Standard Italian
In a neighborhood best known for ball games and big crowds, there’s a restaurant in Fenway that’s doing Italian the right way. So let’s take a swing at Standard Italian.
Standard Italian is a place built for relaxed dinners, lots of laughs, and plates for the whole table to share. The menu reads like a greatest hits list of Italian comfort food—elevated just enough to make them special, and certainly anything but standard. At the helm is owner Garrett Hawker, whose vision was simple: create a neighborhood Italian restaurant where everything feels familiar but nothing feels boring.
“Well, we are a neighborhood restaurant first and foremost. We consider ourselves very strongly connected to the Fenway neighborhood. Like any great neighborhood restaurant, composed of a warm and welcoming staff and a menu that really punches in beyond its weight class. It’s artisan Italian food, both classic and traditional, but also modern in the hands of our great chef, Brian Ray.”
To start your meal, you’ve got to get some meats and cheeses from the salame section of the menu. We recommend going with the wagyu Bagheera, the thin-sliced prosciutto di Parma, and the spicy salami. The meats are paired perfectly with provolone cheese, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic, and olives—all there to help you build your perfect bite.
Speaking of perfection, the meatballs pack serious flavor. These are hand-rolled pork and veal meatballs that are tender, juicy, and served smothered in red sauce. But the real showstopper is the arancini—crispy on the outside, creamy and rich inside. These golden rice balls deliver that perfect contrast of crunch and comfort in every bite.
“The arancini, we make it fresh daily. We start with a batch of very traditionally made risotto, and those are rolled and breaded. It’s a really generous portion. The Italian table is really about coming together and sharing food, and the arancini makes an appearance on almost every table in the restaurant.”
“It’s the best arancini you’ll ever have.”
And then come the pastas—the heart of any great Italian restaurant—and Standard Italian does not hold back. Every noodle and sauce feels like it outdoes the last.
The Cacio e Pepe features Mafalda pasta smothered in that simple, perfect Pecorino Romano and black pepper sauce, made to order and served piping hot, along with Brussels sprouts and black truffle for a serious bowl of Italian comfort.
For a classic done right, there’s the Lasagna Bolognese. Standard Italian layers homemade pasta with a slow-simmered meat sauce made from beef, pork, and a touch of liver for richness, plus plenty of melted cheese.
And if you like a little heat, the rigatoni Amatriciana brings bold flavor with tomato, pork, and spice.
“It’s made in a really traditional red sauce that sits on the stove for hours. You really get that deep flavor of the sauce with the fattiness of the guanciale. There’s just a little bit of heat that comes up behind, and then that toothy, tender rigatoni. It’s a classic that can’t be improved upon.”
“We see a lot of folks that have obviously enjoyed international travel through Italy, and that’s kind of a benchmark dish that people can put up against what they had back in Rome. It’s Chef Brian’s real pride and joy.”
The menu goes beyond pasta with meat and fish entrées that hold their own. The chicken marsala is not the standard version you’re used to—it’s a large, breaded chicken cutlet, pan-fried until crispy, topped with a rich mushroom cream sauce and finished with fresh pecorino cheese.
For steak lovers, Standard Italian’s sirloin is dry-aged and grilled to order, sliced with just the right amount of char, and served with roasted Brussels sprouts, crispy potato fritters, and a creamy white bean purée.
Of course, no Italian meal is complete without dessert, and Standard Italian finishes strong with their apple tostada—warm flaky crust, tender spiced apples, and just the right amount of sweetness for an irresistible bite.
So for something beyond the standard sports bar experience in Fenway, Standard Italian brings some of the neighborhood’s tastiest food—and a great view to match.
“Standard Italian is a modern Italian restaurant. It’s rooted in classic Italian tradition with one of the best views in Boston. We’d love to cook for you. We’ll see you soon.”
