Category Archives: South End

Best places to eat in Boston’s South End

Posted on October 2, 2018 | Leave a comment

Sergio and I love the Mousaka at Kava Neo Taverna

Recently I was reading a post on Eater Boston that provided a host of suggestions on where to eat if you were visiting Boston and it got me to thinking about some of my favorite places to go out in the South End. Below are my suggestions on places to try. I’d be curious to get your thoughts and opinions on my picks and which places you might suggest.

Best South End Brunch: Boston Chops
There are so many options for places to enjoy a Sunday brunch in the South End, but in my mind, nowhere is better than Boston Chops. They easily make the best Bloody Mary in the neighborhood and the menu will appeal to everyone.

Best South End Cheap Eats: Anoush’ella
This Lebanese / Armenian restaurant is such a welcome addition to the neighborhood. They have proven you can have a thriving restaurant business in the South End and not need to charge $20 and $30 plates. Anoush’ella is easily one of my favorite go-to, casual dining options in the South End.

Best South End Coffee Shop: SE Buttery
In my opinion, the Equator coffee that the Buttery serves is the best in the neighborhood. Combine the excellent coffee with tasty treats and cozy setting and you have the perfect coffee shop for grabbing a cup of joe on the go or to meet with friends to catch up.

Best South End “Date Night” Restaurant: Kava Neo Taverna 
The food that comes out of the Greek restaurant Kava is consistently excellent. Take advantage of their sidewalk patio when it is open.  I love their grilled octopus and Sergio is addicted to the Mousaka.

Best South End Fine Dining: Mistral
There is no other restaurant I am more comfortable suggesting when people say they want to go out and splurge or celebrate than Mistral. The restaurant’s service and food is incredibly consistent. If money is tight but you want to treat yourself grab a seat at their bar, order a glass of wine and flatbread.

Best South End Friends Night Out: Beehive
The Beehive has a little bit of everything to offer; al fresco dining on their patio in good weather; a fun bar; and live entertainment. The funky vibe of the place and good food makes it a great place to connect with friends. Do yourself a favor and order a plate of their addictive fall off the bone baby back pork ribs.

Best South End Lunch: Orinoco and Mela
Both Orinoco and Mela are two of my favorite places to grab lunch in the South End. The Venezuelan restaurant, Orinoco, lunch menu is unique to the neighborhood and is a standout. Definitely order the Pepito de Costillita – the ribs will melt in your mouth. And let’s face it the Indian buffet at Mela is so good you’re going to overeat and there is nothing you’ll be able to do about it so make plans to get to the gym later in the day.

Most Underrated Restaurant in the South End: Elephant Walk
Elephant Walk is one of my favorite places to eat – full stop. The menu is unique to the neighborhood; evenly divided between Cambodian, French and a fusion of the two cuisines. When you go, definitely try the Nataing (appetizer) and Khar Saiko (dinner) – trust me.

Best South End Newcomer: Burro Bar South End
Few places have made me happier to visit than the Burro Bar which opened earlier this year. I love everything about this place from the layout which includes a large bar and lounge space with comfy couches to their Monday night fajita specials (which you should definitely try).

Best South End Small Plates: Toro and Myers + Chang
The South End has so many small plate restaurants it was difficult to narrow this down to just two options but both these restaurants continue to impress, which is obvious from the crowds who flock to Toro (a delicious Spanish tapas restaurant) and Myers + Chang (a pan-Asian small plates), seven days a week.

Best South End Treats & Sweets: Flour and Blackbird Doughnuts
The original Flour bakery opened on Washington Street and now has seven locations. After Chef Joanne Chang beat Chef Bobby Flay on national TV, Flour’s sticky buns took on legendary status but my favorite item is their coconut cream pie. Additionally, Blackbird Doughnuts which opened a few years ago has proven to be so successful that they now have three locations; my favorite is the chocolate old fashioned – give it a try and tell me what you think.

What do you think? I’d love to hear what are your “go to” restaurants in the South End. Share your favorite places – all are welcome to comment.

