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Name: Stella
Address: 1525 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118
Telephone: (617) 247-7747
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.86

Stella

1525 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118

(617) 247-7747
Store is closed

Stella Menu

Antipasti

Marinated Beets

Caesar Salad

Arugula Salad

Crudo Misto

Grilled Italian Sausage

Spicy Mussels

Sweet Corn Soup

Parmesan Arancini

Bistecca Tartare

Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts

Beef Carpaccio
Grilled Pizze

Quattro Funghi

House Pickled Banana Peppers

Braised Short Rib

Margherita
Le Paste

Tagliatelle

Ling Uine

Spaghetti

Orecchiette

Spaghetti

Stella Homemade Gnocchi
Pesci / Carni

Swordfish

Pork Milanese

Honey Glazed Salmon

Seafood Risotto

Roasted Chicken

Pan Seared Sole

Grass Fed Bavette Steak

Braised Short Ribs
Contorni

Crispy Fries

Broccoli Rabe

Roasted Cauliflower

Grilled Asparagus
Dessert

Tiramisu

Chocolate Mousse

Classic Cannoli

Apple Crostada

Chocolate Torte

Stella Cheese Trio

Warm Pecan Pie

House Chocolate Walnut Biscotti

Selections Of Gelato

Selections Of Sorbetto

Healthy Meal suggestions for Stella

Antipasti

Marinated Beets [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugula Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crudo Misto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Italian Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spicy Mussels [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Corn Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Parmesan Arancini [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bistecca Tartare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beef Carpaccio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Grilled Pizze

Quattro Funghi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Pickled Banana Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braised Short Rib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Margherita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Le Paste

Tagliatelle [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ling Uine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Orecchiette [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stella Homemade Gnocchi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pesci / Carni

Swordfish [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Milanese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Honey Glazed Salmon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Seafood Risotto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pan Seared Sole [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grass Fed Bavette Steak [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Braised Short Ribs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Contorni

Crispy Fries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Broccoli Rabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Roasted Cauliflower [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grilled Asparagus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Mousse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Classic Cannoli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Apple Crostada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Torte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stella Cheese Trio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Pecan Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Chocolate Walnut Biscotti [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selections Of Gelato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Selections Of Sorbetto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Boston Common Coffee Co. ( 97 Salem St )

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Visit below restaurant in Boston for healthy meals suggestion.

Einstein Bros Bagels ( 725 Commonwealth Ave )

Write An Anonymous Review

Alexander I.

Decided to go here because there was a 2 hr wait at Toro. To start off with, the bread is amazing. Had the orecchiette. The sausage was great and there was a perfect amount of chile flakes to give it a little kick. I also ordered a side One of my friends had the crispy roasted chicken. It was half a chicken! He can eat a lot, but couldn't finish it. The chicken was moist and tasted great. I forgot what my other two friends had, but each tasted great. I would definitely recommend this place. The service was great too.
(5)
adrianna C.

I love this place..I love this place.. did i say I LOVE THIS PLACE. OUTSTANDING menu, great drink selection, comfie decor and mature audience, that is trendy and sophisticated. Great Patio seating, wonderful staff and very very clean. The only problem would be, being able to get a table in this popular hot spot. The place is always full. Great for them !!! This is the place to go out with friends and family..
(4)
olivia c.

I had been to Stella for drinks before and late night and I taught that the spot had a nice bar scene. I recently made it in for brunch with a few friends of mine and we had a blast. They have the best Drag Queens music!!! I left the restaurant wanting to hit a nightclub. The bartender Lieum (not sure of spelling?) was hilarious and made our experience exceptional. The food was great, I had a chorizo, corn, ricotta fritatta. My friends had eggs benedict that were quite delicious. The drinks were great, had some bellinis and some guava drink that was great. Overall I think that Stella's bar has a great fun ambiance for brunch and will definitely be back with my friends again!
(4)
Paul C.

Dinner was fine but very pricey for what we got. Restaurant should let people know about special limited menu for Val day while making reservation. I would have rather ordered off the menu. Service was mid range
(3)
Samantha L.

I came here on a Thursday night while visiting my friend who lives in the South End. She comes here all the time with her friends and they love it. I loved it too! We came at around 8pm - me, my friend, and her friend. We sat outside, and it was great! I'd recommend coming here with friends, family, or a date. It seems to fit the bill for any type of company you are in. RESTAURANT OVERVIEW: -We sat outside and I did not make it inside. It looked nice inside though. The tables outside are great if you are eating here in the warm weather. APPS: -Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts / country mustard remoulade: These were great to start. I typically do not like anything fried, but they were not too heavy. DINNER: -Orecchiette / Chile flakes / sausage / cured tomato: This was so good! Definitely recommend. It's also a huge portion - you can split this easily or just have leftovers to take home. DRINKS: -Red Wine Sangria: This was delish! Great sangria. SERVICE: -So nice and attentive. Our waiter was great.
(4)
Bob D.

I have always loved this place. Lived in the neighbor for as long as they have been here... and still one of my go to places. Food is great... though I always have the same thing. Usually arugula salad and a Margherita pizza. The salad is really good, light dressing, little parmesan and endives. And the pizza is awesome. Thin crust. We usually sit at the front bar, great bartenders, great atmosphere... always a lot of fun! And they serve food very late! 1am on weekend I think.
(5)
Holly B.

Nice atmosphere and location! Not a hard liquor drinker so their drink menu worked for me. I had the "sex on the patio" lol, very good if you like mango/fruity. We went for happy hour as they have half off apps so it was pretty crowed. Only 1 waitress at the bar so you had to wait some time but average for that time of day. She was nice not too friendly but makes good drinks. For 1/2 off deals, we had the Nacho bolognese, 2 Caesar salads, a beet salad and the arrincini balls (I know I spelled that soooo wrong lol) and all were good and filling for $6 each. The bread they give with the white bean hummus is a def must try. My other coworkers said the brick and dinner are also good too. Would def return and try both dinner and brunch.
(4)
Alex M.

Excellent food and ambiance. I went with my boyfriend and it's super romantic, but they also had huge groups there so it fit both styles. Everything we got was excellent: seafood risotto, pork Milanese, the pecan with gelato and chocolate mousse were delicious
(5)
Mr. F.

The food was great and they clearly try hard to make it a fine dining experience, but everything they did right got overshadowed by the following simple mistake... when you run a restaurant and decide to position 2-top tables close together you really must instruct your wait staff NOT to stand in the middle of the table corridor when taking one table's order because doing so results in THE REAR END OF THE WAITER BEING INCHES FROM THE FACE OF THE PEOPLE SITTING AT THE NEXT TABLE TRYING TO ENJOY THEIR MEAL...just pick one side or the other to interface with the tables, this really should be intuitive.
(2)
Alik W.

It's solid, though with rough spots. At the advice of a table mate, I got the tagliatelle bolognese, plus the fried artichokes that I couldn't pass up. Both were excellent. Also both incredibly heavy, I'm not a light eater and I simply could not finish that main course. And that's after I gave a few artichokes away to friends. The pasta was the winner, with a sauce that was rich, chewy, and optimally salted. Did not need a thing. Rough spot 1: drinks. Cocktail menu reads like a trendy tropical restaurant, all mango and grapefruit and raspberry. No use of Italian liqueurs in the house signatures, which is tragic. Plus, what's on offer just isn't tasty enough to justify the $13 tag. Rough spot 1.5: wine. Our host asked for guidance about which to choose. Guidance was entirely "oh, we sell a lot of this one." That's not much help. Rough spot 2: bread. Uninspired bean spread, no olive oil or butter. Nice focaccia, though. Rough spot 3: dessert. Again, just nothing unusual or interesting. It probably didn't help that we were stuffed, see above. Anyway, it's not bad, I'd eat here again. I just would order differently, like splitting a main course with someone.
(4)
Rick M.

Stella has a great rep for plating up some fantastic dishes and this time was no exception. We went for Sunday brunch and ordered the bagel with smoked salmon and the linguini carbonara with smoked bacon and spit the two dishes between us. The carbonara sauce was rich and creamy with a nice smokey flavor from the bacon. I'm pretty sure the pasta was fresh made. The smoked salmon was also smokey and had a smooth clean texture. Both dishes were more than satisfactory. The prices were not over the top and the service was good! Five stars this visit!
(5)
Lynn W.

Delicious dinner at Stella. We've heard great things about Stella and it lived up to our expectations. Service was excellent, ambiance was refreshing, and the food was very, very good. - Orecchiette with sausage and chilli flakes: Delicious. Not very spicy. We asked for extra chilli flakes on the side - Quattro Funghi pizza: Good, a little too heavy / cheese covered for my taste but yummy. - Roasted cauliflower: Surprisingly delicious. Very crisp and flavorful. Major win. Very generous portions. Quick service. Great drinks. Not loud at all - very easy to talk and hear the person across from you. And very reasonably priced - most of their entrees were in the high teens / low twenties. Worth going back to!
(4)
H M.

I will NEVER come here for brunch ever, again! The waitress was terrible. Not even a bad day terrible, just really should not be working in a restaurant. My coffee came with coffee spilled all over my cup, and coffee grounds in it and around the rim! My friend's cup had a coffee stain just above the line in which they filled the cup. They give you non-refrigerated cream --is this a premiere dining place in the S.End or not? When we asked for a different cup of coffee and then a refill - what kind of waitress returns with no sugar or cream, no spoon to stir your coffee? They put a coffee stirrer in there. This place was just terrible and I will never recommend it to anyone. Their restrooms didn't have any a/c during a hot summer day - do I need to state how disgusting that can turn out to be?
(1)
Emily S.

I was really excited to finally try Stella for dinner and made reservations for my (half) birthday. I'm disappointed to report that my experience was not very pleasant. Although the hostess was very nice, our waiter and busboy were awful - they were rude and impatient. We had the watermelon and prosciutto appetizer which was fine, but the watermelon was really cold, which I found odd. I had the tagliatelle bolognese which was tasty, but there was too much sauce. My boyfriend had the spaghetti and meatballs which was just ok (the meatballs at Coppa are a lot better). The worst part about the dinner was that the waiter made a big fuss over whether we wanted one bag or two bags for our leftovers. And to top it off, we ordered the sorbet for dinner ... and it never showed up!!! Thankfully it was not included in our check, but we were sitting there waiting and waiting and finally gave up when we asked for the check. There are so many good restaurants in the South End, Stella is just not worth it when there are so many better options.
(2)
Serena J.

Love love love this place. Fantastic service. Fantastic food. Fantastic atmosphere. Every time we have guests in time this is a must. Honestly has better pasta than many places in the north end. Will keep coming back.
(5)
Annie K.

BRUNCH REVIEW: We were seated in the spill over dining area even though the restaurant had just opened and there was plenty of room in the main dining area. This room was cold and dark and apparently too far for our servers since our waitress' service felt sporadic and haphazard. The servers who brought our food though we're warm and friendly. My duck omelet and side salad were good but the toast legitimately tasted like cardboard. I will not be visiting again - at least not for brunch.
(3)
Amelia S.

We had been here a few times previous to this visit but it had been a few years since our last visit. Happy to say that it was exactly as I had remembered. Our server was fantastic and immediately agreed to split our party of six into three bills to make things easier on everyone. The bread (always my favorite part of a meal) had good taste but could ahve been better if it was warm. I liked the hummus spread instead of butter. The white sleek trendy ambiance of the restaurant was really cute- and the snow was falling so it made it even better. We all got different dishes and loved them. We started with an arugula salad which could have had a little more flavor but my salmon/spaghetti squash was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. The best piece of salmon I have ever had in my life. We will def be back.... everything was really good. Salad, 1 drink, 2 entrees came to about $100 with tax and tip.
(4)
L H.

Ordered the asparagus cream linguine, crispy fries, broccoli rabe and roasted cauliflower. The place was packed but we didn't have to wait to be seated which was great. But the downside was the service was incredibly slow. It took us at least 30-45 min to just get our wine. The courses came out at a snail's pace. The flavor of the food was good but there was way too much butter in the asparagus cream linguine which was disappointing because if there was less butter, the dish would have been superb. I was also disappointed with how oily the broccoli rabe was. The roasted cauliflower was good. The prices were just too high to justify the quality of the food.
(2)
Ying X.

Words cannot describe how in love with this place I am. I could rave for paragraphs and paragraphs (and possibly run out of space in this review) and still not give Stella the credit it deserves. Granted, I only came for brunch, so I can't speak for their dinner menu, but as a brunch place, it's absolutely perfect. Probably the only place that can compete is Stephi's. We ordered the eggs benedict (with salmon) and the duck confit hash 'n eggs, and I cannot describe how much their eggs benedict blew my mind. The yolk was the perfect runny consistency, and the flavor of everything just blended together so well that you're pretty much having an orgasm in your mouth with each bite. Their duck confit is a bit drier than expected at first, but if you let the yolk from the poached egg soak into the meat, then it develops the ideal texture. My favorite part of the meal, however, is unquestionably their dessert. We went with the chocolate torte, which is easily one of the best chocolate desserts I've ever had. It wasn't too sweet (which I find happens pretty often with chocolate cakes), but still maintained a strong cocoa flavor that is enhanced and aptly complimented by their vanilla gelato. My boyfriend also ordered their pumpkin mule, and I tried a sip - never had I wished more that I could actually handle alcohol. It is basically everything I want in a drink (pumpkin and ginger), and the two flavors came together perfectly. You can also barely taste the alcohol, which only made me want to drink it even more. Alas, I wasn't planning on already being horizontal at 1pm on a Sunday afternoon, so I had to be satisfied with my small sip. My only disappointment was with their cappuccino - it tasted like something you could get from Starbucks, but for twice the price. Otherwise, I would definitely come back again and again until my pants stopped fitting or I go broke, whichever happens first.
(5)
Cristy Z.

OMG! I need to start dramatically because there's no way I can disappoint with this recommendation. Stella was absolutely amazing! I'm in Boston for the weekend (moving in my sister) and I'll definitely be back just to eat here. We walked (10-15 minutes) to get to Stella from her apartment in South End. It was a nice walk, we sat and were starving. We ordered a crudo with salmon and tuna. It was incredibly refreshing with hints of lemon. Then I split the pasta bolognese with my husband. I shouldn't have. Well I should because it was pretty big but it was so good I wanted it all for myself. Seriously though, I think that pasta bolognese was the best I've ever had (and I've been to Italy). There was something about how the meat was chunky and chewy but then tasted like cheese had been folded in. My sister and her boyfriend also had a grilled sausage appetizer and short rib/fig pizza which they loved. I recommend it because their happiness with it showed! We ended with a chocolate moose with biscotti crumble on top - do yourself a favor, just get it. Service was great and fast.
(5)
Soo U.

Had an early Sunday dinner here- very attentive and friendly staff (they even gave me football updates). Drinks- cocktails were good. Food- gnocchi (this is five stars, so pillowy soft and a great spicy sauce), bistecca tartare (well seasoned but the egg was slightly overcooked), carpaccio (amazing, would not change a thing), braised short rib pizza (great combination of flavors- beef, Gorgonzola, fig), duck pappardelle (duck was perfectly cooked, the dish was a bit heavy).
(4)
MacKenzie D.

This place is pretty awesome. I go here a lot when all of my friends are in town. It has a very, very modern ambiance... which I love. Clean is the word I find most fitting to explain this place. They had a lively bar crowd, and the dining area is roomy, with again, a modern vibe. The portion sizes aren't huge. I had the swordfish- it was really, really good, I think sticking with a main entree of 'pasta' or 'pesce' would be your best bet if you are super hungry since that is the most food you are going to get. For pizzas (flatbreads) I would suggest the Quattro Funghi (shiitake, crimini, oyster, truffle oil). Again, super good- but not filling at all. They give you a yummy piece of bread when you start the meal... I wish I could have asked for another round ( i never do because hello judgement, sorry I LIKE MY CARBS) Anyway, its definitely a go-to restaurant!
(4)
Chris C.

I have been to this south end restaurant many times and always come away satisfied and feeling like I can't wait to return. I don't think there is a better recommendation I can give.
(5)
Boy W.

Not cool letting people smoke cigars on your patio. Not only do they smell awful, but smoking is illegal at restaurants in boston.
(1)
Joyce D.

I just moved to the South End recently, and had not been out to many places. I took my parents here while they visited this past weekend, and chose Stella because it was walking distance from my apartment. I couldn't have been happier with the decision. The place itself is beautiful, there is indoor and outdoor seating, and the food was terrific. Ovi was our waiter, and he was excellent. He was very attentive and really knowledgeable about the menu. My parents loved the place as well and they are difficult to please. I'll definitely put Stella on my list of restaurants to frequent.
(5)
Samuel F.

Was a fun dinner! The place was crowded, so it took a bit of time to get an order in at the bar while waiting for the rest of the group, but the service was generally good. The Sofie Cocktail was a great twist on the champagne cocktail. If you like beer cocktails that one's a great presentation of a lovely beer. Though the delicious cranberries floating in the drink make it a bit hard to sip while looking dignified. The portions of pasta are huge and hearty. The bolognese was delicious and more than enough for two meals. That make it very convenient for a Saturday night dinner, pack up the leftovers and you'll have a lazy Sunday lunch ready when your food coma extends into the next day.
(4)
James R.

I visited Stella a few weeks ago for dinner. We split Crudo Misto which was delicious. I had the salmon and my date had the swordfish (which I also had the good fortune of sampling). The salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. The restaurant was busy but not loud and the service was prompt. I have no complaints and got what I expected from Stella. Its another good option in the neighborhood.
(4)
Vivian C.

The short: Service was lacking. The food was (mostly) good. The long: We managed to obtain a 1:30pm reservation for Brunch one Sunday morning, so we made our way out to this corner spot just a green space block away from Flour South End on Washington Street. They had a rather long patio area, but the indoor dining space was contemporary and quite... white... with bar seating on one side with counter seats around. The duck listed on the menu tempted 3 of our party of 4. Between the Frittata Chorizo Sweet Corn Herbed Ricotta Home Fries $9 and Duck Confit Hash N' Eggs Sweet Red Pepper, Onions, Two Poached Eggs Homefries and Toast $12, I preferred the duck confit hash as the frittata was relatively a bit on the bland side. Also tasty was the Duck Omelet Duck Confit Crumbled Goat Cheese Mushrooms (sans Mushrooms by request) Baby Spinach $11 that I had the opportunity to sample. Portions were each entree we ordered was pretty good. The shredded duck in the hash was generous and obvious to the eye. The named homefries were actual twin roasted potatoes found on each plate. The first of mine was just fine, though the other was rather mealy, perchance due to the break in the skin? The poached eggs were oozy in the center as expected, although one DC detected too much vinegar in hers. Carb options consisted of white, wheat, or English muffin. Unfortunately the toast arrived overtoasted - one diner claimed hers to be too crisp to enjoy, while mine was burnt on the edges. The English muffin bore better treatment. The mixed greens salad which arrived on some plates was drenched with a too vinegary dressing on mine - so much as to be questionable in health, and not enjoyable in the least. We never did get our ketchup as no one ever came by to check on us. Even paying our bill was a chore despite the fact that we were one of the few remaining parties of the shift. In contrast to the blaring whiteness of their indoor dining space, the ladies room was just way too dark. PS - there is a single step leading up to the entrance of the restaurant. I don't know if they have an alternative entrance or not for those for whom this step would be prohibitive.
(3)
Janet H.

Eh... I don't know what the hype is all about for Stella. I've always noticed this place in South End because of its bright yellow exterior design and the place always seemed packed when I'm walking by at night. The food wasn't really memorable... pizza was just okay (I like Picco's way better a few blocks down) and the risotto was... strange and bland. Pretty disappointed. I wouldn't come back. The bar wasn't any better. The sangria tasted like cough syrup. It was pretty disgusting. Thank you, bartender, for switching out the sangria for a glass of wine. Towards the end of the meal, it got super uncomfortable because it was ridiculously warm inside... I seriously felt nauseous. I was sitting next to the thermostat and it read 80 degrees!!! I thought I was going to pass out. For the price of the food, it definitely was not worth it. As a broke graduate student, I wished I spent $40 elsewhere.
(2)
Maddie C.

Stella was a wonderful choice for dinner with an old friend. We made reservations which I always recommend and upon arrival five minutes early, the staff seated us immediately. We were brought water and bread immediately as we looked over the menu. We ordered a Caesar salad to start, holding the anchovies, with the asparagus linguine and gnocchi to follow. The salad was simply lovely. The waitress kindly asked if we were splitting it and brought it out already divided into two bowls. The portions were huge! Then came the mains. I did not try my friend's gnocchi, but she gobbled it up gladly, marveling at the taste. I too was in awe of my linguine. I have never tasted a cream sauce that delicious or been able to that eating asparagus was such a pleasure. I will probably ask for a more cooked egg next time though. I found the running of the yoke did not do wonders for the sauce. Nevertheless, I strongly recommend it! Overall it was a lovely meal and I cannot wait to go back! My only complaint was how loud it was inside, but it's the South End- you have to expect it.
(4)
Shiri B.

Main courses were excellent!! We had the homemade gnocchi and the linguine with poached egg, truffle, thyme. Our friends had the same pasta as well as the braised short ri s and said it was great as well. Appetizers were nice (the bread was a bit dry and the spread that came with it was ok), but nothing out of the ordinary. Desserts were excellent - we had the apple tart, pecan pie, and sorbet. Bathrooms (ladies) were not very clean, and had papers on the floor. Also, some of our table chairs weren't clean. When you pick an all-white decor you need to ensure it stays white all the time... Still, it was a very enjoyable evening and I'll be back for the pastas! :-)
(4)
Virginia C.

Good service, Great atmosphere, Happy Hour Specials... what more can you ask for? If anything, this place is consistent on quality and service. Things to do: 1) Beef Short Rib Flat Bread Pizza (Solid) 2) Go to Happy hour from 4-6pm. All appz are $5.00 3) Bolognese Nachos. I thought this sounded disgusting - but it was good. 4) Beef Carpaccio 5) Arancini 6) Tartor Tots... I'm serious- like high end Tartor Tots.. 7) Grill Salmon (Perfectly cooked) 8) Solid Cocktails Things to overlook: 1) Marinated Beets - ehhhh 2) They don't have any more hard CIDER-- please take this off the menu then!! 3) Bread... ehhh Because of the friendly service and in the heart of the South end, I will be coming back. And this is a great first date place or meeting up with old friends.
(4)
John K.

Nice staff. Trendy. Good food. When I'm in town, I almost always hit up Stella. The bartenders know their shit, and I have a weakness for their pizzas and pastas here. Brunch is an odd mix of mommy-with-baby and gay(?) guys with their girlfriends. Dinner and late night, though, is about as trendy as Boston gets. Skip Club Cafe and come here instead. (No offense Club Cafe, but people fart there a lot.)
(4)
Jessica Y.

I love Stella!!! I have celiac disease and am required to eat gluten free. They have a great an extensive gluten free menu where I didn't feel like I missed out on the culinary experience that everyone is constantly raving about. I always get the gluten free bolognese and it's to die for. Not to mention their cocktail list is fantastic and so is their wine selection! I like to get the #17 (it's a grapefruit drink) with a bottle of Pinot noir.
(5)
Andrew B.

The food and drinks were 5 stars; they was excellent and reasonably priced. The parking situation was 0 stars. I used their valet service when I arrived and paid $16 for it. Before dessert, I walked outside of the restaurant to make a call. I see my car sitting right in-front of the restaurant with a valet in it idling my car with the heat on full blast. Note: I had not given anyone my valet ticket yet and had not asked for my car to be picked up. My fuel gauge showed that there was noticeably less gas left than when I had dropped off the car. Looking around, I realized the valets are not allowed to stand inside of the restaurant (I think they might work for a third party company). I felt somewhat bad for the valet himself because it was freezing out and he might of had limited options to warm up. However, regardless of who is at fault (the restaurant for not letting the valets inside, the valet company for allowing the bad arrangement, or the valet for doing something clearly inappropriate) it is not acceptable to have customers pay for valet so that their cars can be idled with the on heat full blast for 2+ hours while eating dinner.
(2)
Keisha W.

Love Stella's Awesome wait staff our waiter was the best. Drinks are De-Lish I had "Sex on The Patio" and my girlfriends had watermelon 2 ways can't remember the official name but is the first drink on the menu and it was just as good as mine. The food is amazing from the pastas to the rib eye it all was to die for. It was a beautiful night to eat enjoy good and drinks outside. Definitely will be going back to Stella's
(5)
Marco M.

