COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES: BUTTER ME UP

Any place or thing with the word “butter” involved can’t be a bad thing. Yes, it may not be the healthiest of options, but damn does it make stuff taste good.

Or, in the case of South Park, he/it exists purely for entertainment.

The South End Buttery Bakery/Café, located on Shawmut Avenue, is no exception to the rule.

I wasn’t sure what coffee shop I wanted to test out this morning, but once I walked passed South End Buttery, my nose made the decision for me.

Boy, did it smell good.

Upon entering, I realized how good this place must be because, phew, was it crowded. I wouldn’t call myself a solitary individual, but I detest crowded areas (with concerts being the exception) and South End Buttery was too packed for my liking. All I wanted to do was enjoy my grub and coffee while reading The Hunger Games, but the menagerie of people surrounding me and squawking like a bunch of parrots made it difficult to do so.

Alas, I finally claimed a chair and plopped my rump down--but not before an exceedingly rude woman (who was yapping on the phone) tried to sit on me. I mean, seriously? I’m 5’8″ with black hair and bright yellow shorts, I wouldn’t exactly say I blended in with the scenery.

Despite being less than thrilled by the crowd at  the Buttery, the food was on point. I stuck to my classic munch: a sesame bagel with bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese. This time though, tomato was added into the mix, which sent me over the moon. I love tomatoes; so that’s a gold star for the Buttery. As far as coffee goes, I chose what seemed to be one of their more popular brews: dark roast Equator coffee. It was good, but only after I added heaps of sugar and whole milk. I’m still working on acquiring my taste buds, and I guess the Equator is a bit too intense for a n00b like me. C’est la vie.

Now for South End Buttery‘s marks on The Judgement Chart. The chart was getting a little too crowded for my taste, so I bumped Berkeley Perk Cafe in order to make room for South End. However, to see how the prior contenders fared, reference back to here.

———--	Amsterdam Cafe	Render Coffee	South End Buttery
Coffee	****	*****	****
Other Drinks	n/a	n/a	n/a
Atmosphere	****	****	**
Service	**	*****	**
Price	$	$$	$$
Food	****	****	****
Cleanliness	****	*****	****
Originality	***	****	***
Clientele	Business, College	Business, Couples, Friends, College	Friends, College, Business, Solo Flyers

I must admit that I was not very impressed with the service at South End Buttery. Yes, they took down my name and walked my food over to me, that was commendable; but it was the cashier that downgraded the experience for me. I felt rushed while ordering, and the cashier assumed that I was eating to-go. He never asked if I wanted to stay there; I had to specify that I was eating in-house, and even then I was given a to-go cup.

Now, I am an eco-friendly gal, and it pained me to have to throw out a cup

There were no recycling bins, but those don’t seem to be as common as they should in coffee shops around here, especially when I could have just as easily been given a reusable one. I understand that they were busy and call me crazy if you want, but I expect the same service whether or not there is a line.

Although I may not have had the most stellar experience as far as costumers and cashiers, the food and coffee was delicious, and it is an extremely manageable distance from Dig HQ, which is always a bonus. I would definitely give South End Buttery a try; they’ve collected a few awards, and apparently have some epic cupcakes. Who can argue with that?

Azure is a hot chocolate addict who is on the path to acquiring a taste for the bean. Coffee bean, that is. She will drink her way through Boston until coffee appreciation is achieved, or until her brain goes into a caffeine-induced hysteria. These are the Coffeehouse Chronicles.

SOUTH END BUTTERY

314 SHAWMUT AVE.
BOSTON
617.482.1015
SOUTHENDBUTTERY.COM

CAFE HOURS: 6:30AM-8PM DAILY