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South End named one of the 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world

Posted on September 27, 2018 | Leave a comment

BostonThe British travel group, Time Out, has included Boston’s South End in their annual listing of the 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world.

Clocking in at #48 in the world (according to Time Out), the South End joins Highland Park – Los Angeles, the West Village – NYC, West Loop – Chicago, Hayes Valley – San Francisco and Central District – Seattle as the other American city neighborhoods to receive the distinction.

Described in the write up as a once neglected neighborhood that locals would do their best to avoid now the South End “has become the city’s artistic hub, with dozens of galleries and design shops that wouldn’t be out of place in any of the world’s culture capitals.”

You can decide for yourself where you think Boston’s South End should fit into any list of “coolest neighborhoods” but I’m inclined to agree with the distinction that Time Out recognizes and hope the South End (and the city) continue to work to make this a home for more artists in the future. You can read the full article and see what other neighborhoods were included in Time Out’s 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world.

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New South End residential complex “The Smith”

Posted on September 25, 2018 | Leave a comment

south end residential project, Harrison Albany BlockDevelopers behind one of the largest new residential projects in Boston—a 650-unit apartment complex spread out over more than 3 acres of land between Albany Street and extending to Harrison Avenue officially broke ground and started construction last week on September 18th.

Formerly known as the Harrison/Albany project and now called The Smith , this development will include: 650 residential apartments; approximately 75,000 square feet of new and renovated office space; nearly 20,000 square feet of retail and cultural space; up to as many as 650 below ground parking spaces; as well as open space available to the public.

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Bar Lyon opens in the South End

Posted on September 16, 2018 | Leave a comment
columbus hospitality group

Bar Lyon Bar Lyon/Facebook

The long awaited and highly anticipated opening of Bar Lyon happened this weekend. Bar Lyon is part of the Columbus Hospitality Group which includes such venerable establishments like Mistral, Ostra and Sorellina.

This may be the Columbus Hospitality Group’s tiniest restaurant with only 48 seats in the dining room and an additional 12 seats at the bar, but it has been eagerly anticipated for months. Chef and owner Jamie Mammano and executive chef Cameron Cieslak have crafted a dinner menu that includes soft-cooked omelets, roasted chicken, poached monkfish with Maine lobster and clams, salmon tartare, and steamed mussels as well as a few items dubbed “Lyon classiques”. One also expects that they will have an excellent wine list in keeping with Columbus Hospitality Group’s other restaurants.

Bar Lyon
1750 Washington Street
barlyon.com

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The Revolution is the South End’s next boutique hotel

Posted on August 26, 2018 | Leave a comment
boutique hotel boston, The Revolution Hotel

Courtesy of MOUNT VERNON CO.

A new boutique hotel called The Revolution will be opening just a block away from The Alise Boston (formerly The Chandler Inn) on Berkeley Street in the South End. The local property company, Mount Vernon Company, announced they will turn the home of the former YWCA property at 40 Berkeley Street into a 164-room boutique hotel, which will be managed by Provenance Hotels.

The Mount Vernon Company initially purchased the property in 2014 but left it alone until construction started earlier this spring. The interior will be decorated with paintings by Boston artists, overlaid with the titles of songs by Boston music legends such as Aerosmith and Donna Summer.

The hotel will offer studio suites for business travelers, as well as triple and quad rooms with shared bathrooms for larger groups. “Premium King” accommodations will also be available with ensuite bathrooms with rooms starting at approximately $150 a night.

The property’s large courtyard is being redesigned to house an indoor-outdoor restaurant with the basement converted into a bar that will double as co-working space during the day. Stay tuned for more details.

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Real estate news: Exchange South End gets approval

Posted on August 21, 2018 | 1 comment
A 1.6 million square-foot project in the South End wins key approval

The $1 billion development known as the “Exchange South End” received approval from the Boston Planning & Development Agency last week to build on the former site of the Boston Flower Exchange in the South End.

