We love to drop by the Buttery on Shawmut avenue during the afternoons when it's not too busy. They have fantastic pastries and I always get the soymilk chai latte because it is delicious. It's a... More

We love to drop by the Buttery on Shawmut avenue during the afternoons when it's not too busy. They have fantastic pastries and I always get the soymilk chai latte because it is delicious. It's a gorgeous little place in a quiet part of an otherwise busy neighbourhood. I would recommend this coffeeshop, although I have never tried the savoury food they have. Weekend mornings since they are very busy and I feel that the place is more successful when peaceful. Pros: Delicious for coffee and pastries Cons: Cupcakes are too sweet
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I have yet to eat here, but the bartender is adorable and does a great job getting her friends there! Elle for president. Pros: Elle, sugared lemons

I have yet to eat here, but the bartender is adorable and does a great job getting her friends there! Elle for president. Pros: Elle, sugared lemons
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Wow, I loved this place when it was just a bakery and now a full service restaurant as well! Went here for dinner and drinks for the first time last week after years of making getting many a yummy... More

Wow, I loved this place when it was just a bakery and now a full service restaurant as well! Went here for dinner and drinks for the first time last week after years of making getting many a yummy muffin/cupcake for breakfast. The dinner was terrific, drinks delicious, service friendly and professional and I can't wait until the warmer weather returns for dinner and drinks on their outdoor patio!" Pros: Yummy Drinks, Outdoor Seating
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so glad the Buttery has recently opened for dinner. It is a great spot for breakfast and lunch and now a great place for dinner also. The food is terrific and the staff is so nice. I loved the... More

so glad the Buttery has recently opened for dinner. It is a great spot for breakfast and lunch and now a great place for dinner also. The food is terrific and the staff is so nice. I loved the fig appetizers, the fish and pork are both also delicious. I'm always looking for excuses to go, and the prices are very reasonable, I love it . It's very handy to go there for dinner before going to events at the BCA which is a nice short walk after dinner. Much easier to park around Union Square than up close to the BCA. Pros: ambience, food parking
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Okay, so I finally have to add my 2 cents about the Buttery. I end up going there quite often and half the time I end up hating that I ever gave them my business. My friends feel the same. We've... More

Okay, so I finally have to add my 2 cents about the Buttery. I end up going there quite often and half the time I end up hating that I ever gave them my business. My friends feel the same. We've all lived in the South End for about a decade and have seen the South End go through many transformations - this shop being one of them. The service is horrible (beyond horrible) and, if it is even possible, it gets worse when the owner is there. It is incredibly frustrating to wait in line forever when there are more than enough employees behind the counter. They are slow, trip over each other, and have perfected the art of looking busy all the while never catching your eye. The food is average at best. Touches of pretentiousness do nothing to add to the flavor or justify the cost. I have had day old eight dollar salads. The bad completely outweigh the good of the Buttery. The positive is the location. But, the thing is, you could put a taco stand with benches on this prime South End corner and it would be bustling. Pros: location Cons: service, price, attitude, strollers, unwelcoming feeling in a welcoming neighborhood
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I thought this place looked really cute, so I stopped in for lunch. What a bad decision. Firstly, they had no Turkey, Chicken or Salmon that day-which doesn't leave much else for a sandwich on the... More

I thought this place looked really cute, so I stopped in for lunch. What a bad decision. Firstly, they had no Turkey, Chicken or Salmon that day-which doesn't leave much else for a sandwich on the menu. Then, I had to wait sooooo long. I had finished my drink by the time my sandwich was finally done. And the sandwich itself didn't impress me. I had a carrot cake cupcake-which cost $3!! It was the worst carrot cake I have ever had, too floury tasting. All in all, I won't go back. If you like overpriced, unsatisfying food-then this is your spot. Pros: ambiance Cons: price, service, food
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went by 2 times to grab something hot for the hand and wet for the throat. was tempted to get a bite too but always deterred by the price of these small coffee places (do they all have to charge... More

