Eastern Standard

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Boston Institution, Reopened

Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks first opened in Kenmore Square in 2005, earning a devoted following over fifteen years before closing in 2020. In October 2023, it returned — around the corner at 775 Beacon St. in the Fenway neighborhood — and the welcome back has been warm. The room picks up where it left off: old classics alongside new favorites, a lively bar, and a dining room that works equally well for a weekday lunch or a Saturday night out.

The Food: Brasserie Fare with a New England Accent

The kitchen describes its approach as "seasonally-focused New England interpretations of classic brasserie fare," and the menu delivers exactly that — without pretension. French and Italian threads run throughout, from a properly built French Onion Soup with gruyère and crostini, to Spring Onion Agnolotti with fontina and aged balsamic, to a Monday-night Classic Bolognese with lumache and bone marrow. The raw bar anchors the room with oysters, littleneck clams, Maine Lobster Cocktail, and a full Seafood Tower.

The Plats du Jour are a particular draw — daily specials that rotate through dishes like Tuesday's Pan-Seared Duck Breast with confit thigh, farrotto, cherry and pistachio, Friday's Lobster Gnocchi in brown butter and cream, and Saturday's Braised Short Rib with red wine demi. It's the kind of French-leaning programming that rewards regulars who come back week after week.

Steaks frites, a Heritage Pork Chop with cognac sauce, Baked Rigatoni with lamb and pork sausage — the menu is broad enough to satisfy every table, and the Italian sensibility shows up in pasta and charcuterie as naturally as the French brasserie classics do.

Weekend brunch brings house-baked croissants, cheddar scallion biscuits, and seasonal donuts from the ES Bakeshop, alongside the full savory menu.

The Bar: Nationally Recognized

The beverage program has always been central to Eastern Standard's identity, and that reputation is backed by the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — a recognition the restaurant earned in 2024. The wine list spans bottles and by-the-glass options with genuine range, while the craft cocktail menu and curated beer selection round out a program that holds its own in any company.

The Space and the Occasion

Eastern Standard now sits within Bower, a new development at 771–775 Beacon St., steps from Fenway Park. The patio accommodates milestone celebrations; the cocktail bar suits an impromptu evening; the dining room handles everything in between. Private events, intimate gatherings, and everyday meals all find a natural home here. It's an any-occasion restaurant in the best sense — one that happens to have the wine list to prove it.