Estella
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Service was a little slow, but the staff was very friendly and welcoming. The R&B playlist was amazing and definitely added to the vibe. The Bang Bang Cauliflower was really good with just the right amount of spice. The coconut shrimp were huge, and the salmon tacos were delicious and came served in lettuce wraps, which was a nice touch. This was my first time here, and I was very impressed overall. I'll definitely be back!
This was the chosen place by our double date before a theater event at the Opera House. We had a reservation and were promptly seated in a booth close to the entrance. It was a very cold night so every time that door was opened and it was frequent, we had freezing air come our way. For appetizers we shared the yucca fries and calamari. They were ok but nothing stood out about them. For my main course, I went with the branzino. I found it to be a $45 disappointing entree. It was under seasoned side and thin salty fish fillet on top. Do yourself a favor and skip this entree. I had high hopes for the dulce de leche lava cake. It tasted like those angel cakes you get at the grocery store with cold caramel inside. I was expecting a hot or warm caramel but this just wasn't that. This was an overpriced and not a memorable dining experience for taste or quality.
I'm always looking to support black businesses wherever I go, and seeing this restaurant named often had me excited to try it out. Though I did already see mixed reviews, I chose to see it for myself and form my own opinion after! As we arrived, the inside was nicely designed and even larger than many videos portrayed the space to be, which is always a nice surprise. Though we had reservations, it wasn't very busy, so it's good to know we could've come without any and still been seated at a great time. Our waitress was pretty friendly and provided some help when it came to the menu in addition to taking a note of all allergies to ensure the items we ordered were free of them. After reviewing the menu, we chose chicken wings, mac n cheese, and the kreyol pasta and were, of course, excited to try it all. Normally I appreciate when my food doesn't take too long to come out, but ours came out literally 7 minutes after we ordered it, and we could already tell it just wasn't as fresh as it could be. One attempt to dig in, and the mac n cheese was immediately sent back, as it was not warm at all, old, and just a thick glob, and I think seeing others around us do the same made me feel more justified for our reaction lol. The kreyol pasta was pretty good, but it came out room temperature, and that was just a disappointment. Instead of the mac n cheese, Brussels sprouts were ordered, and it took so long to receive it that we were actually going to cancel it, but the waiters could not be found for over 30 minutes, though we asked a few times. When the Brussels sprouts came, those were burnt and just not very good at all, unfortunately. Our last try was ordering the butter cake with a man who appeared to be the manager or something, and we thought after 30 minutes, it would be out, but when our waiter finally came out, the order wasn't actually in lol. After this, we wanted to pay and just get out of there, and after asking for separate checks, that took another 10 minutes, and instead she just came back still with one check and a 15% discount off the Brussels sprouts ($2.40) that we didn't ask for and were going to pay for. It just seemed to take an exceptionally long time to do anything in here, as after all the time we spent, it literally took another 10 minutes for her to find change for a $20 bill and count the money. This whole experience was really disappointing, and it was definitely not worth the stop by any means.
We made reservations and were greeted and seated pretty quickly, which was a great start. For appetizers, my husband ordered the Brussels sprouts and I got the clam chowder. Unfortunately, both were a bit lackluster. The Brussels sprouts were too hard and needed more glaze, and the clam chowder was okay but could've used more seasoning. Now when it came to the entrees, it was a complete turnaround. My husband ordered the Rasta pasta with salmon and I got the spaghetti kreyol both were delicious and had a really nice kick. The salmon was cooked perfectly, which made the dish even better. Overall, I'd definitely come back, but I'd skip the appetizers and go straight to dinner.