I came in here as a party of 4 on a Saturday night, and good thing we had reservations because the place was packed...inside and out. We had requested seating outside, but it was an hour wait more than we wanted, so we just sat in the middle dining area. TIP: There is a back bar in the 3rd dining room, so head back there if the one up front is PACKED. For appetizers, we decided to go with the crispy fried artichoke hearts & country mustard remoulade that was EXCELLENT. I would recommend this dish in the fall when they are in season but they had GREAT consistency inside and not much batter on the outside. We also gave the parmesan arancini which were OK. They had a very rich portion of mozzarella inside that made these a bit heavier than I was expecting. For entrees, we did a mixture of fish and pasta. For pastas, we did the orecchiette with sausage and chili flakes that was OK - overall a bit bland for my taste and the rigatoni with bolognese that I cannot vouch for. Disclaimer: portions are HUGE, so bring your appetite. For fish, we did the Salmon that I did not taste and the swordfish that was a bit on the DRY side, but it was balanced well with asparagus and capers. Nothing on the dessert menu really stuck out to us, so we just ordered a round of espressos. The server gave these complimentary to offset some of the slower service throughout the night which I thought was nice. She was very friendly and the atmosphere was upscale/trendy but also had families with kids in a more casual setting in the 3rd dining room. Overall, the ambiance allowed for easy conversation, bill was very reasonably priced with 2 bottles of wine and I think I would come back but not go out of my way for next time. Buon appetito.
(3)
Alexis B.

Came in here for drinks at the bar with my friend. The drink was yummy and the bartender as well as other employees were friendly. Super clean and nice looking place!
(5)
Ashley P.

We made reservations for a large group for brunch and everything was great! We sat in the cafe side of the restaurant which was more of a private room to ourselves (away from the main dining area). Everyone was happy with their meals. Some standout dishes were the duck confit hash and eggs - a large helping of duck, shaved potatoes, onions,red peppers covered with 2 poached eggs and a side of 2 slices of toast and potatoes - the eggs Benedict (pretty standard but delicious), and the linguine carbonara (a large portion for brunch). The vanilla bean creme brÃ»lÃ©e was my favorite dessert of them all. Even though this is considered an Italian restaurant, the brunch menu was far from it. I highly recommend it even for a large group.
(4)
Anna M.

This place was truly amazing, from the service to the food I cannot wait to go back! We had a reservation for 6:30 on a Sunday night, which I'm glad we did since it was so crowded. When we first arrived we were seated fairly close to the noisy bar and as soon as the hostess noticed we were uncomfortable at that table she brought us right back to a different, quieter table which I thought was so nice of her. Our waiter was so sweet and very helpful. He gave us enough time with the menu and between courses that we could take our time but didn't feel neglected. The food was to die for! I got the linguine which came with a poached egg and had an asparagus cream sauce. I honestly had to stop myself from eating it all so that I could bring some home to enjoy the next day. Everyone I was with loved their meal as well. I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)
Ryan R.

Went here with a friend to grab dinner on a Monday night. The place was decently crowded, even around 830 when we arrived. We were greeted right away and since we had a reservation, we were seated in the main room. To start, they gave us each a piece of bread, which came with an interesting spread. It was fine, nothing memorable, but satiated me for the time being. I can't remember the name of the drink I ordered, but it was pretty good and had peach and ginger in it. For my main entree, I ordered the salmon. This piece of salmon was cooked beautifully. It was reminiscent of my father's salmon that he cooks that I have always enjoyed. It was so moist and flavorful and went well with the glazing. They may have left off the skin which is a little disappointing, but I didn't even notice in the moment because it was so good. The salmon was served over a bed of sweet potatoes and onions with mushrooms, which was the perfect accompaniment to the fish. Overall, I was very impressed by the food and service at Stella and hope to try out some other dishes on the menu sometime soon!
(5)
Peter M.

My girlfriend and I thought to try out a new place and had a wonderful experience at Stella. The food, service and ambiance were all superb. The server we had was nice and attentive but never intrusive. Ambiance was also fantastic, Stella has a nice size patio with ample seating. Wile the noise level is a little higher outside the rstaurant still feels very intimate. Food also scores high marks. We dined on parmesean arancini, pan seared sole and tagliatelle bolognese all of which were mighty delicious. The bolognese however was quite heavy and its a big portion so come hungry if you get it! All in all I enjoyed Stella and will certainly return for another meal!
(4)
Kristen M.

I've been to Stella in the past and must say I was previously more impressed. I feel the menu to be quite vague. Luckily the waitress was there to clarify a few things for us. We ordered the mussels for starter and they showed up appearing like a soup? We were beyond confused and waiting for fh fm to perhaps show up with the mussels separate from the sauce but alas, no. The mussels were already de shelled and put in this heavy (delicious) broth. I personally prefer opening my own mussels. Had they specified on the menu they were served de shelled I may have re thought my decision. Entrees were very tasty the serving size was decent not huge for the price. My LEAST favorite thing about this visit was the AMBIANCE. We were sat in the back dining area. It was so white and dank. The music wasn't even on and to be honest it just felt cold and super awkward. The front room appeared more busy and romantic which is what I was anticipating this visit to be. Sadly not the case.
(3)
Jenn Z.

Came here for both brunch and dinner. Tried the egg benedict and the French Toast for brunch. Both were very good but given how trendy this place seems, I would've expected the menu to showcase something more unique. From what I've seen, the selection for brunch seemed to be on the conservative side. As for the drinks, the chardonnay we had was decent but the sangria tasted more like honey liquor. For dinner I've tried the salmon and the linguine, both I thought were OK but could use more flavors. While the service has been good, I did find the restaurant to be a bit noisy for conversations.
(3)
Kay C.

Great Italian restaurant - here from out of town visiting in-laws and they took us here for dinner. Nice atmosphere sitting outside on the patio and we had perfect weather. Great service, and the Italian food was definitely on point. For appetizers we tried the carpaccio and the crudo - both very good. I had the linguine for dinner - was done perfectly al dente, fresh pasta - and perfectly poached egg. You get a lot of food. Others got the bolognese - can tell that it was simmered for a long time and tasted great. Surprised at the reviews about bad service, I thought ours was just fine. We did hear a couple of glasses being broken though here and there - oops!
(4)
XiaoQi W.

Food wasn't good at all and definitely doesn't worth the price. Service was good but the items the waitress recommended for us was absolutely horrible. I ordered a medium rare steak but it came out more like medium well. Overall, don't recommend this restaurant.
(2)
Paige T.

Ovi was an amazing waiter to go along with an amazing meal! He catered to us like we were the only people in the entire restaurant! He was very informative and knew the specials and menu like the back of his hand! This was my first experience at Stella and I will 100% be back! Requesting Ovi as a waiter! 5 stars!
(5)
Joseph G.

We had a good experience overall. the service was good. food was great. 4 stars because how loud it was in the restaurant. they need to do something about it. i couldnt hear myself speaking. but that was really my only issue with Stella. everything else was 5 stars. drinks were made perfect, my fiance and I both got the braised short rib dinner. WOW delicious. cooked to perfection. if they would do something about the noise i would go there every weekend! but i had a headache after leaving.
(4)
Matt P.

I've warmed up to this place. For some reason when it opened years ago I never got a great vibe from it, but the past few times I've gone I've been pleasantly surprised. The best hidden secret: weekday happy hours (4-6pm) they have $5 full-sized appetizers: think beef carpaccio, the ubiquitous beet-and-goat-cheese salad, and fried artichoke hearts. The bartenders make a mean martini as well (and by mean, I mean they fill that glass right up). All this makes Stella my new go-to for Friday afternoon libations! One tip: pasta portions are gigantic, so I'd recommend sharing with someone else or splitting as an appetizer for the table. The carbonara is so good, though, so even if you have to take some home just go for it.
(4)
Katie C.

So it's been awhile since we've been to Stella, but I am quite happy to say the five-star experience still stands. Believe it or not, our first date took place at Stella way back in the day in the midst of a blizzard with two and a half feet of snow on the ground. The restaurant was virtually empty that night and the service set a high bar of standards. However, we've been back a few times and I'll comment on our most recent visit: First off, get a reservation. Seriously, just do it. Use OpenTable, Yelp, or call but it is a necessity. We had no problem getting seated at 7:30 on a Saturday evening with a reservation. We were greeted quickly by our server and we proceeded to order a bottle of wine. Bread service followed. Focaccia-like with dip. Yummy. We ordered an appetizer -- the arancini in a mildly spicy pomodoro sauce. It was perfect to split between the two of us. The pomodoro sauce was that good we requested more bread and dipped it in the sauce. Delish. I had the honey glazed salmon served over spaghetti squash. By far, it was one of the best dishes I've ever had. The salmon was moist, the glaze was sweet but not overpowering of the natural salmon flavors, and the spaghetti squash had a buttery flavor to it (I think they used a combination of butter and olive oil). Hubs had the braised short ribs that he devoured. And I mean ... de-vour-ed. I didn't even get a sample of it; it was that good he didn't share. The service was top-notch. Our server was new and although we could tell, he made sure we were attended to at all times. He gave us plenty of time to order, asked us if we had any questions, and then checked in once our meals were delivered. Even though he didn't mention any of the specials, our entrees were still delicious and we were just as happy. It's a trendy place. It's loud. It's a place to see and be seen so put on your heels and bring your Chanel bag. The crowd is young. However, the food is amazing. The ambiance is great. The service is spectacular. What else do you need? We came here years ago in the midst of a blizzard since it was one of the few places open that night; however, we return each year on our anniversary (and throughout the year) and recommend it to friends. It's worth a cab ride to the South End. You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Mary M.

I had terribly bad service at Stella when I went in for dinner at the end of August. Before writing a yelp review, I emailed the general manager detailing the bad service my fiance and I received and she's never written back. I believe they don't care about service. I've never felt so insulted at a restaurant as with my experience at Stella.
(1)
Scarlett S.

My best friend and I went there last night for our weekly date night. The waiters were extremely friendly and very hospitable. The ambience was nice, not too loud, and not too quiet. The music was trendy and up to date. Being that I have a passion for food, and a background in culinary, I found the The food was great! We were served focaccia (which was so good!) with a hummus butter - normally I love hummus, and butter, but the texture was a bit grainy for my taste - my best friend seemed to love it. We had the honey glazed salmon - it was to die for! Followed by cannoli and the pecan pie which were scrumptious too. The evening was amazing. The waiter even offered to take our selfies since our lighting wasn't the best. Upon finishing our meals, we asked the waiter for the check. After having paid, we finished our drinks as we prepared to wrap up our conversation, the blonde hostess that originally greeted us came up to us and rudely asked "do you need me to call a cab for you or a ride?" - I haven't met anyone that eats and leaves without finishing their conversation. We were contemplating on order coffee since the night was still young but after that we immediately felt we were being kicked out. As we walked out we could not help but notice how many empty tables there were and that there was no line so there was no reason for her to rush us. Although the food and the ambience and majority of the staff were amazing, she really was the anchor to the night. Nonetheless, we had a great time and would definitely visit again regardless of the hostesses attitude.
(3)
Elly W.

Family and friend decided to try this place out. Nice and quaint restaurant. Lighting was Too dim for my liking but I guess That's the ambiance. The staff were friendly. The bread was good with butter. They only handed one bread per person. The Booth seat was OK, not Too bad. Appetizer We shared aricini balls. The order came with two. Not the best I had, it was Too lemon flavored and a Tad salty. Entrees: linguini with truffles and poached egg; very tasty Orechiette with sausage; El dente pasta but salty as well Chicken milanese; good but on salty side as well. Be Nice to be served with some pasta. Overall a Nice place to eat.
(3)
K C.

I went to Stella for a Valentine's treat. At first I wasn't all that impressed because the restaurant is more modern than you'd expect from an Italian place, and it was a very cold night and the dining area was as well. However, once the food came - I could no longer think a negative thought. We had the crispy artichokes & caprese salad for apps. The artichokes were perfectly done - with the perfect amount of breading. Not too heavy, not too light. Whatever they seasoned the caprese with - I want to know. The normally simple dish was AMAZZINGGG. I wish we ordered 2!! For dinner I got the Taggliatelle bolognese. This was literally the best sauce I've tasted in my life. You have to get this meal. Seriously, just do it. It's literally the reason I am writing this review!
(5)
Ruby P.

After reading Yelp Reviews, I couldn't wait to go to Stella. I'm gluten free and was excited to try their gluten free Italian options. I couldn't have been more disappointed. Food: The food was pretty good, but could not save the horrible dining experience we had. We ordered the Beef carpaccio. It was good, but the lemon aioli was a little heavy handed and unevenly distributed. The short ribs were great. The gnocchi was a little dry-wouldn't order it again. Drinks: As described in other Yelp Reviews- the drink menu is a little limited, but we enjoyed our drinks. Dining Experience: This is where the restaurant failed. Word of advice, if you decide to go to this restaurant, ask to be seated near the window or in the corner. Stella suffers from overcrowding of tables and lack luster service. If you have the misfortune of being seated in the middle of the restaurant, you will likely be bumping elbows with fellow patrons as they walk to the restroom and will have wait staff bumping into your chair and table. We unfortunately were seated in one of those middle seats and asked our server to be moved after spending half our meal dodging elbows. He acknowledged that he saw us getting bumped and graciously offered to move us to the table next to us. That table was not much better. There were a number of other tables open at the restaurant, we were told we could not have them because they were reserved. They remained open when we left a half hour later. It was clear that the waitstaff was not empowered by management to fix the problem which is appalling when you're spending $20-30 per entree. Do yourself a favor- if you're looking for a great dining experience, don't go to Stella.
(2)
Irving W.

Wow. What a dinner. Everything was delicious. We got here early and they accommodated us very graciously. Some things on the menu were not available yet but there were enough choices available to have a great, even meal. I had the seafood risotto and it was just perfect. Good chunks of fish along with a selection of mussels, squid, octopus and shrimp. I ended with an espresso which was good but notable was my wife's soy latte. Beautifully presented and delicious!
(5)
Lyndsey C.

Probably a 4.5. Very yummy food, although their apps were my favorite. The crudo misto, Carpaccio, Risotto balls (that isn't the name but I can't remember it), and calamari were yummy. Bread is also delicious. Very nice menu. My husband loved the spaghetti and meatballs and my seafood risotto was very yummy. The atmosphere and service was top notch and the place is much larger than it looks. The place is really nicely decorated and lit and has a lively atmosphere that is nice to go to. We will return.
(4)
AL R.

I really thought that I was going to enjoy Stella more than I did. Unfortunately a loud dining room and bad service ruined the experience for me. I wasn't really wow'd by the food either. I got the braised short rib dish and it was spicy in a good way but I was still underwhelmed. I'd be willing to give it another shot but won't be going out of my way to go there with all the other delicious options in the area.
(3)
Sara V.

$5 appetizers from 4-6pm?! sign me up! soo delicious, this is the PERFECT place for a beginning of the week dinner @ the bar! not packed on monday and tuesday nights, and Matt behind the bar is very attentive and welcoming!!!
(5)
Hanna G.

I loved the smell of the food the look and the ambiance of the outdoor European style patio and overall my experience at Stella's in back bay, however my linguini being smothered in truffle oil so strong I was unable to even sit near my food made the meal fall on a negative foot. Overall Everything went well we ordered water melon marri is that we're GREAT and served in a cute little martini shaker! Also our server was fantastic. The bread that came before the meal was also fantastic and they have us a chickpea mash spread to put on it! Our fried artichoke heart appetizer was also delightful! My only issue at Stella is their actual entree dishes. My linguini was literally covered in truffle oil making it practically indelible which is a shame because the poached egg and the pasta was cooked beautifully. The spaghetti however was just not very good and fell flat when it began to loose heat. I would say Stella is a great place for drinks and appetizers! Not so great for entrÃ©es!
(3)
Kristen P.

Perfect atmosphere for a warm summer night sitting outsides. Service wasn't great, waiter was on the rude side. Great drink menu, cucumber cocktail and watermelon mule were perfect summer drinks. Our party ordered the short rib pizza as an appt, absolutely delicious! Had gorg, figs and arugula. Seafood risotto filled with fresh mussels, calamari, and shrimp. The short ribs (yes we couldn't get enough of the short ribs) over pasta in a cream sauce was very light and a perfect size for dinner. Creme brÃ»lÃ©e for dessert with cappuccinos were ok, nothing spectacular. I'd return, food was delicious, would be a five if we felt more welcome.
(4)
John W.

Stella was a bit of a weird experience for me. I liked what it was going for yet perhaps I didn't order the right dish to be fully convinced? On a Thursday night, the place was fairly busy. The bar area wasn't too bad though and I was lucky enough to go from the window bar seat to the actual bar. The presentation of the food is impeccable. I loved the happy egg face set-up with the napkins and cutlery. There's definitely a system behind the 'madness'. The service was also nice and attentive and the locals seems to know each other well here. The music was very clubb-y along with the decor of the restaurant which was a little strange with the set-up of the food and menu. Again, maybe it didn't completely settle in for me but there was a bit of a disconnect. The food came with bread and a special bread sauce that had the texture of mustard but the taste of a light garlic sauce. I wish it was a little stronger as I enjoyed the texture but didn't get much of the flavor. The entree I ordered was the linguine pasta with truffle and thyme, poached egg and asparagus cream (and asparagus). It was presented well and tasted like a good pasta dish yet wasn't distinguishing in terms of the flavor. The asparagus cream felt light and the ingredients didn't feel bold enough personally. They also have a fully stocked bar and beer/wine list. The price is a little more on the high end as well (I paid about $35-$40 in the end for my meal). Again, perhaps I just had a weird first impression but that was my take-away from what was otherwise a fairly solid location. Definitely would like to go back and give it another try someday.
(3)
Dan G.

Went for dinner with 3 friends on a random Tuesday night. Upon entering the restaurant I was surprised to see that it was much nicer than anticipated but that wasn't a problem since we were all dressed casually. We were seated immediately and then waited about 10 minutes to wait for the waitress to come over. We placed our orders but the waitress was not very friendly or attentive. At times it seemed she was ignoring us. Our apps came out rather quickly; the arancini was delicious in a slightly spicy tomato sauce. In addition, we ordered the fried artichoke which was good in a mustardy sauce. Our entrees came out shortly thereafter. We ordered the gnocci, braised short rib and orecchiette. My friends said there meals were tasty as was mine. I would definitely go back to try other dishes. Again, our waitress was ok but the other staff were quick to take our plates away and refill our water. I would like to try this place again as there were many other appealing dishes. Some how our bill came out to much more than expected; including appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks so just beware it adds up.
(4)
Ashley H.

Excellent food. Service was awesome. Nice ambience. Really must try boston restaurant
(5)
Kim F.

I ended up seated at the 'back bar' and the bartender was amazing. She was so attentive and just generally friendly and excellent at her job. I was blown away by her skills and professionalism. The house wine was priced right but just okay flavor-wise. The mussels appetizer was tasty but not what I expected. I cannot wait to return to try more food. There were TVs with sports showing, which were entertaining. The sound level allowed conversation and in general was really comfortable.
(4)
Joe P.

Outstanding quality Ovi was our server he was very attentive to our needs We will be back
(5)
Jeff F.

3.5 based on food but rough around the edges service rounds it down to 3 stars. - (C+) Bolognese - great flavor but pasta was way undercooked. Surprised they let this out of the kitchen - (B+) Bistecca Tartare - (A-) Gnocchi is excellent If you're a fan of really doughy gnocchi - (A) Seafood risotto was the best dish I tried - Desserts (Biscotti & Tiramisu) were just average The one surprising aspect to Stella was the modern decor. Not at all what I was expecting for South End Italian - liked it.
(3)
Kiki H.

Food was amazing (ordered the duck omelet and the breakfast sandwich).. Service was amazing (waiter was very friendly with awesome suggestions.. rest of the staff was attentive always clearing plates and making sure our water glasses were full).. Planning on having my birthday brunch here in May!
(5)
Patricia G.

I agree with previous reviews that rate their brunch service poorly. I had been here for dinner before and really enjoyed the food, but this time, the hostess was rude, the waiters were inattentive and the food (chopped salad) was below average. If I go back, it definitely won't be for brunch!
(3)
Gregory C.

Had dinner here tonight & it was great. Drinks were really good and dinner was excellent. Spaghetti & meatballs were amazing. Pasta was homemade and the sauce was great. My husband had the salmon and it was also perfect. Our waiter could have been slightly friendlier but it was still a great experience. A bit pricey but I'll be back :)
(5)
Cung T.

Stella! She's mature, a bit classy, and very stylish. This is a trendy Italian restaurant right in the heart of South End. And whether you prefer dining inside or outside, you're sure to find something you like (if you're craving Italian food of course) Walking up to the restaurant, you'll notice how clean and simply designed the place is. I really like the atmosphere which is lively, but not obnoxiously loud. It's the kinda place you go when you just got out of work and want to enjoy some drinks with low-key friends. It's also a great place for just lunch or dinner. So I've dined both inside and outside here and while enjoy both, I prefer to be outside where I can take in the neighborhood and sit next to gaslit lanterns. My favorite dishes are the homemade gnocchi and honey glazed salmon! The food just has a lighter and authentic taste. That's must more than I can say about an unnamed Italian chain whose pasta sauce is way too salty! The service is good too, what you would expect from a classy restaurant. It's a bit pricey and portions are small, but I'm sure that would have been expected. Overall, there is a great atmosphere with appetizing dishes competing for your order. Together that makes for a fulfilling dining experience!
(4)
Tim Q.

Good service and good dining environment. Ended up getting 2 appetizers, 2 pasta dishes, and 2 drinks. Grilled Italian Sausage: Definitely delicious, although the brocclie rabi was a bit bitter Bistecca Tartare: Great, would definitely recommend. A little hard to pick up though Ended up getting half of 2 different pasta dishes: Orecchiette and Taggliatelle (Bolognese). Both were good and filling, but would definitely recommend the Taggliatelle, which is a bit sweeter. Drinks wise, would definitely recommend the agave bourbon. Not too strong and not overwhelmingly sweet. Overall, a great experience. The staff didn't hurry us off even though we were one of the last couple of tables remaining. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Grace O.

Great happy hour deals. Tapas was delicious, I ended up ordering more than I planned. The drinks are great and it's definitely the perfect to stop by after work.
(5)
Ankur P.

came here for drinks and really enjoyed it. classy atomopshere. good clientele.
(4)
John W.

My go to dish is the braised short ribs with pappardelle with parmesan cream, and I always start with the parmesan arancini. The ribs are fork tender; pappardelle is al dente (house-made) - absolutely delicious. This place can get quite loud during peak days and times, so if your planning a quiet romantic evening keep that in mind. The service is mediocre, be prepared to raise your hand, and someone might respond. Be assertive from the beginning, you'll thank me for it.
(4)
Holly C.

We came here for my friends birthday - on a Saturday night. Service- good, not great. We had to ask for water multiple times. Once our appetizers were finished, we waited about 30 minutes for our meals. Food - good, not great. 2 of the girls got the bolognese, another the seafood special and I got the gnocchi. Each of the girls had huge portions - I had maybe 8 gnocchi. I was finished with my meal as they were just starting in on theirs. I hadn't had an app since I didn't want to overdo it - however I did leave the restaurant hungry. For $60 a person I expected more.
(2)
Valentina V.

Despite a lackluster beginning with the stark, white decor and tasteless bread with weird, semi-tasteless white bean "butter," this place really pulls itself together with its food and presentation. My mother and I had the perfectly spicy mussels appetizer (sans shells! ...no muss, no fuss) with an arugula salad. (Side Rant: I really, really wish that restaurants would stop charging $10+ for a small plate full of arugula/lettuce. It's so passÃ©.) For entrees we chose braised short ribs with pappardelle (Yummy! But needed more sauce) and the gnocchi, which were super fluffy and the sauce was excellent - always the mark of a good Italian restaurant. We shared those and also a side of broccoli rage, which, like the mussels, were cut up nicely for easy bite-taking pleasure. I'll go back... if someone's bringing me on a hot date. Can't afford it myself.
(4)
richard K.

The vibe is a little more "hip" than places I typically go which is nice to mix it up. So, the first time I went I sat in the dinning room and I had the absolute worst steak of my entire life. I had to excuse myself to go spit it out in the men's room. It was like chewing rubber and the flavor was so off. I also ordered a side that the server never brought over and she never checked on us either so I couldn't ask for it. My dates food was fine but nothing special. The next time I came I sat at the bar and split the arugula salad and short rib pizza at the bar. These were both fine. The bartender was nice. The drinks on the menu are a little too sweet but she made a fine cosmo. The music is terrific, a little funny. Its like every 90s gay boys play list from high school. It's a fun atmosphere but don't go for the food.
(3)
Jen H.

