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Kenmore (Green)
Mon-Fri. 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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HOT BUTTERED RUM! It's strong, it's sweet, it's hot, and it's delicious. I definitely recommend it. I also had the chance to try Demon Rum, which wasn't bad, but I've had better absinthe cocktails.
The ricotta fritters were delicious too, they come with a perfect chocolate sauce.
I will definitely come back to Eastern Standard for more cocktails.
Great place for the ambience, food and drink. I had my first aviation cocktail here. Paired with a Standard burger and fries. Not a bad combo! The aviation was old school. Cloudy white, with a maraschino cherry. I'm a fan of good gin and it satisfied. So, I followed with a sapphire + tonic.
Inside is classy, dark and spacious. A long, mahogany bar with marble top. Waitstaff dressed in white and black. I was really tempted to sit at the bar for a while. Instead, we got a small table. Our blonde waittress was plenty cheerful and attentive.
The burger was flavorful with garlic and other seasoning. Soft bun with toppings on the side. Once assembled, I savored every bite. Shoestring fries were moist and crunchy.
Bottom Line: Get up and go! Casual's fine. The drinks are excellent.
I'm only reviewing the bar part of this restaurant, as I've never eaten the food here.
I was there with a few friends and we were all a bit tipsy, but the bartenders at ES were very pleasant and friendly with us regardless of this fact. the bar itself is beautiful, a long, dark glossy wood bar and the red booths in the restaurant make this place look classy and gorgeous; like a movie out of the 40s where the women are in gowns and have finger-waves and the men are in tuxedos smoking cigars. Classy.
So I'm standing with these kids and we're all chatting and I look into the vast shelves of liquor behind the bar and I see...Becherovka! This delightful concoction used to be only brewed for the gods on Mount Olympus until sly Hermes "accidentally" dropped a vial into the hands of Bill on Earth. The rest is history. Becherovka is actually an herbal liquor made in the Czech Republic, but it's difficult to find here in liquor stores and damn near impossible to find in bars. Eastern Standard has it! 5 STARS!! I purchased shots for my friends (which garnered mixed reviews), and the bartenders were pleased that I was so excited about it.
I'll definitely return for classy drinks in the likely future. I'm sure they mix some mean martinis! It's a nice departure from the sports bars in the area, so if you're looking for something a bit nicer, head on over. It's also a great place to bring parents and guests coming to visit you in the city!
I liked Eastern Standard before I ate anything here. I liked the cocktail list, the ambiance, and the way the patio was full on a cold night.
After eating here last Friday night I still like Eastern Standard.
The couple my boyfriend and I ate with had made it their goal to try every drink last year but lost when ES changed up the menu. They were devastated by their failed attempt at... developing drinking problems?
When I say Eastern Standard makes their drinks, I mean they take the time to MAKE their drinks. Order your second beverage when your first is halfway gone.
We got a ton of oysters. They had three different types and we tried all three. The four of us shared the mac and cheese for an appetizer as well which was both filling and fulfilling.
The service stood out as some of the best I've experienced in quite some time. The staff worked together like a fine tuned machine.
Yes, I will be back and I hope it's in the spring, on the patio, with the heat lamps, drinking multiple cocktails.
I had heard great things about Eastern Standard, but always felt like I wouldn't believe it until I was there and could judge for myself. I went two weeks ago for dinner with a group from work before heading out to a concert and it was a very enjoyable experience.
First, I'll start before we even got there. I called and was able to make a reservation weeks ahead of time without issue. Some places give you a hard time for that. They were also incredibly helpful when asked about gluten free options for some members of our party.
Once we arrived, our table was ready for us early and our waiter was very sociable, which was a must with our group. Our waiter was able to take our order without writing it down, and there were a bunch of "alterations" to the menu items. Almost everything came out perfectly, we accidently got an extra salad, but nothing came out wrong...bottom line impressive.
The bread was great, a nice touch withthe pickled veggies to go with it. For an app, I had the mussels with tomato and fennel which were so good. Then I got the applewood smoked pork, holy god, it was great. I'm not a fan of pork entrees for the most part, but the sides swayed me into ordering it. The pork was so moist and flavorful, accompanied with brussel sprouts and whipped sweet potatoes, needless to say I was in heaven.
