Ever wondered where NBA players eat when they’re in Boston? If not, you should. As the New York Times wrote in 2024, “The best basketball players on the planet travel regularly, embrace local cultures and have deep pockets — making them very credible reviewers of restaurants across the country.” 

In honor of the 76th NBA season kicking off in less than a month, our team at Strega put together a list of where the Celtics, along with away teams, eat when they’re in Beantown. Read more below!

Where Celtics Players Eat When They’re in Boston:

As the Times wrote, “Word-of-mouth recommendations between players are a major part of N.B.A. restaurant culture.” In the Celtics franchise, Strega Boston has been passed along as a top place to eat in the city. During their years on the team, former Celtics players Shaquille O’Neal and Paul Pierce frequented the North End Italian restaurant, Strega. Since then, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum have both visited the restaurant. (During his outing, Tatum bought everyone shots.)

Where Celtics Coaches Eat When They’re in Boston:

In a 2023 interview with the radio station 98.5, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla gushed over the Italian restaurant Strega Boston. “I love going there. Their vodka sauce is really good at Strega.”  A year later, after the Celtics won the 2024 NBA Finals, Mazzulla took a “victory trip” down to Strega, Larry O Brien trophy in hand. 

Where Out-of-Town Players Eat When They’re in Boston:

Dallas Mavericks’ Anthony Davis is a frequent diner at Strega Boston. In early February, he ordered his favorite dish at the restaurant: an off-menu shrimp parmigiana. 

In 2021, after becoming the NBA’s all-time 3-point scorer, Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry dined at Strega Boston. The restaurant presented him with a one-of-a-kind dish: a cheese pizza with “2974” spelled out in leftover dough, referring to Ray Allen’s former all-time 3-point record, which Curry had surpassed. 

Ready to Eat Where the NBA Eats When They’re in Boston? Reserve Your Table at Strega Boston, the North End’s #1 Italian Restaurant, Today!

Voted Boston’s “Best Place to Spot a Celeb”, and “Best Place to See an Out-of-Town Celeb”, we also make really good Italian food, too. From our signature Mama’s meatball to our decadent, seafood pastas, our Italian food is the real deal. Ready to book your table with us in the North End? Contact Strega Boston today on our website or call us at 617-523-8481. We’ll be in touch soon.