Branch Line Is Now Boarding for a September Opening

Preparations for Branch Line are chugging right along: The Watertown restaurant from the Eastern Standard team is building its staff for a September debut. Job listings posted yesterday announce an open house going on now at The Hawthorne.

Located in the Arsenal on the Charles complex, Branch Line will be a rotisserie with a wood-burning grill; year-round, outdoor dining; and a seasonal bocce court, as previously reported.

The company was hiring a beer/wine manager last month to lead a "classic, yet interesting, approachable, yet innovative" bar program. Now, they're seeking ambitious and hard-working servers and bar staff who "are passionate about guest service, beer and wine and restaurant work." For back-of-house staff, Branch Line is also seeking a meat-focused sous chef.

Branch Line is the first partnership venture from Eastern Standard general manager Andrew Holden, a native of Watertown; and one of Boston's best restaurateurs, Garrett Harker (ES, the Hawthorne, Row 34, Row 34 in Portsmouth, N.H., Island Creek Oyster Bar, a forthcoming ICOB in Burlington).

Eastern Standard was recently named Best American Restaurant Bar at Tales of the Cocktail's Spirited Awards, a ceremony that takes place at the annual New Orleans cocktail summit that recognizes the year's best bars, bartenders, writers, and experts.