I was looking for a nice easy spot to grab some food. Estella was highly recommended. I sat at the bar and the bartenders took great care of me. I can't remember their names but there were two whom specifically made sure I was good. I started with the bang bang cauliflower which was recommended. It had a nice sweet and savory flavor. The breading was crispy and not heavy. The cauliflower cut like butter they were so good. My main meal was the lamb chops with veggies and mashed potatoes. The presentation of the meal was beautiful. The chops were tasty I wish they had a little more flavor throughout the meat. The veggies and mashed potatoes were flavorful and light. The drinks were a bit on the sweet side for me but still good. The place had a nice vibe. I would return for a girls night or a date night. M
We chose Estella for a dinner pre-concert. Overall we had a nice dinner with food being good, and service ranging from good to "where on earth did our server go?" We dined on a Tuesday evening and had a chance to take advantage of the "Taco Tuesday" menu, which offered a pretty wide range of tacos from the usual beef to a blackened salmon in a lettuce wrap (which I enjoyed). For starters we tried the fried coconut shrimp (4 for $20), which were nicely cooked and presented. Tacos came 3 per order, and were a nice serving for the price. I enjoyed the churro waffles for dessert, but honestly the waffles did not have a strong churro flavor. Overall a good experience, but it seems they may need more help. When our server was in the area she was very attentive, but would vanish for long periods. No checking in on your dish, and if you need anything you would be out of luck.
Went with a large group for a work event... Food was great, service was good, Vibe was off as we were at Random dine arounds and those are for that reason right?! Make you dine with people you normally wouldnt dine with. Cant wait to go back with the hubby - drinks were great, Food was truly good and just want to be able to go enjoy without the "weird work team feeling", LOL The burrata was GOOD, but I mean can you really screw up Burrata, and the Mushroom Ravioli has me drooling just thinking of it!
Stopped in for a night cap and the bartender recommended the dessert! It was so delicious and was worth every calorie! The staff was great, the menu has plenty of options for everyone and we will definitely be back!
I have not stopped thinking about my meal here and told a friend to take their husband. The Brussel sprouts to start were genuinely the best I've ever had. It had candied apple, pecans and goat cheese. So so good! And you get a good size portion of it! I got the roasted red pear and goat cheese salad which was so light and fresh and packed with flavor in each bite. We also had the fin and fire salmon pasta which had some of the best cooked salmon I've had in a long time. Perfect crunch on the skin! My friend got the burrata as her meal and really enjoyed it. To end the meal we got the dulce de leche lava cake and WOW was that a good choice. The soda we got was undrinkable unfortunately, I don't know what was wrong with it but it tasted very very wrong despite coming out of a can.
Not sure if they do brunch anymore. This was one of my favorite dish. The service was amazing and the place was super cute too. Price is reasonable
Stopped by after arriving into Boston for Thanksgiving week. It took a little while to get seated but once we did, service was great. We put our drink orders in and then decided to split a plate of ribs, mashed potatoes and veggies. Delicious! Definitely recommend. The place has a great vibe and a downstairs with full bar great for private parties. Go!!
I loved everything about this place. We were seated immediately even though the restaurant was busy. The lighting and decor is sexy and modern. Lena was our waitress. She is amazing. She was kind, attentive, accommodating, etc. She provided us with descriptions of the meals and possible modifications. For example, we both ordered the Worrel Rasta Pasta Special. I had it with oxtails and my friend had it with shrimp. The dish is normally very spicy. Lena let us now that we could adjust the spice level. We both asked for light spice and the dish came out exactly how we ordered it. The pasta seemed freshly made and was perfectly al dente. My oxtail were deboned and were more meaty than fatty. My friends shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly. The peppers and onions still had a slight crisp to them and the sauce was delectable. Visiting this restaurant was a great choice. I definitely recommend you give it a try when in downtown Boston.