Some local friends brought me here for brunch. Clean white decor, smartly attired yuppie clientele, upbeat and helpful staff. If you sit near the window you can scope out adorable doggies in the adjacent park. I totally ate the French toast somebody took a picture of in the pics. It looks exactly like that and has a wonderful fluffy consistency. The eggs with duck confit, which my partner ordered, were also quite delicious, with a generous serving size. The cocktails when I went featured the muscat-grape liqueur Pavan, which was doing a promotion. The "sangria" (Pavan + prosecco + Perrier?) was light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet; the "mojito", while drinkable, was missing a little something. Delicious place for brekkie if you're in the area.
(4)
Josh K.

Stopped here for drinks on a Saturday evening and the place was packed but friendly. The bartenders were great and very helpful with the menu and making some delicious drinks. Will definitely return.
(5)
Amanda K.

A South End staple in my mind! Great service, great food, great drinks. I have been here for many a drink, dinner and brunch and am always pleased with the experience. Stella we love you! Thanks for being awesome.
(5)
Glen C.

We came here after reviewing a few Italian restaraunt a on Yelp. This one stood out and we now know why. He spaghetti was perfect! We also had the grilled asparagus and a pizza to share along with some fine wine from their good list. Good service and friendly people. We sat outside and it was a memorable experience. Stella's is worth a try.
(5)
Luckie D.

Why three Stars....? Based on the total experience of food, service and ambiance they get it. I ordered the meatballs as an appetizer and was pleasantly surprised by the rich flavor and creativity of the dish. It was hearty and began nicely an evening which would include the rib-eye steak prepared medium rare which I found slightly better than average. A pricey bottle of wine that was very good despite the price tag and finally I finished with a sorbet medley and a glass of port. The service was attentive but not bothersome and the vibe of the place was conducive to both fun and conversation. The bar scene was lively but seemed populated by professionals on business who would rather stick to themselves. I wasn't blown away by the food but the overall experience was worthy of a repeat visit the next time I'm in Boston.
(3)
Kim T.

Just left brunch moments ago, Sunday, 2/22/15. I ordered the steak and eggs, medium rare and over easy, respectively. As soon as the plate came out, I could tell the eggs were overdone, and as I sawed into the steak with a butter knife (no one gave me a steak knife), the steak was clearly overdone as well. I was dining with 3 other people in the service industry, 2 of whom work at restaurants in Boston, and they encouraged me to send it back. Round 2: steak and eggs came out very, very undercooked. Steak was cold and wet in the middle, aka rare. Eggs were gelatinous around the yoke. Way too undercooked. Round 3! I ordered a burger, medium rare, thinking that would be hard to mess up. I'm so silly! Burger came out even rarer than the steak. I could have had a full-blown conversation with that cow, because it was still alive on my plate. Manager only came out once to ask me if the second steak came out better, and I informed him it had not. Round 4! I ordered the frittata. 4th times a charm with this place! The frittata is very good. The server handled everything beautifully, as of course it wasn't his fault. But where was the manager? I snapped a pic of the burger and wanted to show him on the way out, but he was busy replating another mistake dish in the kitchen - I could see through the kitchen doors. Rough day for Stella! I'm in no rush for a 4th dose of salmonella. Get it together! Steak is cooking 101.
(1)
Lauren O.

I don't understand the hype. I came here based on fabulous reviews and was so disappointed. The food was just okay and the atmosphere was not warm. What topped off the night was our waitress who was inattentive. She did not ask how our food was and left our drinks sitting empty. Overall was just rude, and what really made it was when we filled out a comment card about our experience and I actually saw that she threw it out!! Bad service and mediocre food, no thanks! I will not be back.
(1)
Kelsey F.

Tried Stella now for brunch, dinner, and late night. Late night proved the winner with reliable cocktails and a funky vibe perfect for a nothing crazy night out. Stella is a restaurant with fun background music and a casually elegant flair.
(3)
Frank G.

I shared dinner with a friend at Stella last night. The food is wonderful but the noise level makes it almost impossible to have a conversation. I wish I could return.
(3)
Kelsey P.

Love this place! Great for dinner, brunch, and for drinks at the bar. Service is friendly, prompt, and seamless. The interior of the restaurant is simple and gorgeous. The food: - Marinated Beets / goat cheese / crostini / champagne vinaigrette - awesome starter, generous portions for the price - Baby Arugula Insalata / belgian endive / lemon / parmesan - another great starter or share salad, simple and perfect - Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts / country mustard remoulade - delicious! Great as an app at the table OR as a bar snack! - Grilled pizze - all delicious and great for sharing - Le paste - homemade pasta, all delicious! - And my favorite entree is the honey glazed salmon with spaghetti squash The bar scene: So fun, very friendly and entertaining bartenders. They are eager to mix up something new for you to try and always have friends pouring into the small bar. I used to frequent the bar on Sunday evenings, may seem strange but it was a great and fun scene for a wind-down glass of wine and a snack before jumping into the week!
(5)
H. G.

This place is really white. The inside. White furniture, white walls, girls in white pants. It's just really white. Stella looks like one of those houses that the bad guy (let's call him "Rique," short for Enrique) owned on Miami Vice. Rique would pretend to be an art dealer or something like that as a cover for his drug smuggling operations. Inexplicably, Rique would stroll around through every room of his house while Crockett & Tubbs questioned him about some shooting at a high-class nightclub. Maybe Rique would even take them out back to the pool area where his pet alligator, Pepe, slithers around and his girlfriend, Choo-Choo, is sunbathing. Rique would tell Crockett & Tubbs, "Pepe don't bite." But then Rique would smile, and you knew the truth: Pepe is loco. And he bites. Anyway, if you move beyond these facts and the sometimes cheesy clientele, the food is pretty good. I really like the vodka basil/lime gimlet, the choc martini, the arancini app, the fried artichoke hearts app, and the bolognese pasta is excellent (only $17). The fish I've had here has been only ok, and the pork milanese is disappointing in that it doesn't come with some kind of starch. Also, Stella has outdoor seating for brunch or dinner, and a late night dining menu every night until 1:30 am. Hopefully Rique, Choo-Choo and Pepe have cleared out by then.
(3)
Jamie P.

All around great italian food....I'm in love with this place...but not getting here (kind of a pain) love the feel, &.food of this place
(4)
Jim S.

Great spot as visited from out of town and amazing dinner! I enjoyed the half roasted chicken recommended by waitress while my wife had the halibut. We both cleared our plate while eating outside compliments of Justin! Thanks!
(5)
Lynne B.

always great!
(5)
L T.

I've been to here three times for dinner and once for drinks. I've had salmon, duck, and bolognese. Overall, I think it's a nice restaurant because of the atmosphere (the back room is very nice) and the service is great. However, I think the food is mediocre for how much you're paying. I had fun coming here for just drinks though.
(3)
Jerry B.

I have mixed feelings about Stella's. The food was DIVINE! However, the crowd was a mess. While trying to enjoy a converstation , I was interrupted by a gay guy who was clearly obliterated. Talking to him was fine, but it got to a point where this guy almost flashes his penis at us. He was very pretentious, narcissistic and cocky. I feel that all the gays at the bar where just like him. Frankly, not a place where I want to be. That totally ruined my meal. If it was not for that one incident, I would have given this place five stars. I loved the white bean puree spread that they give as a spread for the bread, it was so yummy! For an entree, I had the honey glazed salmon - it was good, not great. I did love the squash pasta that came with the salmon dish. overall, I enjoyed the meal. Will I come back? I honestly, don't think so.
(3)
Noelle F.

I really liked this place.. Here are the reasons: 1. Great cocktails (got the watermelon martini-yum) 2. Great food (we got the fried artichoke and breaded eggplant appetizers and then I got the linguine with asparagus and cream sauce) -- everything was SO good! 3. Our waiter was super nice/funny (we had a 10 minute conversation about eggs) 4. I went with 3 other girls, and we weren't that hungry so we each split an entree. I hate when servers look down on you for sharing. Not only did our waiter not do this, but he offered to have the kitchen bring it out in separate dishes. I love that!! 5. The patio is large and makes for great people-watching 6. Do I really need to keep listing? Just go!
(4)
Clarice C.

5 stars for the drink menu variety (fun, fruity, many to choose from) 5 stars for the outdoor seating (lots of it!) 3 stars for the food. It was good but not spectacular considering how there are so many great places to eat in the South End
(4)
Milee S.

Stella is another hot spot in the South End. I came here last night with 3 friends and was impressed. We had an 8 pm reservation, but were seated at 730! That was a nice surprise! For drinks my friends had the dark and stormy, the fresca and a sangria. All of them really liked it. For round two, we added another fresca and a chianti (that, not so much). One friend ordered an appetizer, the Parmesan Arancini with Buffalo Mozzarella and Spicy Pomodoro Fondue. It was a large appetizer, the size of two tennis balls. It tasted a little like it had rice, which maybe the arancini was? Onto entrees. 2 people got the scallops, one had the spicy cioppini, and I had the spaghetti. We were served some bread, but it wasn't enough to keep us through the evening. Good bread though. Entrees come out and they are plated beautifully. Everyone really enjoyed their meals; I even took mine home, it was that big. Stella is a great place for a birthday dinner or to take the parents. Really well suited for the SoWa area. I kinda felt like I was at dinner in NYC...pretty good feeling. I'm excited for brunch...
(4)
Lenny D.

The staff was very accommodating for my recent birthday drinks and appetizers. The grilled pizza is great and I recommend the Raspberry Lime Rickey ~ takes you back! Brunch is great here too ~ especially on the cafe in the warmer months. Fun, great atmosphere.
(4)
Meg B.

Happy Birthday to me! So being that it was a special occasion, I spent a long time contemplating on where to eat with my friends on my day of birth. And I think I made the perfect choice thanks to yelp and a co-worker. I was with a party of ten so we went for 9pm on a Friday night. The atmosphere was really fun and as one of my friends stated, "I feel like we are mature and on SATC". The music was a little too loud with trying to have a conversation, but it doesn't matter b/c I was eating or drinking most of the time. Cocktails? Yes please. They have a choice of creative drinks. Mojito? Don't mind if I do! Since I love Salmon I tried to step outside my comfort zone and try something new. I personally can't eat a good amount of pasta but I ordered the gulf shrimp/ calamari/ mussels/ swordfish/ saffron risotto. AmmmmmaaaaaZING! It gave the perfect proportion of seafood and risotto (meaning more on the seafood side), and I still had room for my bday cake! And I got the lovely chocolate cake with a candle. Thank you to my lovely friends!! What was my birthday wish? I usually don't share but I'm pretty sure it will come true since I will be eating there again pretty soon.....
(5)
kris a.

I came here with a group of coworkers on a weeknight and had a fantastic time. The location was convenient, being right down the street. It's the South End, which is always nice for a little walk. Accommodations for a larger group were fantastic, they have two dining rooms - and while the first was busy we had a large table in the second dining area - we practically had the room to ourselves. The atmosphere was nice, dark and cozy but not so dark that you couldn't read the menu (restaurants that do this drive me insane). Appetizers were delicious, nicely sized portions - the fried artichoke hearts were especially superb. For my main course I ordered the homemade gnocchi, which was really the best gnocchi I've ever had - when they say homemade they really mean it. The portion size was perfect as well, not the over-the top amount like many restaurants give these days - it was just enough to be comfortably full. The staff was very friendly and informative - one of the nicest things I found with the staff was the water ninja. Usually a restaurant can get really intrusive with refilling your water every time you put down the glass, but the guy refilling our water really must have been a ninja - my glass was always full and I didn't even notice it being refilled! Perfect. Nice beer selection too, had a wonderful black & tan - but I apparently had too many to properly recall which brewery they came from.
(4)
David P.

Really good food, good prices & I had the sexiest waiter! Yum!
(4)
B Z.

My family went to Stella recently for the first time. It is one of the best Italian restaurants in Boston. The portions were huge and the food is delicious. We will definitely be going back soon!
(5)
michael m.

A consistently good place to eat. The food is very good, and always as you expect, prepared exactly as you had it before which is great not to have unexpected surprises if you eat there often. The brunch menu is great, and well priced. It is a fun upbeat place to eat. The noise level is VERY high though, it would be wonderful if they could figure out a way to fix that. It gets distracting when having dinner and trying to have a conversation.
(4)
Joy F.

amazing brunch. seriously. i had the brioche french toast, which was huge and delicious, and the smoked salmon ommelette. the service was good and they didn't give us a hard time despite being 30+ minutes late. and they had good coffee. i think the only complaints my party had was that one of the panini's was a bit dry. i will definitely give their dinner menu a try.
(4)
Enrique D.

very nice for drinks. food is tasty. nothing spectacular, but i always have a good time here. staff is sweet. clean and classy. surprisingly makes a great burger. the atmosphere is cool for a table with close friends, or the bar for a date u can relax with. outdoor seating in the summer also, but its full of the cheezey "look at me" SoHo new york wanna-be south enders i cant stand. sorry. just my opinion. if u dont wanna over hear or be forced into eavesdropping on how tired a DUDE is from shopping all day at the mall, and how he cant believe who made the cover of cosmo (i'm not kidding) then sit inside and enjoy the music and ur company.
(3)
Eric W.

Stella certainly seems to generate impassioned opinions, which is odd, because, if anything, Stella lacks a notable personality. For me, that makes it hard to care. The atmosphere, as noted in other reviews, is modern sterility, void of character or noise-dampeners. The menu and staff aren't notable but each does its job in its way. Waiters don't need to be entertainers, and spaghetti and meatballs is fine if you want simple pleasures at a higher price tag. The Caesar tasted fresh and authentic in its wooden bowl, while the capacio was over-dressed for the occasion. The bacon pizza had a wonderful port reduction for sauce, but my lovely-friend's pasta was overwhelmed by bitter herbs. She loved the poached egg, though. I guess there' s a little personality after all.
(3)
Melee T.

Stella is/was my favorite brunch spot in Boston. They seemed to have changed the menu a bit and hence I am not in love with it the way that I used to be. I love the bar crowd on Sunday, they tend to be very colorful. The service is okay at Stella and I really enjoy the fruit salad. It is a bit pricey for what is offered.
(3)
Nat K.

we were pretty impressed here with our Monday night dinner. Excellent service, well-executed food -- though my scallops were a touch overcooked, and a great glass of Prosecco for $7. The decor worked for me -- but I suppose I can see how it's not very "East Coast" (what does that mean, anyway?). We did have to change tables, though, 'cause it was a touch cold by the window. If I find myself in Boston again I'd definitely return
(4)
Lisa M.

I enjoy the bar scene here. I've found the bartenders Jen and Wilson to be worth sitting at the bar, and the gorgeous flat screen TV! Oh did I mention the drinks? It's def a place to get a real cocktail!
(5)
Tim N.

Really good Itilian food and definitley competes with some of the more popular reasturants in the North End. Atmosphere caters towards couples (dim lighting, candles on the table etc.) but they do have a good small bar area. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Julian H.

Yuck. This place seems a lot like a gussied up sports bar to me. I'll say this for them--they don't miss any opportunity to cook stuff in the fryolator, so maybe you'll like it if that's your bag.
(2)
Jeff R.

My rating is actually 3 1/2 stars, but I decided to round up today. I've been to Stella for two Sunday brunches. The first time, it was around 11am and the main room was a bit noisy due it being crowded, but the hostess was gracious enough to seat our party of seven-ish in the back room -- and we ended up having it all to ourselves, which was great. The second time, however, it was closer to 2pm and they seemed to be trying to put on a circuit party in the main room, at least based on the volume and selection of the music. Unfortunately, the back room wasn't available, so we made do with shouting over Madonna. That's minus at least one star from what I would otherwise give the place. The food itself is pretty good and reasonably priced -- the duck omelet was a particular favorite among me and my friends. The restaurant is airy and great for dining out on a sunny day, minus the club music, of course.
(4)
Liza H.

Quite good from start to finish. Excellent drink menu, the Southern Sidecar is lovely. Onto food stuffs: I loved the Cioppino, this will be a repeat item next time I go. The swordfish was pretty good. Down to business on dessert: the apple crostada with caramel sauce was disappointing. I think the pastry chef can turn that badboy around by adding more butter to the crust. The chocolate mousse with almond cookies was simply fetching. Outside dining with a good view of Blackstone Park gets bonus points from me.
(4)
Andy B.

Good but less than great. This is my first review so I'm not going to go star crazy and maybe will revise this later. In order of appearance: Cantelope Martinis - strong start - completely YUMtastic! Italian swordfish dish - just OK. Apple crostada caramel confection - about a B but better with good coffee provided. Catena Malbec red vino super tasty at a reasonable price as per usual. Nice atmosphere. Friendly though sometimes forgetful waiter. I guess it's looking more like 3.5 stars, eh?
(3)
Deepa C.

went here for my sister's birthday last year and the whole family had a decent time. although the music was a little loud for my dad (esp on a thursday night) the place looked fantastic. sleek and shiny, it lived up to its address. the service was very good - attentive but not overbearing. the food was fantastic. my mom, sister and i had the gnocchi - pan fried and amazing (i really need to learn how to do that...), my dad had the lamb and my husband had the steak. all got rave reviews. the portions were decent, esp the salad, which fed three people. dessert was also very good - not to heavy - and the wine list was (like the waiters) attentive but not overbearing. i would DEF come back here for a special occasion. unfortunately, the price tag doesn't lend itself to be a common destination. but it is a great place to see and be seen. it's not laid back, but a little snobbiness never hurt anyone:)
(4)
Kristen H.

I really loved everything about this restaurant. They offer very creative Italian dishes that are unique and delicious. I've been here twice and got the cantaloupe drink and a dark and stormy the next time. They were both very delicious. My party got the fig salad, carpaccio, and beet salad, all of which were so good! The fish special was so well prepared and we finished every last morsel on our plates. Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)
Jon R.

I couldn't find anywhere to eat around 11:00PM in boston (Whoah, what a surprise!) so my friend and I decided to go to Stella. I ordered a burger and it was dynamite. Good service as well. Can't complain.
(4)
Erin C.

When my mom and grandma came to visit me, I wanted to take them to the south end for brunch. i randomly picked this place and was throughly pleased. First of all my bloody mary was extra yummy! My fam had some vodka cocktail with fresh berries also yummy.Second, all three of our breakfast was amazing. The atmosphere is very clean and modern. The menu is small, but all the basics are there. i would definitely recommend this place for brunch cause if you can please my grandma its got to be good!
(5)
Laura A.

i liked this place. i didn't LOVE it, but it was definitely very good and i liked being able to sit outside and eat. it was kind of pricey ($85 for dinner for the both of us) but i thought it was VERY vegetarian friendly, with multiple vegetable sides you could add to a veg appetizer to have a nice meal, or veg pasta or pizza. my boyfriend had the arancini appetizer and i'm still kicking myself for ordering a salad instead in my pathetic attempt to eat healthily because it was SO GOOD. it had a kind of lemony flavor to it that was great. my entree was kind of bland (spaghetti with toasted garlic) but it reminded me of comfort food my mom would make me when i was a kid so i was all right with that. we had sangria, which doesn't really "go" with italian food that much but was really delicious (and $8 for a big glass, not too bad). even the fact that we had a party of four recent divorcees well on their way to being totally soused and flirting loudly with our waiter didn't ruin our meal. take the silver line to the e newton street or union park stop. oh, and i saw people smoking while eating outside, which i didn't realize you could do, but i thought it was worth mentioning. oh and also, it started raining while we were there, but the awnings totally had us covered and it was fun to be eating outside in the rain! ETA 11/07 now that i've moved to the neighborhood i came back to this place and i have to give it a resounding "ehh." it's a little too sceney for my tastes and the food is definitely not worth the ridiculous prices they charge. our waiter just kind of stood around by the side while the food runners did all the work so it felt weird to be tipping him 20% when he wasn't working nearly as hard as the guys from the kitchen. the desserts were pretty good though. it's one of my friends' favorite places to go to for "girls' night out" types of events & i can see why. good drinks!
(4)
Ermal G.

Best pizzas I have ever had. The ambiance is great and service also. Its a bit expensive but worth it for what you get.
(5)
Ankita d.

Stella is definitely a place to be seen! We went there on a Friday, managed to get reservations for a group of 6 on Friday afternoon, and had a fab time. The food was great, the mojitos were great, and Jack Welch was there! (Apparently he's an avid Stella diner, at least once a week.) The staff was very friendly and spot-on with their recommendations. The appetizers were quite unique - we sampled most of them and loved them all. I had the lamb dish and oh man was it good. It came with a funny bacony side dish which wasn't great, but I was too full to care. Sadly we were all too stuffed to the hilt for dessert, but I'm sure they were all fantastic.
(5)
Ann C.

decor is clean white and chic. there's a back room and an outdoor patio which can be quite nice during breezy summer days. their signaure drinks are good. watermelon martini is made out of fresh watermelon puree garnished with a small slice of watermelon and their cataloupe is good as well. their mojitos need to be tweaked but still enjoyable. their entrees are all unique. this restaurant is the first restaurant where i've seen them serve orrechiette (little ears) pasta. zesty and creamy at the same time and the pasta made it extra special since it wasn't your typical, common shaped ones. service was great and attentive and they are always willing to accomodate. valet service was excellent, but pricey! $16
(4)
Jessica F.

I'd have to agree with JB on being torn about Stella. The decor and bar scene are cool, but the food isn't as good as it should be to match the surroundings! Some things are fantastic (thin crust pizzas, bolognese pasta) but others are a bit bland (pasta dish with asparagus) or just not that good. The brunch is similar - some things great, others, not so great, especially for the prices. They are very good at seating you quickly if you make a reservation (easy as pie on OpenTable.com ), which is a definite plus. My recommendation would be to go on a weeknight, try a few plates to share and leave time after dinner to move to the bar for an amaretto or digestif!
(3)
Tina L.

I love this place. For a long time I was addicted, I started to have a relationship with the egg creamy pasta. The salads are huge and can be shared for sure. Very affordable compared to the other South End restaurants.The patio is prime for summer night dinners. My only quam is that its busy all the time, so kind of hard to get a table make a reservation for sure!
(4)
The Jazz Master M.

Awesome food, and best of all, they have a late night menu! I'm most impressed with a bartender who served us dinner a few weeks ago, since she managed to handle an obnoxious and offensive drunkard with grace, as he made a complete buffoon of himself in front of the rest of the bar. The food is really good here, too. Parking's next to impossible, but that's anywhere.
(5)
B R.

Delicious! My husband had some of the best seafood I'd ever tasted - perfectly cooked - and I thoroughly enjoyed the buffalo mozzerela arancini. The decor is fresh and airy, the staff were very pleasant, and overall, we had a great time. Small beer selection but a good-looking wine list.
(5)
Emily C.

the ambiance is very clean and elegant just like tamarind in nyc. white decor and modern. the bar looks beautiful and the restaurant is actually quite big and can seat large parties very well. also, there is outdoor seating. i had the halibut and it was ooooookayyy..... the steak actually looked better and the salmon looked good. the food was very light and refreshing. the drinks are definitely the best part. the mojito is probably one of the best i've had.. there is a basil drink that is very refreshing and another fruity one that also did not disappoint.
(4)
Rachel W.

Ordered the orecchiette pasta with chile flakes, sausage, and cured tomato. So so good. And I was a fan of their complimentary bread as well (shamelessly asked for seconds and thirds).
(4)
Abhishek J.

Amazing place. This is by far my favorite place in Boston. Excellent food and ambiance. I never see that in most places - either they have good food or good ambiance, but never both. It's a great date place but also for a group. Recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Rob C.

The food and service were right-on. The price is totally reasonable and the crowd was way cooler than us. The beer selection is abysmal. In this day and age, to not offer craft beer at a high end restaurant in America is a travesty. In sum: halibut special was excellent, as was all the other entrees: short ribs and seafood risotto.
(4)
Hannah C.