The wine list was extensive and the staff was very helpful and personable. I liked that they had their raw bar/seafood area open so you could see them prepping the oysters etc.
I would recommend it for groups and for smaller groups. It was perfect for the beginning portion of a night out, even on a Monday!
Two time loser. My first visit was horrible. I had steak frites and pickled vegetables. I order medium rare, it was medium well. I love salt. The fries had so much salt they were inedible. The pickled veggies seemed to be soaked in straight vinegar and were overcooked and raw at the same time. Despite this dish being horrible I decided to not make a commotion at my friends b-day celebration.When my plate full of food was cleared and I was asked if I would like to take it home I declined. No one ever asked if there was something wrong.
Well, I gave them another chance. In hindsight I don't know why. I was failed again at brunch with my family. I won't get into the details beyond the fact my entire dish was overpowered by the vinegar component.
Is there any quality control at this place?
I don't mean to be mean, it is what it is.
BEWARE
This was my first stop for dinner during my trip to Boston and i have to say it was a great dinner to start my trip with.
The place is attractive with high ceilings and large booths around the periphery of the dining area with tables/chairs in the center of the room. On the other side is the bar area - seperated by a row of built in booths, of which , we were sitting in one - is a large bar area with an excellently stocked bar. A good crowd for a Friday night and an eclectic array of music to say the least. It transitioned from 70's rock to 60's classics to Rap and R&B with some Lady Gaga thrown in, probably for fun. This is a good example of a quality hotel bar/restaurant that integrates well with the neighborhood. A pleasant environment.
For dinner, i had the Lamb. It was excellent and prepared perfectly tender with seasonal veggies and a delicious red wine sauce. For desert both before during and after, i sampled their Deamon Rum which had the cinnamon taste of Jagermeister but with a special floral kick.
I wanted to try some of the wine, but im afraid as a loyal Californian... i found Boston's mark up on wine to be too much. I know, i'm spoiled. But what can i say? Oh yea: "don't be jealous."
Offically, the place does have a closing time. However, unoficially, they are pretty much open forever. Because this is in a hotel and the hotel contracts with Eastern Standard for its room service, the kitchen is always open. Soo... that means that if you stick around, you can still order food. Plus, its close proximity to the "T" makes getting back to Cambridge a little easier.
I would definately reccomend this place for visitors and locals alike.
The food and drink here is spectacular. I love sitting out on the patio in any weather. It's simple, elegant, and extremely classy.
I've come here to conduct business, for dates, and just to have a drink at the bar.
Try the mojitos, very classic.
And they have a great selection of belgian beers.
Their lunch menu is also very affordable, for being ES.
Ok, I went back here for lunch and maybe my last review was a little harsh. I still think the food is overpriced, but the ambiance and service is much better at lunch on a tame weekday than on a crazy Friday night. I thorougly enjoyed my chicken schnitzel and my mocktail (only two more days until I can try acual cocktails).
My waitress was pleasant. I must say that I like the way they wear those funky lace tights with the classic black pencil skirt and blouse.
I don't understand why this restaurant is so popular.
- Overpriced food. Roast chicken for $23? Try…
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I've been back to ES a number of times since my first review, and here is some feedback for enjoying your ES experience...
-sit at the bar and enjoy your bartenders
-chocolate + chartreuse = love
-the late night food menu is always incredibly enticing, affordable, and well-done. food til 1:30am. round of applause please.
-the bread pudding is hands down one of the best things i've ever put in my mouth.
I'd been to ES for drinks before and had some delish bar food, but didn't feel quite prepared to… Read more »
I'm not one to bitch and moan about service at all. I'm really fine with all kinds of bad service-- at the McDonald's drive-thru, or the car-wash, or other businesses whose services or goods are hyphenated.
But fine-dining isn't all it's cracked up to be at the Standard... especially whenever I go late at night. I happen to work as a waiter down the street, and more than once when I've gotten off shift I've headed over to the eastern for a bite and a drink with a friend. Every time I have done this, I've been subjected to the longest waits. I'm talking 20 minutes before a server even comes over and talks to us or offers us a drink. Why? I just can't figure it out.
On the other hand, the food I've eaten has all been solid, and the atmosphere is a really good mixture of chic-aloof-casual-preppy, so I'd give the place 4 stars for atmosphere, 4 stars for food (5 stars for the food at brunch) and a star, maybe, for service. And I'd give that one star slowly, without really making eye contact.
