Estella, a downtown Boston restaurant, is staring down possible licensing penalties after what was supposed to be a private late-night celebration in its basement drew police and a whole lot of scrutiny. Officers responding to a noise complaint say they walked into a scene that went well beyond what the restaurant is allowed to host, and the owner now says the guest list included members of the New England Patriots.
Police report and inspection notice
According to a police report cited by NBC10 Boston, officers arrived at Estella on Temple Place on Jan. 27 and found people drinking in the basement, smelled marijuana, and spotted several large hookahs tucked under tables. The report also notes dollar bills scattered on the floor and mostly full bottles sitting on tables. Officers issued a license-premise inspection notice that flagged alleged after-hours liquor sales, unauthorized entertainment and indoor smoking.
Owner's account
At a hearing before the city licensing board, owner Helder George Brandao said the private event in question included Patriots players and that staff had asked the group to “wrap things up.” Brandao apologized for what happened, referred to the guests as “entitled people,” and told officials he is conducting an internal review of how the night was handled, according to Universal Hub.
Past licensing scrutiny
Estella operates at 49 Temple Place in Downtown Crossing, according to City of Boston licensing records, and this is not its first time in front of the board. Public notices on Boston.gov and neighborhood reporting show the restaurant has had previous run-ins with regulators, a history that board members pointed to during the hearing.
Board to decide sanctions
The Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing is set to decide on potential sanctions at a Thursday morning meeting. Executive Director Kathleen Joyce told the board she had watched 38 minutes of body-cam footage from the night in question and was “greatly concerned” about what she described as unauthorized entertainment, according to NBC10 Boston. Brandao told officials he accepts responsibility for the violations, and local outlets report that the Patriots had not yet responded to requests for comment as of publication.