I was looking for a place to dine at with 13 of my friends the night of to celebrate my birthday; Got my last confirmation the day of - the bastids! Anyway, what I was trying to say before I spit out that shout of love is that this restaurant could not have been the more perfect choice, regardless of the last minute reservations. Stella's interior is "clean" - white walls and tables, candles, dim lighting, a few 40'x50' framed art, mural on one wall. One might say, the ambience reminds you of New York City's. It's certainly something I haven't felt in all my four years residing in MA. And don't be fooled by how small the place looks from the outside in. It opens up nicely into two other areas, narrowly connected via "open doors." The fact that the hostess that night was so accommodating was fantastic (I called a couple times that night). She deserves more tips. Or a raise. But the fact that my friends and I had to wait 30-45 minutes for our tables prevent me from doing so. Now, normally I wouldn't have minded but the waiting space was too small. Every way I turned literally resulted in elbow and people bumping. Thank goodness for the bar. But how can I really complain with a restaurant that generously and graciously allowed for a 13-person reservation the night of? Seriously, though, this place is a GEM. Not to mention they serve big, delicious portions for a fantastic price!! A steal, really. I have never said this until now, and I don't anticipate on saying it again: one order of the pizza here is enough for two. On to the next entrees: The linguine with asparagus cream was simply delicious, with just the right amount of cream. You might find yourself asking right now, how does this girl know if it's the right amount of cream? I'm not a fan of alfredo anything. The poached egg beside it, however, mediocre at best. First timer, but the beef carpaccio didn't seem bad at all. I think the big shocker here, for me, was the hummus and bread though. Before the courses, I usually expect a nice, toasty loaf of bread fresh from the oven on a small wooden cutting board with soft, creamy butter. Instead, I was appalled, (and a bit insulted inside) to receive hummus and (fresh) sourdough bread. I do not know what I was thinking. I'm not a hummus fanatic, but it was melt-in-your-mouth delish! As for the drinks, I'd stick with the classics. The girly-girl flavored cosmos and whatnot are really subpar. Stella is the only place in MA I would be tempted to dine at again, but I would highly recommend making a reservation for 2, instead of 2+. Stella provides the intimate setting that way. Albeit, for a big group like ours, we didn't really notice the other couples until we were leaving. Except the awkward second date our neighbors were on. Other cons include table spacing - depending on where you're seated, you may be uncomfortably close to the party next to you - and location - it's not very T accessible. And in case you were wondering, of course we tipped the hostess. And the waiter's 20%.
(4)
J B.

I'm torn about this new spot on Washington Street. I've been there twice, and both times I've enjoyed the food and thought the service was excellent. I guess I was hoping this place would join the ranks of The Franklin and Joe V's in terms of neighborhood spots that are actually somewhat reasonably priced --when I first went there it was definitely a contender, but prices seem to have slowly crept up since it's opened...so it may end up in a higher-end category ---not sure it can live up to the competition, but time will tell.
(3)
Amanda B.

i recently went to Stella for restaurant week, and I have to say i'll never go back. Firstly, we had an 8 o'clock reservation and didn't get seated to close to 20 past, so of course were were ushered to the bar to purchase overpriced drinks while we waited. oh yeah, i forgot to mention, it was 90Â° and horribly muggy, and the place was sans air conditioning....seriously? the waitstaff was definitely inexperienced, not filling our water for several minutes while we were melting at our table, and never bothering to check on us after our mediocre-at-best food arrived. i had the arancini, it was OK, i've definitely had better (check out the arancini at NEBO, delicious) then i had the "crispy" halibut. there was nothing crispy about, in fact the white fish was a touch overcooked, and the tasteless modpodge of peas and potatoes that it came with left me wanting more. the dessert was good, but really, how can you screw up chocolate cake and ice cream? I'm sure the fact that i was sweating throughout the entire meal had something to do with my sour attitude, but i would have been fine if someone so much as acknowledged it. the workers went about business like all was fine, no explination, no "sorry about the heat," nothing. that led me to believe that they are always without air conditioning, in which case, that will definitely be the last time i visit Stella.
(2)
Joey M.

I've only been once and I have to say that I was dissapointed. I expected the atmosphere to be more fun but it was kind of lacking, even on a saturday night. The bar area was decent and the drinks were good but it all seemed a little too hyped. Service was OK if not a little indifferent. I had the honey glazed salmon which was tasty but nothing special, although the spaghetti squash was a nice touch. My girlfriend got the gnocchi which seemed a bit overrated as I had heard good things about it. It was all pretty good deal for the prices, though, the entrees weren't above $20. Maybe we ordered the wrong things? I'd give it another try but not if I was paying.
(3)
Dave L.

I'm fortunate to live right near Stella. I love taking friends there - they are usually very impressed. The place is jammed every night. The food is great - I love the seafood, the pasta, the pizza, and the pork milanese. The beet salad is really good too. The drinks are nice, and so are the bartenders - I love Lauren. The best thing about this place, though, is the brunch. It's reasonable and VERY delicious. I love the omelet with smoked salmon, and I love the bagel, smoked salmon & egg salad. The burger is great too. This is a wonderful restaurant.
(5)
E P.

The veg options here ate plenty; but I wish I liked them more. The special caprese salad was good but small and way overdressed. The fat gnocci were nicely seared but the sauce was too busy; a nice simple tomato sauce with garlic would have been fine. The fried artichokes were more batter than artichoke. My friend's spaghetti and tomato sauce was ok: the sauce was a little too thick and spicy for my taste. The service was excellent though, and the room, while loud on a Friday night, was fun.
(3)
Courteney M.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city, Stella is a go-to for me when people ask me where I want to eat. Their bar scene is fun, their drink menu is full of options (fruity and delicious to more "serious" drinks) and the food is OUTSTANDING. I'm a huge fan of their peach bellinis. This is not somewhere you go without a reservation - they can be difficult to get on peak nights. Their patio seating is not reservable, but done on a first-come, first-served basis. The last time I went, we had a reservation indoors, and put ourselves on the patio waiting list (it was a beautiful night). About 20 minutes later, they said our table was ready and kindly seated us without the whole party being there. The service is excellent, and I've never had a bad meal there. The Crudo Misto is one of my favorite appetizers at any restaurant, and even though I'm not typically a fan of creamed corn, the halibut was melt-in-your-mouth spectacular. This is not a restaurant that should be missed if you live in or are visiting Boston.
(5)
Nicole Y.

Good food, reasonable prices, and great service. Especially love the pear pizza, fried artichoke hearts and asparagus cream linguine.
(5)
K S.

Still meh. What am I missing that compels patrons to award four stars? Arrived early on a Thursday night but the bar was already stacked. Was a spontaneous restaurant decision since we were nearby and we did not have a reservation. Predictably, was offered an undesirable table, which I can live with since we didn't have a reservation and they were filling up. But the waitstaff was banging into me so often that I was beginning to think it was intentional. Maybe it was. The sideways glances from the hostesses and other waitstaff as they surveyed the room were unfortunate. Hey, we can see you! What was good -- my glass of Cabernet and the cannoli (hadn't gone soft, not too sweet). Regrettably the gnocchi were mushy and the sauce watery and bland. The duck pappardelle was just unspecial - the only flavor that popped was gamey duck. The server was paced well but his compadres clumsily offered me the wrong dish three times. Just ask me before putting the wrong dish in front of me. You can pay 40% less for two more stars somewhere else on Washington St. Granted, may not be an apples to apples comparison but you know what, we were happy to free up the bad table at Stella.
(2)
Bethany B.

I've been here twice--the first on a somewhat awkward double first date (newsflash gentlemen: avoid these) and the second with some ladyfriends. Both times I enjoyed what I ate and the atmosphere was good. The cocktails left something to be desired. The scallops were yummy the first time around and I had a delicious truffle pizza the second time (the pizza would definitely be my recommendation of the two). All in all I left feeling satisfied but definitely not the first place that would jump to mind if I'm wanting to go out to a nice dinner, it was nothing too special. That being said, I am much more likely to explore new places in this price range if I wasn't completely wowed. I would not be opposed to coming back because of the nice service and good food.
(2)
Howe L.

Ah, great food, drinks, and atmosphere. More on the posh side, but good people-watching if anything. A winner.
(4)
Steve S.

Three of us went for brunch. Restaurant is modern, clean and buzzing. Had a really long wait after we put in our name. Quickly ran up a $30+ bar bill with 3 tall skinny glasses loaded with ice and a lame bloody Mary. Seemed like the regulars were coming in and seated before us. Maybe they are were just hip to online reservations on their smart phones. Finally got seated, had basically a breakfast with an omelet, eggs benny's and a couple more bloody Mary's. Bang, another $60 on top of the $30. Mediocre food and service, high price. I'll stick to the burbs.
(2)
Sheila B.

This is a south end favorite of mine. Recently dined here on the patio for some al fresco dinner. First of all, they were super accommodating when I arrived 30 min early, they sat us right away on the patio, gave us blankets for our laps, and let us know about their specials. My friends and I decided on the arancini and mussels in saffron sauce all were delicious. I ordered the linguini, asparagus, with the poached egg which was very filling and my dinner for the next two nights. Had a fantastic meal, great apps, and wonderful service I highly recommend Stella for it's new-aged Italian cuisine and fantastic brunch !
(4)
Hillary M.

Stopped in for dinner with a group of 4 on a Thursday night. We were seated right away at a cozy table in the back. The atmosphere was great - low lighting, but enough to see just fine, ambient conversation, but we could still hear each other, and very pleasant decor. Water, bread and hummos spread were out in about 2 seconds, which made me VERY happy. I had the meatball pizza and it was simple but delicious. My friends had the pork entree and the pasta with meatballs. The pasta was awesome - dense but really tasty. The pork was like chicken parmesan, but with pork. It was a little weird. Drinks were fabulous. All the food and drinks came out quickly, and our waiter was attentive. We got the chocolate mousse and pecan pie for dessert - both were fantastic. Finally, the bathrooms were clean and well laid out. I will definitely return!
(4)
Jen B.

The boy and I went here on a random weeknight and our spontaneity was rewarded heartily with good service and excellent cuisine. We were seated outside under a heat lamp which was sort of perfect. While it was a warm enough night a breeze was enough to make you shiver a bit. The heat lamps took care of any threat of chill without being too warm. They even provided blankets for your lap! I had the Spaghetti and meatballs with pomodoro sauce. De-lish. Boy had Crispy Roasted Chicken and toasted orzo and from the way he practically swallowed his meal whole I'm guessing he enjoyed it. One Apple Crostada and a Chocolate Torte later and we were buzzing with gastronomic bliss. Between the gorgeous night, the scrumptious food and the attentive but almost ninja-like service it ended up being an extremely romantic Wednesday night. Well done Stella. Well done.
(5)
Lisa C.

O.M.G. Best brunch ever! We were a group of six, though I was last to arrive, we had the table tucked all the way at the back. Our server was excellent and even had the kitchen make us a big pile of toast as we were too hungry to wait for our brunch orders to come out. Eggs benedict were quite possibly the best I've had...runny yolks and a hollandaise with the tiniest kick of spice. Delicious! The roasted potato "home fries" and arugala salad were nicely paired. Everyone else's entrees - duck confit, frittata, mostly - all looked excellent as well.
(4)
Jamie T.

Have wanted to go here for a while... Considering I was set on going to Toro on Saturday night, things changed quickly when we found out the wait was 2.5 hours. That was not going to happen, so we drove around and landed on Stella, something I had always wanted to try. We had the friend mozzarella rice ball fondue appetizer.... it was delicious, but you cant really mess up a gourmet mozzarella stick. Food other than that was good... especially for the price. Got out of there for just over 100 and had a decently priced bottle of wine, one app, and two main dishes. Definitely recommend this place, at least to give it a shot.... If you don't want the food, at least go for the cocktails... I had some grapefruit martini thing that was INCREDIBLE. And our waiter was good too, very knowledgeable. Ask for Tommy!
(4)
Robert B.

I finally ventured to Stella the other week for dinner. Previously I had only gone for brunch, which was pretty amazing, and I was pleased to discover that dinner is great, too. I had the gnocchi, which were very tasty and the serving size was appropriate. Love the ambiance here; it's very simple, yet chic and allows for conversation with your party. The service was excellent as well, attentive and very friendly.
(4)
Marcus C.

What surprises me most about Stella is that we've never had to wait more than a few minutes for a table on a Friday night! Stella has consistently good food and drinks and the service has always been very good. And on top of that, the portions are pretty generous - I had the tagliatelle bolognese, which was probably enough food for two people, but I ate it all at once. Because I am a little pig.
(4)
Morgan H.

My mother wanted dinner in the South End, which I'm embarrassingly unfamiliar with, so I searched Yelp for some ideas. Stella was highly rated and the website looked nice, so I figured it would be worth a go. Sweet lord, was it good. The ambiance is fantastic. It would be great for a romantic night out (or, you know, eating with your Mom, boyfriend, and friend). There are candles everywhere, and the decor is modern and elegant and warm. Our waiter was great (and quite cute), albeit a bit soft-spoken. The drinks were delicious. I had 2 dirty vodka martinis and they were perfect. My boyfriend (Matt) got the mojito and the gimlet and loved them both. Pete (our friend) got the gimlet and the Stella 75 Martini. Again, both were great. My Mom ordered a Cosmo - "dry" - and was pleased. She's not easy to please. We got two appetizers: the arancini, and that night's special of black mission figs on prosciutto with cheese and local honey. The arancini were fine - nothing to write home about - but the figs ... oh, the figs. I could've eaten those all night. Matt got the arugula salad and crudo misto for his meal. Both were light and flavorful. Pete got the halibut, which was also quite flavorful and cooked well. My Mom got the linguine with asparagus truffle cream sauce and a poached egg, and though it was heavy (but not too, too heavy), I could've eaten several servings worth. I got the scallop special they had that evening - pan seared scallops (lots!) over sweet potatoes, crimini mushrooms, spinach, and bacon. I wasn't sure about the pairing of the scallops with those vegetables, but the broth at the very bottom was SO flavorful and everything worked extremely well together. Bravo, Stella. When I have a bit more spending money to chuck around, I will be back.
(4)
Jeffrey H.

I went to Stella for dinner last Friday night for my birthday with friends. We had a 6:00 reservation but didn't make it there until almost 7:00 (thanks to the impossible task of making it from my office in Faneuil Hall to the South End). But the staff was very polite to us and seated us right away anyway--without rushing us out either. Stella has a very laid-back but classy atmosphere. The decor is very comfortable but with an elegant tone to it. The restaurant is small so it makes for some cramped space when the bar is full, but I'm sure it makes it easier to meet people that way. They also have an outdoor seating area for these great spring days as well as valet for people who are too lazy (or late) to find their own parking! The dress there seems somewhat dressy/business casual or something you might wear out to nice bars...dark jeans, button-ups, dress pants, etc. Most people seemed to be heading there after work or before hitting the town. The food was delicious. I had the "Linguine / Asparagus Cream / Poached Egg / Truffle / Thyme" which was very good--but beware the asparagus cream makes the pasta taste a bit salty...so if you don't like salt, I'd order something else. I also tried some of my friend's "Stella Homemade Gnocchi / Tomato / Basil / Reggiano" which was amazing! The portion was very small, but Gnocchi is naturally filling I suppose! Other items around my table were duck, sirloin, and other types of pasta. I'm sure there is something there for anybody! As for my birthday treat, the staff brought out an assortment of desserts to the table (which were all amazing--as we fought for every spoonful). The waitress also included a b-day candle and a "Happy Birthday Jeff" plate written in dark chocolate. :D Oh! And how could I forget, alcohol! I started with a glass of Pinot Grigio (how can you go wrong?) but then I tried a Raspberry Lime Rickey. And then I tried it again. And again. And again. I definitely recommend the Rickey! Overall, Stella has great food, fair prices, and great service. The staff was very polite to us and was always around when needed. I was kind of surprised to see they charged us for the birthday desert, but no big deal. The food and drinks were great and the atmosphere was very pleasant and classy. It's also in a pretty area of the South End so eating outside would be great this summer! Enjoy! *10.2.07 Update* Came to Stella on Sunday with some gay friends for brunch and really enjoyed myself! Good food for good prices, fabulous drinks (I had a Long Island Mimosa and a few of these Espresso alcoholic drinks as well). We sat at the bar and chatted it up with two awesome bartenders and also made some friends with ladies sitting next to us. The crowd here is fun, laid-back, and good looking--no complaints!
(4)
Tom K.

Hmm... I don't get all these steller reviews for Stella. 1. The Pasta. Let's talk about pasta for a second. At home or at a decent gourmet deli anywhere in the country, I can get silky, slippery, delicate pasta that slithers down your throat. I had the linguine/asparagus pasta as well as the tagliatelle bolognese that was ordered for the table, and the pasta was way too thick and chewy. It was not the ultra thin noodles I'm used to eating in any respectable pasta restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. What was served was a clump of too thick, chewy ball of dough where the flavors of the accompanying ingredients (e.g, the lemon, the asparagus, the bolognese sauce) was masked. 2. The NOISE. How can anyone hear anything? This restaurant is way too loud. If you want a decent conversation with your dining mates, do not eat here.... Don't bother with this place. Boil some pasta at home.
(2)
Lauren M.

Why I go to Stella: 1) Cocktail menu. (get the gimlet). 2) Lively bar 3) Outdoor seating 4) Consistent menu (get the halibut or orecchiette). Stella's one of those places I go when I want an OK dinner (nothing mind-blowing, but a solid, not-really-changing menu), to sit outside, or to watch people at the bar. I live in the neighborhood, and it's a great place to go for a few drinks, or on those nights when you don't want to cook or do takeout.
(4)
Ed M.

Came here for Restaurant Week. The cocktails were pretty nice (mojito!) but the service left something to be desired, especially when we were ignored for about 5 minutes after being seated and all 3 courses came out and were given to the wrong person. I had the beef carpaccio, pan seared salmon and chocolate torte and it was all good, but with the exception of the carpaccio, nothing was amazing or impressive about the dishes. We had a seat by the window and were able to look out on the street, which was nice. The waitress disappeared for long stretches and when it came time to pay the bill, the fixed price meal was there along with an extra charge for one dessert. This was removed and we gave our card to pay and it came back with the wrong amount charged to it. Third attempt thankfully/finally was fine. Food was good, but don't think Stella really lives up to the hype everyone seems to give it.
(3)
Michael M.

It was a warm Summer day...the sun was still out but the air wasn't sticky. The place seemed pretty packed as dinner time rolled around. Luckily for us, there was a table open in the outdoor seating area. It's tricky when you sit outside...too many variables out of your control such as the temperature, the sun, wind, bugs, fly-by pooping from birds, etc. We sat down and waited for a few minutes for our waitress. Nothing too exceptional...she told us what we needed to know and brought some bread with 2 small scoops of garlic hummus (i think). I decided to get the linguine and my friend ordered the gnocchi. The linguine itself was a little tough and I wished the sauce (asparagus cream, truffle, with some cheese) wasn't as thick. It came with a poached egg on top which is delish but the rest of the dish seems so dry. Here is the they earned their stars...Stella Homemade Gnocchi. I like gnocchi whether I heat some up from Trader Joe's or it's served piping hot at some joint in Little Italy. The Gnocchi at Stella is the BEST I've ever had...big pieces of soft chewy gnocchi seared on the outside for a slightly crispy crust. Just the right amount of sauce...it's easy to overload sauces in dishes because some chefs figure the more the better and customers can simply not eat all of it. Uber tasty. Other details I enjoyed include the food served on burning hot plates. Sitting outdoors, a common issue is the food cools down so quickly so having food on hot dishes delays the inevitable as much as possible. There were a couple tables where the customers brought their dogs with them and Stella was very accommodating. They sat those parties on the outer tables so the dogs can be leashes to the dividers. The waitresses also brought water to the dogs between service to tables. I'm not a pet owner but I can appreciate the willingness to make it a pleasant experience for everyone. I'll be generous on this review as a few things worked in their favor on my maiden visit here. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 based on the beautiful weather, wait staff and gnocchi. The gnocchi dish made such an impression on me I would come back for a return trip.
(4)
Louis G.

Dinner for four on June 6th. The restaurant was packed, but they still managed to seat us without waiting. Stella was fantastic for food and service. I had an Eggplant appetizer; Swordfish "Siciliano" with capers, roasted potato and asparagus as the main course and for dessert: Tiramisu. I enjoyed Stella's and will return the next time I'm in Boston!
(4)
Roxanne P.

As an 'out of towner' I don't have much to compare Stella too, but I must say I was beyond pleased. Pulling up in the cab, I expected at least a 15 minute wait, but we were immediately seated with our choice of inside or out. We choose inside and were greeted delightfully by each member of the waitstaff. Our waiter was very charming and gave great ordering advice. I had the blood orange margarita, well two actually, and our table shared the arancini and fried artichoke heart antipasti, all of which prompted a loss for words because I've never experienced quite the flavor combination explosion! I had the salmon with spaghetti squash, the perfect light combination, and I also sampled the spaghetti with meatballs and the halibut. Basically, I experienced Zero disappointment and would highly recommend Stella for anyone who craves a fresh and open atmosphere, an accommodating and cheerful staff, and unforgettable food that is still making my mouth water!
(5)
Caitlin C.

So we came here for the prix-fixe dinner on NYE. We wanted to ring in Oh-Ten with class, okay. There were eleven people in our party and we were promptly seated for our 9:45 reservation (are we in Spain?). The place was pretty crowded though. There was a private party in the back room and the smallish bar area was jumping. My meal was good (beet salad, sirloin, pecan tart), but not life-changing. I promptly fell into a serious food coma which is not at all conducive to revelry. Oh well, we were done with dinner with approx. 5 minutes to spare, hurried to bar area, counted it down! Oh-ten, oh-ten, oh-ten, oh-ten! And off into the night we went. Some additional thoughts...Service was decent, though our server spilled an entire glass of champagne all over Jess P. and Erin F. She gave them each an extra glass to make up for it. Also, the bean puree spread with the bread trick was curious and prompted discussion (tastes like mashed potatoes...), but I'll take butter any day. Nonetheless, I'd be down with coming back and seeing what the rest of the menu has to offer.
(4)
Frank B.

I was somewhat disappointed. It was too noisy and the food was bland. I felt like we were stuffed in like cattle. Might go there with a group, but not if you are looking for a romantic night out
(2)
Mohsen H.

The food was late. My Burger had no taste. The waiter was terrible. he did not deserve a penny for his service. I hate it when they include the tip when there are more than 6 people on the table. Never going there again.
(1)
Elizabeth W.

Another nice dinner at Stella for Valentine's Day. Food was blazing hot and the ambiance was lovely. Can't recommend this place enough.
(5)
Shani S.

I went to Stella at the suggestion of a friend who raves about the brunch. We arrived at the tail end of the brunch, around 2pm and were told that there would be a 30 minute wait if we wanted to sit inside. It was about to rain so we opted to wait at the bar. We grabbed drinks, my boyfriend got the pink lemonade and I got the Bellini and they were both exceptional. All in all, I would say that the drinks were the star of the brunch we had at Stella. I would definitely suggest the watermelon martini or the Bellini. After being seated, the waitress was very attentive to us and she kept on coming back sporadically to check if everything was okay. The service at Stella was better than your average South End restaurant. The food...The food wasn't anything to rave about. It took almost an hour to get our food, a duck omelet and the eggs benedict. The omelet was searing hot when it arrived and it was obvious that the eggs benedict had been sitting for quite some time because the spicy Hollandaise had filmed over and the English muffins were soggy. Our server was very apologetic about the wait for the food though, which we appreciated. Some other people have also mentioned that the music was deafening and I have to agree. I understand the use of music to create an atmosphere but I would rather not have to yell across the table. I would maybe check out the dinner in the future, but I wouldn't return for brunch because the food simply was neither anything out of the ordinary, nor worth the 45 minute ride on the T.
(2)
Sydney W.

Went there for brunch and sat outside. Their outdoor seating is very comfortable - I had plenty of room to stretch out and not feel like I was in the table next to me. Our waitress was very accommodating - and even brought out a little take-out cup for water for my dog. (I didn't like having the dog outside the fence - but the good ol health dept set those rules) I got the burger - and I can say that I was quite impressed. It was one of the best burgers I have had in the city. Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. Along with the cheese and bacon... quite yummy. I think I licked the plate.
(5)
David S.

It was fun, food was good, cocktails were excellent. Will probably go back - but during the week to see if it's any different than the weekend. Friday or Saturday nights are REALLY loud. The waiter could not hear me and vice versa. Be prepared to shout.
(3)
Christopher N.

I went there saturday night. We got there around 8:30 ish and didnt have a reservation. The wait was an hour forty five, but we got our table for four in an hour and 30. We waited at the bar. Crowded Space, but very nice , like a nyc bar and the crowd is awesome, My g/f loved the Bellini, which was peachy flavor champagne drink. The food was well worth the wait for the table. I ordered the salmon that was delish so was my sampling of the sword fish. We topped the meal of with very fluffy choclate mousse and biscotti. The food and the ambiance definetly get thumps up from me.
(5)
Blake V.