I can't stand this place, and I hate how popular it is. That's why the nightlife in Boston sucks...because people flock to lousy places like this and nobody wants to admit that the Emperor Has No Clothes.
I've been here for the food several times, because I keep hanging out with people that insist on going here despite my objections. So I've had the fried calamari (rubbery), a steak (tough) and fries (basically what I'd get at McDonalds), a ridiculously overpriced burger, and French toast for breakfast (wet and mushy inside with pre-packaged individual servings of diabetes-inducing syrup). I really can't believe that the Hotel Commonwealth expects their guests to eat breakfast at this place without demanding higher standards from the kitchen. What a joke. I guess the raw bar is okay, but I think it's overpriced for seafood in Boston.
The drinks are overpriced and the after-work crowd at the bar is consistently obnoxious and overbearing...and good luck getting a drink anyway because you have to fight your way threw the crowd. I would be very happy if I never had to go to this hole ever again...but I know eventually another friend of mine is going to drag me into this horrible place.
Best place to eat in Fenway area, love the mussels white for an app and the Delmonico with Bearnaise sauce for entree. great bar food and scene on Thursdays, they make a great drink, Personal favorite Vodka / Gin Martini with lillet and lemon peel
Drink review only:
After attending a cocktail course, I had to try some "excellent" cocktails from Eastern Standard. I had very high hopes and was slightly disappointed but certainly cannot wait to go back and try more "craft cocktails"
Pro: Great drinks, good variety, helpful staff to pick the right drink for your tastes, classic cocktails, presentation just as well thought out as the taste.
Con: Very confusing wait list system--wait list, bar seating area wait list, dining room wait list..... also our "twenty minute wait" was more like an hour! Bar area pretty intense, busy and a little loud.
As for the specific drinks:
Mint Julep--great--as someone who grew up in the South, they did a great job with the recipe; Hot buttered rum--AMAZING--on a cool fall day, so good; Le Grande Flip--Surprisingly frothy and light--perfect balance of sweet, creamy with a little acidity; Apple Cider---GROSS--very medicinal flavor, too citrusy and bitter.
The beer selection was quite tasty too...I only had a sip of the Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye but I could have had the full glass (had I not been set on a "cocktail" night) Other friends I was with enjoyed the Schneider Aventinus....served appropriately with the matching glass.
Overall, I am sure I'll be back to try more of the drinks. The cocktails are intense so it will take some time to get through the list. I am not too excited about trying the food though. The menu seemed decent, but over-priced. So drinks it will be for now :-)
If you don't know, go. This place does not even need a review. Bold move, I know.
This review is just for the bourbon & rye whiskey selection. It is hands down the best in Boston -- before you go drop $100+ on a bottle, swing through here and try it. Good beer/wine selection as well -- nice bar menu.
I have been to the Eastern Standard everytime I go to an event at Fenway. I am always impressed that even when it looks like a mad house we always have a table within 10 minutes - Great System - Great hostesses. I have had different experiences with the food - Most of the time it was good. I would stay away from the Ceviche. If you are use to peruvian Ceviche - you will not care for this much.
Overall, it is a great place to go after an event for a good meal.
Every time I go to Eastern Standard, I order the same thing. I scan the menu, make note of everything that sounds good, and ultimately settle on the baked rigatoni. "Settle" is probably the wrong word, because this dish is amazing. The top layer of noodles always arrives crispy with a dollop of ricotta cheese. Underneath lies a delicious mixture of lamb sausage and peas in a pink sauce. Everything is served in a cast iron pot so it stays nice and hot the whole time.
I've sampled the hanger steak, cavatelli, pressed pork sandwich and a few other things form their menu. Everything hear is great, but for me nothing compares to the baked rigatoni, one of the few specific restaurant dishes that I get legit cravings for. Start your night of with a whiskey smash (or two, or three) and you can't go wrong.
I love that Eastern Standard is directly across from Kenmore station; that way if I leave falling down drunk from their awesome hand crafted cocktails I can easily get on the bus or the T. I recommend sitting at the bar. It's more casual and more comfortable. Also you get to watch the action and by action I'm talking about the bartenders mix their fabulous drinks. It really is an exact science, layering flavors for the perfect taste and it all comes together. I can say with certainty that the Au Provence (gimlet), the Aviation, the blueberry thrill, Pom-75, Periodista, or the hot buttered rum (drool). I've had all of these at least a half dozen times and loved every one of them!!
