Friday, May 01, 2015

Eastern Standard Owner, GM Opening Branch Line at Arsenal on the Charles in Watertown

[Ed note: This article was updated on May 5 to reflect new information given for the upcoming restaurant, including a name for the place.]

It looks like a couple of people behind one of the best-known restaurants in Boston are planning to open a new spot at an historic site along the Charles River a few miles to the west.

Eater Boston is reporting that Garrett Harker, who is the owner of Eastern Standard Kitchen in Kenmore Square, and general manager Andrew Holden are involved in the proposed opening of a dining spot at The Arsenal on the Charles in Watertown. A licensing board hearing page on the town's website shows that the new place is seeking a common victualler license and is also hoping to offer beer and wine at the restaurant. The town looked into the plans a couple of weeks ago and approved of the license, though the Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission still needs to give its approval.

[May 5 update: The Boston Globe confirms that Harker and Holden are indeed opening a restaurant at The Arsenal on the Charles, with the dining spot being called Branch Line. The article says that the upcoming place--which plans to open this fall--will be an "urban rotisserie with a focused wine and beer program."]

[August 25 update: A press release sent out today indicates that Branch Line plans to open in late September.]

[October 19 update: Eater Boston states that Branch Line opens at 4:30 PM today.]

[October 21 update: Boston Tweet says (via Boston Magazine) that the grand opening for Branch Line is actually this evening, with the past few days being a soft opening.]

In addition to Eastern Standard, Harker is also behind The Hawthorne and Island Creek Oyster Bar--both of which are in the Hotel Commonwealth, where Eastern Standard is also located--and Row 34 in the Fort Point area of Boston. (EB also mentions that Harker is a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur for 2015.)

The Arsenal on the Charles complex is located between Arsenal Street and North Beacon Street in East Watertown.

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]