Very nice restaurant when it comes to food & style. Stand outs included the grilled quattro funghi pizza with truffle oil and the arrancini. My wife's fettucine bolognaise was decadent and I enjoyed the orrichette dish I ordered. Wines were reasonably priced. Biggest drawback? The noise. This place was loud on a crowded Saturday night but they pumped the volume up with club music, which was a bit over the top - to say the least.
(4)
Laura M.

Came here for Mother's Day and the food was delicious and the service was great. I made a reservation on opentable.com for 11:30. I love when restaurants use opentable since it streamlines the process and it is really easy to reserve a table this way! We were a few minutes late for the reservation, because my mom got lost coming into Boston, again, (she has been here a ton of times in the last 6 years and still gets lost, how? I have no idea.) but that did not matter and we sat right away. I ordered OJ, a cappuccino and the French Toast, my mom and bf both ordered the Eggs Benedict. The food came out with great timing, not too fast and we didn't have to wait too long. The French Toast was enormous. A huge slice of delicious bread (I think it was brioche) soaked in the egg mixture. It was perfect, not too eggy and not too dry. My mom was very surprised the egg mixture was able to soak all the way through without getting too soggy. It had fresh fruit on top. We also ordered a side of bacon for the table, which was equally as delicious. My mom raved about the eggs Benedict and the hash browns were good as well. She also liked that it came with a salad on the side. This place definitely gives you a good amount of food and the price is good as well. I would definitely come back to dine outside when the weather is a bit warmer. I would also like to try the cafÃ©, which is located next door. 4 stars instead of 5 because the server was a bit too cheery at first and thought my mom said grapefruit juice when she said cappuccino. How you get grapefruit from cappuccino I have no clue. Plus, the decor was a bit too minimal and I don't like sitting on plastic chairs at restaurants of this caliber.
(4)
CeeCee R.

First impression, love the contemporary white interior of the restaurant. We were seated promptly without reservation. Parmesan Arancini was good. The sauce was a great accompaniment to the dish. Spaghetti with Toasted Garlic and Parmesan was good. Portion was very generous and it is a lighter pasta dish compare to the other selection. Spaghetti with Meatballs, my husband ordered it and he liked it. Overall, service and food are equally as good. Definitely would be back again.
(4)
Leighann F.

A coupla cocktails, appetizers and dessert split between two, sitting at the counter looking out into the street. Quiet conversation, intimate quarters, sleek decor and a staff that knows just when to be attentive. Stella delivers in the following departments: hospitality, sex appeal, food presentation, decor, location and atmosphere. With a bar packed full, the bartender made sure to save us our seats when it was our turn, took our orders and had our drinks ready promptly. The whole restaurant was bustling with very well-put-together folks, chattering, drinking, mingling and eating that gave the interior a energetic feel. We wanted for nothing. Everything, from drinks to dessert, came perfectly coursed and cleared in a timely manner, without awkward interruption or ant hint of inattentiveness from the staff. The food itself was very, very good. Though not as spicy as I would have liked, the texture was melt-in-your-mouth and the sauce so good I am not ashamed to say that we sopped up every last drop with whatever bread we had on our plates! Stella was the perfect choice for some light food and drinks after an event in the South End. I would return for drinks, dinner or dinner & drinks for a date or with a group.
(4)
Katie B.

We spent our New Year's Eve at Stellas and I'll I have to say is the food was delicious. The pre-fixe menu had plenty of options and all of them looked fabulous. I chose to start with an amazing buffalo mozzarella stuffed aranchini appetizer that was sitting in a really good sauce. I don't even remember what it was, but it was good. My main course was scallops that were lightly buttered sitting on a celery root puree and topped with onion strings. The pairing of crunchy and soft was really nice. I had a delicious chocolate torte for dessert, but I unfortunately wasn't able to eat it all because I was so full. That makes me sad because dessert is my absolute favorite. Food was good. The place was loud, but I wasn't expecting, nor wanting, quiet on New Year's Eve! However, there was a private party in the back room that I desperately wanted to crash only because everyone walking in and out of there looked so serious. I really wanted to go in there, bust out the running man or the shopping cart, and then leave. But I behaved, well I'm not too sure I would have been able to make it past the "bouncer" that was at the door. Great times. Great Food. Great end to a great year! Happy New Year!
(4)
Melissa P.

Stella is a queen scene, (as were many of the other places I went last weekend.) It was absolutely delish. The atmosphere is impeccable... right on the park, good lighting inside and a chill/but bumping scene outside. I'll come back with a cute dog in tote and lunch al fresco..... and then return for late night.
(4)
Tom F.

The pasta is homemade and insanely good. Seriously. The Tagliatelle Bolognese Reggiano can hang with anything at the best restaurants in the North End. But only get it, if you "get it" -- it's cooked al dente, not like the soft egg noodles many like. It reminds me of a pasta you'd get at a high-end restaurant in Rome; one where mainly locals go...
(5)
Clark V.

They need to find a way to fix the noise level. It was very loud even when trying to have a conversation with the person next to you. Otherwise, the food was great.
(4)
Sarah A.

Dinner tonight at Stella was a quality experience. When we arrived a little after 6 there was hardly anyone in the restaurant, but that definitely would change. By the time we left around 8 we had to fight out way out of the crowd of people waiting for tables and gathered around the bar. The white ambience is a bit strange. I kept recalling the milk bar in Clockwork Orange. There is no milk bar, however, just lots and lots of white things (chairs, sofa, fixtures) and a large mixed drink menu. We were seated in a quiet corner, what the owner or manager referred to as "the romantic nook". How quaint! It was fine except for the white chairs. They had a strange curve in them which kept hitting an uncomfortable place in my back. After we were seated we were served small individual slices of bread (no basket) along with two small dabs of hummus and three olives (2 black, one green). I always enjoy a nice bountiful bread basket with a selection of yumminess, so I was a bit disappointed with the single slice and meager selection of olives. However, the bread, hummus and olives all were excellent. Our waitress was very helpful in assisting us when we were trying to decide between various entrees. When we finally made our selections--spaghetti and meatballs and honey glazed salmon--our entrees were brought to the table piping hot. We were warned that the plates were hot. I tend not to take people too seriously when they say this, but, yes, these plates were hot. The food was seriously steaming. And, the entrees arrived VERY quickly. My salmon was delicious. Perfeclty cooked and served on a bed of spaghetti squash and an assortment of yellow and red cherry tomatoes. My only complaint was that, like the bread, the portion was rather small. The spaghetti and meatballs was reportedly fairly ordinary. What I tasted of a meatball was good, but not exceptional. I was very pleased with salmon, however and would definitely go back for it. I was still a bit hungry after the meal, not having had much bread and a small entree, so we ordered up the chocolate torte with vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce. Yummmmmmm. This was delicious. The chocolate is very rich and decadent. Also, I was happy with the portion of this course. Definitely enough to share. However, if you are looking for a massive dessert, this is not it (if you are, check out the chocholate layer cake at Smith and Wollensky). Also, I have to comment on the bathroom. I just have to rave out the little free-standing pedestal for the toilet paper. That is too cool. I want one in my bathroom. Also, if you have any visual issues you may be a little freaked out. The sink and all its fixures are white. If you need contrast to navigate this could be a little confusing. I kept thinking that the sink was filled with water, but it was that I had no depth perception because the of the white sink basin paired with the white counter. Final rave, they take Discover! I would definitely return, but would expect to order an appetizer with dinner.
(4)
ack c.

not sure how i missed reviewing stella as it's a fave! short walk from my house, great consistent food, friendly staff... and they serve a pasta dish similar to carbonara @ both dinner & brunch - hmm, good!
(5)
Tony U.

Why I'll go back: Delicious food and great views from the front dining room and the bar You HAVE to order: warm pecan pie Tony's Tip: It gets loud, so if you can, time your meal just "off peak" (6:00 dinner for instance) to front run the crowd. I dined here last Winter and was thoroughly impressed, but never got around to writing a review. So, here I am now. Took a date here, and definitely think it works for that. Floor to ceiling windows really add to the ambience, as does the view of Blackstone Square park, which had a fresh snow cover on it. We were 15 min late for our res, but the restaurant just let us push it back, despite being very busy that night. The seats were comfortable and the tables do not feel cramped. Everything we ordered (baby arugula salad, fried artichokes, tagliatelle) was delicious. And the warm pecan pie was ridiculous! Pecan pie is never my first choice for dessert, but I'd order this again in a heartbeat. I feel confident that every experience here will be good, making it a great place for a first date, parents from out of town, etc.
(5)
Justine N.

I've taken advantage of Restaurant Week in SF, NYC and now Boston and this is by far *the best* experience I've had. Although Restaurant Week is a great way to try out a restaurant that I may not go to normally because of their prices, the downside is that the RW menu is usually a limited selection and offers much smaller portions. Not the case at Stella. For $33 you get a choice of any appetizer, entree and dessert on their menu (with the exception of a couple of items on their dessert menu, but that didn't matter much too me). I, of course, like to get the most bang for my buck so I ordered the most expensive entree--the Angus fillet of beef (cooked medium) with mashed potatoes and asparagus. It was divine. Cutting into the steak was like slicing through a stick of butter. Needless to say, I ate my plate clean. I'll definitely make another stop at Stella next time I'm in town and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to book a Restaurant Week reservation.
(5)
Chester N.

Just coming off a date with Giacomo isn't fair to Stella but she managed to pleasure me. The basil lime gimlet was right up my alley (wish I was sipping on one right now as it would make this review a lot more interesting). Just stiff and refreshing enough. The perfect drink. My asparagus cream, poached egg, truffle linguine was awesome (only request would have been a bit more truffle as everything else kinda drowned it out but now I'm just being greedy). Our cute, intoxicated waitress along with the constant passing flow of eye candy was a bonus. I'm glad I'm back home with my girlfriend now btw.
(4)
M G.

Awesome atmosphere. Amazing burger. Super mojito. some dude waiters sound kinda douchey. will be back!
(5)
Tyler S.

Expensive, yet amazing and delicious. Great place for a dinner date
(4)
Jessica T.

Headline: I've been here many times (just because, or for special occasions) and have always left happy and satisfied. Ambiance, food value (especially pastas and pizzas), and cocktails make Stella one of my favorite places in the city! Story: Whether I'm looking to go all out or just have a solid meal, Stella is always on my list of places to go. I've been here half a dozen times and have always had a great time. Great servers, courteous and friendly, great atmosphere (decorated by a two-woman power team, it's trendy and upscale, but there is also music so it doesn't feel stuffy and you don't feel like you have to hold your breath or move gingerly). Food portions are generous, especially for upscale dining. I always feel confident recommending this place to friends and visiting guests. Also, for a group of friends with different budget restrictions, I think Stella is a great place to go because of the pasta and entree diversity on the menu. Cocktails: Basil lime gimlet and bellinis are refreshing and delicious. Appetizers: I've had a lot of (or all?) apps, all delicious. Standouts for me include parmesan arancini, beet & goat cheese salad, and melon & mint salad. Crudo misto, though I am a huge fan of raw fish, was not one of my favorite apps there--the fish is cut so thin that it was basically cooked through with the citrus. Mussels have a great depth of flavor, sausage is a very generous portion, artichoke hearts are tasty, love the beef tartare. I usually go for pasta when I eat at Stella, though I've had a couple of entrees as well (the dollar goes further, and it's fresh pasta). Linguine with asparagus cream is my go-to, the egg is always poached to perfection and I usually take leftovers home for lunch the next day (if I get an app, which I always do). Gnocchi is also a favorite, and I've had all of the other pastas and thought they were great. Big fan of Stella's biscotti, which they get from a bakery in the North End, dipped in coffee of course, just to end on a sweet note. I don't have enough good things to say about Stella and the experiences I've had there, can't wait til the next time I go! Also, very curious about brunch, will have to report back on that.
(5)
M D.

One of my favorites to stop by after work. The service is generally good but occasionally there is a miss with waitress and service definitely slows as the place gets packed. The focaccia is great to start off with but trying to get a second piece is virtually impossible--the rest of the meal makes up for this shortcoming. Out of apps recommend spicy mussels, marinated beets and fried artichoke hearts (but all apps are great--just keep in mind that food here is a little salty overall). The pizzas are also tasty--note though it is not a traditional pizza but more of a flat bread/grilled crispy pizza. The spaghetti and meatballs remind me of being in someone's kitchen. In a word, I find the menu here features traditional meals that are turned up a slight notch which is why the place is popular (makes simple food better). If you are wanting something not so traditional consider the specials as they are always good but a little more out of the box. To cap off the night, recommend the apple crostada with caramel sauce for desert--comes out hot and the vanilla ice cream just hits the spot-mmmm!
(4)
Angelica B.

We were in town last weekend for my daughter's graduation from Boston University! The first night we had dinner at Stella's! We had the best table in the house and the best waiter too! The food was super!
(4)
Rachel G.

Though the place, on first impression, vibes a little South End-chichi, the food can totally duke it out with the best of them here in Boston. I came here for several different occasions, including a holiday dinner and, for my most high-pressure meal, my celebratory commencement dinner with my sister and my grandmother. Every dish I've had, I've loved, though if I had to pick favorites, I'd insist on the arancini and the salmon with spaghetti squash, both of which have stayed on their menu for a couple of years now. Great drink list and wine selections, too. My favorite thing about Stella: their restaurant week policy. We had access to the full menu, and got one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert for the dinner restaurant week prices. Holy crap, did we end up with a lot of amazing food. Prices in general (another boon to Stella) are definitely reasonable, and especially so when considering the neighborhood they serve in. You'll definitely spend less here than at Sibling Rivalry, for example, up the street (though don't let that stop you from going there, either...).
(5)
Polite G.

A couple of friends and I went for brunch. We had made a reservation because a) we were really hungry b) it was someone's birthday c) I hate waiting for breakfast food e) it was a fundraiser for the Greater Boston Food Bank and we thought it made sense to have a reservation. But when we promptly arrived at 1 PM. for our 1 PM. reservation we were told to wait at the bar. Then other groups were seated before us. After three complaints from the members of our party we were told that the reservations were running late - meanwhile there were empty tables on the floor - and that we had to wait. We finally got seated at 1:25 PM. with no apology for the delay. Our theory is that the hostess was not very competent at multitasking and could not manage on her own the phone, the reservation book, and the walk-in clientele. The food was decent and the service was accommodating to the many special requests that the people on the table had (allergies, vegetarians, vegans, etc) but the food really was not worth the travel time and the wait. The only reason why we chose this place and not the usual down the street brunch location was because they were part of a fundraiser. So these people need to learn a) a reservation actually means that the customer is expecting a table ready within 5 minutes of arrival or a very good explanation of why there is no table (with complimentary drinks for the wait), b) hire people that can multitask. Would I go back? If I was standing at the door and there was an available table I would eat there.
(2)
Mihir P.

I hate when the drink menu says one thing and you get charged a higher price. That's what happened when I came here. When they started playing Britney Spears and Vanilla Ice, that was my indicator to "exit, stage right".
(1)
Ellen L.

Came here for a work event so we really had the whole spread. It was all deeeelish! With the pure quantity of food, they kept it all extremely high quality and perfectly cooked. If it wasn't for craptastic parking in the south end I would really be keen to go again.
(5)
Meghan M.

Located at the corner of Washington St. and West Brookline St., Stella's outdoor patio overlooks a lovely city green space full of adorable dogs and their walkers. Its sleek interior is comfortable and offers the perfect level of noise so that you can hear your cocktail companions but that isn't so quiet that it feels stuffy. The menu features a great collection of cocktails including the Aperol Spritzer which is a mix of Aperol, a slightly bitter orange-y Italian liquer,Zonin prosecco, and seltzer water . I love Aperol and until now have only had it the two times that I have been to Italy. I have fond memories of long ago drinking Aperol on ice in an open air cafe in Venice. . . sigh :) I was glad that I chose this drink. It was fruity without being too sweet, bubbly, and refreshing. The hubs chose a glass of lovely Bottega Vinala Pinot Noir. While we were waiting for our food to arrive, we were each served a piece of fresh, hot focaccia bread. I ate half, and I saved the other half because we ordered mussels, and I knew I needed to sop up the broth with the bread. Way to be prepared! ;) As usual, we decided to share a few appetizers for our meals. We ordered the Spicy Mussels / saffron cream / roasted peppers / white wine / garlic for $11, the Parmesan Arancini / buffalo mozzarella / spicy pomodoro fondue for 9 and the appetizer special, figs / prosciutto / gorgonzola dolce / honey / balsamic vinegar. I didn't actually expect to get dinner so I didn't have my camera. All I have are Blackberry photos, and some of them, like the photos of the figs and mussels didn't come out. The mussels were in a gorgeous yellow saffron sauce dotted with red, green, and yellow bell peppers and served with grilled bread on the side. I still needed the bread I saved earlier. I think my favorite part of eating mussels is eating whatever sauce or broth they are cooked in! I have had the arancini at Stella before, and they were once again perfection. The size of baseballs, they are fried crispy and golden oozing with soft, warm rice, and a gooey buffalo mozzarella surprise in the middle. Nestled in a bowl of intensely rich and robust tomato sauce, these arancini could really be a meal in themselves. The star of the evening was of course the fig dish. What do you get when you combine roasted figs with crumbled gorgonzola dolce, honey, and reduced balsamic vinegar? Heaven! I only had a bite of the prosciutto with this, but the saltiness worked perfectly with the caramelized figs, creamy cheese, and vinegar/honey sauce. This is a meal I would definitely like to recreate at home. By the time we at these three dishes, we were perfectly full. I love small portions of lots of different things. The service at Stella was great, and on each chair outside, they offered soft, cozy fleece blankets. I needed it by the time the sun started going down. If you live in or are visiting Boston, I would definitely recommend Stella for after work drinks and eats. For photos please check out traveleatlove.wordpress.â€¦ :)
(4)
Cesar S.

Lovely place! Great brunch! Great dinner! A favorite restaurant!
(5)
Karen M.

I went on Monday night. Ended up here by accident but what a pleasant surprise. The food was fantastic. Between the two of us, we got the caeser salad, beet salad, roasted chicken and braised short ribs! Outstanding!!!
(4)
Monica C.

This is for you late night food cravers out there. Everytime my friends and I go lounging, we somehow always end up at Stella for some late night (serves food till 1:45ish). The decor is clean and simple, with just the right lighting that you feel warm/cozy but don't stumble around trying to find your way. The late night entrees are not the greasy late night food one might expect. I would like to pick a favorite, but they are all good! The pasta entrees are big portion, but not in a disgusting I want to puke way. The salmon is not overcooked and glazed with the right amount of sweetness. The tomatoes are always sweet, whether it be a garnish or on pizza. Did I mention the mouthwatering fragrant bread? My friends and I always ask for more bread and will happily fill up on the bread alone. My only two complaints are the mussel appetizer and the music. The music is too loud and I can barely hear my friends talk. The mussel appetizer is always a dilemma for me. I love the sauce it comes in. It is a great dip for the wonderful bread. However, the quality of the mussel is inconsistent and sometimes not fresh. No more greasy McDees or Chinese for late night. Stella will guarantee you a night of good cocktails, delicious food, and good time.
(4)
Jesse A.

I've been enjoying this restaurant for years. But I can't take it anymore. Won't be going back for a while. Their trademark swordfish was one of my favorite dishes in Boston, but not any more. Went here last month, and it was dry and served over wilted greens. Almost tasted like it had been frozen. Ordered a bottle of red, which was one of the cheaper on the list, but still $35, and it came out of the bottle sparkling like a soda. Ummh. I'm no expert, so I looked up bubbly red wine on the trusty iPhone, and sure enough, tell tale sign of something skunky going on. I asked the waitress her opinion, and she said she didn't know -- she thinks its normal. She sends over the pre-pubescent manager, who looks like he just stole something from a video game store at the Mall. He doesn't know about this particular wine, because customers typically don't order it. He means he doesn't care because its cheap. Not as cheap as your men's warehouse suit and chin fuzz. I paid for expired wine, and the overcooked fish, without complaint, because the argument is hardly worth it, and they earned some good will for so much delicious swordfish over the years. But all good things must come to an end. Plus everytime I go here, it seems like I'm the only table that's not a noisy, drunken bachelorette party. Stella's decor has always been pretty cheezy, but the food made up for it. But now the place feels classless, and the food stinks too. Stay away.
(1)
Jenn T.

I've been here twice for dinner and today for brunch for the first time. I don't remember what I ordered for dinner but do know that i enjoyed my dishes and would recommend the place for people looking for a place in the south end to eat. Brunch today was fairly pleasant. I ordered a breakfast sandwich and enjoyed about 3/4 of it until I just got sick of the pesto. The salad that came with it was good. Coffee was refilled sporadically and I did have to often ask for it. We also ordered a side of fries and that was good. Two things I didn't find enjoyable were the service and the music. Our waitress was mostly MIA after taking our order (the place was about 90% full. no lines), and the music was just SO loud and too much for a Sunday brunch. I had to often shout or ask people to repeat their sentences. I'd definitely go back there again for dinner and would try brunch again to try out a different dish. I heard the french toast is pretty awesome.
(3)
Alexis J.

Very trendy and filled with many beautiful gay men. My whole table admired them! Dined at Stella for the first time with an out of town guest and some local friends. Everyone seemed to like their meals. The place was packed and it impossible to get a drink at the bar while waiting for our table. There wasn't much space to wait around and since it was dead of winter, everyone was crammed together in the entry. Regardless, the staff was friendly enough. Our waitress was able to make helpful suggestions from the menu and the wine list. While pricey, the menu featured many dishes with exciting twists. I had the Linguine / asparagus cream / poached egg / truffle / thyme for $18. I liked it a lot, different and fun. Very rich. Stella was the right kind of place to meet a visiting friend for dinner.
(3)
Tracy C.

Stella is a truly wonderful place. The ambiance is relaxing but not sloppy, the decor is modern but not over-done, and the crowd is usually a good sophisticated mix. My friends and I love to go to Stella for dinner, drinks and late night. Although I didn't find the entrees particularly impressive (don't take me wrong, they are really, but I wouldn't say they are spectacularly outstanding), I thought all the appetizers, pasta and pizzas were AMAZING--spectacularly outstanding! I especially like the Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts (so yum), Beef Carpaccio, all the pizzas, Tagliatelle / bolognese / reggiano (pasta), and Orecchiette / chile flakes / sausage / cured tomato (pasta). In addition, the Burger on the late night menu is also really good. As for the drinks, I don't think I need to go into details, once you see the cocktail list you'll know that it's pretty damn good. Nothing fancy but they have some pretty original creations at fair price.
(4)
Hussam B.

This place is ideal for a decent late night meal. Their pizzas are thin and way better than your average pizza. Their burgers are also good. The greatest thing about this place is that it opens until 1am!
(3)
kate P.

First, let's talk about the decor and the ambience. It's decorated in a minimalist design -- which I like in a resteraunt. However, there isn't one thing to "soften" the room. What do I mean by that? It means there isn't one thing in that resteraunt to soak up the noise... so you're in basically almost a warehouse, and the noise is amplified times 1000. People end up talking louder and louder and louder to be heard by their dinner companion. And frankly, I don't feel like screaming at my husband who is sitting across the table from me. The waitress had to shout at us to tell us the specials. Second -- the seating. Know how the airlines squeeze every last seat they can onto a plane? It felt like a Delta 747 in there. My table (a two top) was four inches away from the other table next to us. We were practically on top of them. Also, the table behind me was so close, that I was forced to move my chair EVERY SINGLE TIME a waiter or a busboy wanted to serve the table behind me or next to me a glass of water, wine, bread, appetizer, entree, dessert, coffee, the check.... This is because the tables are so close together that servers can't get in and out. Moving your chair so close that your breasts hang on the table is not my thought of fine dining. My appetizer was great. My husband said his prime rib was "decent." My entree was ok. The dessert was good. The wine list sucked. I mean SUCKED. I've had better wine at Pops. The one good thing was that our waitress was absolutely wonderful. Her personality was an absolute joy. Overall, I won't go back.
(1)
Jennifer D.