Food is great here too. I love the duck confit ravioli with a delicate yet rich sauce and plump duck filled raviolis. If duck isn't your thing, try the lobster in pastry, the moules provencal, or the roasted bone marrow...ahhh drool just thinking about it. I've never actually an entree here, but I hear they are tasty and well portioned.
Ahh you can't beat Eastern Standard!
I have to be honest... I would really never think of giving something five stars - especially on my first review. But whenever I want to go eat somewhere good, this is the place I think of.
Decor: (*****) Awesome. It's large, but homey, and you don't get that very often in Downtown Boston. My boyfriend and I were sat at a large booth, and not shoved into some stanky corner table with uncomfortable wooden chairs that, no matter what your size, are ready to give way at any moment.
Staff: (*****) These people are professional, yet friendly. There was no awkward silence during the opening of the wine, but instead, flowing conversation. Attire is casual, yet polished. And I honestly wanted to be BFF with our waitress after our meal.
Food: (*****) - !!! Wow. Fresh. Simple. Plentiful. Amazing. We did it right, starting with apertifs, followed by a shared appetizer of an assortment of fresh cheeses, a bottle of wine, two amazing dinners (and mind you, we are both vegetarians), and desert.
Never felt rushed. Never felt the need to send food back. And never felt like the red headed step child shoved into the corner table.
Expect to pay some moola, but you won't regret it.
My last of several visits was a nice early evening and we managed to land an outdoor table. What I love most about the outside seating at Eastern Standard are the heat lamps. Well into fall you can enjoy being in the crisp air and still be warm and cozy.
Inside is super nice as well. I've sat at the bar, a booth and at a table and I received impeccable service at each. The food here is really tasty. I can wholeheartedly recommend: baked rigatoni, grilled cheese, and the salmon.
The drinks here are also great - they do great champagne spritzers and my bartender was having fun telling me what fun fruit & champagne combos to try. On one particular visit, we also had the sommelier visit our table to help us choose a wine. It was a nice touch (though he overstayed his welcome just a tad).
I will be back again and again and highly recommend for lunch, dinner and drinks.
Sometimes not having problems makes a place 5 stars, and sometimes it's how they fix them. Eastern Standard can do both. I haven't eaten here in a few years but remember the food being good (pricey but good). Recently however, I have come for drinks as they are open until 2am and have an eclectic scene. Their drinks are tasty (which is good because they are expensive, so they better be) and the service is very good. This past weekend what could have been a bad experience turned into a good one. Our crew trekked all the way from the Northend at 1am just for some hot cider. When the bartender brought our drinks over, they were clearly not ciders. Two people sent them back and the original bartender rolled his eyes. I know what I ordered, and he got it wrong, luckily the other bartender recognized this and replaced the two drinks. After 5 minutes my friend and I could not longer take the original drinks and were going to resign to beer. Luckily, the new bartender recognzied that again, the first bartender got it wrong (why else would we not drink a $12 drink?) and comped our beer and replaced our nasty (hot buttered rum) with delicious cider. 5 stars for the drinks, environment, and service that recognizes/fixes problems.
I always pass by this place whenever I'm in this area and there hasn't been a single time when I haven't seen it abuzz with all kinds of people. So last night, I decided to give it a try - and so glad I did!
My friend just moved into the Fenway area and quite literally lives 10 minutes away and we decided to get drinks in the middle of the week and Eastern Standard seemed like a good enough choice. Right when we walk in I see the size of this place. It's huge! Never did I think the space would be as big as it is especially passing by it outside and seeing the patio. But there's a huge bar with seating for almost 20 people, a lounge area near the patio, and almost 40 other tables for lunch/dinner. The hostess was super nice and told us very politely that if we're not having dinner then we won't be able to sit outside and she gave us the option of sitting at the bar or at the lounge. The lounge was full so we decided to sit at the bar - fortunately we made it right before the red sox got slaughtered by the blue jays and grabbed some seats. At this point, it was just my friend and I.
