Hidden on Lewis Street: Flamepoeira Café

A new café reminiscent of one of those you'd find tucked away off a small stone street in Barecelona’s Zona Antigua, artistic, unique, relaxed, has just opened. The afro-cuban music in the background is at a volume that allows easy conversation; as a gallery, the walls are covered with vibrant art. It has recently opened in the North End, architecturally, the most European neighborhood. “Flamepoeira” serves first-rate espresso drinks, delicious Euro/Asian-flavored dishes, and wonderful desserts. Try the Spicy (but not too spicy) Lemon Grass Chicken salad and the Fried Chicken Dumpling Salad with Bamboo Shoots (each $7.95). Langelo’s Pozole soup ($5.95) is some of the best soup around. For dessert, the Jumbo Cream Puffs ($3.25) are addicting. Though the owner’s original Cafépoeira (a Vietnamese coffee with bread pudding, cranberry, and cinnamon, topped with condensed milk, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of cinnamon, $2.50) is not to be missed.

All dishes and desserts are beautiful to the eye. Perhaps what is most unique about Flamepoeira is the openness of the environment. Patron with reserved façades in other cafés in the North End suddenly turn warm when they enter – they greet each other and take on a relaxed easy-going feel. Something our city is not typically known for. The owner, Langelo, arrived in Boston with his family in 1980 after living a year in Malaysia’s refugee camps. After training and working as a mechanical engineer, he decided to dedicate himself to his passions: dance, painting, writing, and luckily for us – opening a beautiful and creative café. Flamepoeira (the name is inspired by “Flamenco” and the Brazilian martial art/dance “Capoeira”) opened last month. Langelo’s idea was “to offer a haven where artists can socialize and exhibit their work”. Check it out before the tourists find out.

3 Lewis Street. North End.
617-227-9880.
(5 blocks from the Blue line Aquarium stop: turn right on Atlantic Ave, left on Richmond St, Right on Fulton St, Right on Lewis St to #3).

Contributed by Jon Horvitz