After hosting friends and family night earlier this week, Five Horses Tavern on Columbus Avenue will have their grand opening tonight. as tonight). If you live in the area, walk over this weekend to check out the newest restaurant to open in the neighborhood.
Five Horses Tavern is located at 535 Columbus Avenue in the South End. Eater Boston earlier this week published a write up about Five Horses Tavern here.
Not all gossip is good and in the case of Yakitori Zai – the Japanese barbecue restaurant that opened in June – the rumors that I’ve heard are definitely not good. The remodeling signs that are in the windows of this newly renovated restaurant are due to the brand new ventilation system that the owner installed.
I don’t know all the details but rumor has it the issue is that Yakitori Zai’s new ventilation flumes are visible from the street. I hope there is more to the story, because the South End certainly has far more significant blights; one need only look left from Yakitori Zai to see the abandoned and crumbling Sahara Restaurant – talk about a blight to the neighborhood.
Fortunately, I have more exciting, albeit more ambiguous gossip to share about the eagerly awaited Five Horses Tavern. My curiosity got the best of me and I walked over to the restaurant the other day. I was able to meet one of the owners – Sarah Hanson – who walked me through the property.
I promised Sarah I wouldn’t say anything about the work they did, but for those familiar with the Columbus Cafe space – be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. This team has done a remarkable job and the space is both much better designed and beautiful. The neighborhood should be very excited to have this property – I know I’ll be checking them out when they open shortly.
The summer has been very quiet but many retailers in the South End have been busy. Here is some South End gossip that has been making its rounds.
Lekker Home is moving
Lekker has plastered moving signs on their windows in their Wilkes Passage shop on Washington Street for the past few weeks. Despite assurances that they would be announcing their new location earlier this week the shopkeepers remain quiet about the new location and too many conflicting rumors make it difficult to ascertain so you’ll have to check back on their Facebook page for details.
Viola Lovely at 1409 Washington is expected to open in the space that was formerly Reside. This shop will be the third location for the Concord, MA based retailer that sells apparel, accessories and lifestyle designer products.
Future home of Farm & Fable
Farm & Fable is located on the corner of Shawmut Ave and Milford Street. With any luck F&F will be opening soon. The retailer will sell vintage cookbooks and has built space to host cooking demonstrations and classes. More details are in my June post here.
7-Eleven at Rollins Square Residents in Rollins Square received notice earlier this month that in November the 7-Eleven that opened 10 years ago will be leaving the South End digs. While some residents may cheer their leaving, I’m left wondering how far I’ll have to walk to grab bags of ice or mixers when we run out late in the evening. I hope another convenience store will take its place.
Earlier this month Eater Boston reported that restaurant space formerly known as, Noche in the South End on Appleton Street, will open as a new venue called Blind Tiger in late August or early September.
Farm & Fable, a vintage cookbook kitchen shop that has space to host cooking demonstrations and classes, will open a new retail space on the corner of Shawmut Avenue and Milford Street across from Coppa Boston in the South End.
I’m relieved to see this space will be home to a new retail shop. With Formaggio and the Syrian Market just across the street and a number of cafes, restaurants and other retailers on this block I hope there will be sufficient foot traffic for this specialty shop.
Future home of Farm & Fable
While construction continues at 251 Shawmut Avenue, you may follow Farm & Fable on Twitter at @FarmAndFable or check out their Facebook page.
Tagged #MenOfTwitter, AIDS Action Committee, BosGuy, Boston Guy, South End
Owner Bobby Garnett with Ralph Lauren
Can a hip, downtown Boston neighborhood be home to an iconic store Hollywood stylists and movie makers have on a short list but residents across town have never heard of before? The answer is yes.
Last week I was watching WGBH, Boston’s PBS station, when Bobby’s From Boston was featured. Bobby’s is just two blocks up the street from where I live, and apparently remains a relative unknown to local fashionistas who love “vintage”.
Bobby’s keeps no website and jokes that their store hours are “Closed until tomorrow 12:00 – 6:00pm”. This iconic shop located at 19 Thayer Street is one of the coolest stores I’ve ever visited. Located along the pedestrian walkway that brings thousands into the South End each Sunday for the SoWa Open Market, Bobby’s is just one of several very unique and truly one-of-a-kind shops worth checking out. PBS recent interview of Bobby is what spurred me to write this post. Below I’ve included an excerpt from his interview for WGBH-TV.
