South End Buttery

Many people enjoy a café for the delicious freshly brewed coffee, comfortable environment and friendly service, but these characteristics are hard to come by and are difficult to find with much variety. Being pleased with every aspect of a café experience isn’t very common, and you may find yourself going to several places to get exactly what you want. Luckily, if you live in Boston, you can enjoy all of these aspects right in one place. The South End Buttery Bakery & Café encompasses all of these qualities and is located right in Boston’s historic South End. Owner Richard Gordon and his partner opened The Buttery in 2005, and it immediately became a success. The location of the café is ideal and is conveniently located right across the street from a laundromat; so you can do your laundry, get a cup of coffee, and wait for your clothes to wash. Centered right in the middle of a bustling South End neighborhood, the café is close to other attractions such as restaurants, boutiques, a dog park, and many other things to see.

At first glance, you can see why so many people visit this establishment; it evokes an instant friendly vibe and inviting feel. There are tables and chairs outside of the café in the warmer months, allowing for more seating and for the pleasure of being outside in the fresh air. One of my favorite aspects of The Buttery is that there are always several dogs outside, hooked up on leash latches that ensure the pets remain secured and safe. The Buttery’s staff and customers are known for their love of dogs.

Upon entering the building, you immediately feel welcome and relaxed; with friendly and quick service, the experience is pleasant. Inside, the space is split into two parts: a café section and a bar/restaurant section. The café section is of average size with five tables and a coffee bar and stools facing a window to the street. The bar/restaurant section is fairly small, but quaint and intimate. On the walls, there are several large professional photos of the owner’s dogs; a white lab named Madison, a black Labrador named Simon and a mutt named Harriet. The Buttery’s delicious signature cupcakes are named after the three dogs. The Madison vanilla, Simon chocolate and Harriet carrot cake cupcake proceeds are donated to local animal rescue causes.

The South End Buttery is famous for its decadent baked goods and superior quality foods. According to The Improper Bostonian, The Buttery won the “Boston’s Best Coffee Shop” award in 2008 and 2009, while also the winning the Boston Globes “Boston’s Best New Restaurant” award in 2009. Joe Brenner is the director of culinary operations and joined the Buttery team in October of 2009. Brenner has always been passionate about food and has been a chef for over sixteen years; he has even been seen on the television show the “Iron Chef.” The menu lists coffee, specialty drinks, breakfast dishes, sandwiches, salads, soups and of course cupcakes, all at fairly reasonable prices. The South End Buttery is comfortably laid-back, especially for its outstanding reputation. You can sit down with a cup of coffee and do homework, have a glass of wine at the bar or eat delicious food in the restaurant. The South End Buttery is a perfect option to fit any customer’s needs.