2 years ago
Great After-Work Vibes & Delicious Food! I went to Estella for an after-work meet-up with a friend, and it was the perfect choice for a Thursday evening vibe. The staff was friendly, and I swear every time I come here, I notice something new. First and foremost, get the Lavender Love drink! You can order it with alcohol or as a mocktail, and both versions are absolutely delicious. For food, I had the Short Ribs and Mash--the ribs were a solid 10/10, tender and full of flavor. The mashed potatoes were good too, but I personally prefer a creamier texture, so I'd give them an 8/10. My friend got the Kale Salad and Mash and rated both a 10/10--and based on what I saw, they did not skimp on a thing. Overall, great food, great atmosphere--I'll definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
I went to Estellla for the first time today for brunch. When I walked in, I was immediately welcomed so warmly by the hosts. The interior had many interesting paintings and the lighting was dark which made for a fancy ambiance. The tiramisu french toast was delicious! There were plenty of strawberries and blueberries that came with it. I got a cappuccino too which took a long while to come out but it was still good. I will definitely be back! read more
3 months ago
8 months ago
Food: Everything was DELICIOUS. The sweet potato fries were bomb, my birria taco was delicious, and the cake which I got for my birthday was to die for- I finished most of it easily. The oysters were also good. Service: Great service! The manager came to check in on us as well. Food was also fast. Ambiance: It's dark inside but it's definitely a vibe. There is seating upstairs and downstairs and it gets busy at night. Glad I made a reservation ! read more
6 months ago
The drinks were so great. I had the lavender mist and a smoked whiskey. For food, I ordered salmon tacos and they were not great. The lettuce wrap fell apart immediately and the wontons were really oily. It's too bad because everyone else I was with really enjoyed their food. read more
Food was good but needed hella seasoning. It was also pretty pricey. $105 for an oxtail pasta and 2 lemon drop cocktails. We paid $15 each to go to the club in the basement. It was tight AF, but the music was good (dancehall/soca night). We only stayed for like 1 hours tho. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves. Wouldn't mind visiting again. read more
2 years ago
Food was fresh and tasty. Service time was moderate. Good vibes and music. Nice decor. Try their special sauce read more
10 months ago
Estella is nestled in downtown Boston and delivers an exceptional dining experience that resonates with soulful vibes. As a Black-owned establishment, it not only tantalizes taste buds but also celebrates culture. The flavorsome menu echoes a symphony of delightful dishes, crafting a culinary journey worth savoring. The appetizers were really delicious and plentiful. For entrees I ordered the pan seared salmon and my dining companion ordered Shorty & Mash. The seared salmon at Estella was a highlight, tantalizingly seared to perfection...but, let's talk about the star of the show--the Butter Bond Cake. This dessert masterpiece is an indulgence of coconut, caramel, and velvety vanilla ice cream, harmonized with housemade raspberry puree. It's beautifully garnished with strawberries, blueberries, and mint. I've found myself daydreaming about returning solely for another encounter with this dessert sensation. Estella's Butter Bond Cake is undoubtedly a culinary masterpiece worth savoring time and again. The place was packed (in a good way) and I have no doubt it is always like that due to the amazing music, good food, and great service. read more
Estella was wonderful. My wife and I are foodies and in Boston for a conference. We were looking for something unique and comfortable. Estella offered a twist on traditional flavors that was wonderful. We started with drinks. The seasonal blueberry harvest was a delicious gin cocktail that was a perfect balance of sweet sweet and herbaceous deliciousness of gin. My better half had a Nearest to Me which was a delicious whisky shaken with lemon and ginger ale. We ordered the Parm garlic yucca fries with their delicious aioli...and I could've eaten another plate. For our meals I had the blackened salmon tacos. The flavors were delicious. The salmon was cooked well and the banana peppers and aioli balanced each other while the crispy onions added a welcome crunch to the lettuce wrapped tacos. My wife had the Shorty and Mash. My god was that a delish bite. The short rib was fall off the bone tender on top of delicious buttery mash. The sauce was a mustard and vinegar base and was unexpectedly delicious cutting through the richness of the beef. The toffee cake was a shared dessert to end the night. Service was attentive and friendly from both our server and management. It was loud but not off-putting and its always great when you leave a restaurant happy with what you had but eager to experience other flavors on the menu. read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
