Seventeen years ago, a former Israeli film producer named Tzurit Or stood in her home kitchen in Boston, baking for 20 hours a day. She was starting a new life as an immigrant to the United States, and she had a dream: to create a place where people could gather around great food and pastries, finding the same comfort and belonging she was searching for herself. What started at the Copley Square farmers market has since grown into Tatte Bakery & Café, one of Boston's most beloved culinary institutions.
From Farmers Market to Phenomenon
After just one summer selling her creations at the farmers market, Tzurit expanded to her first brick-and-mortar bakery in Brookline, Massachusetts. The word spread quickly: this wasn't ordinary bakery fare. Tatte's pastries were works of art — flaky, buttery, and infused with the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours of Tzurit's heritage. Her shakshuka became legendary. Her halva croissants inspired pilgrimages. Her display cases, piled high with golden pastries and vibrant salads, turned every visit into an occasion.
Today, Tatte operates multiple locations throughout Greater Boston, Cambridge, Burlington, and has expanded to the Washington DC metropolitan area, including locations in Maryland and Virginia. Each café is designed by Tzurit herself, reflecting her background in film and her eye for creating spaces that feel warm, inviting, and intentional.
A Menu That Bridges Cultures
Tatte's menu is a celebration of culinary cross-pollination. Mediterranean-inspired dishes sit comfortably alongside New England café classics. Breakfast features Tzurit's famous shakshuka alongside perfectly poached eggs on artisan toast. Lunch offers salads bursting with fresh herbs, grains, and roasted vegetables. And the bakery cases remain the star attraction — overflowing with croissants, tarts, cookies, and cakes that look almost too beautiful to eat.
The café's coffee programme is equally impressive, with carefully sourced beans and skilled baristas who take their craft as seriously as the kitchen takes its pastry.
More Than Just Great Food
What makes Tatte special goes beyond what's on the plate. The cafés have become genuine neighbourhood gathering places — the kind of spots where students camp out with laptops, parents meet for morning coffee dates, and friends celebrate milestones over shared platters of pastries.
Tzurit's mission — "To Inspire, Care for, and Nurture life. Every Day." — is evident in every detail, from the hand-selected tiles on the walls to the way staff greet returning regulars by name.
Catering That Celebrates
For events and gatherings, Tatte's catering service brings the bakery's magic to offices, homes, and celebrations throughout the Boston and DC areas. From elegant pastry platters to savoury lunch spreads, every order is packaged with the same care and attention that defines the café experience.
For anyone visiting Boston, a stop at Tatte Bakery & Café isn't just a meal — it's an introduction to a woman's remarkable journey from a new immigrant's kitchen to one of the most celebrated bakeries in America.