Estella

I want to show you one of the coolest and tastiest restaurants in Boston, that’s somehow still a little bit under the radar. So if you’re looking for a night out filled with a lot of bold flavors, check out Estella on Temple Place in downtown Boston.

Estella is a funky fusion restaurant serving a combination of modern Caribbean and traditional American cuisine. It’s a multi-level space filled with all kinds of cool artwork and hanging flowers. The bar is always busy, the kitchen cranks out some really interesting food, and you get world-class hospitality from owner Lillian Brandao and her husband George. “A place for the community, where as soon as you walk through the door, you can feel like you belong...a little nostalgic, almost a little place of home. You can find a little bit of everything on the menu to make you feel that nostalgic feel.

An American fusion with the Caribbean flair, and so all of the dishes have like a burst of flavor, a burst of spices and nice colors and aromas and everything included in there that help you see the melting pot that we are here in Boston, you can also see that in the dishes as well.”

Here’s a perfect example of what makes Estella so special: the Surf and Turf. So all on one plate, you get a tender eight ounce Filet Mignon topped with a Caribbean style chimichurri sauce. Plus, a grilled lobster tail that’s brushed with melted mutter. It’s also served with some broccoli and a nice couscous salad. But if you’re just coming into Estella before or after you see a show, you can always stop in for a craft cocktail, and a quick appetizer, and we would definitely recommend the Sweet and Spicy chicken wings that are baked, then fried, and topped with an addictive Thai style sauce. “So the Estella chicken wings is a classic fan favorite. It's an amazing way to start a meal. I always start my meal with the chicken wings.”

Estella offers a wide range of tacos as well. The Caribbean Fish Tacos are the most popular. You get the crispy, golden fried fish, some fruit salsa, and spicy mango sauce, all wrapped in some fresh Boston leaf lettuce. If you have a big appetite, you need to order a dish called the Shorty and Mash. The “Shorty” in this case is a ten ounce French cut short rib, it’s served on the bone, glazed in a golden barbecue sauce. That’s served over a bed of mashed potatoes with some grilled asparagus, and I’m telling you that short-rib just falls apart and literally melts in your mouth.

And for all you pasta lovers, check out the Creamy Wild Mushroom Ravioli. They’re made with a blend of six different mushrooms, and three cheeses, and they’re served in a vibrant nut-free pesto sauce. But for a pasta guaranteed to blow you away, you need to taste the signature Worrell Rasta Pasta Special. So we’re talking fresh pappardelle pasta, a spicy Jamaican Jerk cream sauce, peppers, onions, and the meat of your choice, whether it’s chicken, shrimp, salmon, or my favorite: slow-braised shredded oxtail. “So as soon as you take a bite of the Rasta pasta, you're getting a burst of flavors and the kicks of the spices, and then with the nice, tender meat… it's a perfect pair. Everything just flows greatly. And it's nice and… tender and it tastes amazing. It's one of my favorite dishes.”

The kitchen stays open past midnight every day of the week here. And on the weekends, you can come in for brunch during the day. I recommend coming in with a big group, getting a Mimosa tree so you can taste a few different styles, and then you definitely want to try the Tiramisu French Toast. And, you gotta get the Chicken and Waffles. “When you eat the chicken and waffle, it's a great combination of savory and sweet, and once you pair it with the syrup. Everything pairs well. There's no conflict, even though everything's a little different. So that's what I really enjoy. There's like maple, Cajun… and they make a nice symphony of flavors… with your taste buds. So I really enjoy that. And for dessert, everybody enjoys the Dulce de Leche Lava Cake. It’s a warm, fresh-baked butter cake, stuffed with housemade salted caramel, served with some vanilla ice cream. And it’s the perfect ending to any meal at Estella in Downtown Boston. “Coming to Estella, you're not going to regret it. You're able to find a little bit of home within our building here, you're able to get great service, and then the food, the ambience and just the setting, will just help you relax, whatever type of vibe you're looking for.”