Our friend Lorenzo Savona is co-owner and manager of Les Zygomates which received an excellent review from the Boston Restaurant Guide and is the site of our Sunday brunch for out-of-town guests. Les Zygomates is a French bistro and wine bar. Every wine on their list is available by the glass or as a 2 ounce taster making it a great place to learn about a new wine. Prices are moderate to expensive. You should try to call in advance for reservations as they tend to be pretty busy on weekends.
129 South Street (walking distance from the Meridien)
(617) 542-5108
The Delux Café
This bar and restaurant right down the street from the Chandler Inn has quickly become one of the hottest spots in the South End. The menu is eclectic and changes often. The only thing that's constant is the quesadilla, which is excellent. It can be loud and crowded so get there early, or expect to have a couple of beers, listen to cool music, and watch the Cartoon Network while you wait for a table. Best of all, this place is cheap. You'll probably pay under $10 per person if you don't drink too many Tremont Ales.
100 Chandler Street
(617) 338-5258
Appetito
A more formal and expensive South End restaurant, Appetito features Mediterranean cuisine. The rigatoni with chicken and cranberries is excellent as is the penne with duck, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized pearl onions, and corn. Prices are at the high end of moderate. Reservations are a good idea on weekends. Appetito is very close to the Chandler Inn.
1 Appleton Street
(617) 338-6777
We'll try to add more restaurants to this page in the next few weeks. If you don't like what you see here, try the Boston Restaurant Guide. For more information on restaurants that interest you, try the Boston Globe Restaurant Review Index.