Standard Italian — Restaurant in Boston

A safe but solid pivot from Garrett Harker.

“Standard Italian.” This time, Harker didn’t aim for bold or creative. After a few months experimenting with the seafood/oyster bar concept at All That Fish Oyster, it seems he’s settled on Boston’s tried-and-true formula for success: an Italian restaurant with solid pasta and good vibes. At first, I thought location played a role, but really, as long as it isn’t another North End clone, it gets a spotlight. Personally, I preferred his first concept, but shame he had to pivot to something more generic.

Compared to the oyster bar, the menu here felt uninspired. There were a few playful snacks designed to pair with cocktails and wine, like the parm-onion dip and oysters, but little in the way of creativity or inventive dishes. Still, my favorite from the small plates was the parm-onion dip with trout roe. The oysters, which came free with our martini (a happy hour special before 6:30?), were served with a ginger-apple mignonette, but its intense peppery aftertaste made it feel less refreshing. The roasted clam had an overwhelming ocean aroma, and the pancetta was so tough I initially thought I’d bitten into a shell. The tripe was tender, but the chickpeas in the broth were undercooked, which threw off the texture.

The entrées were better. Harker took particular pride in the lasagna, and it delivered. Arguably on par with the one at MIDA (my favorite in Boston). The Porchetta was another one of my favorites. Perfectly crispy skin—not too hard, but easy to bite through. The caramelized onion & apple (?) sauce and spicy harissa balanced the pork fat. The bucatini was solid, with a perfect al dente bite, though the diavolo sauce lacked intensity—a bit more reduction would have amped up the tanginess and heat.

Overall, a solid meal. Definitely coming back for the vibes and without a doubt, for that lasagna...

My wife and I have been going to eastern standard and it’s pop-ups and iterations for years and this is the first time we left severely disappointed. Went for a special prix fix event with 4 people. It came with two “family style” salads, a choice of pasta, and a tiramisu dessert. While the prosciutto salad and melon tasted good, it was a single slice of prosciutto and a single slice of melon. The greens salad was tasty but again it was not remotely shareable. It had maybe 6-7 croutons and 5 slices of radish. It was straight-up dishonest calling these salads family style.

The choice of pasta, carbonara and lasagna, was the best bite of the day. But the tiramisu again could feed 1-2 people, not 4. We had gotten a $40 prix fix, bottle of wine, and 1 cocktail and it ended up being a $300 meal. The quality and portion size wasn’t remotely worth it. It left us wishing we didn’t spend the money at all.

If the rest of the regular menu is portioned as such at the price listed, I wouldn’t go back nor would I recommend a friend or family member to go. If in the Fenway area, go somewhere else.

Sacha, our waitress, was awesome and attentive, as...

Stopped into Standard Italian during a Red Sox doubleheader, and despite the crowds, this place didn’t miss a beat. The restaurant was packed, but the staff handled the rush like seasoned pros — efficient, calm, and totally in control.

Our server was sharp, friendly, and impressively knowledgeable about the menu, answering every question with confidence and enthusiasm. The food? Absolutely delivered. Every plate looked incredible — and tasted even better. Rich flavors, perfect execution, and a real sense of craft in the kitchen.

We skipped the pasta and went for a few other menu highlights alongside some perfectly mixed martinis. Cocktails were balanced and cold, just the way they should be — a great pairing for the night.

Honestly, better than a lot of what you’ll find in the North End, and that’s saying something in Boston. Whether you're catching a game or just looking for quality Italian in the city, Standard Italian...