Restaurant under scrutiny after Patriots players' late-night party
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Estella in downtown Boston. Photo: Steph Solis/Axios
A downtown Boston restaurant may face penalties for hosting Patriots players after hours in a pot- and hookah-filled celebration in January.
Why it matters: George Helder Brandao, the owner of Estella on Temple Place, said the celebration caught him by surprise and broke several local laws and regulations.
- Brandao described the evening to the Boston Licensing Board on Tuesday morning, per reporting by UniversalHub.
Catch up quick: Brandao told the board he planned to have a late-night pool party at his Milton home for several Patriots players after they won the AFC Championship on Jan. 25.
- Instead, he said they showed up at his restaurant downtown with strippers, a DJ, friends and several hookahs.
- What ensued was a party in Estella's basement where a DJ played music and three women started stripping as players drank, smoked and threw dollar bills their way, Universal Hub reported.
State of play: Now Brandao faces scrutiny from the Boston Licensing Board over the gathering of 30 people, which prompted officers to investigate a noise complaint just before 2:30am.
- The board plans to vote Thursday on what penalty Brandao faces for several violations, including indoor smoking and unlicensed adult entertainment.
Zoom in: Police issued citations that morning for the sale of liquor after hours, and one officer said he and his partner were initially blocked from heading downstairs by two security guards hired by Patriots players.
- One officer was eventually allowed downstairs and reported seeing six large hookahs hidden under tables, marijuana and hookah smoke, booze bottles on tables and scantily clad women who tried to hide in the kitchen, leaving dollar bills all over the floor.
What they're saying: Brandao told the board he takes full responsibility for the violations, but that he has considered suing the Patriots players for getting him in trouble.
- "We accept full responsibility for this matter. We are currently conducting an internal review to ensure this does not happen again," he later told NBC10 Boston.
- Brandao didn't respond to an email or call from Axios seeking comment.
- The Patriots did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. It's unclear which players were involved.
Yes, but: It's not the first time Estella has gotten in trouble.
- The board cited Brandao in 2024 after they said he failed to cooperate with police during an October 2023 incident.
- The board suspended Estella's license in February 2025 after Brandao got into it with a police officer investigating a fight outside his restaurant, per UniversalHub.
- In that case, an officer said he refused to sign an acknowledgment of a citation, while Brandao said he was asking questions, not refusing to sign.