it was very hard. I assumed it was going to be tough and dry. Instead, it was rich and just the right level of sweet for me. I also enjoyed the whoopie pie and crème brûlée. The Manjari Mousse and Boston Cream were okay. Next time, I’ll know which ones to ask for!
I would’ve given this place 4 stars except the service was exceptionally slow. There was only 2 other tables on the second floor with us. One table was a big a party; but, I still don’t think it’s acceptable to make us wait 30 minutes before they even give us water or take our order. The waiter was nice, but I don’t like sitting there and being ignored for so long :|

It was a Saturday night around 9 pm. We were seated immediately. Took 15 minutes to receive cloudy water. Another 15 to have a server greet us. We just wanted a sweet bite and a drink after a long meal, we were patient. At first.
From our comfy table, we witnessed two young waitresses argue over who would take our table (didn’t they know that with young heterosexual couples on double dates the males often try to out order, out pay, out drink, out everything the other?). Where was the host?
One server came over and took our cocktail and food order informing us she would not be our server but was doing us a favor so we did not have to wait. We watched the servers continue to bicker back and forth, shrug and point at us. Seriously? Finally, we ordered a sampler platter with 6 small chocolatey delicious bite sized treats.
Another server came out to introduce herself and brought us half of our cocktail order.
And the FINALE, after waiting patiently, laughing, slightly buzzed from dinner, the second waitress came over with SIX HUGE plates of dessert. For four people. She had rung the order in wrong and the four of us and we did not receive our bite sized treats.
We were unimpressed by the service, unimpressed by the wine— but the chocolate sweets you ask, they were delightful. We did not have to pay (of course) for the pounds of sugar dropped on our table by server #2, we laughed some more as we barely made a dent in the SIX full size dessert «entrees». After every turn of events we giggled and said, «Are you serious?». They were serious.
So Finale, you were lucky. You were fortunate we were with the right company, already fed, and a few glasses of wine in. The experience could have been a lot more ugly. I am unsure to give the restaurant 2 stars or 5 because of this chocolatey delicious mishap… but never again!
p. s. This is catty of me, but one of the bickering waitresses was wearing high heels. I think that is a testament to the slow service and the quality of waitstaff. Who can run food with urgency in two inch stilettos?

I’ve been here several times to all 3 locations, and love them all. Usually I get the tiramisu which is one of my favorite desserts. Finale makes it very well, and it’s delicious every single time. I’m also a big fan of their crème brûlée. When you order the crème brûlée at the restaurant (not to go at the bakery), the portion is big enough to share. Tonight, I tried their blueberry cheesecake… and OMG it’s good! I’m not even a fan of blueberries normally too. The only item I’ve tried which I wasn’t a fan of was their strawberry shortcake pudding.
As for the place, it’s nice to come in for dessert with friends and order some coffee and desserts. They also serve Illy coffee, which my friend was excited about. It’s one of my favorite places.
Someday I might try their actual meals, and not just the dessert.

A great place to go for dessert although I think it’s a bit overpriced. We got their dessert sampler and it was a great way to taste everything they’re known for!
The chocolate nibs baklava was delicious as were the sorbets in the cup with fresh berries. Everything else (brownie, cheesecake, molten cake, etc) was pretty good but these two I would come back to this place to eat again.

Went back for lunch. For Sunday brunch time, it was dead but still understaffed. When we ordered lunch, we had to carry the desserts to our table, where they sat, dejected, until we ate our lunch.
The salad, boston crème cake and arnie palmer (iced tea and lemondae) were super, but I was disapppointed by the lunch counter service. Call me a snob, but I thought Finale was a fancy place, and it fell short there.
But of course, dessert was awesome.

OMG. Orgasm in My… Gonads? Seriously, people. I’ll admit this place is pretty pricey for baked goods, and I would also be satisfied just unwrapping a roll of cold cookie dough and eating it like a Slim Jim. Grrrrrrr… But, this was AMAAAZING. Literally, balls to the wall, Johnny Depp-​Brad Pitt-​manwich, grand slam brain freeze orgasm in your mouth good. So much, I don’t even make sense no more.
My friends and I ordered a smörgåsbord of yummy treats and shared it family style. I loved every single one. But, I can say, without any bias, that the blueberry cheesecake I chose was the absolute bees knees! That crust was just INSANE! And the creamy cheese with blueberry swirls and topped with fresh blueberries… droooooooool…
And now, I will slowly go back to my «Robert Pattinson spoon-​feeding me a Finale blueberry cheesecake» fantasy… to the tunes of Adam Samberg…
«Its perfectly normal nothing wrong with me
But we are gonna need a clean up on aisle 3
And now I am posed in an awkward stance
Because I jizzed in my pants»

This place offers more in being a generic «date place.» They have decent coffee but their desserts are overrated. The staple –cheese cake, chocolate cake variations, etc are pretty good, but… you can find good chocholate cake in a lot of place. Their seasonal desserts are. not good. I actually ordered one of their summer special desserts, a tart that was so tart and just, bad. I actually didn’t eat more than the initial «how does this taste» taste.
Coffee was good though! You decide :)

Specialty dessert restaurants are going to be the next big thing in the food business and it’s already started with places that specialize in baked good such as macaroons and cupcakes. Finale is a concept that mirrors that of Extraordinary Desserts in San Diego. It gives you a place that focuses on desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. This gives people on dates a great place to impress that special someone. They even have a portion of the menu dedicated to sharable desserts for two.
Anyway, I came here with a friend to try their dessert. Nothing stuck out on the menu so I settled for the hot fudge sundae because I was craving fudge at the time. It didn’t look like much and it was pretty small, but it hit the spot and had everything in the right proportions. I hate it when there’s too much fudge that overwhelms the ice cream in a fudge sundae. The brownie bites were good and the Tahitian vanilla ice cream satisfied my stomach. This was in the late afternoon so I basically ruined my dinner.
On the way out, I grabbed two types of cookies, the peanut butter and also the walnut chocolate chip. They were over two dollars each and didn’t really wow me. They were good tasting, but too rich and dense for my liking. Finale is a nice place to share a dessert, but a place like this should impress me both in dessert taste and presentation. Basically, I think the dessert quality did not match up with how nicely the restaurant seemed to be. Some items were a bit overpriced too. But, I will say I didn’t try their sharable desserts so I can’t attribute three stars to everything on their menu.

Expensive desserts are overrated.
Went here after dinner to chat/​relax with friends. I like the atmosphere but the desserts didn’t give me the come-​hither feeling. I ate it (the chocolate sampler), it tasted okay, and we were all like ‘rightt’…
The service was great. The location is nice. The restaurant area is impeccable. You can come here and just sit for hours and order wine and they would be fine with it. But the desserts doesn’t taste THAT great.
I rather spend my money elsewhere especially if it costs so much.

I had lunch and dessert here yesterday, and although the food was tasty, it was somewhat over-​hyped, and not very filling. I had a half sandwich and soup and was kinda wishing for the other halves after I was done. Not really enough to satisfy a starving girl. The cheesecake was tasty as well, but not the best cheesecake I’ve had, either. All in all, the food and desserts are quite average. Nothing really stands out. It does it’s job only half well, not really filling enough to constitute a good meal, and not really delicious enough to make it worth sacrificing filling yourself completely to enjoy the food, like at fine dining restaurants with those teeny tiny portions. So not the same… All in all I’m not very impressed.