Lunch, Anyone? Bee’s Knees Supply Company

Bee’s Knees is a combination gourmet grocery store, deli, and café in the middle of Allston’s Green District. Photos by Smaranda Tolosano (CAS’17)

Sandwiched between the new or refurbished high-end eco-friendly Green District apartment buildings in Allston is an eye-catching white building with a sign reading Bees Knees Supply Co. Part gourmet grocery store, part café, this trendy culinary store is well suited to a neighborhood marketing itself to hip, environmentally conscious young professionals. The emphasis is on quality and local products, with its wheatgrass shots, fresh juices and smoothies, and homemade sandwiches.

Bee’s Knees first opened in fashionable Fort Point in 2013 and came to Allston in August, occupying what had been the sports bar Joshua Tree and promising “good food for humans,” a nod to its artisanal, sustainable, organic offerings.

We arrived recently for a late lunch, surprised to find a fair amount of people, many working on laptops. With a fire going in the fireplace, surrounded by  a number of cozy-looking armchairs, the place is at once cozy and spacious, with a hip, industrial-vintage aesthetic—retro bikes hang from the ceiling and lightbulbs are exposed.

We began our first visit by exploring the grocery section, which has a strange mixture of household staples, like fresh produce and cleaning supplies, along with specialty items and beer and wine. While some things are reasonably priced, especially considering the quality, the shop is mostly stocked with pricey gourmet items you’re more likely to splurge on for a special treat or as a gift. The average college student isn’t going to fork over $12 for a pint of ice cream or a package of cultured butter. At the deli you can buy a selection of meats, cheeses, and premade food, such as chickpea salad and “world-class” meatloaf—at similarly high prices.

After perusing the market, we went up to the counter to order some food. It was hard to choose from the many enticing drink options: several direct-trade coffees and fresh-made juices and smoothies. Although the orange juice with apple, bell pepper, orange, carrot, ginger, and tumeric ($6.99) was tempting, we settled on the lavender FoMu smoothie ($8), coconut milk–based lavender ice cream from local favorite FoMu, honey almond milk from Cambridge-based eco-drink company Jubali, fresh mint, and blueberries. It was delicious. Too often, lavender-infused products taste overwhelmingly floral, but the tartness of the berries and the burst of mint balanced the other ingredients.

Next we chose the porky fig grilled cheese sandwich ($8.50), prosciutto, fig jam, arugula, and goat cheese, pressed between a thin, crusty baguette called a ficelle and plated on a wooden serving board with a pickle. Although more of a panini than a classic grilled cheese, it was a success. The goat cheese was both crispy and gooey, the salty sweet interplay of the prosciutto and fig made for a pleasant contrast, and the pickle was reminiscent of the mild, Japanese-style cucumber pickles we like.

From the many tempting dessert options, we chose a blueberry muffin ($2.49) and mini key lime cheesecake ($5.50). The muffin was simple, but delicious: moist and fluffy inside, dense on top, pleasantly sweet with a bright burst of berry flavor—all in all a good value for the price. The cheesecake was less successful. It had almost none of the tart flavor (or any flavor for that matter) expected from key limes. We nibbled on the slices of fresh key lime on top and wished the bland, heavy dessert had more of that bright flavor. Next time, we plan to try either a scone ($2.50) or coffee cake ($3.95).

As a grocery store, Bees Knees might be a convenient and reasonable destination for those living in the Green District, but it seems out of reach for most Allston residents. But if you’re willing or able to spend a little more, it’s worth visiting for its array of unique grocery items. As a café, it’s still slightly expensive, but notable for its local and sustainable ingredients. If you can overlook the try-hard decor, Bees Knees is a worthwhile spot for lunch or an occasional treat.

Bee’s Knees Supply Company, 1316 Commonwealth Ave., Allston, is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the kitchen is open until 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday; phone: 617-277-2337. Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday. There is no delivery, but takeout is available, and all major credit cards are accepted. Walk or take a MBTA Green Line B trolley outbound to Griggs Street.

This is part of a weekly series featuring Boston lunch spots of interest to the BU community. If you have any suggestions for places we should feature, leave them in the Comment section below. Check out our list of lunchtime tips on Foursquare.

Kylie Obermeier can be reached at kylieko@bu.edu.

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