Black Seed Café and Grill

The weather yesterday called for warm comfort food, but given that I had spent the entire morning at the dentist, I couldn’t bear the thought of eating solid food. I was craving a bowl of soup, but no restaurant in particular came to mind. I decided to walk around Boston in search for the perfect soup. I stumbled upon the Black Seed Café across from the Boston Common near the Park Street T station. I was too hungry to keep on walking. I decided to press my luck with this café.

From the outside, the restaurant seemed like your run of the mill place. Given that it is located near Emerson and Suffolk University, my expectations weren’t too high. It seemed like the kind of place where drunken college students flocked to at 3 AM for pizza. As I walked into the restaurant, all these assumptions were quickly proven wrong. The atmosphere was very casual. The restaurant was furnished with small round tables crowded together and brightly painted walls. Orders are placed at the counter; there are no waiters. Nonetheless, I was very pleased with my service. The girls who took my order at the counter were very attentive and nice.

I placed an order for a bowl of home made chicken soup. My other option was vegetarian lentil soup that resembled chili, but I was craving something lighter. I browsed the menu while I waited for the chef to put my order together. The menu was not very extensive: paninis, cold subs, smoothies, salads and one or two entrees made to order. I was intrigued by the variety of burgers they served: lamb burgers, veal burgers, turkey burgers, all ground and assembled in house. I didn’t see anything on the menu for over $7.

The chicken soup is one of the best I’ve had, coming second to my mom’s. I particularly enjoyed it simplicity, made with carrots, celery, black pepper, an abundance of shredded chicken and lemon juice. The latter was very predominant and provided a tangy, yet refreshing aftertaste. The soup was accompanied with a generous slab of pita bread, perfect for rolling up and dipping into the soup. My entire lunch set me back $3.73.

I sat in one of the small tables overlooking the Boston Common. I love people watching and I love eating. I am very glad that this restaurant allowed me to do both simultaneously! If you happen to be in the area, I highly recommend the Black Seed Café for a quick, light, and inexpensive lunch.