Boston just wanted to celebrate. That’s it. Just a calm, classy, totally responsible 2:20 a.m. basement bash.
Enter Estella, now fighting for its liqor license after hosting what sounds less like a victory late night noisy party.
The alleged guests of honor? The AFC Champion New England Patriots, because nothing says “We earned this” like hookahs under tables and dollar bills on the floor.
Police showed up after a noise complaint around 2:20 a.m., which, in Boston terms, is either “late” or “second dinner.” Officers head downstairs and boom. Private party in full swing. Drinks flowing, and marijuana scent in the air.
According to a police report, officers were called for a noise complaint at Estella on Temple Place around 2:20 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27. When they arrived, they found a private party going on in the basement of the restaurant. Officers noted that people were drinking and they smelled marijuana. They said security briefly blocked their access on the stairs and that several women who were nude or wearing bikinis ran toward the kitchen area. Officers also noticed several large hookahs in the room.
“Upon checking downstairs, where the party was, the sergeant observed no less than six large hookahs which appeared to be concealed underneath tables. The floor was covered with $1 bills and the liquor was mostly full on top of the tables,” the police report reads.
Based on what they saw, Boston police issued a license premise inspection notice for after-hours liquor sales, unauthorized entertainment and indoor smoking. Based on the restaurant’s license, events have to end at 2 a.m.
In every chaos, it turns out to be an entire different issue immediately the police gets involved. Estella owner better hope and pray because it doesn’t look good for his business.
Based on what they saw, Boston police issued a license premise inspection notice for after-hours liquor sales, unauthorized entertainment and indoor smoking. Based on the restaurant’s license, events have to end at 2 a.m.
At a hearing before the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing on Friday, owner Helder George Brandao said the private party involved members of the New England Patriots.
Brandao said he asked the group to wrap things up and claimed they brought in their own entertainment and alcohol. The party was taking place in a separate space from the main restaurant.
He acknowledged that rules were broken and apologized, but described it as a difficult situation involving “entitled people.”
According to the owner;
“We accept full responsibility for this matter. We are currently conducting an internal review to ensure this does not happen again. We have no further statement at this time while we focus on our resolution efforts.”
Officials said this wasn’t the first time such an issue had come up with Estella and you know what happens when an officer sounds like this, right?
“I did spend 38 minutes yesterday reviewing body cam footage and I’m greatly concerned you had some unauthorized entertainment,” Executive Director of Consumer Affairs and Licensing Kathleen Joyce said during the meeting.
Now Estella risks losing its license. That means no more pasta, no more reservations and no more hookah hide-and-seek.
Meanwhile, the Patriots will probably move on just fine. Big teams rarely miss a meal, but for a restaurant? This is not exactly five-star publicity.
Boston wanted a celebration. What it got was flashing lights, police reports, and a lesson in how not to party when microphones, cameras, and neighbors exist.
