Boston's Best: Appleton Bakery and Cafe
While Boston's South End is chock full of sandwich/bakery/cafes, Appleton Bakery is one of its hidden gems. Tucked away on the corners of Dartmouth and Appleton Streets, the smell of freshly baked cookies and bread permeates the South End from brownstones to cobblestones. The decor is casual, intimate, and quirky all at the same time. A small "store" contains treats from France and Italy, as well as an array of organic food to-go.
Appleton makes a great lunch, incorporating their namesake (apples) into nearly every sandwich. I usually grab the Macintosh, made with turkey, havarti cheese, granny smith apples, lettuce, and dijon mustard. Start your morning with one of their muffins-- with creative flavors such as raspberry crumble-- or end a day of shopping around town with the stunning spicy sweetness of one of their molasses cookies.
Prices are reasonable, considering the area, with most sandwiches running between $6.50 and $7.50. Portions are generous, the coffee is smooth, and the congo bars are oh so enticing. This cafe just goes to show you: everything really is better with apples.
