Beauty & Essex has an innovative design that starts in the restaurant’s entrance, a well­curated modern day pawn shop replete with a saxophone, boom­box, quirky artifacts, vintage treasures and an eclectic array of “one -off” pieces of jewelry. Continuing past the pawn shop, guests encounter a grand, circular staircase wrapped around a two-­story custom chandelier, but only the adventurous will discover all that Beauty & Essex has to offer. With four distinct dining rooms (one private), two bars, a lounge and a women’s bathroom complete with a salon including a luxurious sofa and antique perfume bottles. The cuisine, much like the design, is intended to set a new course. Chef Chris Santos was one of the pioneers of the small, share plate dining trend that has swept the nation, and with the Beauty & Essex menu, he once again has created waves on the food scene.