Bolyards
Episode 15 | Date: July 30, 2025
Match: STL City SC vs Aston Villa, international friendly
Vendor: Bolyard’s, Section 101 by the Southeast gate
I ordered it so you do not have to. Turns out you might want to. Bolyard’s in Section 101 serves the only cheesesteak I can recommend at Energizer Park, plus Pulled Beef Nachos that are colorful and easy to share. Here are honest notes on flavor, value, shareability, and quick tips for lines and mobile pickup.
Stadium cheesesteaks can be a coin flip. Soft bread. Bland meat. Cheese that looks shiny and tastes like nothing. I walked up, thinking this would be another one of those. It was not. This corner by the Southeast gate is always buzzing, drums carrying over the crowd and kids weaving through the line. It feels like game day should.
Ordering and first look
Mobile ordering works in the app, but pickup is not obvious at the stand. I still waited in line and told them I had a mobile order. The staff were friendly and got the order right, but they were stretched during the rush. A small “mobile pickup here” sign would fix most of it.
Wait time: around 10 to 15 minutes before kickoff.
Philly Cheesesteak — $18.99
What you get
Toasted hoagie, thin-sliced steak, caramelized onions and peppers, and cheese sauce.
First bite
The steak tastes like beef first. Peppers and onions are cooked down and sweet. The cheese stays warm and gooey without taking over. The bread has a light toast and its own flavor. It all lines up.
Budget Friendly| 3/3
Packed to the edge. It feels like a full meal, not a side. They did not skimp on the meat or toppings.
Shareability | 2/3
Halves work. Anything beyond that gets messy unless you move some meat to another tray with a fork.
Flavor | 3/3
Hands down the best cheesesteak in the building. While others touted bulgogi flavor or drenched it in more cheese, they were just trying to hide the fact that their meat had little to no flavor. Bolyards starts with an amazingly flavored steak before layering on a gooey cheese that actually complements the steak flavor. The bread was not a flavorless sponge like the other places, but had its own flavor and texture that rounded out the entire entree. If you are at the stadium and want a cheesesteak, this is the only place I can recommend!
Bottom line
If you want a cheesesteak at Energizer Park, this is the one.
Pulled Beef Nachos — $17.99
What you get
Tortilla chips, cheese sauce, pulled beef, candied jalapeños, crème fraîche, and tomatoes.
First look
I usually don't care what my food looks like; I’m going to eat it. However, these nachos looked like something out of a magazine. They were not a monotone plate, but they were popping with color. The chips were a nice crispy brown, the cheese was a golden yellow, the pulled beef looked like burnt ends, and then there were the perfectly ripe-looking jalapenos bringing a bright green to the dish, but not to be outdone by the tomatos bringing a bright red.
Budget Friendliness| 3/3
Compare these nachos to anywhere else in the stadium, and they meet or exceed the value. Beast BBQ nachos are probably still a slightly higher value, but both are 3-star.
Shareability | 3/3
Nachos are made for sharing, and these are no exception. With the mountain of toppings and chips, make sure you get an extra tray or 2 so you can share these.
Flavor | 3/3
As mentioned in the first impressions, the variety of colors typically means a variety in flavors, and this was true. Each bite had its own flavor profile depending on the proportion of toppings. It was not a homogeneous blob like you get with some nachos, each ingredient served its purpose well. The chips were perfectly crisp and would get to the right level of soggy by the end. The pulled beef was a large quantity, and the flavor was intentional, not some cheap meat they threw on top and covered with cheese and hoped it would be good; they started with great meat and complemented it with everything else.
Bottom line
One of the only perfect scores in the stadium, and it was well deserved.
Ratings recap
Philly Cheesesteak: Flavor 3/3, Value 3/3, Shareability 2/3 | Total: 8/9
Pulled Beef Nachos: Flavor 3/3, Value 3/3, Shareability 3/3 | Total: 9/9
Best for
Couples or families. Solo fans should grab the cheesesteak. Groups should start with the nachos.
Line watch
This stand stays active to kickoff. Go early if you want zero stress.
Budget tip
Cheesesteak can feed a child and an adult fan. Nachos comfortably feed two, maybe three.
Kid-friendliness
No kids menu, but spice is low. Candied jalapeños are sweet and are easy to set aside.
What I would improve
Add a clear mobile pickup sign and a small handoff spot. That is it.
When to go
If mobile pickup gets a sign, anytime. For now, aim for early pre-match or be okay with a short line up to kickoff. Halftime is packed.
Will I order again
Yes. One hundred percent.
Final bite
I ordered it so you do not have to. Turns out you might want to. Bolyard’s made the cheesesteak worth recommending and the nachos worth sharing. If you are struggling to figure what to eat and want a budget-friendly, shareable, and flavorful meal, put Section 101 on it.
If this review helped, share it with a friend headed to Energizer Park. For hot day gear and clear stadium bags, check my fan-tested picks on the blog. Join the email list to get new reviews before the next home match.
Loaded Nachos
Flavorful Cheesesteak
Split Nachos
