Category Archives: South End

When Francesca’s closed this past August, it was rumored the owner wanted an upscale cafe or bistro to replace Francesca’s but space limitations may have made that business model impractical.

Earlier this month I heard rumors that a national coffee chain would open at 564 Tremont Street.  This week BostonInno confirmed Peet’s Coffee will open in the space formerly home to Francesca’s.  While I’d prefer an independent cafe, I’m relieved to read Peet’s will be opening. At the moment, I don’t have any details on when they may be opening to the public.

Cafe Madeleine, a French patisserie offering coffee, baked goods and sandwiches is looking to open at 517 Columbus Avenue (formerly Amsterdam Cafe which closed in April 2013). The owner has indicated the cafe will have an open kitchen, 6 window seats, 8 patio seats, and will be open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Cafe Madeleine’s owner, Frederic Robert, his sous chef, Hana Quon, and their zoning attorney are appealing to remove a condition limiting take-out that the former Amsterdam Cafe had been subject to. The zoning appeal meeting date has not yet been set, but the owners have asked for the support of the neighborhood association and residents.   Stay tuned for more details.

Photo is courtesy of MassDOT

This past Friday afternoon, MASS DOT held a ceremony, showcasing new lighting installations that will be used to artistically illuminate the I-93 Viaduct.  Later this spring the space under Boston’s highway in the South End will open as a 400+ space 24-hour parking lot.  The improved lighting, and staffed parking lots is intended to help better connect adjoining South End and South Boston neighborhoods. This is such a smart, creative use of space under Boston’s Interstate 93. I love this project and am happy to see such a creative use of lighting. It almost makes the concrete underside of the expressway interesting. More on this here.

Despite the fact that there is a snow emergency, parking ban in effect most South End restaurants are open for business (at least for tonight).  To entice you to come out some restaurants are offering social media “Blizzard Specials”. For example, Boston Chops is offering $1 Snow Storm oysters (at the bar only); The South End has the Buttery Blizzard Burger Special $10 (normally $17); and BoMA has a Snow Day Special where all draft beers are $5, burgers and flatbreads are $7.99.

To date the following South End restaurants and bars have let me know they are open tonight: Aquitaine  The Beehive  BoMA Restaurant + Bar  Boston Chops  Cinquecento  Estelle’s  Estragon  The Gallows  Gaslight Brasserie du Coin  J.J. Foley’s  Kitchen Boston  Metropolis Cafe  PICCO  Red Lantern  Tremont 647 / Sister Sorel  South End Buttery Union Bar & Grille