The 13 best desserts and snacks in Worcester

Wholly wow, this place has changed sooo much since we were last there (about 8 years ago). Let me start out with saying the place was dark and Dungy. Half the lights on the display were not working, and the whole place was dark inside. We ordered a variety of treats from mini cannoli's, dynamite sticks, tiramisu, and a cupcake. We went home with our treats, and tried each one. The cannoli's tasted like they were old and the person making them forgot the sugar. The dynamite stick, was ok, but missing Sweetness, like the filling had no Sweetness. The tiramisu tasted sour, either the filling went bad or the liquid extract was bad that they used. I think Stop & Shop Shop bakery has better cannoli's and tiramisu. The only saving grace and why I am ok with giving 1 Star, is the frosted cup cake was good, not great, but good. So, all in all, we will no longer be coming here, and will find another place.

I wasn't paying attention when my order was being packaged. They shoved 3 canoli and 2 whoopie pies in a tiny container and smashed them in. The girl working there looked irritated that I even came in to the shop. I got this and 2 sticks for almost $40 so I was really disappointed when everything was just all stuck together.

Every time I pass through I would stop. It has been a while, but, it was usually well kept and stocked. Especially on Friday. Something has changed. Limit selection and needs attention. Half the cases where empty.

The employees this day were nice, but I order a turkey bacon cheddar cheese, toasted on a sub roll. What I got was turkey, bacon, lettuce, onion tomato, and mayo! I took it back to have it fixed told them what it was suppose to be, they come back out with the same exact sub but added cheese on it! So I say it's still totally wrong, what I was then told was well that's how they come! Sooo why wasnt informed when I was placing my order that I had to have lettuce, onion, tomato, and mayo and couldn't be toast it! I have never placed an order an then receive the order wrong an then told oh well it only comes that way! I mean you would think you could have the option for to atleast not have mayo, but apparently not at this place! I'm very disappointed because I use to come here all the time, an could order my sub how ever i wanted, but apparently that's not an option here anymore! I give 2 stars because the girl working was sweet and kind!

Such a small cafe but the flavor is bursting at the seems! Very easy to find. The prices are amazing prices for the food quality they have! Staff was very friendly and as very helpful. There was so many baked goods in the shop it can make ones head spin! They also have a bunch of savory wraps, sandwiches, and pizza! If you're in the Worcester area definitely stop by to have one Wholly Cannoli!!

Visited mid day on a Saturday. Place was well stocked with lots of choices. Staff was very helpful and friendly. Overall condition of the display cabinets was fair, with some spillage and debris visible from the customer side. Would not categorize that as a standing issue since this was our 1st visit, could just be the normal result of a busy morning.. Will try again as the items we bought were excellent and a good value for the $$.

I've been here a few times recently and had a few of their bakery items. They were okay, but to me the were okay but nothing spectacular. I came back for a fourth time and tried their lunch menu and it was awesome. The portions were great and the prices are fine. Bummer there's no bathroom in a sit down eatery.

Always get the cookies - cupcakes are fair. Nothing to go wild about, the ratio in their frosting seems to be a bit off. But it doesn't matter because they have the BEST peanut butter cookies I have ever had. The swiss rolls are delicious, the pup cakes are super cute! We stop every time we drive from NH to MD.

The Queen's Cups NEVER disappoints! I was in town for an event over the weekend of 3/2/25 and made sure to plan my day to include a trip to this top-notch Bakery. There are so many amazingly beautiful and tasty treats available. I usually have to restrain myself from buying everything in the shop, but I am very happy with my haul. As I write this, I am enjoying the last of my strawberry pop tart ration from the Queen's Cups! Thank you to Renee and the wonderful staff!

They made a wonderful cake for my sister's recent baby shower. Renee had great communicated effectively and were honest about their inability to create a specific Harry Potter theme as my sister had desired, but I was glad they adjusted and I added more on my side. It turned out perfectly. My sister loved it.

We ordered a custom graduation cake and were thrilled with the outcome. Beautiful, yet simple, design per our request. Plus custom purple macrons and pretzels. All Delicious! What a gem bakery in Worcester!

Absolutely fabulous experience! I ordered a cute “dirty martini” themed cake for my friends 26th birthday and TQC outdid themselves. It was adorable and the perfect centerpiece to our party. It was reasonably priced and the turn around time for a custom cake was very quick! I would recommend them to anyone. :)

Did a cake decorating class with my mom for Mother’s Day today and it was so much fun. We love their Matilda cakes! P.s this is our cake not what they sell. Theirs are much more beautiful!

The Queen's Cups is so good! I do wish they listed the cupcake flavors on their website to help with online ordering but it was no trouble just going in store and taking a look. I appreciate how some of the cupcakes are filled and they had a good frosting:cake ratio. There's a good variety of cupcakes flavors as well as other treats. The parking lot is on the smaller side but there's plenty of street parking nearby Overall, a great experience with delicious treats and I want to go back and try everything!