Our waiter immediately gave us 2 drink menus. My god they have an extensive one. Lots of draft, bottle, belgian and beer concoctions available, a great wine list, and an equally amazing cocktail list. Considering it was a wednesday night and I didn't plan on staying long, I decided to get a beer and we ordered a calamari. The bartenders were great and the atmosphere kept getting better and better. I couldn't believe for a wednesday night how many patrons the place had. Then again, I enjoyed myself there so much I didn't find it surprising. The calamari was good as well - nothing earth shattering, but I'll certainly be back to try the food and judge it collectively (and more accurately) on that basis.
As far as prices are concerned, the beers were standard draft $5-$6 and belgian's went up to almost $20 depending on what you got. The cocktails were at least $10. Which is fairly standard.
Our other friends joined us in an hour or so and we stayed there for almost 3 hours and time flew. Absolutely loved the place and decided to make it a tradition and go there every wednesday from here on forth.
If you want to unwind, relax, and have a drink with a friend without losing the ambience, eastern standard definitely sets the standard (corny i know, but i had to :) !)
I met a friend here last night for dinner and WOW I was blown away by Eastern Standard!
I got to the restaurant a little early (the T came just as I got to my stop... that NEVER happens) so I sat at the bar to wait. The bartender was mixing delicious looking drinks for the after-work crowd to my right and left. Although I did not order a drink, she was very knowledgeable of her menu and suggested some great cocktails to the parties surrounding me. Their beer menu also gets two thumbs up. Raspberry UFO yum!
So, my friend and I forgo bar seating and grab a table. It's not super crowded at 6pm (sox are no longer in season) and we get a large booth fit for 6 for the two of us. I love not being crowded into small little corners just because your party has two people!
Our waitress was perfect: attentive, but not overbearing and had great recommendations off the menu. She knew her menu well and affirmed to my friend that the dish she was ordering was completely vegetarian. I ordered the pork sirloin with whipped sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts. It was AMAZING. I was skeptical about ordering pork medium to medium-rare (the way it came prepared by the kitchen), but ES pulled it off flawlessly. By the time the dessert menu came around my friend and I were stuffed.
Definitely check out Eastern Standard Kitchen. I would recommend not going when the Sox are playing if you want a quiet evening, but other than that, the food, service and ambiance are wonderful!
Eastern Standards Drinks are what the "standard" of drinks should be...I dont know how Jackson Cannon trains his bartenders but he's doing something right. Giving birth to some of the best bartenders in boston(Kevin Martin, Andy Mcnees,Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli) anywho. The bartenders are all well oiled machine giving off this swagger when making drinks...Like if they been making cocktails since the day they could walk. very graceful with the knowledge to back it up. They put love into drinks, from the house infused blueberry gin to the cardomom syrup(blueberry thrill). every sip you try to savor but it goes down so quick.
Must Try
Vin Amer Fizz
Pineapple Express
Pessego(sp?)
Whisky Smash
Chartreuse Smash
Moldenado(sp?)
Dartmouth High Ball
Prospect Park
Corpse Reviver #1(ask for Carpano Antica)
Absinthe and old lace
Blueberry Thrill
The food is Good but the Drinks are what brings me back. They have a late night menu after 11 o clock...mmm great late night munchies for a great price. My fav thing at E.S is the Pork Shank...i cant wait till winter for them to put it back on the menu. The bake pasta i didnt really care for...under seasoned. The duck with roasted potatoes had a very nice crispy skin...The skin was scored so alot of the fat reduced. Very nice touch, not alot of places know how to cook a proper duck. My only advice for them is to start cooking french fries in duck fat! mmm duck fat...
Cheers
Everytime my boyfriend and I go to Eastern Standard we sit at the bar. the service is great and the food is fantastic!!! Their drink list is really long and they have some great drinks. The wine list is great too. They have great outdoor seating with heaters above your table in case it's a brisk night. Definitely worth checking out...
I went back tonight after a long hiatus.
Let me start by stating that my last review was incredibly positive. I didn't know it could get better, but it did.
