Tucked away on bucolic Chestnut Street on the flat of Beacon Hill is a favorite restaurant of neighborhood folks, from the old-time Brahmins in bowties to the cubicle dwelling, straight out of work happy hour crowd looking to forget their work day. But what keeps the crowds coming back to 75 Chestnut? We think it’s the cozy, yet elegant atmosphere that isn’t trying to look as if it caters to crowds of millionaires (Which if you surveyed the patrons at 75’s famous Sunday brunch, you probably could confirm). Black leather stools decorate the small bar area, giving an “everybody knows your name” feeling (Yes, the owner of 75 Chestnut is also the owner of Cheers and the bar the television show was inspired by). The dining area is not expansive; Closely set tables are mixed in with camel-colored leather booths ideal for a small group of diners or on a romantic evening.
75 describes their menu as “regional American comfort food,” and comfort food it definitely is, but with a classier take. For example, the herbed clam chowder adds in a combination of Maine potatoes and smoked bacon, while the BLT Wedge isn’t quite your expected brown bag lunch version. Instead, multiple iceberg lettuce hearts are a base for a boatload of apple wood-smoked bacon, tomato, and bleu cheese dressing. Our personal favorite is the Roasted Eggplant Ravioli, which fills traditional ravioli pasta with an unexpected mix of artichoke hearts, black olives, roasted red peppers and pine nut pesto. These interesting twists on typical American fare are what keep the restaurant a favorite year round, though we must admit autumn is our favorite time to visit, due to the beautiful fall foliage of the tree-lined Beacon Hill streets visible through the large glass windows of the restaurant’s front. The epitome of a true Bostonian restaurant that manages to combine class and comfort, 75 Chestnut is destined to be a fixture on the Boston restaurant scene for years to come.
75 Chestnut [MenuPages]
75 Chestnut [Official Site]
[Photo: [Rest Review]
