Openings: It’s back: The long-awaited Eastern Standard Kitchen and Drinks returns on Thursday, Oct. 12 (775 Beacon St.), not far from its original Kenmore Square home, where it lured everyone from tourists to rowdy baseball fans from 2005 until 2021 under the charismatic watch of restaurateur Garrett Harker. The original location shuttered due to a landlord-tenant dispute, and devoted fans feared that the red-awninged brasserie was lost to time. But, like a true Red Sox comeback, it has returned.
The new version will serve a menu designed to appeal to their wide fan base: everything from steak tartare and charcuterie to baked pastas and bread pudding, led by chef Nemo Bolin (Craigie Street Bistro, Locke-Ober, Providence’s Cook & Brown).
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Longtime Eastern Standard bar manager Jackson Cannon oversees the drinks menu, which includes an ES Pilsner, made in collaboration with Narragansett Beer, served at a 22-seat marble bar (similar in size to the original). There’s also a roomy patio, just like in days of yore.
Visit for dinner daily from 5 p.m., with brunch, lunch, and late-night hours to follow.
Pop-up tacos are coming to the South Shore. The modestly named Humble Taco food truck will park at Duxbury’s Island Creek Oysters (403-9 Washington St.) starting on Sunday, Oct. 8, at noon, with more engagements to come. It’s the latest from Dave Cagle, legendary in Cambridge cocktail culture for his drinks at The Automatic and the beloved B-Side Lounge.
The B-Side poured its final beverage in 2008; The Automatic closed in 2020. Cagle moved his family to the South Shore, where he began to tend bar at Island Creek’s on-site restaurant, Winsor House. Along the way, he and business partner and pit-master Steve Baroni began talking tacos, and their humble idea was born. (They originally planned to call the pop-up Jackpot or Gold Rush Taco, but this seemed more fitting.)
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Expect plenty of house-smoked, meaty tacos served on Hadley’s Mi Tierra corn tortillas.
“This is real spice: lots of heat, lots of acid, lots of dried chile peppers,” Cagle promises.
Someday, he hopes to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant. But for now, look for him at Island Creek and potentially SoWa.
Track upcoming appearances by following Humble Taco Truck on Instagram.
In other taco news, El Tacuba is now open in Medford (35 Salem St.), new from brothers Alvaro and Andrés Sandoval, who also run Tenoch down the block and in several other locations.
While Tenoch specializes in quick-service tortas and tacos, El Tacuba is a full sit-down experience, complete with craft beer and a tequila bar. The menu focuses on seafood from Veracruz, where the brothers grew up.
“It’s great. It’s different. It’s lots of small plates, so people can try a little bit of everything, including some of our mom’s favorite foods,” says Alvaro Sandoval.
Sample salted cod in an olive and caper sauce, an assortment of ceviche, grilled sea bass, shrimp and crabmeat tostadas, and whitefish tacos from 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Speaking of seafood, Canadian chain Moxies (899 Congress St.) is now open, serving a roster of seafood and steak on two Seaport floors: sushi, raw bar platters, and steak frites. Of note: a “Marky Marg” pineapple margarita created by Mark Wahlberg, a lengthy vegetarian and plant-based menu, and a kids’ menu too. Visit from 11:30 a.m. daily.
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Kara Baskin can be reached at kara.baskin@globe.com. Follow her @kcbaskin.