I loved our Estella experience! Every member of the staff was polite, kind, and easy to work with. The ambiance was delightful - high end, fancy, felt like a bit of a retro vibe. Great lighting. We sat downstairs in the back area, and there were no TVs there, which was GREAT - I had read reviews about "plenty of TVs" but didn't want that vibe. The noise level was absolutely fine - I had read reviews mentioning it being loud, but downstairs on a Monday between 6 - 9 was totally fine, not a problem at all. The food was delicious, the cocktails were also delicious (and strong!), and the service was great. I would definitely go back. read more
1 year ago
My friends and I came here for brunch and had a great time! Since it was towards the end of brunch, it wasn't too busy and we were seated as soon as we arrived. The noise was minimal and we could hear each speaking so thats a plus! The food was a delicious and the portions were great! I got the Blackened Salmon B.L.A.T, and coming from something who doesn't really like fish in general I enjoyed it! The waitstaff was patient, and checked in with us without being overbearing. Overall a very positive experience read more
10 months ago
2 years ago
I came here while on a pub crawl. I tried the Thai Chili wings and there were delicious. I also had some themed drink a friend grabbed for me - very green, very strong, very good. Given they knew many patrons would be coming during the pub crawl, I wished they had more bartenders and servers because the service was unreasonably slow. However, I loved the food and the second floor seating area so I plan to return to try out their brunch menu. read more
1 year ago
Seated quickly without reservations in a beautifully decorated dining room. Very busy week but the server was quick, friendly and very efficient ! She really knew the menu and gave great suggestions. Everything was delicious especially the desert!!! read more
1 year ago
We really enjoyed our time at Estrella. Service was impeccable! Sam was our server and she was outstanding! The drink menu was very interesting, so many drinks I wanted to try but ate too much and didn't have room for another drink. The food was blah - my pasta mentioned angel hair, but it was overboiled regular spaghetti that was used. The grilled octopus and calamari were good. The pound cake with ice cream was also very good. Chill ambiance and crowd - will definitely go back to taste the rest of the menu... and perhaps update my review. Street parking isn't easy to find. 22$parking lot nearby. read more
Business owner information
George B.
Thanks for taking the time to leave an excellent review. We look…
6 months ago
1 year ago
during our first visit, Wes was our bartender, who was great and made a perfect spicy margarita. we started with the coconut shrimp which was okay, it was double fried and I would not have tried it again if not for my friend. we also had the Brussel Sprouts which were better than the shrimp but still decent. for our meal we shared a Fajita meal and it was a full display but not my favorite. on our second visit, we just came in for a quick bite and a few drinks. we ordered the garlic toasted brussel sprouts, coconut shrimp and octopus, which were all delicious and much better than the first visit. coconut shrimp 3/5 garlic brussel sprouts 4.5/5 octopus 4.5/5 estella is a fun, aesthetically appealing bar to unwind after work and they have great bartenders and music. ambience: 4.5/5 food: 4.2/5 drinks: 5/5 service: 5/5 Estella: 4.6/5 read more
1 year ago
The food and atmosphere were amazing. Good food, good drinks and good vibes. 100% recommend trying them out! Our server was attentive and friendly! I will be back. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
We stopped by before a show in the at the opera house and were surprised we were able to find a reservation in the area on such short notice. This spot is relatively new to downtown, and after walking by so many times we decided to give it a try. It's a cool space with a lot of room, but I don't think we'll be back. The menus are fully virtual and poorly organized which made it hard jumping back and forth trying to decide what to order. We were seated right at the top of the stairs, and let me tell you, I got anxiety whenever a waiter came up and turned the corner. Nearly every time, they bumped into each other and spilled some of the drinks (that are filled to the brim!). Based on other reviews, we stuck to the appetizers which is definitely the move. It seems like their menu can't pick a lane - some italian, some tex-mex, some american dishes. Never a great sign when a restaurant tries to do too much. The cocktails look good on paper but were so cloying it was hard to finish. Not worth ordering another here Brussel sprouts - came out hot, very garlicky, well cooked Calamari - crispy, love that it comes with peppers Mussels - really yummy, the broth was honestly the best part. There are certainly better options in the area, but this place is pretty solid. This spot is a little hard to access by car and there's very limited parking in the area. Very walkable and definitely convenient for the opera house. Service is okay, but I wish they were a little more attentive. read more
Business owner information
George B.
