When asked “what is your favorite restaurant in Boston?” My answer is always, I have many for different reasons. I cannot just cite one to be my ultimate favorite. How could I? We are so ridiculously lucky with what’s on offer from Mistral to Island Creek to Row 34 to Local 149 and of course Eastern Standard. I have loved ES for years and years. It has a great bar scene, super cocktails and I have never ever been disappointed in the menu.
On Saturday, I continued my low key, sleep in, friend busy-enough weekend with brunch at Eastern Standard prior to afternoon Red Sox game. I had won two great seat tickets (right behind home plate). While I am not a massive sports person, even I can agree it was a great game with the Red Sox beating the Phillies.
At Eastern Standard we decided to dine outside on their pretty patio. It was the absolute perfect al fresco dining weather on Saturday. I am going to take advantage of every single outside dining experience I can before the weather changes again!
Eastern Standard Patio
I had arrived first with a little Uber nausea. My driver drove so fast I nearly got sick in his car. I think I may have looked at little green as the waiter was really worried about me. She swiftly got me a soda which I gulped down fast.
Erika arrived and we took our time looking over the brunch menu. We had a lot of time before the game so started with an Americano each while we talked about what a fun scene the Lookout Rooftop bar had been the evening before.
Our next order was for a Bloody Mary. It was brunch after all and one always needs a Mimosa or Bloody Mary. I am really funny about my Bloody Marys. While I love spicy food, I really don’t like too much spice in my drinks and our waiter, who was super, listened attentively to my needs and delivered a faultless Blood Mary cocktail.
The Saturday brunch menu offers a raw bar of oysters, ceviche, clams and shrimp to start. We ordered oysters to share, one of each they had on offer. I can’t remember the name, but the ones from Barnstable were briny goodness – my favorite type of oyster.
We both jumped over the salads and appetizers on offer and went straight to the entrée brunch menu, which offered standards of eggs benedict, French toast, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. If you have read my blog, you know I almost always gravitate towards eggs bennie, however, on Saturday something was telling me to try the House Smoked Salmon. I lovingly combined the silky slices of salmon on top of cream cheese, a sharp bite of red onion and the salty taste of capers and made one of the best bites of a truly simple dish. This smoked salmon is probably the best I have ever tasted, seriously!
House Smoked Salmon – toasted bagel, cream cheese, red onion, capers – $14
Erika did opt for the Eggs Benedict, which was made in the classic way of fresh poached eggs, ham and hollandaise. She enjoyed every bite of it.
Eggs Benedict – English muffin, hollandaise, ham, spinach – $14
To make us both feel a little more righteous, we did order the fruit plate of strawberries, blueberries, melon and cantaloupe to share.
Fruit Plate – $4
The menu also offers additional choices of sandwiches and burgers if you do not want a brunch dish. I have heard the burger is fantastic.
We enjoyed the rest of our brunch sipping our cocktails and enjoying the afternoon sun.
Eastern Standard still remains on my Top 10 list. Great food, super attentive service and no push to move you on or out, which was good as I think we were there for two or more hours.
