Description: After numerous misadventures at the crowded Cask n’ Flagon (the bar across from Fenway park; the epitome of pre-game drinking), my friend and I decided that we would try something different. Right outside the Kenmore Square T stop and one block over from Yawkey Way; Eastern Standard Kitchen opened up about two years ago in a location that once housed a punk-rock club.
Eastern Standard Kitchen (or ESK as it is often abbreviated) is a far cry from your average sports watering-hole though its proximity to Fenway might indicate otherwise. Patrons are greeted by first a well-maintained outdoor seating area that is open during Boston’s seasonal months. An overhang shields this space from the frequent element changes that the area experiences and the patio is often packed with the "after-work" crowd lending to a more "buttoned-up" than "sports bar" ambiance.
Once inside ESK, it is hard not to be impressed with the awesome décor. Dark wood finishes and a marble-topped bar give this eatery a classic feel, but it is unlike other Boston joints that tend to feel like relics instead of classics. Modern touches like the plasma TV’s behind the bar, raised seating in the bar area, and crisply pressed linens on the dining tables keep this restaurant looking up-to-date.
On any given weekend (or before nearby sporting events), the bar at ESK is completely packed with patrons. A light menu is offered for those seated at the bar, but most people in this area are there to enjoy the atmosphere, cocktails, and perhaps a game if one is playing on the TVs. It is difficult to move from one end of the bar to the other due to the weekend crowds, but it is never difficult to get a bartenders attention to take your drink order. It also should be noted that I have never had to wait outside ESK to gain entrance into the bar area, no matter what the crowd was like inside (unlike other area bars).
Reservations are recommended for the evenings and weekends if you wish to dine at ESK or be guaranteed a table in the outdoor patio area. The menu here consists of mostly comfort food that is reminiscent of what my New England mom made us on cold days. The grilled cheese is excellent- made from 5 different cheeses and perfectly crusty bread. I know they have a variety of other salads and entrees on the menu to please almost everyone’s taste, but I have to be honest that I never have looked further than the grilled cheese- which I order upon every visit.
Prices at ESK are a bit high for what they offer ($12 for grilled cheese seems a bit steep), but the food is good and not completely out of the range that I would expect. Drinks are well-made and average-priced for the area.
Service at ESK in the dining area of ESK has been good and bad on occasions, but the bartenders here are always at the top of their game. If you’re looking for a little more than a sports bar to hang around before your trip to Fenway, I would recommend giving ESK a try.
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