This time, instead of simply removing spices from a preexisting menu item, the staff at Eastern Standard created a whole meal for me, from appetizer to dessert, every element of which accommodated my lengthy dietary restrictions (again for those who don't follow my reviews, I have systemic mastocytosis which has pretty much ruined my stomach and left me allergic to things ranging from spinach to vinegar to allspice)
Rich, one of the sous-chefs, met with a friend of mine beforehand and went over every element of the diet i have to follow (to get an idea of how restricted my diet is, google "low histamine diet") and custom designed a meal that was diverse, delicious, and awesome. To add to the experience, he came out and spoke to us beforehand, and told me that my meal was being prepared in a separate part of the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination. That's some awesome dedication right there. Most restaurants can barely tell you what is in their food, the fact that the GM and chef would sit down and go over the ingredients meticulously just kicks ass.
As always, the ambiance was great, service was attentive and friendly, and the food was super yummy. So yeah, I'm totally sold on this place as being somewhere where I feel safe to eat, and considering 99% of my meals come from my own kitchen, that's saying a lot.
This place is fantastic and I will tell you why.
As I've mentioned in many reviews, I suffer from a…
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We might be getting to the heavy-hitters right about now. I'm dying to go to Craigie on Main, Radius, and all the other high end restaurants in town that serve burgers. But, I'm totally aware that these are fine-dining restaurants, not burger specific eateries, and if you don't think that matters, think again. I fully expect all these "high end" burgers to be outstanding, my expectations are high, and I may not be so kind in my reviews, not that I have been in any way so far. Value is a huge aspect in finding the best burger, in my opinion, and spending any more than $10 is borderline pricey for something that is a food for the people, and should be affordable to all.
Eastern Standard is just over that threshold, running $12 for lunch, or $13 should you come for dinner. We happened to be there for the awkward mid-day/late night menu, which runs from 2:30 to 5pm. Awkward because the hostesses didn't know what to do with us. The main dining area was closed off, even though it was clear people were seated there, some who arrived after us, guess we weren't important enough. So we had to choose between eating at the bar, or a side table next to the bar, we chose the latter. The table (actually two pushed together) was uncomfortable, and I assumed was better suited for a cocktail or small snack than for a main course, or perhaps a rendezvous with Mrs. Robinson. Rude hostesses aside, our waiter was terrific, very engaging and friendly, and everything was served promptly. Three burgers were ordered, a pretty straightforward offering in fact, listed only as The Standard burger, cheddar, brioche, and fries. But boy did they deliver. The burger, from the first bite to the last, was delicious, absolutely juicy, and full of flavor, not specifically beefy flavor, but flavor nonetheless, seasoned perfectly, melted cheese (for a change) and a beautiful bun. I'm not always a huge fan of brioche on a burger, too much bread usually, but this was nice and fresh, airy, and buttery, like every good brioche should be. The fries, while seasoned to perfection and completely crispy, fell just a little short. Crispy on the outside, they lacked a little on the interior, hollow even, and as Wit pointed out, tasted nothing of a potato. Burgers that weren't beefy and fries that didn't resemble a potato? Maybe, but flavor is flavor, and the Standard burger sure had it, good to the last bite and totally satisfying.
Eastern Standard delivers a very good burger, but for $12, I almost expect a little more. But to be fair, that's not in line with their philosophy. All the dishes here are simple, classic techniques, just executed well, and I can't complain too much about that. Easily the tastiest burger I've had on my journey, but we still have a lot of burgers to go.
I made two trips to Eastern Standard this week. One for lunch, one for brunch. Both meals were flawless.
Lunch was the ham and gruyere sandwich. I didn't think you could do the things they did with such a basic sandwich, but it was so damn good. You could tell it was made with quality stuff, and man, did I mention how good it was? Ham 'n' cheese should not be this exciting ...
Brunch started with the breakfast breads. 2 pieces of banana bread, 2 raspberry muffins, 2 scones. It was good, but at $10, I wasn't all that impressed.
For the main course, I had the confit duck hash. It was (much like the ham 'n' cheese) beyond good. It was moist, flavorful, and so perfectly seasoned and flavored. The poached egg on top worked its way into the hash and added exactly the right flavor. It really was outstanding.
My buddy ordered the smoked salmon platter. While there was an extremely generous portion of salmon, the bagel was served dry and half burnt. One slice of tomato and some onion was hidden under a bit too much greens. And, oddly, he had to ask for cream cheese. Other than his salmon, the rest looked surprisingly substandard.
