Where to Eat near Boston’s TD Garden
Before you head to a concert or game, fuel up with ramen from a celebrity chef, top-notch burgers and shakes, and more in and around Boston's West End.
It’s that time of the year: Whether you’re heading to TD Garden to catch the Celtics or the Bruins, or bringing the kids to Disney on Ice, you’re probably spending some time in Boston’s West End, and you’re probably looking for pre- or post-event dining. Sure, the neighborhood’s known for sports bars and other casual fare, but thanks to a few years of rapid redevelopment, there are more food and drink options than ever before. From a sizable food hall (which includes a sit-down ramen joint from a celebrity chef alongside a variety of local favorites) to an excellent brewery and taproom slinging Detroit-style pizza, you’re sure to find something that fits the bill.
Last updated February 2024; stay tuned for periodic updates.
Post-game boozy milkshake at A&B, anyone? / Courtesy photo
A&B Kitchen & Bar
A&B’s older sibling on the North Shore is named A&B Burgers, and both spots are known for their gourmet spins on the classic dish, with tasty options like the Sweet & Salty burger (bacon, arugula, and fig jam) and the brie turkey burger (arugula, apple slices, Dijon). But the broader name here is a hint that you can get some killer non-burger comfort food, too, from steak tips to chicken pot pie. Save room for a milkshake, boozy or not. Note: The kitchen stays open at least an hour past the end of any event at the Garden.
115 Beverly St., West End, Boston, 857-449-2251, anbkitchen.com.
Alcove’s outdoor patio with a view of the Zakim Bridge. / Courtesy photo
Alcove
This is the most high-end of the options you’ll find in the neighborhood—and while it can certainly make for a fancied-up date-night destination, it’s equally adept at playing as a cozy neighborhood spot. In other words, swing by for a drink and a snack before or after a game, but also consider it for your special occasions. From restaurateur Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli—whom you may know from his more recent opening in the Seaport, Hook & Line—Alcove serves New England fare with a focus on local sourcing. Think monkfish Milanese, blue crab-crusted halibut, and grilled whole chicken showcasing local farms and fisheries. Top-notch wine selections and cocktails accompany.
50 Lovejoy Wharf, West End, Boston, 617-248-0050, alcoveboston.com.
Banners Kitchen & Tap. / Courtesy photo
Banners Kitchen & Tap
Adjacent to the Garden and boasting “official restaurant of the Bruins status,” this spacious venue counts a Topgolf Swing Suite and an enormous LED television screen among its amenities. For everyday dining, you’ll find pub fare with some upgrades, like smoked bacon served dangling on a clothesline with a side of four shots of bourbon, or a burger made with a house blend of sirloin, short rib, and brisket, topped with tomato-jalapeño jam. The kitchen stays open for an hour after TD Garden events, and the bar stays open for an hour and a half.
80 Causeway St., West End, Boston, bannerskitchenandtap.com.
Bodega Canal
Bodega Canal is a vibe: one fueled by tequila, bottle service, and DJs spinning, as the night goes on. Before the place starts getting too clubby, though, it’s a solid choice to pre-game with big party-friendly Mexican plates. Order up a bunch of tacos, filled with everything from blackened shrimp to birria-style braised beef—plus a Nachos Supreme platter—and let your crew go to town before you hit the town.
57 Canal St., West End, Boston, 617-833-4885, bodegacanal.com.
Chilacates
This is your spot for counter-service tacos, burritos, and more, stuffed with fillings like lengua (beef tongue), potatoes with chorizo, and grilled seasonal fish. Try the crunchy guero tacos, served on a hard-shell corn tortilla. This 2023 addition to the West End is the 10th location for the well-loved Mexican street food chain, which got its start in Jamaica Plain nearly a decade ago. (An 11th location has since opened.)
66 Staniford St., West End, Boston, 857-957-0198, chilacatesmx.com.
Ducali Pizzeria & Bar
This Roman-inspired pizzeria is great for solo dining or larger groups alike, with small pizzas perfectly sized for one person and larger serving two to three. (Even more group-friendly—but not available on TD Garden event days? La Polentata parties, communal dining events for groups of six to 20. These meals are centered around Abruzzo-style polentata, a corn flour-based dish poured straight onto the table to be shared, enjoyed with various toppings.) Antipasti, salads, and panini round out the menu, making it a neighborhood lunch favorite, too.
