The British are back in Boston—and this time, to our delight, they’re bringing juicy steaks and creative cocktails to Fort Point Channel. Hawksmoor, the London steakhouse group founded by childhood friends Will Beckett and Huw Gott, has opened its first Boston restaurant on September 8, right on the heels of the team celebrating 20 years of the Hawksmoor name. The 280-seat spot has waterfront views, with a main dining room, two private dining rooms, an 18-seat bar with room for 66 more bar seats, and a huge outdoor terrace.
And while “steakhouse” might conjure images of white tablecloths, black-tie waiters and a dinner that requires a little advance planning, Hawksmoor is taking a decidedly more relaxed approach to the genre.
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Bye bye, white tablecloths or black-tie servers. Staff are dressed casually, and diners are welcome to do the same. The idea is to bring the same level of attention to the food and service without making dinner feel like an occasion you need to dress up for.
Photograph: Courtesy Hawksmoor SteakhouseHawksmoor Steakhouse in Fort Point
Of course, the steak is still the main event. And one worth celebrating.
Hawksmoor works with small, family-run farms and ranches that utilize sustainable farming practices. In Boston, those are Châtel Farms in Georgia and Grass Run Farms in the upper Midwest, farms that the Hawksmoor team frequently visits to size up the beef they’ll be serving at the steakhouse.
The steaks are simply seasoned with Maldon sea salt before being cooked over incredibly hot sustainable red and white oak charcoal from Virginia. Diners can choose individual cuts including ribeye and grass-fed fillet, or go big with dry-aged sharing steaks, including the famously thick Porterhouse, Long Bone Rib Chop, and Chateaubriand (these can get up to a mind-blowing 50 ounces). All cuts are served with bone marrow for smearing, while additions can be ordered such as sweet North Country maple bacon, fried eggs, and a half a Maine lobster. Accompanying sauces include Bearnaise, peppercorn, Stilton Hollandaise and decadent bone marrow gravy.
Photograph: Hawksmoor SteakhouseHawksmoor Steakhouse in Fort Point
But there’s more to the menu than beef.
Hawksmoor has given some of its British classics a Boston makeover, including the Lobster Crumpet, a nod to the city’s beloved lobster roll, and a Beer-Battered Fish Butty made with local haddock and jalapeño tartar sauce. Sides are anything but second fiddle, with the Boursin mushrooms, beef fat French fries, and sauteed spinach making their play for the spotlight.
Then there’s Sunday Roast, a Hawksmoor tradition served at its restaurants from 11:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. The British weekend ritual is all about the slow-cooked dry-aged roast beef, giant Yorkshire puddings, beef-dripping roast potatoes, roasted carrots and garlic, buttered greens, and bone marrow and onion gravy.
Photograph: Courtesy Hawksmoor SteakhouseHawksmoor Steakhouse in Fort Point
The bar menu brings some Hawksmoor favorites along for the ride, including the Steakhouse Martini and Sour Cherry Negroni. There’s also the Direct Martini, served in the style of London’s Duke’s Hotel at a decidedly chilly minus two degrees Fahrenheit. Note: They’re strong, so there’s a two-drink cap for these puppies.
Dessert is where the Boston team gets playful. Executive Pastry Chef Carla Henriques oversees classics including Sticky Toffee Pudding and the Grand Rocher, along with several desserts created specifically for the Fort Point restaurant. The Fluffernutter Sundae offers up a distinctly New England spin, while the Warm Beef Dripping Doughnuts arrive tableside with maple bacon and custard sauce. The Sky Bar Tributes are a little piece of Boston history hiding in the dessert menu that pays sweet homage to the candy bar once made at the NECCO factory located just down the street.
Hawksmoor may have crossed the pond from London, but it clearly fits right in among the locals. Add a properly cooked steak and a very cold martini, and this British import feels less like a London transplant and more like it already knows its way around Boston.
Hawksmoor is located at 15 Necco Street Boston, MA 02210.
Dining and Cooking