Setting the Standard
Eastern Standard Kitchen
The Hotel Commonwealth
Kenmore Square

A lot has been written about Eastern Standard since it opened last summer. And like most of what has been written, this short review will be good. The whole staff of Art Bar likes, if not loves, ESK.

The ambiance is perfect. High ceilings, great art and hug cushy leather booths and seats fill the interior. The restaurant has a very established and old New England feel despite its only having been in the city over a year. Divided into 2/3 restaurant and 1/3 lounge, ESK is a perfect place for dinner or after work drinks.

I frequent the restaurant for both purposes. Lunch and dinner are great, and reasonably priced. Downtown a meal like one at ESK would cost nearly double and you would not get the attentive and courteous service I always receive at ESK. Should be head waiter BJ (I don’t know his last name) does a SUPERB job at making everyone feel welcome and knows the drink and food menus inside and out. If you have no idea what oysters to get from the raw bar (and you definitely should), then make sure you ask for BJ. He will tell which ones are the best!

The food at Eastern Standard is exactly what the name says; it’s standard eastern fare through and through. You won’t find trendy fusion foods, couscous and experimental dishes here. What you will find is excellently prepared steaks, pork, seafood and one pasta dish. ESK offers no nightly specials per se. Rather, they offer specials in a daily schedule. Instead you know that every Saturday is Beef Wellington Night and every Sunday you can feast on a Suckling Pig – visit for an exact menu of the daily specials.

Most meals come with the incomparable Eastern Standard mashed potatoes. Considering myself a sort of mashed potato connoisseur, I think that ESK has by far the best in the entire city – followed closely by Mistral. They are buttery, creamy and hand mashed – yes they have those small little lumps that make them taste just like Nana’s! No “garlic smashed” or any other trendy potatoes here! In fact, spices or extraneous flavors at ESK overwhelm nothing. The fine quality of the meat, vegetables and fish speak for themselves.

With all this talk of ESK, I think that I need to make reservations for this Sunday night’s dinner!

BONUS! If you are staying in the Hotel Commonwealth, you can order ESK 24-hours a day; they provide room service!