MOTW Coffee and Pastries — Restaurant in Shrewsbury

I have tried this place three times because I always thought maybe it was just an off day. But I have now come to the conclusion that I simply just don’t like this place. The coffee is extremely bitter and tastes burnt. It doesn’t matter what flavor you add, that burnt taste comes through. The coffee is honestly, some of the worst I’ve had. The biscoff cream is good, the flavor SOUNDS good, but the coffee beans they use are just bad. I have also had the pistachio tres leches. I am half Hispanic so maybe I’m biased but it’s dry. A true tres leches should have a visible pool of milk at the bottom of the container. You won’t find that here. It just seems like a barely moist vanilla cake. The cake is green but you won’t even have a hint of pistachio flavor. It’s just green food coloring. The baklava looks very dry so I didn’t even want to try it to be honest. But I did, and it just wasn’t good. But I’ll be fair, I lived in Turkey for a bit and their baklava is just impossible to find in the USA anyways. So I won’t comment more about the baklava. Finally, I tried the Dubai chocolate for an insanely high price for the amount you get. I could have forgiven the price if it was at least good. But it was terrible. It had tons of Kataifi so it was definitely crunchy. But the pistachio cream was nonexistent. It had such a small amount you couldn’t even taste a hint of pistachio. The chocolate they use tasted like plastic? Its hard to describe. There are a few places in Boston who make a FAR better one. I just can’t imagine that all the reviews are real or with some kind of bias. I have never been to a place so highly rated and my opinion be so highly on the opposite side of the spectrum. Of course everyone has different tastes, but personally it...

I visited MOTW a couple of times and wanted to share some feedback. Honestly, I didn’t find much that represented different parts of the Muslim world—except the Yemeni tea, which was the highlight (though quite overpriced at $6). My kids tried different kinds of ABC drinks ($5+) but didn’t enjoy any of them, and even the $8 tiramisu felt like a waste of money.

That said, the overall ambiance and peaceful seating area are unmatched in this town or even nearby towns. It’s a beautiful initiative and provides a great space, especially for youth.

However, when you carry the name Muslims of the World, you also become the face of the community, so policies and practices should reflect that. For example:

Staff didn’t greet with a verbal Salam—a simple yet powerful prayer that could create a warm, inclusive culture.

Adding a small placard on the table or poster with bullet points on Islamic teachings, Muslim achievements, or cultural contributions could spark curiosity and serve as gentle Dawah.

Please also update your Google closing hours or have staff politely inform customers of closing, instead of switching most of the lights off at once.

Despite the food and drink concerns, I am still giving 5 stars because I appreciate the initiative and the safe, welcoming space you’ve created. I hope my suggestions are taken positively and help MOTW grow even...

The samosa empanada was lovely and warmed up in a little oven, you can get it with a mango chutney or the chipotle aioli. Very tasty! The coffee cake is super good and is heated up before they serve it to you (my picture is half because I shared with my friend) OH MY GOD THE DATE COOKIE IS HEAVENLY. I didn’t know it was gonna have a filling and it was so good. The best food I had there tbh (again, half because I shared with my friend) The Yemeni Chai is SO DELICOUS. Hands down the best chai I’ve had in Massachusetts. It’s a very traditional chai, aka it is boiling hot when it’s served (as it should be) and I recommend taking the lid off and letting it cool a little bit (I did 3-5 mins). Take my advice or you’ll burn your mouth. So don’t blame them for that. That’s on you. The Date Cardamom Latte is good too! The Jasmine Strawberry Refresher is a great end of the night drink. Tastes very strawberry without being medicinal.

Oh also! They have a rewards system. Buy 9 drinks get the 10th for free (small drink)!

The vibes are cozy and the seats are comfy considering my friend and I hung out and crafted and snacked for 5 hours. It’s a great cafe. For those that need it, they do have a prayer mat and a privacy wall. Love the decor and the decor extends into the bathroom. A very clean...