The South End rumor mill is grinding fast and furious these days. Earlier this year SoWa Boston confirmed GTI Properties purchased the Jesuit Urban Center and the Immaculate Conception Church on Harrison Avenue. Unconfirmed reports suggest that GTI Properties plans to convert these two 19th century structures into 80 apartments.
In addition to news about GTI Properties latest development, rumor has it that a Mexican restaurant will soon be opening in the space formerly occupied by Sibling Rivalry on Tremont Street in the South End.
At this point, this is only an unconfirmed rumor but it is one that I’ve now heard from two different restaurant owners in the South End. Questions remain who may be behind the new restaurant, but if it is true this extends a streak of Mexican restaurants opening in Boston that I thought had run its course. This would be the first second (sorry El Centro!) Mexican restaurant to open in the South End and be just two blocks from Masa, a southwest bar and grill. If the rumors prove true, the new restaurant could give both El Centro and Masa a run for their money.
Photo: Hammersley’s Bistro in the South End from 40-Something Life blog
Now that the weather is warm enough to enjoy dining outside at night, nearly every restaurant in the South End with outdoor space has set up tables and chairs for patrons to dine al fresco. However, not all patios are equal – some will leave you inhaling the fumes of passing cars and buses, others are so loud you can barely hear anything. Here are some patios in the South End I enjoy.
Most comfortable patio in the South End
28 Degrees is set back from the hustle & bustle of Tremont Street and has comfortable patio furniture. If you’ve not been to 28 Degrees patio, I’d encourage you to check it out. This is a great space to meet up for a date or an evening out with a group of friends.
Best people watching in the South End
This is a tie between Stephi’s on Tremont and Kitchen. Both restaurants are approximately 1 block apart near Tremont and Clarendon Street – a major intersection for pedestrian traffic all but ensuring great people watching. You’ll see half the neighborhood walk by you when you have a meal here.
Most social patio in the South End
Tremont 647 / Sister Sorel patios are always full with parties more interested in chatting and having a drink than whatever is on the menu, although I will admit the scene is at its most fun each Tuesday night when both places host $2 Taco nights – good luck trying to get a table, but it is worth trying.
Most private patio in the South End:
Even though Cinquecento may have the dubious distinction of being the loudest restaurant in the South End, they have a very quiet and private patio away from any noise or pollution from the street that is tucked away and surrounded by a restored brick mill building.
Other South End restaurant patios worth checking out:
Petit Robert Bistro’s patio on Columbus Ave
Boston Chops on Washington Street
Hammersley’s as shown in the photo above on Clarendon Street
Chefs, shuckers, and bivalve lovers will gather to eat, drink, and have fun in the South End this Sunday. Attendees will also be able to meet Chef Barbara Lynch, Top Chef Season 10 winner Kristen Kish and finalist Brooke Williamson.
More than 25 South End restaurants and oyster farms will make this year’s Oyster Invitational the largest yet.
Sunday, May 5th – 1PM to 6PM for general admission
For more information and to purchase tickets to this event, link here.
The silver lining to the Boston Marathon tragedy is the countless acts of kindness and the outpouring of emotion to show support. Today the South End Patch reported how a neighbor of mine here in the South End purchased everyone’s coffee and tea this morning. Perhaps I’m more shaken by the events from this week than I realize, because I found this story very touching.
If you’d like to read this feel good story, link to the South End Patch here.
If you live in the South End near the Cathedral of the Holy Cross (like yours truly) plan to move your car.
Due to the President’s visit to Boston on Thursday, April 18th to attend the prayer service at the Holy Cross Cathedral, no parking will be allowed on Washington Street, Harrison Avenue, and all the cross streets between Shawmut and Albany Streets. Traffic will be completely shut down between 9 am and 2 pm. The Secret Service said they could not provide any further information if the service at the Cathedral would be open to the public or if you will need a special permit to attend. Final plans are still being made.
