Estella in Boston's Downtown Crossing Is Expanding, Opening a New Location at Patriot Place in Foxboro

An upscale restaurant in the heart of Boston that focuses mainly on New American fare will soon be joined by a second location southwest of the city.

According to an Instagram post, Estella is planning to open at Patriot Place in Foxboro, with the post (which comes from the Patriot Place IG page) saying the following:

Patriot Place is excited to announce that @estellarestaurant is coming Summer 2025! With its flagship location in downtown Boston, Estella delivers an exceptional dining experience that fuses food from various backgrounds and cultures. Estella boasts a robust menu featuring diverse pasta selections, entrees, salads, soups, appetizers, a weekend brunch menu and delicious desserts, which guests will be able to enjoy this summer as this new dining establishment officially opens in the heart of Patriot Place!

The Downtown Crossing location of Estella first opened on Temple Place in the summer of 2022, taking over the space that had once been home to 49 Social. Its website can be found at https://www.estellaboston.com/

[November 7 update: Based on its website and social media, the Patriot Place location of Estella is now open and taking reservations.]

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Axel & Byrne Opens at Patriot Place in Foxborough

The couple behind a year-old Somerville restaurant now have another dining spot, with this one being  in the southwestern suburbs of Boston.

According to a press release, Sean and Sue Olson of Salt + Stone at Assembly Row have opened Axel & Byrne at Patriot Place in Foxborough, with the counter-service restaurant featuring "food from the road" including dishes found at barbecue pits, roadside diners, and food stalls across the country. Sean says of the new eatery, "If Salt + Stone was an homage to my wife and I breaking away from corporate restaurant brands and doing our own thing based on years of us working for others, Axel & Byrne is a continuation of that journey honoring our grandparents and their love  of food."

A few of the items offered at Axel & Byrne include grilled corn salad, chili, fried stuffed jalapenos, burgers, beef on weck, Frito pie, pulled pork, burnt ends, smoked brisket, and Coney dogs, along with beer, wine, and cocktails, while the space includes seating for 65 and an outdoor patio. In addition, Axel & Byrne will have the option of whole roasted pigs with sides and sauces for tailgating on game day at Gillette Stadium along with offsite meals.

The address for Axel & Byrne is 267 Patriot Place, Foxborough, MA, 02035. The website for the restaurant will be at https://axelandbyrne.com/ while a menu for the place is at https://www.patriot-place.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Axel-Byrne-Menu.pdf

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

The Harp Is Expanding to a Second Location at Patriot Place in Foxborough

A sports bar in Boston that is particularly popular with Bruins and Celtics fans will be expanding to a second location, and this one should be popular with fans of two other local teams.

According to an article from boston.com, The Harp by TD Garden and North Station is planning to open a new outlet at Patriot Place in Foxborough, with the post saying that it will be taking over the space that had been home to CBS Sporting Club. A note on the website for the Causeway street dining and drinking spot says that the new location will have "soaring views of Gillette Stadium [which is home to both the Patriots and Revolution], food, drinks, sports, patio, same lively pre-game atmosphere & vibrant nightlife in Boston," with the plan being to open later this year.

The original location of The Harp, which first opened in Boston in 1993, is run by the Briar Group (Hurricane's at the Garden, Ned Devine's, Six String Grill & Stage). The Harp's website can be found at https://www.harpboston.com/

by Marc Hurwitz (Also follow us on Twitter at @hiddenboston)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is currently dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate if you can at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill in Foxboro Has Closed

by Marc Hurwitz

It looks like a restaurant and bar that is also a popular venue for country music has shuttered.

According to multiple sources, Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill in Foxboro has abruptly closed, with country music singer Annie Brobst posting about this while country singer Shanna Jackman has also said that it has indeed shut down. While there has been chatter as to why the place has shuttered, we have not confirmed an exact reason for its closure, so keep checking back for updates.

Toby Keith's, which first opened in Foxboro in May of 2011, has been known in part for its live music, mechanical bull, bar food, and drinks while also being a popular place for sports lovers, as it is located at Patriot Place by Gillette Stadium. There used to be a number of locations of the restaurant and bar around the country but it now appears that only four remain, including three in Oklahoma and one in Las Vegas.

The website for Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill is at https://www.tobykeithusa.com/ while more information can be found at https://www.tobykeith.com/restaurants

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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CBS Scene at Patriot Place in Foxborough to Become CBS Sporting Club

by Marc Hurwitz

A sports bar that is a popular spot with football fans is shutting down for renovations, and when it reopens, a local hospitality group will be running it.

According to a post in the Patch, CBS Scene at Patriot Place in Foxborough will close on February 12, with The Sun Chronicle saying that it hopes to reopen this summer with Big Night Entertainment Group managing the place. (BNEG also operates Scorpion Bar at Patriot Place.) Though the extent of the changes have not been mentioned as of yet, it appears that this is more of an upgrade to the space, and it appears--for now--that the concept and name could remain the same.

CBS Scene, which first opened in 2008, is a three-floor restaurant and bar that is known in part for its nearly 150 high definition screens and views of Gillette Stadium.

The website for CBS scene can be found at http://www.cbsscene.com/

[May 17 update: CBS Boston states that the former CBS Scene at Patriot Place will reopen as CBS Sporting Club and that the "newly renovated gastro sports pub" will include a large bar, stadium-style seating, and an upgraded outdoor patio/bar. (Its website can be found at http://www.cbssportingclub.com/)]

[July 18 update: According to social media posts from the place, CBS Sporting Club is now open.]

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Ten Good Places to Get Beer in the Boston Area]

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Splitsville and Howl at the Moon Are Opening in Foxborough

A small chain of upscale bowling alleys and restaurants is going to be teaming up with another small chain of dueling piano bars to open a dining and entertainment complex southwest of Boston.

According to a post within the BostonChefs.com jobs section, Splitsville and Howl at the Moon are opening at Patriot Place in Foxborough, with the Patriot Place site saying that Splitsville will include 12 luxury lanes and food items such as sushi, steak chimichurri, burgers, and pizza. Based on the location of Howl at the Moon in downtown Boston, expect the complex to also feature entertainment that may include two players on baby grand pianos along with folks playing other instruments and plenty of audience participation (it is not yet known whether Howl at the Moon will offer its 86-ounce buckets of booze at this location).

[September 12 update: According to its Facebook page, Splitsville and Howl at the Moon are now open at Patriot Place (it looks like they opened in August).]

Splitsville has 5 locations in Florida, Virginia, and Texas, while Howl at the Moon has 15 locations spread out across the country. The website for Splitsville can be found at http://www.splitsvillelanes.com/ while the website for Howl at the Moon is at http://www.howlatthemoon.com/

Patriot Place is a shopping, dining, and entertainment complex just off Route 1 that is adjacent to Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution.

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CBS Scene to Open at Patriot Place in Foxboro This Week

After many months of anticipation, a new dining and entertainment spot called CBS Scene will be opening at Patriot Place in Foxboro, MA, this week. CBS Scene is one of a number of restaurants opening in this huge shopping and entertainment complex located next to Gillette Stadium (home of the New England Patriots). According to the Attleboro Sun Chronicle, other dining spots opening in Patriot Place will include Skipjacks, Blue Fin Lounge, Tastings Wine Bar and Bistro, Red Robin (which is already open), Bar Louie, and Davios.