The development, which sits on more than 5 acres of land, will eventually be home to four new buildings that will sit between I-93 and Albany Street. When finished the new development is expected to have an estimated 7.000 technology and life science jobs.

According to this Curbed Boston article The Exchange will include:

  • Buildings will total 1.4+ million square feet of commercial, technology, and life science research space.
  • 42,500 square feet of ground-floor retail.
  • 30,000 square feet of civic and business-incubator space.
  • 30,000-square-foot, publicly accessible park.
  • With an additional 14 surface spaces, the Exchange South End would contain a total of 1,159 parking spaces.

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Harrison Albany Block construction continues

Posted on August 13, 2018 | Leave a comment

south end real estate, boston real estateWith all the construction happening in and around the Ink Block you may not have realized that a comparable residential development sitting upon 3+ acres of land between Harrison Avenue and Albany Street is shaping up just a few blocks away. The new residential complex will include approximately 650 apartments, 80,000 square-feet of office space and 20,000 square-feet of retail. The project has been scaled back slightly from its initial proposal of including 710 units, which had also included 65 affordable units, but it will still stretch (as its name indicates) from Albany Street to Harrison Avenue.

This is just one of a handful of projects that have taken city planners by surprise and is forcing Boston to re-evaluate their infrastructure plans for the neighborhood. The city expected more commercial building but due to a tight housing market and lack of housing developers are constructing more housing. Let’s see if these prove to be anymore affordable than the developments currently underway just a few blocks up the street.

Below is a recent photo shared on the Bldup.com.

bldup.com, south end real estate

Source: bldup.com

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Thank god for Delux in the South End

Posted on May 13, 2018 | Leave a comment

South End cheap eats in the South End, Cheap Eats in BostonEarlier this year Eater Boston published Delux Cafe Has Defied – and Nourished – Its Neighborhood but they should have used my headline, Thank god for Delux. To quote the article in Eater Boston, “If you’ve ever set foot in Delux, you’ll have noticed that it’s always decorated for Christmas…, and that the walls are lined with vintage albums. Delux’s former owner, Kevin Sheehan — with whom Hafner and Yanney are friends — defined the current look of Delux in the early-to-mid 1990s.” It might be the only restaurant in the neighborhood that has neither a website or a facebook page and still has excellent name recognition.

For more than fifty years this space has been a neighborhood staple, first as Higgins Pub, then the Elbow Room and finally Chez Joie before Delux opened. All provided a safe harbor for unpretentious dining (and drinking). In a neighborhood where $100 a night per couple is the norm, Delux reminds me of a far different South End that existed before the seismic gentrification changes; it is a miracle that the South End still has a treasure like Delux so be sure to show them some love.

Delux is a South End gem

Paying Delux a visit is like taking a trip back in time, giving you a feel for what this neighborhood was like 20+ years ago. Delux has lasted longer than a lot of neighborhood gems from the same time like: Claremont Cafe, Geoffrey’s, Le Gamin, On The Park, Pho Republique and now added to the list, Tremont 647.

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Shawmut Ave/Washington St block public meeting

Posted on April 25, 2018 | Leave a comment

South End development, Shawmut Avenue/Washington Street Block Public MeetingLast October I wrote about a new development that was proposed in the South End along Shawmut Avenue / Herald Street / Washington Street in my post 112 Shawmut Avenue.

The mixed use project which will include three buildings will have a combined total maximum of 660,000+ square feet with the new construction retaining the facade of the six-story brick building currently on the corner of Herald and Shawmut. If you are interested in learning more about this project the public is invited to provide feedback and ask questions at a public meeting on May 2nd.

The details and logistics surrounding that meeting are here: Shawmut Avenue / Washington Street Block Public Meeting.

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South End Morse Fish Company future in doubt

Posted on February 21, 2018 | 1 comment

FROM HIDDEN BOSTON BLOG: According to a Twitter post from restaurant critic and food/drinks writer MC Slim JB, Morse Fish Company in Boston’s South End is up for lease, with a note on Facebook telling us that a “For Lease” sign is indeed in the window of the Washington Street business.