Spread the word…
The ownership of the building that houses Francesca’s Cafe in the South End quietly changed hands at the end of 2012 in what is rumored to have been a cash deal. The new owner is South End resident, Fredmond Kiley the 4th.
Are the days numbered for Francesca’s Cafe in the South End?
The building was bought with Francesca’s lease intact, but it is unclear how many more years remain on that lease and the reason that is of interest is because rumor has it the new landlord would prefer a high end restaurant and cafe. Who can say if Francesca’s would be forced out when their existing lease expires but if that comes to pass it is unlikely the popular cafe would be able to find another home in the neighborhood it has served for nearly 20 years.
What are your thoughts? Would you miss Francesca’s or would you prefer to see something else go into this prime location in the neighborhood?
AIDS Action deserves a lot of credit for hosting another successful Taste of the South End. I’ve attended many tasting events put on by different neighborhoods and organizations and this annual event held in the South End remains my favorite. The number and variety of food and drink is impressive, the crowd is always friendly and the money goes to such a worthy charity.
As usual, there were some real stand outs, my favorite was the tuna tartare with soy and ginger served on cripsy wontons from Mistral. The tuna melted in the mouth and I had all I could do not to swipe one of the platters holding a dozen or more of these treats from their table. Additionally, Myers + Chang’s served their restaurant’s popular salmon + honeycrisp apple tartare with spicy soy, spinach and sesame crisps; mental note to order it on my next visit there.
On the sweeter side, PICCO wowed me for the second year in a row with their “adult float” which combines a fruit flavored lambic (this year was peach) poured over either vanilla or chocolate ice cream. Also adicting was The Gallows miniature fluffernutter pies which were conveniently next to PICCO.
In addition to eating great food and getting the opportunity to chat with friends, attendees find out about changes at neighborhood restaurants. For example, did you know Estelle’s has started serving lunch on Saturdays and Aquitaine has a newly expanded lunch menu which they offer weekdays.
Posted in AIDS Action Committee, Dining, South End
Tagged AIDS Action Committee, BosGuy, Boston Guy, South End, Taste of the South End
Boston Chops opened yesterday in Boston’s South End neighborhood, and it’s opening may be the best evidence the recession is behind us. Owners, Brian Piccini and Executive Chef, Chris Coombs, are betting they can lure clientele from the neighborhood and beyond to keep this space busy beyond the opening week buzz. With a price point that averages between $30 – $39 for most main dishes, this also marks a departure from recent restaurant openings that had lower price points, but then again the menu prices are consistent with the city’s other steak houses even if they are higher than neighboring restaurants.
Since so much has been written about the restaurant already, I thought I would focus on their menu which centers around their signature plate, Steak Frites. At Boston Chops you may select the cut of meat you would like and you may enjoy as many frites you may consume. The cuts available make this signature plate range from $24 for the flat iron cut to $39 for the filet.
Starters – with items like sushi grade fluke ceviche for $11, Caesar salad for $9 and mussels for $14 there is a little of something for everyone.
Rarely Celebrated – this section of the menu concentrates on parts to the cow not usually served in steak houses, like bone marrow for $9.
Entrees / Ocean & Other – these two sections combine to provide patrons with a wide range of meals including cuts of beef, seafood, chicken and pasta plates. Prices range from $19 – $39.
Sides – like many steakhouses there is plenty to tempt you, but what caught my eye was the poutine style twice baked loaded potato for $12; definitely not a low-fat option but one I know I’ll be trying.
Look for pictures of these tempting items and a restaurant review in the weeks that follow. Should you have a chance to stop by Boston Chops, let me know your thoughts about the new restaurant. My congratulations and best of luck to the owners and staff.
Boston Chops (617) 227-5011 / 1375 Washington Street in the South End
Late in 2012 Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams opened their newly expanded furniture store which doubled the floor space of their original storefront.
So I was surprised to see that Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams have opened a sizable Pop Up furniture store at 520 Harrison Avenue near the intersection of Harrison and Randolph Street. According to the sales rep I spoke to the store will remain here in SoWa for the next few months and they are open from 10am – 6pm daily. Unfortunately, I did not get a phone number, but you may contact their flagship store in the South End for more details at 617-266-0075.
BosGuy 