South End Buttery

I genuinely enjoyed the food at South End Buttery. The flavors are well done, and the service was friendly and professional throughout our visit. You can tell there’s care put into both the menu and the staff experience. That said, a few issues took away from the overall experience. The biggest one is the layout. The space feels overfilled with tables, to the point where it becomes uncomfortable. Seating is extremely tight, and it often felt like we were dining with the people at the next table rather than alongside them. A little more breathing room would go a long way toward improving the atmosphere. Pricing is another mixed area. The menu prices themselves feel reasonable for the quality, but the added 4% administrative fee was disappointing. Framing this charge as support for kitchen staff places the responsibility of employee compensation onto the customer, which doesn’t sit well. As a patron, I expect to pay for what I order, not to subsidize internal wage structures through mandatory fees. Fair pay for employees should be built into the business model, not added as an extra line item. Overall, the food and service are strong, but the cramped space and the administrative surcharge make the experience less enjoyable than it could be. With some adjustments, this could be a much more comfortable and transparent place to dine.

A classic South End café that I like dropping by for chili. First learned about this place while waiting in line at Brick Street Bagels last year. Since they open early, I had some time to poke around the menu, and the chili immediately caught my eye. Chili felt almost too basic to order out. I’d never actually bought chili from a restaurant before, but it also isn’t something I usually make space for alongside a breakfast burrito or a well-made sandwich. It’s probably more of a natural companion to a simple sourdough loaf, so even a straightforward meatloaf sandwich felt like a huge upgrade. They offer both vegetarian and turkey chili, and both were well done. The vegetarian version didn’t feel lacking in umami at all. On its own, the turkey chili was slightly better, but paired with sandwiches, the vegetarian chili actually worked better. It managed to retain umami without the weight, which made it the perfect dipping sauce for their pressed meatloaf sandwich. The café is tucked into a residential neighborhood, so parking can be a bit tricky, even for quick pickups. Would still come back for that chili and sandwich combo though.

We enjoyed brunch and had a reservation, so we were seated promptly downstairs. There is a downstairs and upstairs level. They have a lovely selection of baked goods, a full bar and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. We enjoyed the huevos rancheros and the eggs/salmon plate, with an appetizer fresh fruit plate. We really enjoyed our meals, which were served hot and delicious. Service was attentive and prompt. Prices are slightly elevated due to the quality and the location. We had a great experience and look forward to going back again.

A beautiful street bistro in the heart of the South End. The cafe is so picturesque and the food is excellent. Our waiter was very helpful and more about him later. Only reason for 4⭐️on service was due to the hostess, not our waiter, Ivan. We tried to understand what the seating policy was but couldn’t get a solid answer from the hostess. We asked how long would it take to be seated and she said an hour and if we could be added to the list. She said there is no wait list?!? So should we try to reserve online? She said they’re full but we saw some spots open for inside. There were 3 of us who attempted individually to get a coherent answer but failed. So we just waited outside and Ivan, our waiter asked how many and if we could sit outside, which we did.

We had a great brunch on Sunday at south end buttery. I got the huevos rancheros and my husband got the burger. I got an iced matcha latte which was great! For entrees I was between the eggs Benedict and the huevos rancheros. The server recommended both. Food was good but not phenomenal. It was yummy but not very noteworthy or really memorable. I’m not sure why. I don’t have specific feedback but it just wasn’t mind blowing for a 5 star review.