Very pleasant atmosphere and quality products. I tried a very good brownie and hot chocolate, but the service was AWFUL. I was visiting the city and was expecting to just grab a table for coffee and dessert and leave, but without even saying “good afternoon” the attendant served me with to-go packages (there were still 2 hours left until closing according to a sign on the door and she confirmed it when I asked). I understand how tiring some work shifts are, but she started lifting chairs and sweeping the room while I was still eating my meal there. Manager, train your employees and your cafe will take off.

The coffee was very good, a little cool. The brownie was very chocolaty 🍫, too much for my taste. Everything cakes and muffins etc. looked great. I am sure they are very tasty. No prices for the cakes and sweet treats. I agree with other reviewers, quite pricey. The coffee was good value, the sweet treats are a little more expensive. I wanted to try this place. Coffee ☕️ definitely recommend.

Chill cafe for a coffee and something sweet. I’ve been coming here even prior to its renovation and always appreciated it as a local pit stop when visiting Worcester. But now I’ll be moving to the Elm Park Local Historic District; so this is going to be my neighborhood cafe. Good coffee and nice selection of baked goods.

Not good for ordering a cake but great to walk in. Their sweets are not too sweet and not heavy! I love their sweet and pastry and also their coffee. HOWEVER, I wanted to order a customized cake and I believe I talked directly to the owner but she was rude and ended up charging me extra for some little sprinkles! I asked her to at least use more sprinkles but she ignored my request. Will def but from their pastry in shop but will never order customized cakes from them

Cozy chill cafe for a coffee and something sweet. It’s been here in this multiple times and had a great time catching up with friends!

Overpriced and overrated. Owner is a miser who cuts corners for money, like the time they had a roach infestation and kept the store open anyway so they wouldn’t lose money. Horribly unsanitary. There are so many better places to get coffee and pastries. Don’t waste your money here.

Desserts are usually a bit too sweet and a tad expensive, but I love their vibe and they have great coffee! I got an apple dumpling today and it was so delicious. If they’ve got their tiramisu I highly recommend it! I’ve been here several times and service is friendly and comfortable. I love staying to finish a drink and read a book.

Very happy to find a frozen yogurt place near home. I had blackberry/vanilla yogurt with strawberries, blueberries and mango toppings. (I then realized mango isn't such a great topping, but everything else was great.) My wife got coffee bean ice cream; delicious too.

Good flavors available for ice cream and fro-yo. Each day there's 1 free ice cream topping. Big portion sizes. These guys use environment friendly ice cream cups... Looked cool. Friendly staff. College students hang out place, as it's located near WPI & MCPHS.

Great little shop selling frozen yogurt and ice cream right. Flavors change frequently -- usually something for ever palate.

I've always looked forward to coming here and the wait was worth it. The ice cream that was served was absolutely the best. First, the atmosphere was amazing. You get that vibe that you're walking into a well run business. The store feels welcoming when you walk in. The sitting area is throughout the store which is comforting. The servers were friendly and helped me decide what to get. There is a parking lot behind the building which was unexpected but very convenient. Wish they had more flavors but the favors that they serve are unique. I have a new spot to get dessert and it's here!!! Love this place.

Really nice place, atmosphere, nice staff and clean. Reasonable size in cup but only 5 flavors of frozen yogurt. They are not skimpy on toppings but it will add up the more toppings you request. It's really an ice cream shop. If you're not looking for too many flavors come here because the frozen yogurt does taste GREAT, but not if you're looking for more variety.

My absolute favorite frozen yogurt place. The flavors are always delicious. And they always change. So you can always expect something you'll love. The fruit toppings are always wicked fresh. Freshness so on point that I've only ever had froyo with fruit toppings here. We've been coming here since they opened. They're just as good now as they were the first day they opened up shop. Great work team.

Super delicious frozen yogurt and icecream, with lots of choices for flavors and toppings! The prices aren't terrible, certainly less expensive than other places I've been. It's super chill inside and has a nice vibe if you want to sit and eat your frozen yogurt there. Parking can be a bit tricky on busier days. They do have a lot available in the back which is great though!

Best ice cream in Worcester! Been going here for a while and absolutely love it! Madulka's is right on the water with fantastic views and such great selection/quality of all things ice cream. The peanut butter fluff sundae is my favorite. Generous portions can get a tad tricky with parking. Enjoy!!!

Madulka’s Ice Cream is in a truly beautiful spot — the location is fantastic with a lovely seating setup and a stunning lake view that makes the visit feel special. However, the ice cream itself didn’t quite meet expectations. It looked overly frozen and lacked the rich flavor I was hoping for. The experience as a whole was pleasant thanks to the ambiance, but the taste of the ice cream could definitely be improved.