It is not yet known how much longer the market will remain open. Morse Fish Company first opened in 1903, offering fresh seafood.

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GTI Properties proposes new residential building at 490 Harrison Avenue

Posted on January 22, 2018 | Leave a comment
South End, SoWa, GTI Properties, 490 Harrison Avenue

Outline roughly depicts 490 Harrison Ave. 16-unit expansion proposed by GTI Properties || Photo from Google Maps

Last month GTI Properties shared plans with the Old Dover Neighborhood Association to build a new 70′ residential building, extending the existing apartment building at 490 Harrison Avenue.

The proposed design includes plans for sixteen rental units as well as a ground level 5.000 sq ft retail space along with two smaller storefronts in the back of the building. Apartments will range from 1,200 – 1,300 sq ft. No information was provided on the exact number of parking spaces the new building would shrink the existing parking lot. Assuming the project receives the necessary approvals, GTI Properties would look to break ground starting January 2019.

Apartments at 490 Harrison Avenue currently rent for $2,400-$2,600 for one bedroom and $2,800-$4,250 for two bedrooms, begging the question will the neighborhood and city ask for affordable units to be included before approving the project?

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2017 South End real estate stakeholder’s report

Posted on January 15, 2018 | Leave a comment

South End, Julian LevesqueI recently received Steven Cohen’s South End Stakeholder’s Report (Winter 2017).  The report, compiled by SCT, includes interesting details for those of you interested in real estate.  Here are some of the findings shared about the South End market and Boston that caught my attention.

  • The median sales price for the South End in Q3 2017 has increased over the past year to $939,500 (in Q3 2016 it was $858,250).
  • There are currently 8 construction projects underway in the South End including a 200 room hotel, office space and residential projects that will add approximately 1,000 new apartments and condos.
  • There are an additional 4 projects that have received Board Approval but have not started construction that could add as many as another 1,000 residential units and 900,000 square feet of commercial and office space.

The report also shares some interesting data points about the city of Boston including the following:

  • JLL City Momentum Index (CMI) tracks the speed of change of a city’s economic and commercial real estate market and ranks Boston in the top ten in the world. Only Silicon Valley and Austin, TX ranked higher in the US.
  • Boston joins London, Stockholm, Sydney, Melbourne and Silicon Valley as cities with strong short-term momentum and attributes for sustainable long-term momentum.
  • Boston ranks as the third most preferred US city for foreign investment in real estate behind NYC and LA.

You can read the full report online at stevencohenteam.com/publications.

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Who’s serving during Grayson in Boston’s South End

Posted on January 4, 2018 | Leave a comment

On The Bar at Boston ChopsDespite winter storm Grayson (also being referred to as SNOWpocalypse 2018 on Twitter), there remain plenty of options to grab a drink, bite or both this afternoon and evening. I’ve added to EaterBoston’s listing of South End restaurants that will be open and offering treats to encourage you to venture out.

To read the full list of restaurants that will be open tonight in the Greater Boston area, visit EaterBoston here. Below is a larger selection of places in the South End than appear on EaterBoston’s listing.

Area Four Boston Get a free mystery pizza with purchase of any bottle of wine, large-format cocktail, or 64-ounce growler of beer (consumed at A4). Order two; get two pizzas. Allergies/dietary restrictions can be accommodated, but otherwise, the pizza will be a surprise.

Aquitaine Boston is open and serving both lunch and dinner today.

Barcelona Wine Bar “Rain, snow, or shine, we’re open in Boston.” Open from 4 p.m. until “late” with a special hot chocolate bar.

Bar Mezzana Open 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. (bar until 1 a.m.) with burgers and board games. Their delicious chicken parmezzana sandwich will be available.

Boston Chops Open Thursday and serving $1 wings all day.