I want to preface this by saying I am not one of those people who only writes bad reviews. I like letting people know when they're doing a good job and when I've had a positive experience, as I was in customer service for years, but I also want to let establishments know when they need to work on things. I dined at Stella last night with a few girl friends after the South End Christmas Stroll. We made reservations, and arrived 20 minutes prior to that. We did not expect to be seated until our time, so we waited by the bar. My friend went to check on our table 25 minutes later, and to remind the hostess that we were still there, who barely looked in our direction. We then waited 30 additional minutes, only to find that walk ins off the street were now being seated before us, who had already been there for 50 minutes. I approached the hostess and explained that we had been waiting for 35 minutes past our reservation time, and pointed out that I saw her seat walk-ins ahead of us. There was no apology, no hint of embarassment or wrong-doing on her face, just "we can seat you now". She was rude, pretentious, and put a sour taste in my mouth right off the bat. Our waiter was fine, although when we tried to flag him down to pay our bill, it seemed like he was deliberately not looking in our direction. We were waving to him, and he seemed more interested in chatting with his coworkers than actually doing his job. He was pleasant, but again, no apology when he finally saw that we needed to pay and were a bit perturbed at how long it took him to come over. However, the food was excellent, reasonably priced for the South End and the portion size, and the restaurant itself is pretty. It's unfortunate that the service left a lot to be desired. Very pretentious staff and atmosphere in general. There are just too many restaurants with excellent food AND excellent staff in the South End and the rest of the city to return to Stella. I won't be back.
(2)
Alison C.

RESTAURANT WEEK REVIEW I ate enough food at Stella to feed a small village. It was disgusting. Disgustingly awesome. The food is so good that even when you're uncomfortably full and you're pretty sure that you've reached the size of a small baby Orca, you just keep going because when will you have this opportunity again? *If you order ANYTHING, you must get the Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts. They were unbelievable. Just do it, and thank me later. For a main course, I had a Seafood Ricotta with calamari and shrimp. It was decent, but not as mind-blowing as the artichoke hearts. If I went back, I would get the gnocchi which they serve with a tomato sauce and not a pesto (perfect!). So two courses and two large martinis later, I took it for the team and ate most of the Tiramisu, which was light and fluffy but almost tipped me over the edge of obesity. My friend and I CRAWLED out of that place. I was so full, that walking, breathing and thinking were all too many functions to handle. All in all, the discomfort was totally worth it, and I would tell anyone to go to Stella for a great dining experience.
(5)
Foodie W.

Our favorite bartender just quit, a sweetheart and true wizard of mixology, so our only reason for going to Stella is gone as well. We've been regulars there for several years, spending much of our disposable income at the back bar on Friday & Saturday nights. The food is mediocre and overpriced, the menu never changes, and the interiors are stark and mundane. Our only reason for dining there was to socialize with our large group of friends that follow our favorite bartender to whichever establishment he's working in. We and all of our wallets will be moving on to another location.
(1)
Joe R.

Walking around the south end, I went to Stella the other night with my girlfriend for dinner on a Thursday around 7pm. Atmosphere/Ambiance (8/10)- Outside seating with heat lamps and blankets in case the mercury dropped. A little tightly spaced with the gentleman at the table behind mine continually bumping my chair. Service- (4/10) The maitre de was quick to seat us, but that's where the promptness ended. The waitress took a long time before taking our order, never came by at any point in the meal to check in and only presented us with the bill after we asked for it- and this was following about 25 minutes of sitting at a cleared table without any drinks or food. Food- (6/10) Stella is an Italian restaurant. The pasta is all home made. I ordered the gnocchi which proved to be inconsistently cooked- some pieces were perfect others were doughy and undercooked with a seared exterior. My girlfriend had the Pasta Bolognese- the pasta was cooked perfectly, but there was something off about the sauce, particularly the meat which tasted gamy and over spiced -perhaps to counter that fact. Value (8/10)- For around $15 an entrÃ©e, the value was okay. After all, we are talking about pasta with tomato sauce.
(2)
Purvi R.

So we found ourselves here again last weekend, this time on a Friday evening, and only because Toro had an ABSURDly long wait. At first we were going to only bide time here, but the menu looked great and we didn't have to wait for a table, so we did it up (sorry Toro, but I think you were OK without our business). My friend and I shared a bottle of prosecco (did you know, in Boston you can take home whatever portion of a bottle you don't drink? Great upsell, waiter!). I got an arugula salad and the spaghetti. The spaghetti was OK - kind of creamier than I thought it would be, but still quite delicious. The bf and my friend both got the specials - the bf had monkfish (which is that scary deep sea fish with an ugly mouth) and he said it was SO good. We were too full for dessert. The staff was really nice, they sat us at a larger table for 8 that cancelled, and the 3 of us sat on one end and a couple sat on the other end. It was fine. They kept coming over to check on us to be sure we were ok, which was nice. The manager also came over at the end when (evidently - I didn't see) she told my friend to call if she wanted her shirt dry cleaned because a waiter unknowingly dripped red wine on her back (white shirt!) So that was a bit annoying. Learn to carry trays!! Prices were on the high-average side. Well ok, mainly just high, so I'm not sure about the return factor on this place...
(4)
Chrissy V.

When you walk into Stella the simple candle light offers an elegant ambiance that sets the mood for any foodie to enjoy the delectable dishes. To start I shared the Caesar salad and fried artichoke heart appetizers. The Caesar salad was good but nothing to talk about. The fried artichoke hearts, which had a mustard and basil sauce, had a lot of great flavor and was superb when combined with the salty capers. For my main course I had the Pork Milanese. The pork was tender and absorbed the flavor of the roasted tomatoes - honestly it was one of the best meals I have ever had. I have a few criticisms: 1. the sangria lacked flavor and the high ice content watered it down quickly 2. the table for two was quite small after adding a few drinks and a few appetizers 3. they dimmed the lights way too much Overall it was a great experience.
(4)
Tiffany G.

delicious food, delightful atmosphere! outside seating, awesome dining out experience
(5)
Katie P.

Went here for dinner with a friend on a Friday...Food great, service and atmosphere kinda lacking. It was pretty hoppin' at 8:30pm but cleared out (at least in our section) by 9:30. Even though we had a reservation for two, we had to wait for our table to be cleared. No worries, we got some *fabulous* Spanish wine at the bar and chilled...after another fifteen minutes however we checked with our hostess to see what was up with our table and finally were seated. Waiter was courteous but pretty inattentive. Food was absolutely stellar though: I can def recommend the roasted chicken with polenta and mushrooms and the bolognese pasta. Everything else on the menu looked fab too. Decor was kinda austere: very white and plain with huge square windows...my friend said it reminded her of a Hampton beach house. If you are looking for something with a little more atmosphere to show off Boston to out-of-towners, I'd go elsewhere...but Stella gets a solid 3 stars for food.
(3)
Spencer T.

The food was totally acceptable but the service (inattentive) and the ambiance (Miami vice) left something to be desired.
(2)
Miss P.

French toast. Dear goodness. Reminded me of the kugeloff I had in a Parisian bakery...it's a combination of the buttery soft crusty brioche soaked in maple syrup...lovely atmosphere too. Excellent brunch prices.
(4)
kerry a.

Hands down the drink of the night was the Basil Lime Gimlet, one of the best cocktails I may have ever had, even to rival the most delicious rosemary lemon-drop at Puccini and Pinnetti in San Francisco. I'd also recommend the Stella 75 Martini, which was delicious. Drinks were good, music was alright and the place was at least a little lively for our Friday night at 12:30, pretty inside, great white lacquered surfaces and good seating options / coat and handbag setting stations. Sloppy boy next to us made out with not only his lady friend, but also the bartender, ACROSS THE BAR. no thank you.
(3)
Stephen S.

I'm going to give Stella 4.5, the extra .5 being for value. Stella is exactly what you'd expect from an Italian place in the South End, trendy but also heavy on quality. I started off with a baby arugula salad which, for the mid-spring, complimented the nice weather with a light and citrus-y palate prep. I continued along the light fare with swordfish siciliano which was nicely flavored and lighten up with what I assumed was a capers and white wine garnish with a hint of lemon. There's definitely a much more hearty selection (my dinner companion had a bolognese pasta dish. The really cool thing about Stella is that, if you came from an Italian family, all of these flavors and techniques are really familiar so you can definitely incorporate them into your own cooking library...assuming you cook of course. Highly recommended.
(4)
Stephanie N.

this place is definitely great for a casual date. The restaurant itself is pretty crowded and the tables are really close together, so there are a lot of people crammed into small places. It's also really loud in there so you kinda have to shout across the table, and since you are sitting so close to the table next to you, the next party can hear you pretty well. That being said, I thought the mixed drinks choices were great! The Pink Guava Lemonade was really sweet and tasty and not too strong. The menu had a lot of varieties. Definitely get a pasta dish (bolognese!) as an appetizer. The lamb special (cooked medium rare) was so tender and tasty. They should definitely make that a regular item on the menu. Great social scene and food! Just really loud inside.
(4)
Anna W.

This is once of my favorite brunch places in Boston (sorry, never been there for any other meal than brunch). The brunch menu is small, but it has enough variety to satisfy anyone. They have your typical breakfast food, like eggs, bacon, home fries, etc., sandwiches, salads, etc. Even on a busy weekend morning/afternoon, the wait for a table is not terribly bad. Service is great -- the waitstaff is pleasant and attentive. Parking can be a pain sometimes, but other than that, I try to make it out there every few months for brunch with friends. Great place to get together when you're hung over on a Sunday and want to catch up!
(4)
Spencer N.

This might just be the the most inconsistent place ever. GREAT place to go to get drinks on a Sunday and catch up with all the ppl you saw the night before at Club Cafe(that you didn't talk to because you aren't allowed to talk there) and at Roxy, where you couldn't talk because the bass was taking over. I came here with a friend today for brunch. We sat down and ordered out food, and were so drunk by the time the food came, we forgot we had ordered. It literally took almost an hour for an omelet and panini. Not ok. My omelet was boring...tomato and spinach and my friends panini wasnt so hot. Apparently to them prosciutto means black forest, bores head ham. I will way, our server was AMAZING. my friend said the panini was just 'ok' and she then proceeded to take it off the bill, ask is he wanted to take something else home and apologized 3 or 4 times. Apparently it was the first day they had the patio open so the kitchen was backed up. I LOVED that she acknowledged the problem. We tipped her well despite the lack of quickness. After we ate we then proceeded to the bar to drink more. Its taken a while to type this review because hitting the bar again. 1 mimosa, 1 kettle one/soda and a pomegranate martini will do that to ya. They also charged us or 3 of the 6 drinks we ordered. LOVES IT!! SO to conclude this awful, intoxicated review, Stellas IS a great place but we caught them on an off day. Id rather just go here to drink than eat tho. Really, who needs food when you have booze
(3)
Undercova A.

Nope, didn't like it. It started out with us being seated on the laps of the couple next to us although the place was not busy yet. The waiter was clearly annoyed we only ordered wine by the glass. The arancini appetizer was no big deal and the sausage appetizer was flabby. I had expected it to be grilled and caramelized. My H ordered the spaghetti and meatballs. Though the meatballs were good and the spaghetti was home made the sauce was waaay salty and too sweet. I had the meatball pizza. It was very good. This is not a restaurant for quiet conversation. It is very loud here. The private dining room is buzzing with activity and the bar area is mad crazy. For some it is fine dining. For me, it was a dud.
(2)
Jeremy L.

Came back to Stella on a random Wednesday night around 7 or so. Whereas last time our actual wait far exceeded the quoted wait (and we suspect we were forgotten about), this time we were sat immediately. Our waiter was phenomenal and made excellent recommendations: the "roasted chicken" (which was more like slightly fried chicken breast, but a massive portion and delicious) and the pear/arugula/balsamic pizza. Great combo to split, since the chicken was heavy and the pizza was light and sweet. The portions are worth the price (unlike other places in the neighborhood), and we had plenty pizza to bring home with us. The only downside with this place is the godawful chairs--ugly and uncomfortable. Worst seating ever! But the food and drinks and atmosphere are awesome, and we'll definitely be back.
(4)
Kristin M.

All I can say is Gnocchi gnocchi gnocchi! My sister recommended this amazing dish and I couldn't get enough of it. Stella is a GREAT restaurant. Great service (my mother lost her glasses and the hostess eagerly looked for them) great food (try the beef tartar appetizer) and great drinks (my sister could have drank 3 more espresso martinis) The atmosphere is dimly lit but light enough to see your party and enjoy some great conversations. Note that we had to yell a little during dinner due to the noise, but worth it once my meal came out. Would definitely recommend.
(4)
Juan Carlos P.

Once again Stella delivered last night a superb dinner. After having an unexpected awful day, I got together with my partner and 2 great friends, and the time couldn't have been better, and part of the reason was the service and food at Stella. It is one of my favorite places to eat here in Boston, and certainly, last night it was the perfect spot to spend a great evening with love ones. Totally recommend it. La cena y el servicio estuvieron a la altura.
(4)
Matt I.

One of the best! Fantastic bar scene, friendly bartenders, hosts, waitstaff, and management. Amazing food, so delicious, a bit pricy but well worth it. Anytime you go, the place is bustling. Has TVs for sports fans. Has great music for the crowd. Definitely one of the best brunches in all of Boston. One issue - the menus are inconsistent, and some have items omitted (like the tasty duck confit), so make sure you look at your friends' menus. Also, make a reservation as this gem is not a hidden one.Awesome spot to begin/end your Sunday Funday. Go casual or go dressy. Go after work, start a date there, or bring your family for a birthday dinner. Late night food. You'll leave satisfied and impressed. I could go on and on but there's no need to - just see it for yourself.
(5)
Michele P.

Incredible food. Not your average Italian restaurant. They put interesting twists on what would be traditional food. My favorite time to visit is during restaurant week. You get to enjoy the fun, clean, trendy atmosphere, but pay less than trendy prices. Either way its always worth the price. The service and waitstaff is also great. Very knowledgeable about the food they are serving which is really nice. They are all very friendly as well. Just a great place!
(5)
global g.

This is a review from a Monday but we were treated as if it was a thursday or such.. in a good way.. all the way... this place is fantastic.. the setting has lots of windows, all tables can see outside.. and there are outside tables. Bar makes great use of space.. a dozen of people can sit at bar without being squished.. and there are a few high rounds.. very very comfy and groovy spot. The food was fantastic.. we had the pan fried artichokes and an amazing watermelon and prosciutto salad for apps, Caesar salad and I had the bolognese. A true bolognese with all three meats and the pasta was absolutely perfect. Our server, Daniel from just outside Syracuse, could not have been a bit better.. he balanced information, engagement, charm and servitude perfectly. Pete (Mons and Tues) at the bar.. whom we know from Pho and Silvertone is always outstanding in his role of hospitality, the art of mixology, conversation, knowing the products and tact. Lastly, chef Evan Deluty cranks out the most mouth watering dishes with slight innovations here and there on the classics we crave; and his warm, hospitality and persona really make the whole Stella experience Ideal! If you're going.. call me I'm there!
(4)
Michael T.

I thought this place was great. Bit of a scene on a Saturday night, but the bar is cool and the service was excellent, right up to our knowledgeable waiter offering to prepare a primi of the pasta we were all interested in after we had our apps. The Bistecca Tartare was very good, and the bolegnese on said primi was excellent. I ordered the short ribs just because I've been seeing them everywhere, forgetting that I find short ribs a little gross. Overall, a 10 for ambiance, 9 for service, 7.5 for food. A great place to go in the South End, if not a menu at the level of the truly great Boston Italian restaurants.
(4)
tania t.

Yummy brunch. Creative cocktails to go with your crab benedict or whatever tasty meal you order. I went for the frittata and was not disappointed. Check out the pics for the cocktail choices on a recent Sunday.
(4)
Julia A.

What a difference! I remember a time, not long ago, it was not safe to even walk down the street where Stella's sits. What was once a seedy liquor store is now a beautiful bistro filled with well-dressed people and candle lit tables overlooking a beautiful park (which use to be filled with ladies of the night). I must say, I throughly enjoyed cocktailing in the dimly lit lounge. The bartenders were attentive, drinks were well made and the ambiance suburb. The appetizers, however, were disappointing. Every one of them, including the Caesar's salad (which my friend swore was going to be THE best Caesar's I had ever had. It wasn't). There just wasn't one appetizers (we ordered three) that I couldn't get enough of. I found the food to be, well, ordinary. Will I try Stella's again? Most definitely. Perhaps it was just an off night.
(3)
Emily B.

Stella is okay -- I like brunch best -- but the dinner options are over-priced and the menu has not changed in over a year. It feels really tired!
(2)
Luke A.

Very sheik atmosphere, top quality food. Surprisingly fun menu. Not cheap. Parking is limited in the neighborhood. Excellent place for a fancy night out.
(4)
Heather S.

Decent Italian food, consistently fun crowd and the perfect patio for eating al fresco in warmer weather. What's not to like?
(4)
Brian B.

I've got one word for you: Al-Fresco-Brunch-Three-Seasons-While-Staying-ÂComfortable-Under-Blankets-And-Heat-Lamps. Okay, that's like two, or something. Regardless, Stella has THE best fancy schmancy, al fresco brunch in Boston. What's cool is that even when the New England chill sets in around Fall (or struggling to stick around in Spring) Stella turns the heat up for you out on its sidewalk seating - that's right, outdoor dining three seasons of the year. They have heaters AND blankets. We New Englanders are a hearty bunch - I'll be damned if a little nip in the air is going to prevent me from drinking my Goddamn Mimosa and Bloody Mary outside just because it's in the 50s. Screw you West Coast. Ooops. Oh, the food. Stella makes a fantastic, fantastic Frittata (with sweet sausage, roasted peppers, and Asiago cheese) and a perfectly, deliciously fluffy Omelet Fiorentina (Spinach, Tomato, and Asiago Cheese) to name a few favorites. Delicious. These two items are so good and the outside seating so comfortable, you could still find me here on a Sunday during a Nor'easter. It's just that good. Note - While this place doesn't have changing tables (yet), it is very kid friendly - FOR BRUNCH. Stella is the name of the owners' kid, and they and the staff just love it when little rugrats are around. We bring our boy here all the time - he loves a nice, virgin Mimosa every now and then and flirting with the cute wait staff.
(4)
Abdullah A.

Never had trouble booking at this place. Great hosts. Always welcoming and seat you quickly. The back room can be a bit quite at times, but overall ambiance is OK. Favorite dishes: 1. Tagliatelle bologonese...money 2. Spicy mussels with safron cream...dream The bar is open late. Serving food until 1am (?) I believe. Great burgers, not to miss.
(4)
Maria V.

Stella is exactly what a South End eatery should be: busy (we went on a weekend), loud, and trendy with exceptional food and great mixed drinks. It feels open, inviting and unpretencious. Really fun place for a girls night!
(4)
Milanes M.

I absolutely LOVED their Tiramisu. I went in there for dessert one night and wished I had gone there for dinner instead of the loud Hard Rock Cafe in downtown. The waiter was very nice, came to our table often to make sure everything was going well. The place does have somewhat of a yuppy vibe to it, being the only Latina there I felt it a lot. But, the dessert made up for it and I am sure the food would of as well.
(4)
Keane L.

I had forgotten about Stella. I had forgotten about that wonderful pear martini, and the delicious, though overpriced, gnocchi. I had forgotten about the not-so-coherent review I wrote when I got back to the hostel, complaining about how the gnocchi was of such limited quantity. I had forgotten that I deleted the review the following morning... and thus I had forgotten about Stella... But now I remember, as much as one can remember after what feels like ages passed. I remember being with good company. I remember warehouse studios before, and Bostonian bars after. I remember going to the MFA during the day, and Flash's during the afternoon. And all these things return as I type, and I wonder, "Dear God, how could I have forgotten?" as if I had carelessly misplaced some secret treasure. The best moments are those that slip from memory, recollected during the most random of occasions, twinkling like Christmas lights strewn across a twilight picnic. Or waking up drunk to the taste of candy dislodged from the back of your mouth. Both are equally sweet.
(4)
Kate B.

Oh, Stella. I was a little disappointed by you. Let me say this though... ambiance and style really don't mean much to me.... it's all about the food in my eyes. I heard this place was great and I assumed this was based on the quality of their cuisine but I was mistaken. Not that the food was bad, it was just kind of boring. The good: the large wine list- we split a really nice malbec. The bad: said wine cost $44 and that was one of the cheapest bottles. The mediocre: Just about everything else. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable but slightly inattentive. My asparagus linguine was just "good" but nothing to write home about. My friend got the glazed salmon which was tasty but again, totally boring. As for it's "hip" factor- I guess it's hip? I don't know. I thought it was a little chintzy inside to be honest. I mean, it was cute enough, I just don't see what all the hype is about. So there you have it... I would sum this place up as mediocre and over priced. Addendum: I knew it. I went to the wine gallery in Kenmore.... same bottle of wine for $9.99. Is it me, or is this kind of a ridiculous mark up?
(3)
Neno S.

Bravo! Stella is one of my favorite places in the South End. The service is incredible, the bartenders skilled, and the food, while not really creative, is really delicious. The decor is sleek and minimalistic and the bright whiteness screams CLEAN. Stella has one of the most positive and dynamic bars of all restaurants in the South End. While I recommend it without reservations, like all stars, Stella shines most brightly at night!
(5)
Lindsay F.

Went to Stella last night and will NOT be going back. It's a shame; they have a great menu with some of my favorite ingredients and some great wines, but my experience on Valentine's Day will be my last. I felt like I was in a fast food diner the way they tried to get out in and out of there in under an hour. The food was obviously pre-plated and reheated, and tasted that way. The service was completely obnoxious - the waiter dropped our check before we were even finished dessert, the bus boys tried to clear our plates before we were finished our first course, and after being seated for no more than 1 hour, we paid our $200 bill (for two of us), and while we sat finishing our last sip of wine, the hostess came over and asked if she "could help us with something." What a waste of money and waste of a night. This restaurant obviously cares a lot more about volume than they do about quality food and a quality dining experience.
(1)
Eleanor C.

I had been wanting to try Stella's ever since I moved to Boston six months ago. I heard nothing but rave reviews so was excited to be invited there for my friend's bday dinner. I loved the atmosphere and the staff were friendly and helpful. I ordered the melon and prociutto salad which was incredibly tasty. I've never had that combo before and it definitely didn't disappoint. I was eating light so only ordered the beet salad but again, very light and refreshing. My friends ordered the salmon, swordfish and tagliatelle and all three meals looked scrumptous. From what I could tell, all three thoroughly enjoyed their meals. Overall, two thumbs up for a great meal and great evening. Can't wait to go back again!
(4)
Steven E.

I love love Stella. This is my favorite place to brunch in the South End! The staff are all cute and attentive. Always a good time!
(5)
Tom E.

Stella is the biggest selling beer in England. The whole 'reassuringly expensive' advertising campaign with fancy Jean De Florette-style mini-stories has been like crack to a certain type of beer drinker who wants to try and look 'money' by spending 10% more than his friends. This is usually the same wanker who buys a Burberry baseball cap and gets a fake LV purse for his missus. This is usually a football hooligan. A thug. And out of the back of all this now, Stella has a bad rep - it's known as fighting juice, or more succinctly... 'Wifebeater'. I kind of felt Stella in the south end mirrored the mass-produced belgian beer. Dress it up, hype it up and disguise the fact that it's nothing special and a favourite for poser idiots. Don't get me wrong, I had a lovely night here but that was based on my company, not my meal. Stella only provided good service (excellent in fact) and okay drinks too. The pasta dish and salad app I had were nothing special and certainly not for the high cost. The Bolognese sauce was pretty tasty, but mum makes better. Gnocchi was good but you got, like 5 of them for 15 dollars. Slightly incongruous was a bad Mediterranean house music soundtrack and giant poorly-framed poster of a high photo of some stars and a comet (geddit? Stella!) The sight of a latino guy head to toe in white should've been a warning sign. His decor = Stella's decor. His style = Stella's style. In England I'd bet you His drink = Wifebeater.
(2)
Rachel U.

The interior is very clean, calm and modern, with nice big windows. The drink list is fun and tasty; we tried the Fresca, and I got a glass of chianti that didn't disappoint. My homemade gnocchi was really good, and while the portion size made me a little nervous (not to mention that every other pasta dish people ordered seemed to be 3 times as much food), it was satiating. The quattro funghi pizza had a really nice flavor, but a little dull for a whole pizza. And while we were almost too full to finish them, both the chocolate torte and the tiramisu were delicioso. As for our server, she was very sweet, the water fillers were very attentive, and when I couldn't find our server to change my drink order I just went to the host who passed on the message. My only complaint was that the music suddenly got louder at one point, and with the growing crowd at the bar, it got a little difficult to carry on a conversation.
(3)
Jay G.

For me Stella is the cornerstone of the past 8 or so years of Southend revitalization. A slammin bar scene, good late night eats (late for Boston being after 10 but before 1) and a fine wine list. They essentially set up the business model and if they weren't the first in the area, they are to me what first comes to mind. The bar is almost always way too crowded to sit at but when I do come here its often after 10pm and most kitchens around town are closed. I always order off the late night menu and I always get the Tagliatelle bolognese. This is one of the better meat sauces in town and the pasta is always cooked to perfection. The latenight menu also includes a fish and pork dish, both are usually very good and well presented. Dessert and coffee are a must here, they have a wonderful Tieramisu and chocolate mousse. As for the space, one of the earlier reviewers summed up the atomasphere as being somthing out of Miami Vice, and that is about right - all white, modern interior - it livens the place up in my opinion, not a bad choice to keep you awake.
(3)
Jennafir E.