5 stars if they got his order right. 'Til then, an enthusiastic 4. I shall be going back for cocktails soon ....
I'm getting picky in my old age.
Outdoor seating was a lovely touch for dinner here. Excellent people watching, especially if there's a Sox game (there wasn't that night, but I imagine that I could be entertained for at least an hour watching Sox fans file in/out of Fenway). Cocktails were great, but the food left something to be desired.
Service was attentive and friendly. We weren't rushed out of our table despite lingering for quite a while, which I always appreciate. My water glass was kept full at all times. It's the little things in life that make me happy.
But....
I have very little patience for mediocre food, because I'm a good cook. I don't need to go out to dinner to have a great meal, and some things just hurt my heart. One of these things is overcooked salmon. I appreciate the chef's concern for my well being and wanting to kill off all bacteria, but my salmon, which was supposed to be medium was more like....a tire. Chewy, overcooked, and dry. The flavors used to season it were lovely, but they turned a perfectly good piece of fish into an edible version of Gumby.
Maybe I just went on an off night or had the amateur salmon cooker. I'd go back... but no salmon next time.
Ok - now that I have gone for lunch/cocktails in the bar and apps/dinner/dessert, I can definitely say that I LOVE Eastern Standard. While it's a little expensive, it's great for lunch/drinks or for a dinner celebration.
We had the following:
Cocktails:
Blueberry Thrill
Mint Julep
Pimm's Cup
Prosecco
Dinner:
Calamari w/ Lemon Aioli
Hanger Steak
Lamb Rigatoni
Duck Breast w/ Risotto Cake (this was mine and it was fantastic!)
Dessert:
Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cake
Angel Food Cake w/ Berries
Peach Cobbler w/ Basil Ice Cream (especially loved the ice cream!)
I definitely recommend Eastern Standard. Great atmosphere, service, food, and COCKTAILS!
someone call george bush jr., i've found the weapons of mass destruction he was looking for. a mad-man named kevin is brewing them behind the bar at eastern standard. his secret weapon?
THE VEGETABLE INFUSED VODKA MARTINI. it's like v8 for drunks.
to hell with vitamins and bloody marys, this is my new health regime. i mean that. now give me more pepper, goat cheese, tomato flatbread, salty cod-fritters, and spicy steak tartare.
crap... i left my knee-pads at home..
if you leave sober, you're doing something wrong...
i reiterate:
the aviator
the pisco sour
the old…
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If you like the smell of money more than the fragrance of lemon twist, this place should be among your top lists. Their cocktails are good, food presentation is excellent, and I find interesting selection in their shelf. But I am not sure if I fit in that atmosphere.
I went there early afternoon on Sat. Whole place very good and relax. Service is good and all people there quite friendly.
I ordered Heirloom Tomatoes salad, and Oysters. Tomatoes are good and Oysters fresh.
Main entrees: Ragatoni and Steak Frites. Both are very good and tasty.
Price: Lunch price is less than dinner one. If budget would be concern than lunch is the deal.
Overall, highly recommended, and I will definitely visit the place again.
Had an early lunch here after walking the Freedom Trail all morning and boy did we work up an appetite! The Eastern Standard Kitchen was a great place to relax, refuel and check out a different area in Kenmore Square before checking out Fenway. The atmosphere was very nice with choices of indoor or outdoor (in our case midway - we wanted the AC and still people watch). Very cool decor with the old pictures and dark wood with red leather.
We skipped the restaurant week menu and we had:
Salads: Frisee Aux Lardons and Mixed Green
Entrees: Mussels and Pork Sandwich
Desserts: Bread pudding and Pistachio Ice Cream
Drinks: Blueberry Thrill and LOTS of water and iced tea
We were both VERY happy with the salads. The sweetbreads were crisp and not too salty and provided a really nice compliment to the hazelnuts. The poached egg was a part of the dressing and thank goodness the waitress told me to break it and and mix it as it was plated very beautiful and I didn't want to mess it up! The mussels were so good that I wanted to drink the broth but refrained myself by just sopping as much as I could with the freshly toasted garlic bread...now I am not a fan of bread pudding but after all the yelps recommended it I had to try and I am so glad I did. The bread pudding was so moist it was almost like cake...and the carmel - omigod the carmel. It was perfectly sweet and salty at the same time. I am sure I consumed several sticks of butter during this meal - thank goodness for the Freedom Trail!
