Parker House rolls are soft, buttery yeast rolls folded into a half-moon shape and baked golden. Invented at the Parker House Hotel on School Street in Boston in the 1870s; a staple of New England Thanksgiving tables.
The Parker House Roll was invented at Boston's Parker House Hotel in the 1870s, traditionally attributed to a German baker who folded discs of enriched dough into the now-canonical shape after a chef-staff dispute. The hotel, opened by Harvey Parker in 1855, also gave the world the Boston cream pie and the chocolate Boston cream donut. The Omni Parker House continues to serve the rolls in its Parker's Restaurant dining room daily. Joanne Chang's Flour Bakery sells a sourdough-inflected version year-round; many Boston-area Thanksgiving tables centre on a basket of buttered Parker House rolls and gravy.
3 editor picks for Parker House rolls in Boston, ranked by editorial score. All Boston signature dishes · Parker House rolls across every city.
Flour Bakery ★ 4.6
south-end · 1595 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118
Joanne Chang opened Flour on Washington Street in Boston's South End in 2000; the city's pastry empire grew to 10 locations across Boston and Cambridge. Sticky buns the headline bake.
Modern Pastry ★ 4.6
north-end · 257 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02113
Modern Pastry on Hanover Street has filled cannoli to order in Boston's North End since 1930. Chocolate-dipped shells, lighter ricotta cream, the local pick over Mike's.
Union Oyster House ★ 4.2
north-end · 41 Union St, Boston, MA 02108
Union Oyster House on Union Street has shucked oysters in Boston since 1826, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States. Daniel Webster's seat is still at the bar.