Stella's has a mix of modern atmosphere with bar scene music. It didn't make much sense on a Sunday night, but after drinks, it grew on me. Stella's is fantastic, I think we tried half the menu. The bologna pasta was by far the best dish. It was flavorful and I literally wanted to steal it from my bf's mom. The sirloin was tasty, with a fantastic sauce that brought the dish together. The sausage pasta dish was yummy, but not nearly as good as the others. I heard the swordfish was perfect, though I wasn't brave enough to eat it. The artichoke app was perfect, i mean anything friend pretty much works... The carpacchio was even better. I would go back and eat that for the rest of my life. I want to be a inmate on death row so this could be my last meal. The dessert is to die for. The sorbet was hands down the best, though the torte, pecan pie, and tiramisu were heavenly. I think god would have given his left arm for the sorbet. I mean, I would consider it a possibility.
(5)
Erin W.

I am laughing at the "intimate" description from a previous poster.....Stella is frantic and VERY loud (difficult to have a conversation at our table of four) and too cramped (table behind us kept bumping into us while we were dining). Our dinners were just adequate-crudo misto (too lemony, couldn't taste the tuna and salmon), caesar salad (very average), arugula salad (ok), linguine with asparagus cream (bland), orecciette (ok), steak (not particularly tender and the flavor was just so-so) and crispy fries (good), but my brother's saffron/seafood risotto was quite tasty. I don't see what all the hype is about, unless we were there on an "off" night. Our service was acceptable and fortunately the wine and company made the evening worthwhile.
(2)
Kathleen M.

Went to Stella recently with a group of friends, and wasn't overly impressed. We had a reservation, but still had to wait a bit for a table. The place was packed and LOUD--to the point where I could barely hear the person next to me, let alone the guy at the end of the table (there were 6 of us, so no one should have been too far away to talk to). Not really a place to go with more than 2 people if you actually want to try to talk to everyone. Food was reasonably good, but not quite worth the price. The table had the arancini and the crudo misto (raw tuna and salmon with some lemoncello vinagrette) for apps, and both were quite good. I think the crudo misto was really the winner for the evening, but I love the raw fishes and others may not have felt that way. I had the scallops for an entree--they came atop a bacon-corn "relish" with some seared spinach--all were really delicious, but I still can't really wrap my head around paying almost $30 for 4 scallops--the corn relish and spinach were sparse, too--more so at other restaurants of similar quality and style. At least fill the plate out a bit with the "cheaper" ingredients--more than a toothful of spinach on the plate wouldn't kill you! The cocktails were quite good, particularly the basil-lime gimlet. However, I'm on a "drinks with basil" kick right now, so that may have had something to do with it--thought they'd be gross, but had a basil mojito at West Side Lounge during their "Mojito Madness" dinner and it was delicious! Definitely give basil a try in your next cocktail adventure. Service was nice and attentive, but I'd expect nothing less for a restaurant of this type. It was kind of annoying that I ran into a member of the staff 3 or 4 times, though, as we had to pass by the well-travelled hallway near the kitchen to go to and from our table--not the staff's fault, just a bad design. Overall, Stella is a reasonable destination for dinner, but with all the other great places in South End to choose from, I wouldn't recommend making Stella a priority destination--especially if you want to try to have a conversation.
(3)
Jennifer M.

My husband and I just had dinner this evening July 2, 2011. We read all the rave reviews and were SO disappointed. Dan ordered spaghetti and meatballs, the meatballs were not completely cooked and the noodles not all completely cooked. The sauce was tasteless, spaghetti is one of Dan's favorite foods, so he has ordered it a lot, it's hard to ruin, but stella's did! We told the manager, his response was that next time he'll make sure our meal is good. Obviously there won't be a next time. To be fair, my pear pizza was delicious, but I didn't enjoy it that much because my husband left hungry after paying over $30 for his meal. I would recommend somewhere else.
(1)
Miles D.

One of the best meals I've had in Boston and not a bad price either. Ambience was lively but not too loud, drinks were great, and food was delicious. Highly recommended!
(5)
Lala L.

It's so pretty here, almost as if you're not in Boston. New York? Maybe. Came here for brunch one rainy Sunday with some friends. Although it was sprinkling all day, the wall of massive windows made up for it because it still brightened up the place. The drink list looks AMAZING! Wish I didn't have that nasty hangover, or else I would have been "sippy sippy" all afternoon. I did chug 3 cups of coffee, desperately trying to cure that nasty hangover of mine. Food was good. I had a simple omelette. However, I was a bit disappointed by their version of the "homefries". It was basically a mall red bliss potato that was partially smashed and sat on the skillet until it was crispy. My friend ordered the french toast topped with fresh fruit and sugar. Yumzzz. The brunch menu could be expanded. However, they made up for it by serving the yummiest looking burgers and even pasta carbonara! The service is great and the staff is very friendly. I'd totally go back...just this time, I would go earlier because after 2 pm, they started crunking the techno, yes, TECHNO on a Sunday afternoon.
(3)
Priya C.

My boyfriend took me here the other night for a date and it was great! I had the beat salad and the arancini and both were delicious and more than enough food. I had a yummy pear and ginger martini and the service was good. Only down side is that we were sitting about 6 inches away from the other table, it was hard not to eavesdrop on their father-son conversation! Also had the tiramasu for dessert and it was great! Just went there last night again for a drink and that was great too! I tried the mushroom pizza (as per a yelp recommendation=) and it was delicious and great for splitting with 2 other people as an app. I haven't sat outside yet, but for the people pissed that they won't let you drink outside without food- it's because of a licensing issue- blame it on the city of boston, not Stella. A lot of restaurants have that issue- they are not allowed to serve just alcohol outside. __________________________________________________Â__ Had a birthday dinner there and it was perfect for the occasion- we ordered all the apps and it was delicious and inexpensive and also filling.
(4)
David D.

The food is really good. seriously come here for the food. The host/hostess were dressed rediculously. Brown/red/green Gucci belt while wearing all black? NO The crowd looks like they got their fasion cues from watching 'growing up gotti.' i went into the bathroom and someone PUKED in there. it smelled horrible. i forgot to zip my fly because of the awful smell. thanks for embarrassing me, Stella. I get the feeling that a lot of the people at Stella couldn't get into Strega, so they went to Stella instead. the FOOD IS AMAZING. i'll put up with the gotti's any night to eat here.
(4)
Graham C.

I'm an avowed un-hipster, and this place in the South End does reek of hip, complete with young parents and their hipster offspring. But it's got good food with decent service, if you look past the sterile decor. I thought the menu was some sort of place mat for about 20 minutes today. It's certainly worth a look see.
(4)
Meg M.

#NAME?
(4)
bon t.

I have been to Stella a few times for both dinner and late night drinks + food. I have tried every single cocktail on the menu and they were all great, except if you're not into stronger drinks you might want to skip Stella 75. Service is a bit slow when the place is crowded for dinner time, but excellent if you go for late night dining and grab a table. The food - after a few times of delicious pasta, mussels, steaks, etc. My friend and I went back once after dinner for drinks, and wanted something to munch on. So we ordered pizza though we were a little worried about not being able to finish it. Well, there were only two of us eating, and the pizza was gone after 10 minutes. It doesn't matter if you don't really like thin crust that much, or tomatoes, or whatever that's on the pizza, because all you can taste is bliss. Ever since that pizza experience I can't help but return whenever I don't suffer from a food coma from eating out. So try the pizza!
(5)
Betty P.

I have mixed opinions about Stella. I love the vibe, the colors, the decor, and it's definitely got a happening brunch scene. I had made reservations for a large group to have brunch here recently. Courtney, the manager, was so easy to deal with and didn't get upset when our numbers kept changing. One star for ease of reservations and being greeted pleasantly upon arrival. In fact, I was the first to arrive among the group of 17 and the restaurant didn't freak out when pockets of people staggered in despite the waiting crowd. One star for that too! Some restaurants are sticklers for only seating you when the whole party arrives or freaking out when adding/subtracting chairs. The food was decent too. The portions are huge and most people enjoyed their meal. I personally had the Duck omelette which was not as good as I anticipated. It was kinda watery and the duck taste didn't really stand out. One dining companion got the "Rising Star Breakfast" which consists of 3 eggs any style and your choice of Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Prosciutto Cotto, or Sausage along with Home Fries and Toast, and mentioned that it was bland. I would definitely advise you to stick to certain dishes such as the French Toast which was a huge block of fluffy goodness according to the person sitting next to me. Another person claimed her steak and eggs was well worth it, too! The brunch drink menu is also extensive and I enjoyed my Peach Bellini. One star for variety and the ability to please a large crowd with differing tastes! Our server had a charming accent and checked in on us throughout the meal. Other people also filled our water and drink orders promptly. One more star for friendly servers. There was one fatal flaw in our meal though. I did have to take a star off for the way our meals were served and it's probably a star that could be earned back in a future visit. Though I was first to be seated, I was last to be served. And I mean the bitter end, last. There were at least 3 latecomers and two of them ordered the same meal I did. While they got their duck omelettes first and were happily munching away, I probably waited another 10 minutes for my dish with no apologies or acknowledgment from the servers until I inquired where my meal was. Then, at least two servers came over to reassure me that it was on its way. It was just weird and half of the table felt bad and didn't want to eat until I got my food. I didn't want their food to get cold though so I urged them to start without me, but many of them did not which made more awkward. If I was not the organizer of the group and one of the first to sit down and order, I would not have cared so much. So until next time, that is my lasting impression of Stella and one which I hope will be changed on a return visit.
(4)
Stephen M.

there is a lot of competition for restaurants in boston's south end. so to say that stella is in the top 3 is quite an accolade. so who said that? i did. but believe me, it's true. stella is arguably the best, but with respect to many other good ones in the area, i won't go quite so far as to call it so. the atmosphere is sexy but friendly. the outdoor seating is a nice option, but the inside really shines. sleak but comfortable furnishings are complimented by soft lighting. though, it does tend to get somewhat noisy. the entire staff, from hostess to bartender to server has been very well-trained. the servers are very attentive and knowlegable and can describe the food incredibly well. in the service arena, stella has no equal. i have had everything from red meat to fish to pasta and almost always find the food to be excellent. in fact, last night i was recommended the halibut. i'd never had halibut before and frankly, the name just does not sound appealing. however, i had had this particular server before and knew that he knew what he was talking about. so, i went blindly into the cold alaskan seas and found it to be outstanding! if you're there and they have this special offering, do yourself a favor -- get it! the one disappointment came in the form of pork milanese several weeks ago, which was disappointly dry and tasteless. however, this was an isolated event and could easily be described as an outlying variant amongst a host of other excellent dining experiences. they have a variety of wines and specialty drinks and a serviceable draft beer selection. they even have sangria, which no, cannot be ordered by the pitcher. also, worth mentioning ... stella is the last place that seems to have a crowd at the bar in the south end on the weekdays. seems to be the neighborhooods nice weekday late night spot. when i have visitors, stella is on the short list of places to take them.
(5)
Kristin S.

I'm a brunch girl. It is my most favorite meal and I take it very seriously! Stella delivered for me. When we arrived the place was packed but we were escorted to our table right away. I ordered a mimosa (bet you didn't see that coming!) and my husband a bloody mary. This is probably one of the best, if not the best, mimosa I've had that was not prepared by me. I would go back just to have them! The food was reasonably priced and quite good- I had the eggs benedict and my husband the fritatta. I wanted to try the french toast but it will have to wait until next time. Its definitely a place that I would bring friends visiting from out of town. The music was kind of funny- you'll get Madonna's Ray of Light mixed in which isn't a very "brunch" song. Our waiter wasn't all that attentive, I had to ask the bus boy for another mimosa and my husband was never offered a single refill of his coffee. The only drawback is the location. If you don't live in the South End its a bit of a trek to get there. We made the walk from Copley since it was soo warm but its a walk. Maybe in the spring or summer it would be ok but I think I'll just cab it from now on. We did have to walk a few blocks to hail a cab but we found one nevertheless. 3.26 Update I have decided that I don't like Stella as much for dinner as I do for brunch. Its busy, so reservations are definitely in order (but easy to make), but its not overly busy. While our meal was well paced the atmosphere didn't really do anything for me. I would easily choose Tremont 647 or Union over Stella for a South End dinner. Its not that it was bad but there was nothing that made it stand out to me.
(4)
Stephy S.

LOVED this place. Clean lines, modern looking, but with a comforting air about it. That's a hard combo to master, but I think Stella does a fantastic job of it! We came here after I had had a nasty bout of food poisoning. I was finally feeling like my normal foodie obsessed self, so the notion of a little hearty Italian lovin sounded like it would definitely hit the spot. I ordered the Bolognese and it was really thick and hearty with a ton of cheese in it. I am a Bolognese connoisseur. I try it everywhere I go and while it wasn't THE BEST one I've ever had, it was indeed tasty and kinda reminded me of a pasta I make at home. So well done guys, I needed that Calgon moment to take me back to something familiar and warm. We also tried the Chocolate Mousse and yummee!! I am normally not a dessert girl, but this was so worth it. I'm glad our server pushed us to get it. Looking around many of the other dishes looked amazing, especially the scallops on the risotto. I love me a good scallop and the fact that Stella doesn't cheap out on the portions is awesome. If I ever am in Boston again I would go here for sure.
(4)
Jared M.

Just went back to Stella for a second time with some family friends. This time I'd give it a 5 (vs. my 3 stars last time). Thus the overall 4 stars. First of all, I made better choices this time around. I got the special fig appetizer (carmelized figs, prosciutto di parma, gorgonzola and honey reduction sauce -- delicious) and the pork milanese. And of course, we got an gnocchi for the table to share. What really struck me though, was the service. We had a rather unfortunate incident from a pigeon on the fire escapes above us (let's just leave it at that). The wait staff, who were already doing an incredible job, pounced. Helping clean up and offering the affected diner at our table a free drink immediately. It was refreshing to be so well taken care of.
(4)
Rosie Z.

What else can I say? Great modern Italian food. Wonderful ambiance for either a date or dinner with a group of friends.
(4)
Victoria C.

Old time fave....any time I think of gnocchi, this is the place!!!! Crudo misto, muscles, and some nice prosecco, in a candle light!!!! My hubby and I I game for a yummy romantic night. The service is just ok, but the food makes up for it!!!
(5)
Amy C.

We had a reservation, were 15 minutes early, but got seated right away. The food was EXCELLENT. I got the gnocchis in the bolognese sauce. They up-charge you for the meat sauce, though which kind of sucks, but was fully worth it. The portion size may appear small, but it's a very filling dish, esp. if you get an appetizer beforehand. The gnocchis were the size of stuffed shells practically, filled with creamy potato, and the meat sauce just added so much flavor. They basically melted in your mouth. I also tried a piece of the grilled salmon, it was delicious. We got the Arancini as an appetizer --pretty good, spicy sauce was delicious, but if you don't like spicy, I don't recommend it b/c w/o the sauce there's too much of a lemon flavor. Drinks were good. Service was QUICK -- almost too quick . The gelato was delicious too, but they only had chocolate and vanilla. The one thing I didn't like was we were practically seated on top of another two-person party. I felt like I was eating with them too. We were so close that putting on coats, etc., we'd hit each other. Awkward. That was the only bad thing about this place! It was VERY crowded though, and this was a Wed. night, so I can't even imagine the weekend...make a reservation. A little noisier than I expected, but still I very highly recommend this trendy S.End restaurant, esp. if you don't want to trek out to the N.End.
(5)
Chip B.

Not impressed. Came for Easter Brunch. Was loud, and not just a noisy place, but the music was too loud as well. cold coffee, steak not cooked correctly. Won't be back. South End was nice though.
(2)
David K.

I love this place. Its adorned in Miami white with a reed floor. Downside of this place is its always packed, but there is a reason. The swordfish is excellent as is the pasta. I love sitting outside on a nice day Great, interesting cuisine
(5)
Cara P.

Stella is stellar! Well, four stars worth............ Ultra cool South End location... Newbury? What's that? Excellent outdoor area, contemporary feel with everything painted "white"......not too big, not too small.....The servers were extremely cool on the verge of being rambunctious. Me likey, me likey........... My preconceived notion of Stellas was it was this over the top hipster spot in the south end with ultra gourmet food....one out of three ain't bad Yup it's in the south end .....the patrons were not what I would call "hipster"....actually.........there were many people who were older.........a more mature audience than I would have expected....to my surprise, not dismay......... Hell I didn't care...I just wanted to eat some good food.......... Not try to be cool with a bunch of cooligans........ On to the eats...their cuisine is supposed to be a representation of every region in Italy. Cool.....they could have told me whatever they wanted. I've never been. So how did it taste? GOOD! We ate off the dinner menu. I will say their use of spices and colors gave me an "almost" foodgasm........My full fledged foodgasms are strictly held for the top notch meals that I have encountered in my lifetime........ We had: -Spicy Mussels. to die for! They weren't too chewy......they're had roasted peppers and a nice cream sauce -Homemade Gnocchi .....it was pretty good. I love their sauce...heavy on the basil just like I like! -Pork Milanese with Buffalo Mozzarella.......this was to die for. Highlight of the dinner!! Be sure to try their Camparitini and Basil Lime Gimlet (Sp.?) Be careful though. Their drinks are hella strong and I was buzzin all night. Not necessarily a bad thing...just make sure you aren't going to meet your SO's parents for the first time afterwards..... or wait......make SURE you plan on meeting the parents for the first time after dinner and drinks at Stella. Better yet, bring them along. They sure will fit in.
(4)
Em P.

Stella was awesome, small and intimate enough for a nice first date. I was not there on a date but noticed how nice the ambiance was. I started with the Marinated Red & Yellow Beets / Goat Cheese / Crostini / Champagne Vinaigrette yum! strong on beets though, so make sure you like beets. Also, if you are wearing white, this might not be the dish for you, but it tasted great. Main course: Swordfish / "Siciliano" / Capers / Roasted Asparagus I CLEANED my plate...awesome. I don't remember what my friends had (too much wine at that point), but they all seemed happy. The wine was good (already mentioned that I guess) as was the bread they brought. Enjoy!
(5)
D Y.

Mediocre food. Great service set in a contemporary, airy atmosphere with clean lines. great drink prices at $8 a pop. i love their pasta bolognese, their white pizza, and lamb. god, i'm hungry.
(3)
Austin R.

My roommate and I came here for a Sunday brunch in the middle of winter for the featured Irish whiskey french toast. We both got that and a cup of coffee. The coffee was good and the french toast was amazing. Haven't been back since it's so far away but if it were closer I'd be a regular. A bit pricey but worth it for me.
(4)
Matt M.

I'm not going to say much - but now that I've finally been here and done it right (2 hour meal, sampling several small plates, etc.) - I need to counter some of these undeserved 2 and 3 star reviews... I had an almost perfect dining experience here - and I can be pretty tough on Italian food and service. Drinks were huge and very tasty for $8, plate sizes were just right (not too heavy - not too pricey), service was primo, and the atmosphere was, for lack of better words, very New York: super clean lines, lots of white, modern furniture and lighting...I felt like I was at a restaurant at the W! However, very unpretentious and not what you'd expect for South End: there were just as many families and older couples enjoying there "night on the town" as the usual younger couples and scenesters. I will definitely be frequenting this place and can not wait for Spring - when the outdoor patio is open.
(5)
Kirs P.

Ugh. Why do people love this place so much? The only thing Stella is good for is grabbing a gin and tonic when you are done playing cricket in Blackstone Square. That's it. And even then, it isn't a fabulous experience. Stella is blessed with a great location (I was going to say stellar, but thought better of it), and that's about it. I had such high hopes for this place, and I'm just so disappointed. Everything I ordered had too much pepper and/or salt on it. Gross. It's wicked expensive for what it is. And I can't stand the decor. It's a Boston restaurant trying to pretend it's in LA. It's almost like being in a sterile hospital room. All that white and all the uncomfortable seating is totally not cool. The waitstaff was okay, but a little slow. And do the hostesses need to dress like tramps? Seriously, it's a turn off. And, they won't let you sit outside and just have drinks. Lame! Money for booze is just as good as money for food.
(1)
Kyra T.

The carbonara is a life changer. Over easy poached egg on top of a delicious bed of pasta -- perfection on a plate.
(5)
Gary F.

Similarities between Stella and an operating room: Sterile. White. Clean. Unxexy. Differences between Stella and an operating room: ... Okay. The food was tight. But not outrageously so. Crudo misto and fried artichoke appitizers were tight. For entrees, beware the fired pork puck. It scared Gary and meats rarely scare Gary. Tuna and sirloin are tighter options, but Stella, a square plate does not a funky, non-operating room presentation make. Much like Michael Bolton, Stella has no soul. Or genitals.
(3)
Nicole M.

I've heard so many complaints about the institution-like decor, but I freaking loved it. It wasn't cold at all, but the chairs could use a little help on the comfort end. The drinks - both wine and martinis - were tasty. I loved the rosemary bread. We started with the arancini which were monster sized and delicious. For my entree, I had the gnocchi and hubs ordered the orecchiette. I'm a gnocchi freak, and sad to say, I wouldn't order it again. But I hear the orecchiette was good. We ordered the chocolate torte w/ vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce for dessert, and I think I drooled a little bit on my dish. Overall, I'm a fan. I'd definitely return. One of my favorite parts was as we walked out to catch a cab, the people that were sitting on the patio who forgot sweaters for the cool June evening were supplied with blankets to keep them toasty underneath the heat lamps.
(4)
Heather W.

I had high hopes for Stella after reading so many glowing reviews on Yelp - which I always look to for advice. I had been here for drinks a couple months ago and loved the vibe. So, I went last weekend with four girlfriends to celebrate my birthday. Overall, the experience was ok, but definitely not what I hoped. To start with, I had a 9pm reservation and didn't get seated until about 9:30pm. The service was extremely slow - everything from taking orders to bringing out the appetizers and then the entrees. Between the five of us, there were four different entrees. I had the swordfish which was good but not great. The gnocchi was interesting in that it appeared to be pan friend after being boiled. So, that was a matter of preference. My friend who ordered it didn't like it but I thought it was tasty. Also, there were two orders of the risotto with sea food. The sea food was supposed to include all sorts of things, including shrimp. However, both dishes came sans shrimp, which was disappointing. We told our server and he was able to bring out a side for each person though half way through the meal. Also, several other reviews mention how loud this place is. I agree with the statement. The level of noise is good for the bar area, but it sucks for the dining area. With five people (which I don't consider a big group), we all had to speak loud in order to hear each other. All and all, for the price I'll be heading elsewhere in the South End for dinner.
(3)
S. M. S.

You just can't beat this place for great drinks, great service, great food, great crowd, great energy, great location, great hours, great hookups!
(5)
Michael Y.

After several visits- I can say the pasta doesn't miss. I am just finishing off the remains of the papardelle with mushrooms and duck confit, but as earthy and rich as this pasta dish is, I have a difficult time deciding between the linguine with asparagus cream and truffles (finished with a poached egg) and the tagliatelle bolognese. Possibly the best bolognese I have had. My wife loves the pomodoro. Don't make the mistake of thinking standard pasta in standard sauce is not worthwhile when going out- Stella does something special with these standards. The pasta has always been firm and slightly chewy- perfectly cooked for me. As for the dinners- they used to have an excellent version of cioppino on the menu- alas- haven't seen it on the menu for a while.
(4)
PT V.

My favorite place in Boston. Great food, excellent atmosphere and awesoem cocktails. You can get a Moscow Mule here (Barit's ginger beer and Ketel One) my persoanl favorite. Love the staff and the service is exceptional. The Pork Milanese is unreal, as are the mussels and Carpaccio apps...Good date spot as well....so I'm told...
(5)
J. T.