HI Katelyn. Thanks for the feedback. I hope you will visit us again…
Made a last minute early reservation here last weekend and loved the menu options online prior to arriving! Although it was very early and not crowded we waited over 15 minutes for anyone to come by our table after being seated. Our server was hesitant to swap out types of spaghetti sauce and our food came out fairly cold. I did love seeing Yuka fries on their menu as they can be hard to come by in Boston but wasn't impressed after trying them. Overall I don't think we will be back but I have heard others say they had a good experience at Estella so maybe it was an abnormal Friday night for the business. read more
Very interesting decor . A lot of cool features, a dark blue and gold theme with a vibrant tree in the middle. Service was amazing, waters constantly filled. Waitress was friendly and made great recommendations without seeming pushy. Stephanie was a great server! The others helping out, made it feel upscale. Constant attention. The lavender mock-cocktail I got was not only beautiful but so tasty, even I was tricked! We ordered coconut shrimp as an app and I think it was one of the best I've had. The restaurant was filled with many 30-something's and tourists, but it was a good mix. Trendy but not overdone, nice background music. My lobster ravioli was beautiful. The cream sauce was perfectly seasoned, the lobster was perfectly cooked inside the ravioli and the extra outside. The temperature was very warm, just like I love it. The chicken Milanese was so delicious and the sauce that paired added so much to the meal. I love when we go out to eat and completely clean our plates! I will be saving this as a definite to return! Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
I haven't written tons of five-star reviews since moving to Boston, but Estella has definitely earned one. It's on Temple Place, which is a fantastic location alongside many good cocktail bars and speakeasies. I have frequented this area for a while and am happy to see that Estella moved in in September. I was at Estella last night with friends, as well as this past Friday evening for a birthday celebration. Part 1: The Vibe. Estella is surprisingly spacious, with three floor, including a smaller bar on the first floor and a seating area (with a DJ booth!) on the third floor. As it got later and later on Friday, more and more people poured in, and as the music became heavier on reggaeton, the level of litness increased. There was a whole dance party in there. Part 2: The Food. I ordered the short rib on Friday, which is actually quite a huge dish. Like, it's a lot of meat, and it was SO tender and well-seasoned. That's rather a theme here--tender and well-seasoned. I would especially like to highlight that Estella has delicious sweet potato fries, which is kind of a big deal to a southerner. Last night, I had the Estella Burger, which comes with an egg (don't often see this in the States) and a bomb strawberry fig jam. We also enjoyed the chicken wings and basically everything else we ordered. Part 3: The Libations. Our group had a variety of drinks, including the Piña Caliente (tequila and mezcal, my favorite), Plum Island (flor de caña and plum, which doesn't immediately sound like a great flavor combination but was really a great drink), and the ever-popular espresso martini (I'm not an espresso person, but my friends ordered tons of these). Overall, the cocktails were nicely prepared with quality ingredients and a pleasant presentation (e.g. the designs they put on the top of the espresso martini). I almost didn't write this review because I don't want to publicize Estella or it'll become more crowded! But what a great gem downtown that I'll be sure to return to time and time again! read more
2 years ago
Food: everything that my guest had ordered was really good and cooked to tenderness. The Rasta pasta and wings were an all-time favorite. The cocktails were also delicious with a well balanced sweetness to it, but sometimes it had been a little overly sweet or overly too much liquor inside, so the consistency was a little off. Service: I think this was the first big group our server had so it took a bit longer to get everything ordered in the system. Granted it was a bigger group of people, and a lot was going on but I still think there should've been a better way in organizing his way around the guest accordingly.. The event coordinator was fantastic. He made sure everything was prepared for as well. Overall, I had a great experience for my birthday. Ambiance: there's three floors in the restaurant and we were at the base level where it's a dark ambience with 20s modern vibe Location accommodation: it's right near the Boston Commons so you could possibly find side parking but garage parking is also available read more
2 years ago
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2 years ago
As someone who lives in the North End, it's nearly sacrilegious to say this, but I had the best lobster ravioli of my life here. The brussel sprouts were fabulous, from the bright apple bits to the warm melty goat cheese, such an extensive and fun cocktail list (lychee cocktails that actually have lychee as a snack on them, finally!), and that BUTTER BOND CAKE? seriously, such a warm, cozy, and delicious dining experience. Can't wait to come back! read more
2 years ago
Went for dessert and drink and what a time! Espresso martini was yum. Of the four dessert, one would have to try the butter bond cake!!!! Can't stress this enough it was divine read more
10 months ago
More info about Estella
49 Temple Pl
Boston, MA 02111
Downtown
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(617) 855-9869
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https://www.estellaboston.com
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