Clery’s Open at 11 a.m. Thursday and serving $5 Tito’s drinks, and $8 burger with 16-ounce Coors Light, and $4 12-ounce Founders IPA.

Coppa Enoteca is open all day on Thursday.

Five Horses Tavern Open regular hours Thursday (11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m.)

The Gallows Open starting at 12 p.m. and serving a $6 chop suey special.

Kava Neo Taverna is open tonight and serving dinner.

Lions Tail Open regular hours on Thursday and offering half priced wings as well as some slider specials not to miss.

Metropolis Cafe is open for dinner on Thursday.

Myers + Chang Open regular hours (starting at 11:30AM) on Thursday.

PICCO Open regular hours serving lunch and dinner on Thursday.

South End Butery Open regular hours – look for Grayson Blizzard drink and food specials tonight.

SRV Boston Open Thursday and serving bottomless meatballs in red sauce for $4 from 5 p.m. to close.

Stephi’s on Tremont Open regular hours Thursday, starting at 11:30 a.m. Try “mom’s chicken soup” and a hot toddy today.

Tremont 647 & Sister Sorel Sister Sorel is opening early at 3PM and Tremont 647 will be open normal hours.

Toro Open regular hours on Thursday.

Trophy Room Open until 2 a.m. Thursday (kitchen until 10 p.m.); keep an eye out for spiked and spicy hot chocolate and bowls of lobster bisque.

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Which restaurant will open first in the South End in 2018

Posted on January 1, 2018 | 3 comments

south end diningIt is hard to say which restaurant will be the first to open in Boston’s South End in 2018 but it is interesting that two contenders are restaurants that focus on cuisine south of the Mason-Dixon line, Southern Proper and Bootleg Special. 

While Boston has an Italian or French restaurant on what seems like every corner, the city has relatively few restaurants that seek inspiration from the South and even fewer that do it well.South End diningChef Jason Cheek will be opening his restaurant, Southern Proper, at 600 Harrison Avenue in  The Girard relatively soon, considering the space has signs saying “Opening Winter 2018”. The new space will include more than 1,500 square feet of dining, bar space and patio seating.

If Cheek’s name rings a bell it might be because he has a distinguished career working at several excellent restaurants including The Maiden, Sam’s at Louis,  Coppa and Toro to name just a few.

south end restaurant, Stephen ChanA restaurant that looking to open even before Southern Proper is the traditional style Louisiana seafood boil, called Bootleg Special, owned by the former Castle Square resident, Stephen Chan. The restaurant’s menu will include items like crawfish poutine, po’boys and beignets.

Southern Proper hopes to get a live music license, which I hope they can get – this city needs more places that offer live music – not fewer and their location on the corner of Tremont and Herald Street means there are very few residents who could / should be impacted.

It is interesting to note that both of these restaurants constitute new space for the South End, adding to the dizzying number of new restaurants that have opened in this tiny downtown neighborhood.

In the case of Southern Proper, it is going into a new mixed-use residential space that previously was a parking lot in SoWa and in the case of Bootleg Special, to my knowledge the space was never a restaurant; previously it had been a dog daycare center.

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14-story co-living residential building proposed at Ink Block

Posted on November 21, 2017 | 1 comment
Ink block, south end real estate

Rendering via Elkus Manfredi Architects

Newton-based National Development is the real estate developer that built the Ink Block. Earlier this week they proposed building a 14-story residential building on a sliver of land along Albany Street that would either be a part of or abut the Ink Block. The developer describes the potential new building as a 245 “co-living, multifamily” residential building that would be marketed towards Millennials.

The development is being marketed as micro-apartments with many units smaller than 400 square feet that also offers organized social activities (e.g. regular wine tastings, sightseeing tours, etc…) designed to help bring residents together. According to the article on Curbed Boston, the apartments are marketed more as places to sleep, shower and cook the odd meal. Such a set up has zero appeal to me, but I can see how someone who is new to town or is rarely home may like this sort of set up. The project still needs Boston Planning and Development Agency approval. Stay tuned.

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