went by 2 times to grab something hot for the hand and wet for the throat. was tempted to get a bite too but always deterred by the price of these small coffee places (do they all have to charge $6-7 for a half sandwich, or like $3 for a slice of pound cake?). anyways. coffee was decent but not spectacular (maybe i'm used to starbuck's strength). but one time i got the green tea (or chai?) latte, i totally choked on it. not bc it tasted nasty (albeit not good either), but i can't believe they used green tea POWDER to mix it up, then add latte. i mean, ok, maybe they all use powder, but THAT MUCH? it was very strong (which is good), but it was getting bitter. not only that, they didn't mix it well, so i was drinking the powder clutter instead of the well-mixed liquid. that's why i choked. service... friendly but there's no system. first time i waited at the counter for minutes while people busied themselves with other "more urgent" matters. the other time i waited so long for the inexperienced (yet unaided) barista to mix me the green tea thing... he went asking back and forth, picking stuff out from shelf, measuring, pouring, unsure and undetermined... just to give me so much powder to choke on. i don't blame him for inexperience; maybe it's his first week of work or whatever. i rather point my fingers to management about these errors. IMHO, when something doesn't work, it's 90% a managerial issue. one thing to note: they have very limited seating, and patrons seem to be residents in the area and like to "linger" there for the morning. so if you plan on hanging out there, either go early and try your luck grabbing the first seats, or prepare to do take-out or stand waiting (for long). :) Pros: nice quiet street/neighborhood Cons: ppl don't know what they're doing (managerial issue)
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The recent renovation of To Go to the Buttery is quite impressive. Frequented mostly (it seems) by the neighborhood's dog-walking set, this is a great place for outdoor seating in the summers and a... More

The recent renovation of To Go to the Buttery is quite impressive. Frequented mostly (it seems) by the neighborhood's dog-walking set, this is a great place for outdoor seating in the summers and a good window on the city in the winters. Boston still has very few places with stellar baked good and this is a big satisfier for the sweeth tooth.
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I go here every morning when I am boston for a coffee (dark roast is the best) and baked item. Flour is also good but a longer walk for me. The Buttery rarely disappoints. There are times when the... More

I go here every morning when I am boston for a coffee (dark roast is the best) and baked item. Flour is also good but a longer walk for me. The Buttery rarely disappoints. There are times when the help on the expresso machine isn't quite up to snuff so you can get a so-so coffee in that rare case. It's a visually pleasing decor and fairly comfortable to sit in. I'd suggest doing something to make it seem a bit more cosy by puttning padded bench type seating along the wall with the tables and just have the chairs on the other side. This would warm it up and be more comfortable. Lunch is also good and it's true that it is a bit pricey. I know it's the South End but we should do a little to preserve a mixed community. I'd add some simple low-cost items so people could get some kind of sandwich for $2-3, maybe egg salad, stuff like that. I've taken a few friends from out of town there and they have all been impressed and said it seemed like such a Boston/Cape Cod kind of place. They loved it. So it's a fine feature in the South End as opposed to the ubiquitous and depressing Dunkin Donuts... ;-) Pros: Ambience, Food Cons: Cost
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We all know the pricepoint of the Southend, especially those of us who live here. Yet I still feel a little shocked everytime I pay at the Buttery. A truly very nice addition to the neighborhood,... More

We all know the pricepoint of the Southend, especially those of us who live here. Yet I still feel a little shocked everytime I pay at the Buttery. A truly very nice addition to the neighborhood, quaint, great ambiance, great patio (however could use a few more tables). The sandwiches are good, just not that good for $8-10. Baked goods are the way to go...great croissants and cupcakes, cookies can be a little bland, muffins are not so hot, typically. Yet I consistantly can be seen there multiple times a week reading on the patio, sipping my coffee, and people watching. All I ask is beef up the goods, or drop the prices, its a simple solution. Pros: service, decor, patio Cons: PRICE, wait, quality
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