THE New England Patriotsborn from the Boston Patriots, smoldered at best for 40 years before finally catching fire in 2001. Over the next two decades, with head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady at the helm, the team the NFL has become one of the greatest dynasties in sports. . Among their many accomplishments, the Patriots have appeared in 11 Super Bowls and won six, and the team’s home, Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, sells out perpetually.

A handful of decent dining options await if you head straight to the somewhat remote stadium, but it’s also an easy train ride from Boston’s South Station, either on the standard commuter rail to the station from Foxboro, or on special game day trains with fewer stops, so you can enjoy the many charms of downtown Boston. Here’s where to dine before, during and after a New England Patriots game in both regions.

Where to Eat Near Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place

Fans go to Gillette for the football, not the food – despite a recent stadium renovation that improved the rest of the fan experience, the concessions are generally forgettable. If you must eat during a game, look for Italian sausage and peppers or a cheesesteak to accompany a coveted can of Massachusetts beer like Tree House Brewery Jules IPA.

That said, the pre- and post-game options are a bit more interesting at the adjacent Gillette Mall, Place des Patriotes. The most upscale restaurant is Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhousea local chain with an old-school twist including hand-rolled gnocchi, a tableside dessert cart, and a house-brand rye whiskey made by Boston Harbor Distillery.​​ At the other end of the spectrum is Wormtown Brewerya popular Worcester-based operation recently acquired by another Massachusetts favorite, Jack’s Abby. To accompany its many hoppy IPAs, the casual, industrial bar offers a small selection of dishes, including nachos and, on game days, burgers and brats. For something in between, try Group and Family Citizen crustwhich serves the thick-crust Roman-style pizza in a baking sheet with scissors, which is not very common in the Northeast.

Where to Eat Near Boston South Station

If you walk up to 20 minutes in any direction from the Boston South Station train and bus station, you’ll find endless dining, drinking, and hotel options. A few minutes to the north, High Street Place Food Hall is one of the most convenient places to grab a bite before or after a Patriots game, and one of the coolest. Far from a cookie-cutter commissary, HSP is an impressive space filled with diverse vendors, heated patios, and an imposing courtyard with massive screens for watching the pregame show. Some of the best bets include Mike and Pattypopular for breakfast sandwiches; Pennypackerfamous for its Porchetta sandwiches; and anything from restaurateur Tiffani Faison, from the Champagne bar Bubble bath in retro The tenderoniwith its thick, rectangular tarts and mills.

10 minutes northeast, one block from Boston Common, is Againsta bar for all those caught up in the competitive spirit. Cozy red booths and pop art-decorated walls set the scene for chicken wings, burgers, and booze, and a small fee provides free access to consoles, board games, and arcade machines. BurgerTime at Blitz 99.

Chinatown, a short walk west of South Station, also has plenty to offer. Find classic dim sum, perfect for brunch, at Hei The Moon, Winsor Dim Sum Caféand the recently renovated Chinese pearlthe oldest Chinese restaurant in the city. China Pearl owner Brian Moy also owns a mod Asian gastropub called Shōjōwhere you’ll find tea-infused cocktails, an extensive Japanese whiskey collection, and a kimcheese burger in a bao bun.

Located just steps from the river southeast of South Station, the Boston Seaport has undergone a major transformation over the past decade, with many new developments — among them a handful of independent restaurants, if you know where seek. Woods Hill Pier 4 offers beautiful water views and fresh New England fare – look for dishes made with ingredients from the company’s New Hampshire farm, like green tomato-glazed pork shoulder and mushrooms on the polenta.

A larger, very energetic group could try Lolita-Fort Pointa Mexican-inspired spot; Mr. Ha new Chinese-inspired restaurant; or really one of the other local restaurants nearby COJE Steering Group – they’re all classy and loud, with pulsing, clubby soundtracks, tons of space, and large-format food and drinks such as Mr. H’s Golden Panda Bowl, featuring Coconut Cartel white rum, water Apricot brandy, pandan jasmine tea, passion fruit, pineapple, coconut orgeat, ginger and lime.

If you have time the day before or after a match and want to get dressed, don’t miss Grace by Niaa chic supper club from restaurateur Nia Grace celebrating black excellence. Expect plush teal seats, golden palm fronds overhead, and stunning city views. Cocktails like the Unfashioned – Uncle Nearest 1884 whiskey, Amaro Nonino, brown sugar simple syrup and Angostura bitters – pair wonderfully with soul food like blackened shrimp and cheddar polenta cakes in a creamy tomato sauce, all accompanied by live music ranging from jazz to R&B to funk.