Such a cozy little gem! The ice cream was incredibly creamy and full of flavor — you can really taste the quality. The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and the vibe of the place made it even better. Definitely coming back for another scoop (or two)!

leecream was great. My daughters had cones but it looked interesting so i swapped mine for hers. She also got whipcream but didn't like the taste n it hurt her tummy all evening. IThey had quite a few flavours that they werent serving so variety was less. Am assuming because winter is soon coming so they may be winding down. The servers were polite and patient. Parking was not tge most convenient. It's a street side parking but even that, I was nervous we could be towed. I think Madulka should designated specific parking places that are safe from cars being towed. This way people are clear on where exactly to park. For wait for others to leave so they can park. Lots of sitting places and beautiful view. The cones are a an awesome size. Love that. So my take aways, icecream is great, cones are a delight so long as they don't look interesting. Lots of sitting places but not a lot of parking. Not a lot of icecream variety as well for this month. I'm not sure about previous months or subsequent months.

Great ice cream, great lake view and a nice family hangout anytime of day.

This is the 2nd time I come to this ice cream spot thinking it was the best NOT. I asked for rainbow 🌈 sherbert ice cream. So in your mind you think you getting red blue & white sherbert. They gave me the most nastiest sherbert ice cream ever. Lemon lime & nasty orange. This will be the last time I buy anything from them. They didn't give me my money back or ask me if I wanted something else. It's all good not a happy customer. They dont deserve no stars. Bad service just saying

Amazing ice cream! Hidden gem on Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester! Highly recommended!

I don’t even have a photo of it before I finished it . I’m going to call but the only issue I see about this place is the line bananas split was great but the bubblegum flavors in it as good . we will be coming back here soon

Fantastic homemade ice cream in so many different flavors and at a good price. They actually make one of my favorites which is usually hard to find, rum raisin, and it's really good. I also got to try their peanut butter Oreo ice cream which was equally delicious. There were several other unusual flavors that I'd really like to try, like ginger and green tea. They also have plenty of the usuals as well. The crowd on Memorial Day may have been a little bit more than they were expecting so we all had to wait quite a while in line but it was definitely worth the wait.

Ice cream and gelato differ fundamentally in their formulation, processing, and physical properties, all of which stem from nuanced variations in food chemistry. Both are frozen emulsions of fat, water, and air stabilized by proteins and sugars, but the ratios and techniques used to create them yield distinct textures and flavor profiles. Ice cream typically contains a higher fat content—often between 10–16%—due to the use of heavy cream. This elevated fat level contributes to a richer mouthfeel and acts as a barrier to flavor release, which is why ice cream often requires more intense flavoring. Additionally, ice cream is churned at higher speeds, incorporating more air (known as overrun), which can reach up to 100%. This results in a lighter, fluffier texture but dilutes flavor intensity. Gelato, by contrast, uses more milk than cream, resulting in a fat content closer to 4–8%. This lower fat matrix allows for more immediate flavor perception. Gelato is churned more slowly, incorporating less air—typically 20–30% overrun—which gives it a denser, silkier texture. It’s also served at slightly warmer temperatures than ice cream, reducing firmness and enhancing flavor volatility. From a colloidal chemistry perspective, the differences in fat globule dispersion, air cell size, and freezing point depression all contribute to the sensory divergence between these two frozen desserts.

Best icecream and the sizes are Big! Definitely last of it's kind with a dairy farm next to it !

I found out about this place from their samples at the Ice Cream Festival fundraiser in Worcester. I made it a point to visit because the strawberry cheesecake had me hooked! Boy....I was not disappointed. Please be aware this is a CASH ONLY establishment. I did not have a long wait when we went and there seems to be plenty of parking available. It is also wheelchair accessible to order as well as sitting on the deck. The menu is massive and will definitely bring out the kid in anyone. I did learn a valuable lesson. The serving sizes are very generous. I ordered medium waffle cones and had to have a cup to put part of my ice cream in because it overflows that much! I loved sitting under the trees on the benches they have scattered across the side of the building. The staff were super friendly and the flavor of the ice cream was A...MAZ....ING!! I ordered the strawberry cheesecake with caramel and whipped cream.

Gibbies ice cream is the best. Lovely soft serve and kind employees. Would 100% go again. Got a small soft serve twist and it was delicious and worth it. Recommend expririence.

Cash only! We love coming here. It’s located in our neighborhood, so in summer days we walk here. We come here because it’s old fashioned homemade ice cream! The portions are great. A small soft served it’s like a large in most places. My children love coming here. Plenty of parking and large sitting area.

Got this cake for my sister’s bridal shower and it exceeded my expectations! So flavorful and beautifully presented. Everyone loved it. Definitely returning for future events❤️

I love Lucy’s cakes. She has an amazing selection of cakes and treats and is always my go to bakery for any celebration!!