Wish I had more time to try all of their drinks - it looked like they have a GREAT cocktail selection and overall bar.
Really the only place in the Kenmore/Fenway area to get a proper drink, let me tell you why.
Despite the pompous exterior and formally attired and groomed waitstaff, Eastern Standard Kitchen has quality food and excellent drinks. I've enjoyed meals here, but more specifically the drink staff knows how to make a proper spirited cocktail.
Try to Dartmouth Highball, you will enjoy it.
After years of wanting to come here, I finally went this past weekend. And it lived up to the hype.
We arrived about a 1/2 hour early and were seated immediately - very nice! It was quite chilly, but after a few drinks, we warmed up. The bread and cucumber/carrot salad they bring were delicious. I don't know what was in that butter, but whoa! It was good.
Drinks: I went with the Blueberry Thrill (tasty, although the first few sips were a bit different), my fiance got the Pineapple Express (he downed it, and he's not a big drinker), my dad got a tasty Mojito and my mom went for one of the Coolers (I can't remember which one, and it's not listed online), which was so strong, she had about 3 sips.
For our appetizers, I got the soup of the day. I don't remember what it was, except that it was EXCELLENT. I think it was the best part of my meal. My mom ordered the Ratatouille as hers - not as tomato-y as she expected - and my dad and fiance got the Mixed Green salad (pretty basic).
For our meals, I had to go for the Baked Rigatoni. The ricotta came as a big heap on top, so I scooped it right off, making it a WEE bit healthier. It was awesome and not as creamy or rich as I expected (it's still creamy & rich though!). My fiance got the Hangar Steak Frites - hard to mess that up! My mom got the Halibut, which she said was delicious, and my dad got the Apple Wood Smoked Pork Porterhouse, which he literally sucked clean! I tried it and it was very tasty!
The waitress even gave us a free "shot" at the end (meant to cleanse our palettes and be sipped), which was a nice treat!
My only two complaints are:
1) It's quite loud in there, so if you're going for an intimate dinner, you may have to talk a bit louder.
2) On my Open Table reservation, I put that it was a birthday celebration, but we never got a cake or anything. We were so stuffed anyway, who knows if we could have eaten it, but it would have been nice!
This place was bumping on a Tuesday night, but thankfully the boy had some seats saved at the bar when I got there. Very friendly bartenders who knew what they were doing, based on the taste of the drinks, the speed at which it was served and how many people were there. Was envious of the plates being carried by- they all looked and smelled delish. We caved and ordered some food- the cod fritters which I loved but he didn't-and the flatbread-which he loved but I didn't. I wouldn't normally pay $10 for a martini, especially because the glass was itty biity, but since I didn't I enjoyed it very much!
I love this place! I used to go almost every night when I lived in the area for the late night menu and drinks. ES is interesting because its got that really classy vibe but you can walk in off the street in your work clothes, suited up, or super casual and its all the same. Although if your like me you don't work in professional dress and coming in after work among all the suits might be a little awkward at first. Grab a bite and a few drinks and you will be more worried about the hole in your pocket rather than the people surrounding you. Not that its really expensive its just a nice place in/under a hotel in Kenmore, in Boston. Case in point, right? The eats are really great. I haven't been in a while so I can't comment on current fare but everything I've tried in the past was absolutely divine. They stay open pretty late too which is a huge plus when everyone else is closing their doors at last call and there's no where for last drinks in the area, except ES....I hope I didn't just blow up their spot but hey I had to let y'all know.
Candles on every table, Lots of Space, Great Staff, Great building, Clean, Classy, Sexy.
4 1/2 stars easy!
P.S. to fellow reviewer Guyomar P.
They bump a lot of hip-hop even with the pretentious pricks dropping mad lute there...I think its pretty cool...Not Annoying.
My mother was in town from Illinois for her birthday, and we went here for dinner. Great decision! She is definitely the kind of person who is stuck in a rut and orders the same thing over and over (Salmon and Long Island Ice Teas. I know.) The server turned her on to some very cool new drinks - a miracle! - and was such a pleasure. Also, I called ahead to let them know we were coming for her birthday and the host was great and made sure to make it extra special for us.
Awesome food, best service, killer cocktails! No brainer, go here.
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