The Best Restaurants Around Boston Stadium

From the best choices at the stadium’s built-in mall, Patriot Place, to local favorites worth a detour, these are the absolute best restaurants to fuel your fanning out over whatever or whomever you probably paid a lot of money to see.

Changes in this update: We’ve added Estella and Boon Choo Thai. For now, we’ve removed Davios, Wormtown Brewery, and Red Rooster Bar & Grille.

Boon Choo Thai

Located just a ten-minute drive from the stadium, Boon Choo Thai is a local favorite for heaping plates of pad thai, pad kee mao with spicy drunken noodles, and fried rice. Order fresh spring rolls or bang bang deep-fried chicken wings for the table and top it off with a Thai iced tea or a mai tai. The food here is a labor of love; some of the produce used in the restaurant comes from the chef’s own garden. For the fastest service before a game or a concert, sit at the bar.

Curry Leaf

A few minutes away from the stadium, in a strip mall, sits Curry Leaf, a casual Indian and Pakistani restaurant with a few booths that are perfect for a cozy pre-game meal. You’ll find all the classics like pakora, garlic naan, and vindaloo, but don’t miss out on the chicken momo and chicken pulao, either.

Estella

Estella offers a slightly more upscale option for a pre-event meal. Grab a cocktail and choose from a selection of globally-inspired appetizers and entrees, including dishes inspired by the owners’ Cape Verdean roots. Order the Rasta Pasta, a spicy oxtail pappardelle with onions and peppers, or birria tacos made with slow-braised top sirloin, peppers, onions, and two types of cheese. Although this location shares a black-and-gold decor theme with its sister restaurant in Boston, there are many playful Foxborough-specific details, including a golden mural of Tom Brady.

Citizen Crust

Traveling with a big crew, kids, and/or picky eaters? Citizen Crust probably has you covered with a wide-ranging menu of handhelds, bowls, and skewers. The real slam-dunk on the menu, though? The pizza is Roman sheet-pan style (a thicker crust, served on a sheet with shears to cut it), with toppings ranging from basic pepperoni to cacio e pepe with lots of black pepper. You can order the cheese vegan and the crust gluten-free if that’s your thing.

Novatos Bar and Grill

If you’re coming in from north of the stadium and want classic New England pub food, this is your spot for burgers, bourbon steak tips, and fantastic stuffies. Friendly servers will get your food in front of you fast, whether you’re posted up at the bar or tucked into a cozy booth.

Union Straw

This big, airy Foxborough bistro is a worthy pit stop even when you’re not pre-gaming the Pats. Load up on hearty fusion plates before your event, including boneless tenders with tangy pineapple-chile sauce, crab Rangoon flatbread, and lemon-rosemary chicken. Reservations are a must for Sunday brunch.

Station One by Shovel Town Brewery

This big, boisterous room, just a few minutes from the stadium, serves a more upscale pub menu to pair with their brews and cocktails. Pizzas like the fig and prosciutto and the Honey Heat with pepperoni and hot honey are filling crowd-pleasers, as are more unique choices like the orange chicken bowl and Five Alarm mac and cheese.

Commonwealth BBQ

Just off 495, this year-round barbecue spot offers only outdoor seating, making it the perfect stop for a big group (and kids). The menu is heavy on smoked meat platters, with the St. Louis-style ribs being a standout, but don’t skip the handhelds and burritos. The Further South with pulled pork or chicken and black beans is a savory delight.

Luciano’s Restaurant

Just south of the stadium (about a five-minute drive), right off 495, sits this classic Italian restaurant. You’ll get hearty portions of Italian American classics served in cozy, mural-covered rooms by bow-tied, welcoming servers. Take your parents here before a concert and order the veal marsala and pappardelle Bolognese for the table.

Havana Cafe

If you’re heading north toward the stadium and want something different than pub grub, this small, woman-owned cafe is a must-stop. The menu is full of Cuban classics — think pressed sandwiches with pork and crisp pickles, hearty ropa vieja with rich flank steak, and garlicky camarones al ajillo.