Purchased 6 different cheesecakes for a coworker’s birthday and they were all very delicious. Everyone was raving about how good each one was. They’re very heavy so you’ll feel really full afterwards. Absolutely delicious and worth the price. Suggestion: please make a deal for larger purchases. For example 6 cheesecakes for $40 or whatever to incentive buying more but also giving a discount.

A new dessert spot in town!!! It is so cute and pretty inside, and the selection is a decent size with fun surprises (guava cake??? Pineapple cheesecake??? Amazing). I got the chocolate mousse and a corn pudding and was so happy with both! The mousse was rich, fluffy and light, so delicious with the fudge and Oreo toppings. I had never tried corn pudding before and wanted to have something new and it was delicious!! Rich and thick pudding with the sweetness of corn and a kick of cinnamon. Definitely try out this new spot, they deserve all the love and support!

This is a very cute little family-owned bakery near Elm Park. The staff are always welcoming when you walk in and the bakery is always clean and well-decorated. I’m a little thrown by the inconsistency of their quality and texture. I recommend their chocolate or red velvet cupcakes, as those are more moist and come with frosting that compliments the cakes. A lot of the fruit flavored or vanilla based cupcakes and cake slices though are often dry. What I was really excited to try were their guava cake and pineapple cake slices, but both slices were pretty dry with only the frosting and fruit fillings adding any flavor and merit to the cakes. Everything is appropriately priced, but I do wish the consistency of the desserts themselves were a little better (like others who have previously reviewed have stated). Overall, I’m a little underwhelmed, but it is a nice bakery to go to pick up a couple unique/speciality flavors and support small-business.

I recently visited your store to order a pistachio cake. I explained clearly what I wanted, but the person taking my order seemed very young and inexperienced. Unfortunately, the cake I received was not what I asked for. I couldn't even eat it, and when my friend tasted it, they said it tasted unpleasant. Overall, I was very disappointed with both the service and the product. I wish I had gone somewhere else

First time trying this cake and I really love it. I highly recommend it, taste good not too sweet just the right amount of sweetness. Beautiful decoration and fair price. I have 5 more birthdays to celebrate and I know from where I’m getting my cake 🎂🥳😁

Your store is for a choice of a better word disgusting....dirty,dusty....light fixtures have their own "topping", just not clean...when the light hits things at an angle you see all the "sticky".... sticky finger prints on windows, napkin dispensers had icream on them, the containers that are in plain sight don't look like they are washed...just refilled....chocolate sauce....sprinkles every where, even in places they shouldn't....the display case doesn't look like it's been cleaned ....ever....not impressed. I don't think Ben nor Jerry would approve.

Ben & Jerry’s is always a great choice when it comes to ice cream. The variety of flavors is amazing, with unique combinations you can’t find anywhere else. The texture is creamy, and you can really taste the quality of the ingredients. The shop has a nice atmosphere, and the staff is usually friendly and quick. The only reason I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the prices are a bit on the higher side compared to other ice cream shops, and during busy hours the line can get quite long. Still, it’s definitely worth it for a special treat!

We were eagerly waiting for them to open but they opened late due to Covid. However, after a long wait when they opened, read some bad reviews on a Facebook group about their pricing and people preferring to go to local ice cream shops, we have our local favs too. So we didn’t bother to visit. But then we visited the store the other day and was impressed by the interior and their friendly staffs. I’m giving it a 5 star for that, but I might not be a frequenter here as I am at the local ones because of Ben&Jerry’s price.

Not sure who currently owns this establishment but recent service there has been despicable and dishonest. I ordered a single scoop of ice cream in a cup and was charged over $7. I said to the young lady who served me, I asked for a single scoop. She said that's a double scoop. I said I know! Why did you give me a double scoop when I asked for a single scoop. No reply. I returned the following day and asked for a single scoop in a cup. There was a gentleman there who served me, probably the owner. The scoop I received was actually tiny and I was charged about $6.50 for a tiny scoop. This has never happened before at this establishment. I've never seen these individuals before at this ice cream parlor. To make a long story short, I won't be returning to this restaurant! Absolute ripoff!

Service was not good- Way too much milk poured into blender for my milkshake. Expectation? A thick flavorful shake. What I actually received was a thin, flavorless shake. I paid $9 for a large butter pecan milk.

We love Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and believe it to be the best ice cream in New England! Unfortunately, they no longer have a non-dairy, gluten free option in the ice cream shop despite the fact that they have many such flavors available in pints at the grocery store. We hope they decide to offer the non-dairy Strawberry Marshmallow again in the future, so we can enjoy going to the ice cream shop again.

Girl working the counter was very nice! Place was spotless. Cheesecake shake with whip cream, absolutely delicious!!