289 Causeway St., North End/West End, Boston, 617 742-4144, duca.li.
Ramen at Momosan in Hub Hall. / Courtesy photo
Hub Hall
One of Boston’s many food halls is right next to the Garden and has a hell of a lineup. Inside you’ll find an outlet of Cusser’s, which happens to serve one of Boston’s best roast beef sandwiches; APizza, Mida chef Douglass Williams’ casual pizza counter; and Momosan, Iron Chef icon Masaharu Morimoto’s Boston debut with ramen bowls, bar snacks, and sake. (This one’s full-service with its own seating area, unlike the counter-service spots and communal seating populating the rest of Hub Hall.) Add additional locations of local-favorite chains like the Smoke Shop BBQ and Greek restaurant Greco, plus wine and juice bars, and more, and you’ve got the recipe for one of the best food hall lineups around.
80 Causeway St., West End, Boston, 617-263-8900, hubhallboston.com.
Night Shift Brewing’s Detroit-style pizzas. / Courtesy photo
Night Shift Brewing
You’d be forgiven for being surprised that Boston’s best pizza happens to be served just outside the Italian landmarks of the North End. Over at Lovejoy Wharf in the West End, though, Night Shift smartly surprises us with its Detroit-style pies: rectangular, deep-dish pizzas built by drizzling sweet tomato sauce on top of cheese that reaches to every well-crisped edge. They’re the highlights of the brewery’s very tasty menu and perfect for pairing with Night Shift taproom exclusives, like the Garden Party pilsner.
1 Lovejoy Wharf, West End, Boston, 617-456-7687, nightshiftbrewing.com.
The Tip Tap Room
On the backside of Beacon Hill, the Tip Tap Room is a short walk away from TD Garden—in the direction that fewer tourists seem to travel. That’s not to say chef Brian Poe’s gastropub will be quiet: In fact, the place gets pretty busy and buzzy. But at least you’ll be more likely to avoid out-of-town fanny packs in favor of hanging with the locals, who descend after work for meat tips (including steak, turkey, and wild game specials) and beer taps that flow with a lengthy list of craft brews from around the country.
138 Cambridge St., Beacon Hill, Boston, 857-350-3344, thetiptaproom.com.
Tony & Elaine’s spaghetti and meatballs. / Photo by Justin Power
Tony & Elaine’s
Straddling the West End and North End border, Tony & Elaine’s feels distinctly North End, offering throwback red-saucy vibes and heart portions of Italian-American classics. We can’t think of a better way to boost our spirits before a game than garlic bread and a huge plate of chicken parm, lasagna, or spaghetti with award-winning meatballs.
111 N Washington St., Boston, 617-580-0321, tonyandelaines.com.
Ward 8
Find an eclectic food menu at this busy cocktail bar on the West End/North End border, sibling to Bodega Canal and Tony & Elaine’s (see both above). Spicy fried chicken sandwiches, sweet chili-glazed duck wings, steak frites, and pork belly steamed buns are just a few of the bases covered here. The big central bar does a fine job keeping pace with the pre- and post-game crowds, and plying them with well-made Negronis and Sazeracs.
90 N Washington St., West End/North End, Boston, 617-823-4478, ward8.com.
West End Johnnies
The area around TD Garden has changed a ton in recent years, with shiny new buildings sprouting up left and right. West End Johnnies is an old-timer at this point, its sports memorabilia-covered walls attesting to its legacy as a Celtics and Bruins fan favorite. As local pub grub goes, it’s got your back with a delicious Buffalo chicken dip, plus a smoked barbecue burger, gouda-feta mac ‘n’ cheese, and more—plus a reggae brunch on Sundays, when the coconut shrimp and Caribbean tunes come out.
138 Portland St., West End, Boston, 617-227-1588, westendjohnnies.com.