Stella needs to get it's groove back! I'll start by saying I've been to Stella 3 times before the one I'm reviewing and would give it 5 stars - food and service were great. BUT - the last time was less than good. 6 of us trekked through the first big snow storm of the year to go out before the Pops Christmas show. We had reservations for 5:30 and arrived at 5:15. Upon thawing and checking in with the maÃ®tre d' we were told that they were still setting up and would be ready for us in 5-10 minutes. Cool - we'll hit up the bar where there was a group of about 8 who clearly knew the staff very well. We got a round of drinks - great wine list, but no one ever came to seat us. Finally at 5:45 I checked in again and asked if they were ready and it was as if I had never spoken with them before (given that there were only 10 people in the rest. I thought thi was strange). Our party gathered their things to follow the maÃ®tre d', but I was stunned that they would seat us at the very first table in the rest. right near the door. There was no one in the place, it's 5:30 on an incredibly cold/snowy evening - come on - pick a better table! Upon asking for a table further into the room, we were told, "Oh that table is reserved for a party of 8." OK that's fine, but what about the other 25 tables that would work?! Finally after a bit of back and forth, were were told a new table would be set for us. When the maÃ®tre d' came to bring us to the new table, they had reset a table for 4, for the 6 of us! Again, there were 10 people in the restaurant and during our entire stay only 6-9 more people arrived. Once we sat and I was able to ignore the ridiculousness of the maÃ®tre d' and her choice of seating arrangement, the food was good and the waiter was great (taller guys with black rimmed glasses).
(2)
tman s.

Stella to me is always good and consistent i have to say been there several times and NEVA had a bad meal.... The food come out quick and alll the staff is very attentive and the chef robin will even come out and ask you can he get you anything... My only problem is tryin to conquer the entire menu-one day soon i hope!
(5)
E O.

Was really looking forward to a girls night out starting with dinner at Stella on Saturday night. We had 8pm reservations, that were made well over a month ago. We arrived at 7:45pm, checked in with the hostess- Stephanie who was the only employee that kind and helpful, and went to the bar for a drink. Our evening started to go sour after the bartender instead of suggesting another option when my friend ordered a drink that they did not have, very rudely told her that they didn't have that, and proceeded to be short and snarky making my friend feel as if she wasn't up to par. Flash forward it is now almost 9pm. We have been checking in with the hostess periodically but at this point we feel it is unacceptable to still be waiting for a reservation. We requested to speak to a manager. Instead of coming over with a smile on her face and apologizing, she walked over to us with a look on her face that we had bothered her. She in so many words told us, sorry everyone in here is waiting there is nothing we can do. My friend then complained about the bartenders attitude to her which she basically dismissed. If one of our friends had not driven over an hour to meet us we would have left at that point. 9:20pm, thats right 1 hour and 20 min past our reservation time we are sat. We are put at a 4 person table with the 5th at the end sticking out into the walkway. Our waiter comes, we ask do you have any specials tonight? His reply, "Ha, we did but they are gone". A different waiter dropped 2 pizzas telling us that they were on the house. This was a very nice gesture, but at this point we had all had it. By the time we ordered dinner until we asked for the check was about 25 min. Amazing that you can wait an hour and a half yet the food comes out 5 minutes after you order. The manager that we had previously spoken with walked by our table atleast 3 times while we were eating, and not once bothered to stop by to even see how our meal was. It really is a shame how poorly managed and staffed this restaurant is, as the food was delicious. Would never come back based on how our night went.
(1)
Laura H.

Great Southend restaurant! Everything we got was FABULOUS! The mussels and the sausage appetizers are to die for. There were 4 of us and all of our entrees were great (all the seafood is delicious). I highly recommend this restaurant a millions times over anywhere in the Northend (too touristy there anyways).
(5)
Alison N.

We went here for my friend's birthday and brought 3 bottles of wine with us. The corkage was $15 each, but it definitely saved us $ on buying from their wine list. We started with the beef carpaccio and it had a wonderful balsamic reduction that accented the meat well. The I had the orechiette with sausage. It was really very good. It could've used some crushed red peppers (which wasn't offered). I like my things spicy. I definitely recommend Stella for some good pasta and carpaccio when the mood strikes you.
(4)
Zinah A.

I just love this place. Always a great time. Atmosphere, food service to perfection. We had such a fabulous time last week end. Love Liam our bartender! Great spot to hang out with friends and get late night bite to eat!
(5)
Alexandra B.

I echo the love for the linguini with the asparagus creme sauce! It is the richest, dairy-free sauce I've ever had, and cannot be beat. The staff is all super friendly and helpful, and very accomodating to my vegetarian diet and my friends gluten free diet. I'll be back again! And again!
(5)
Laura G.

Went here for a small (3 person) birthday celebration for a friend. We had called ahead to let them know it was a birthday celebration and wanted a dessert with a candle at the end. Once we were ready for dessert, the other non-birthday girl went to confirm the order. She had a very confusing conversation with the maitre-d, and then he came to the table and proceeded to have a loud whispered conversation with her, completely ruining the surprise and creating an awkward moment or two. Then our waiter came over and we laughed and explained what had happened. The waiter was lovely, and brought the dessert, but I must say after all that I would have expected that the dessert be comped, and it wasn't. The food was good - we shared two appetizers (arancini and artichokes - probably the best part of the meal) and a salad, pizza, and pasta. All good, but in Boston where you can get great Italian food I don't think it was anything particularly special.
(2)
Angelo S.

I'll summarize and agree with all the other posts: 1. Excellent atmosphere and service. 2. Some of the food items are reeeealy good (the thin crust pizza, the bolognaise). 3. But the prices are on the higher end of things. But then again... what do you expect when going to the site to be seen in Boston.... very trendy and hip... and yet classy. Just know why you're going.
(5)
Christy W.

Everything about Stella is great! The food, the ambiance, the people! Everything is great!! One of my favorite places to go in Boston!
(5)
Jennifer B.

What a letdown! While Stella offers sleek design and a great outdoor location, the service and food were mediocre at best. Even wine was nothing special. The only positives were outdoor heaters and considerate fleece blankets for crazy Bostonians who want to eat outside in 50-degree weather. Two stars for location and design and minus 5 stars for terrible service and applebee's-quality food. My friend and I waited 15 minutes after being seated for anyone to even take our drink order, as they apparently couldn't decide whose table we were. This was all on a not-busy Sunday evening. Then, after confirming that we wanted bread, our server didn't bring it for another 10 minutes until we finally asked for it. At the end of our meal, my companion asked for the other half of her giant pork slab (see below) to be wrapped up. We paid the bill--still no pork leftovers. When we asked the server, she promised it would be right out, having clearly forgotten that we were expecting anything. The kitchen then made an entirely new pork for us to take home with no comment or apology. The whole dish simply appeared as if it was my friend's leftovers. While Stella's prices are supposed to be reasonable for the South End, for $18, pork milanese should come with something rather than just being a giant slab of pork on a plate. Our server "suggested" that we order side dishes for another $8 since nothing was included with the entree. My pasta (orecchiette with smoked salmon) was bland and way too much to finish in one sitting. Endive-raddichio salad was wholly overwhelmed by vinaigrette. Seriously, I've had better Italian food at applebee's.
(2)
Christian H.

So the service flat out sucks. I sat at the bar with some friends. Two people in our party ordered food and the rest hovered. It was a Tuesday night and we basically had to wave flashing lights at the bartender to get service. Minus AT LEAST a star for that. The drinks are ok and not as outrageous as other places in the neighborhood but I have to say they're not the strongest either. Well, that food I mentioned came out 45 minutes later. Actually, scratch that. One of the orders came out like 10 minutes later (too fast? maybe...) but the other which they said "will be out in just a minute" came out over 30 minutes later. We tried to remind the bartender, but he paid us no mind. In FACT... he apologized to the couple NEXT to us for the wait. Finally, the manager saw that something was up (PLUS a star...) and remedied the situation. She gave us a second order of the app we ordered for free and comped the meal. It would have been nice to just get the food, but all in all that was a pretty solid way to handle it. She was really friendly. She needs new bar staff pretty bad. The other bartender dropped a plate of food that the couple down the bar wanted wrapped up. Oops. What a mess. All of the service issues aside, the place is great. Nice but not stuffy. It's pretty (I like the minimalist design) but it's loud as HELL. Seriously, they've tried to mitigate the sound problem recently but it's just hopeless. A few painted canvases hung from the ceiling doesn't solve the problem. Not so bad for a couple but with a group it's impossible to chat and be inclusive. The food is absolutely delicious. I can't understate that. The bolognese is divine. I mean, it's pricey ($17) but it's worth it. So, if you want a place to get great food this is it. Groups... not so much. Service? Definitely not. So, weigh your options... but definitely avoid the bar area. Disaster.
(4)
Heather R.

Great place for al fresco in the summer.
(3)
Scott L.

Terrific food for brunch. Highly recommended. Exactly the kind of restaurant people love about the South End. Three of us ate here on a Sunday. The menu had interesting choices lincluding Eggs Benedict, an omellette with salmon, and a mountain of French Toast with fruit salad. Food was presented professionally. Instead of boring hash browns, each dish had cleverly smashed new potatoes grilled in butter. Good! Service was fast, friendly and efficient. When our server forgot to bring a side of bacon, the owner scrambled to get it and even provided a double order to boot. Affordable, too. Heaping omelettes for $9. Eggs, canadian bacon and home fries for $9. French Toast and a whole fruit salad for $10. If you are economizing, just avoid the mixed drinks like Bloody Maries-- they are as expensive as the brunch entrees.
(5)
Yoli D.

Great cocktails. I love the pizza. I also tried a sausage/pasta dish that my friend ordered that I ended up stealing from him b/c I liked it so much. The atmosphere is really cool. I like that it's always crowded and there are 2 bars. And I love that it serves food late!
(4)
Pallavi J.

Maybe I went on an off night, but I don't see the big deal about Stella. We went as a group of four for a friend's birthday. I accidentally made the reservations for the wrong day (ugh), and the maitre d' was nice enough and told us he would accommodate us that night. + 1 for that. Our server was either on crack or covered in flea powder. He also gave us the strangest look when we asked for more bread and was decidedly inattentive. - 2 for that. Food: (aha!) We started off with the Parmesan Arancini - it was superb. I wanted to get 2 more orders for an entree and call it a day..... but i wrenched myself away and ordered the homemade gnocchi. Gnocchi was wonderfully pillowy, but sauce was lacking a little something something. Friend #1 got the Linguine with asparagus cream, which I thought was too salty and o-k. Friend #2 got salmon - well cooked, but I tend to be partial to my favorite fish friend. Memory eludes what Friend #3 got, but it may not have been that memorable. + 4 for the food.
(3)
Robin C.

So, my Queens tell me this is a great Sunday brunch spot. Not just great, but "Bette, Barbara, Madge great". Lesson learned: ALWAYS TRUST THE QUEENS! *Especially when they drop names of royalty.* Here's how my Stella experience unfolded: My A-Queen and I find a sweet parking spot on the street after 20 minutes of me listening to (what I am calling) "the Stella gush". We stroll in, vie for a spot at the bar after my company's pleasantries with the oh-so-adorable bartenders, and take a seat. *Please note, if you can get a spot at the bar for Sunday brunch, TAKE IT! Sitting at the bar completely made the experience! The bartenders, whom I'd like to say are all Fabulous, are sexy, witty, and just the right amount of venomous. They made some of the best drinks I have ever had, and kept the whole place laughing while doing so. The food, which seems to be a very unimportant topic given the deliciousness of the libations, was also quite nice ( I ordered eggs/toast/bacon, and later received a slice of pizza from my new friends to my left) . And the crowd... words cannot do justice to how great the patrons of Stella are. Long story, slightly short: we arrived at about 11:30-12:00 and left at 6:30-7:00p, making it the longest and most enjoyable brunch I have ever had. I made tons of new brunch friends. And got slightly intoxicated (which is always nice on a Sunday). I will definitely be back some Sunday in the very near future.
(5)
Amy P.

My husband and I went to Stella for the first time last night and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious and exceeded both of our expectations. We got the arancini and Caesar salad to start. Arancini was great, Caesar salad was just okay. For entrees we got the tagliatelli bolognase and the orichette with sausage - we both agreed - some of the best Italian food we have had and the portions were huge. We each took a lot home. I felt that the wait staff was not very attentive and they were slow in getting us drinks.
(4)
Karma L.

The food is ok. The wine menu is pretty good, but overpriced. Last time I was there over the summer they didn't carry any sauvignon blanc, which is kind of a quintessential summer wine. The patio is wonderful, but this brings me to the worst part about this place. I went there once on a Monday night around 8:30pm at the end of the summer. There were two of us and they refused to seat us outside at the open tables for 4 people. There were four open tables, but they said we had to wait for a table for 2 people. We waited a half hour and asked again. Now it was 9pm on Monday. I've waited tables in the past and that is basically the slowest night. It was ridiculous not to seat us. We left and went to Franklin Cafe, which doesn't have a patio, but does offer the best service and food in the South End.
(2)
T D.

I have nothing to add to what my well-versed yelp brethren have contributed. As such, let's recap: * Very safe play for a broad audience: likely for foodies, maybe for hipsters, definitely for yuppies, and probably even for a few well-behaved post-K children * Good bar and outdoor seating * Great setting to bring friends / lively ambiance / modern setting * Decent, homey food, but not strikingly good; good enough for most * Sizable portions * Reasonable prices * Creative cocktails * Slightly loud chatter
(4)
Bradford M.

Ended up at Stella last night with a group of friends for drinks and dinner. We ended up hanging around the bar for about an hour, a combination of getting there early and our table not being quite ready when our reservation time rolled around. The slight delay was my only complaint though. The bartender was attentive without being pushy, the soda (as in club soda) in my bourbon and soda was effervescent as all hell (one of my baseline tests for a bar), the food was excellent, the service unobtrusively good, and the ambience nice. If it was closer to the T I'd definitely be there more often.
(5)
Kevin M.

Great food... fun atmosphere.... The menu has some creative variations on traditional italian fare. I recommend the caesar salad, it may well be the best one I've ever had! Stop by for drinks at the bar while you're waiting! If the weather ever improves, have a relaxing meal outside!
(4)
Bianca G.

This is my favorite restaurant in the whole world. I love the quattro fungi pizza, the bellini, the lamb shank, the pasta (all of them). Great service, great ambiance, FANTASTIC food.
(5)
Allison L.

Don't they advertise they serve Late Night Dining: 11:00pm-1:30am?? My b-f and I were starving late at night ... it was Saturday night ... we drove there from North End..... got there at 12:30am ..... and they said Kitchen closed, they couldn't serve anything to eat!!! Hello!!!!! Liar Liar.....
(1)
vinny o.

Just got back from a fantastic dinner! I have had dinner here numerous times and never thought to write about it?Here it goes,myself and sig other ordered way to much but it was so delicious we couldnt stop eating.We started of with the beet salad with watercress and some sort of citrus dressing was to die for,it tasted like the beets were just pulled out from the ground lol,then a margerita pizza which was flatbread like was amazing! Dinner choices were the short ribs over parpadelle pasta which was heavenly and i ordered the salmon with spaghetti squash also amazing!Didnt want to order dessert but ended up getting the chocalate soufle with vaniila ice cream and that was a definite good ending. I do have to say the service was just ok,the waiter NEVER came back to ask us how everything was during our apps and dinner,but whatever still left 20% tip, other than that i probably would have given it 5 stars.
(4)
Kohster P.

A godsend after wandering around on Washington St in dire need of a place to get away from the cold. Delightful little bar with lovely cocktails and champagne. Must return for dinner sometime!
(4)
Brian B.

This place has a GREAT atmosphere and a GREAT selection of food and martinis. The only real problem is the music is usually too loud to even talk to the person next to you. Sitting outside can't be beat though! The staff is always super-friendly, and very attentive! I just wish I could hear them more easily.
(4)
Joybell S.

I've been here several times and have always left happy. The food is fresh, inventive italian. This past summer they had a fig/ gorgonzola/proscuitto appetizer which was sublime. I love the arancini and artichoke hearts appetizers. Entree sizes are big and satisfying. The pasta bolognese has been on the menu since the place opened and is wonderful. The cod and the roast chicken are also really delicious. Perhaps the best part of this place is the service. I've always had extremely professional and knowledgable servers. I once arrived to find out the restaurant had an unexpected power outage and the hostess pulled every string imaginable to get me into another restaurant. The three times I have been since, the manager has come out to apologize again for that incident and has thanked me for giving the restaurant another shot. I can't say enough good things about this place!
(5)
Wesley C.

very solid. great menu(apps, dinner, late night, and even brunch) thank you stella!
(4)
Ligaya T.

*Shrug* Stella has all the components of a "nice" place: stylish and immaculate interior, hip location, accommodating and genial staff, interesting cocktails and tasty edibles but it lacks something interesting or unique. The Italian cuisine was uninspired, not enough justification for it's price tag though at least the drinks were reasonable. Overall, swanky without much substance.
(3)
Daddy O.

Nice ambiance, great outdoor seating, professional and timely handling of the heat lamps. Very tasty beet appetizer. But our after-dinner coffee was lukewarm--nowhere near hot. And the seafood stew entree was completely tasteless. Also, I'd suggest to these folks that they put tablecloths on the outdoor tables. Otherwise, it's very easy for customers to spill or leak food on their nice clothes... So be sure to cover yourself up with that napkin if you go here!
(2)
Ian S.

hmmm. I can't really say anything that bad about stella, but something about it didn't thrill me. Maybe it was the mobs of trendies mulling about, the stark white walls, the meathead manager in a suit who just looked like he wanted to party. Our waiter was quite nice. Good start. Overall the food was really good, but just not inspired or inspiring. Nothing really unique or special. The hummus with bread was actually really good, one of the best things! I got a ceasar salad, which was lame, typical, and HUGE, like a friggen VAT of it. Way too much. came with a crostini with an anchovy, and I gotta tell you, Good anchovies are the best. This anchovy was NOT good! I then got the beef, the filet on the bone. Cooked rarer than I asked for, but actually just how I like it. Melted in the mouth. REally tasty. Everyone else in my group seemed quite happy. Yummy Arancini, squash soup, pastas. Overall happy. And the chocolate dessert was delicious! So, it was a great time, just not But not inspiring.
(3)
Lynda M.

Great brunch! We had brunch here today with friends, and really enjoyed it. We arrived at 11:55AM for our noon time reservation, and found the place packed. I thought great--there is no way we will get seated quickly. Wrong! We were cheerfully greeted and swiftly seated at our table for 4, even tho our friends had not arrived yet. My omelette was delish, and so were the other entrees ordered--eggs benedict and eggs/bacon/sausage. (The French toast is so big it looks like a cake!) The home fries divine. I will be back for dinner, or to have a drink at the bar. I can tell this place gets very crowded, and it can be noisey, but the food and service was excellent. Parking is a bit of a challenge as it is mostly resident parking but next time I will either T it, or park near Copley and walk.
(5)
Katie G.

Going here for drinks is great, the bar area is beautiful, busy, but comfortable. The bartenders recognize their patrons and are quick with strong, original drinks. I asked the bartender to surprise me with a few different drinks, and each was was amazing. As for food, I haven't been for dinner, but I went and ate the Crudo Misto / Tuna / Salmon / Lemoncello Vinaigrette / Sea Salt Grissini which is on the late night menu. It was TINY and looks more like a piece of art than something that you would eat, but it was very tasty, as I am sure many of their other items probably are. I might just not be fancy enough for this place, but I would probably go get some grub somewhere else and then come to Stella to have a great time and smashing drinks.
(4)
Wendy L.

Great spot - outdoor seating for days you can sit outside... The food is reasonably priced and delicious. I have had the pasta a few times and found it to be reliably great...
(4)
Holly M.

For a weeknight dinner, it was the best! We travel from our office in the middle of nowhere Canton to go to Boston for dinner once a month. Usually we hope for a few things: Cheap Parking, Ability to find said parking, a bar with a decent amount of seating so we can wait for other friends to arrive, a swanky ambiance, and lastly above average FOOD. Now I do admit that I ALWAYS look on Yelp before making any dining decisions, and this time was no different. I was a bit disappointed to see that the few Yelpers I hold in high regard did not have anything stellar to say about Stella, but many other folks did. I decided that it would be a risk and I was gonna take it! OK so back to my list. The parking was easy to find and cheap- sweet! The bar was cute with the couch and friendly bartender. Good amount of seating over there too! The ambiance was very Miami Vice-ish and all in white. How very Don Johnson of you! I did love the crazy carpet though, couldn't stop myself from checking it out ten times. On to the food and bev. It was good. The drinks were well prepared, but were the usual fare. Nothing to note as a house specialty. The apps were also tasty, but predictable. Artichokes were fried and had a type of tartar sauce, odd but really tasty. The buffalo mozz had a nice spicy sauce that was a bit of a surprise. The dinners were presented quite nicely, but one of our friends felt his special pasta was lacking in quantity. My friend and I gave him what we could not finish from our steak and salmon dishes. The two desserts we ordered were both topped with ice cream even though they were totally different...I thought that was odd. The apple tarte and rice pudding were great choices, even if the only adornment was vanilla ice cream. All in all it was an awesome night out and a very good dinner. It was packed for a Monday so they must be doing something right!
(4)
Neha Y.

Perfect for drinks - been there a few times and absolutely adored the scene and service. The orchiette was divine - and the drink selection is good. Perfect for a girls night out!
(4)
Robert G.

Definitely not worth the wait for dinner (especially during the summer time when everyone wants to be seen on the patio outside) but DO stop by for drinks. The food is nothing spectacular - italian cuisine with some interesting twists - but the bar is what makes this place worth while. It seems a little out of place in the winter - blame it on the tropical/Bahama atmoshpher they've got going on - but in the summer it is the best way to relax in the summer heat after a long week! As for the decor - think white, wicker.
(3)
Caitlin H.

Another fabulous evening! Excellent food, delicious, creative cocktails, impeccable service, chic decor and lively atmosphere, Stella is a reliable, go-to spot. The homemade gnocchi was amazing complimented by a light, fresh tomato basil sauce. The summer prosciutto melon salad was flavorful, light and refreshing-a perfect appetizer! I have enjoyed several wonderful evenings (along with relaxing Sunday morning brunches!) at Stella over the years and look forward to may more in the future!
(5)
Vivek S.

So after doing a few weeks of $$ Fri nights, we decided to pick a nice Italian place. It was a toss-up between Trattoris Toscana and Stella and we went with South End. The food here was creative, simple and delicious. I have read reviews where people have had problems with the service but we had the perfect dinner. Started off with the Artichoke hearts with mustard remoulade and Parmesan Arancini. The artichoke heart was fried in a light batter and it tasted fantastic with the remoulade...i think it had some basil oil too. The Arancini was moist and yummy and the pomodoro sauce was tangy. We decided to split the Gnocchi and it was a really good call. The Gnocchi was easily the best I've ever had...it was no rubbery and they had pan seared it to give a lil crust...very yummy but quite heavy. We finally had the Pecan pie with caramel creme anglaise and vanilla gelato. If you haven't tried this or if you are thinking about dessert at Stella's, don't miss out on this. The pie was warm and the gelato was intensely flavored and the creme angalise was light and not cloyingly sweet. The waitress was attentive and very prompt. The restaurant was quite spacious and it felt like we were eating in an Italian villa. The decor was simple, contemporary and minimalistic. Overall a fantastic dinner experience. We will keep revisiting!
(5)
John G.

whenever we can't decide where to eat, we're always like, "ok fine, let's just go to stella." and it's NOT because we're settling, its just always a perfect experience. if you're in the mood for high energy and bumping into people you know or want to know, there's really no where better in the south end. The atmosphere is so much fun, the food is super tasty and the service is always attentive and knowledgeable. I will say the bartenders are the ones that really shine here though, so sit at the bar if you can. This is the one trendier spot I feel comfortable taking my parents without them complaining about it being too pretentious. It's also my favorite spot for brunch. I went with 7 friends and everyone ordered something different with rave reviews. They have a great music playlist too, which is oddly important to me when dining out.
(5)
Ariela M.

Only so-so, definitely not worth the prices. The servers were snooty and extremely non-attentive. Just as an example, my friend asked for another piece of bread (first of all, she should not have had to ask, it should have been offered) and the waitress came and gave her the bread and did not offer any to the rest of the table! How rude can you get??! My friends who ordered pizza enjoyed it, but I and another friend got the gnocci and it was NOT worth the price. In fact, about 1/3 of the gnocci were burned (not overdone, but downright charred so you could taste the burn!) and since there were only 12 or so on the plate (probably over a dollar a piece) I was definitely disappointed. The desserts were very good, though. The atmosphere is interesting; they are definitely trying to cater to a young "hip" crowd. I found the servers to be off-putting and snooty, though, so I would not return.
(2)
Gretchen M.

This place never disappoints. Great atmosphere, vibe, food and service. Had another great meal here.
(4)
Jeff L.

It was good.
(3)
Larry T.

So I came here one crowded Friday night for dinner, I wasn't really all that impressed. First off, as noted in other reviews, it gets really loud. Compound that with relatively large tables (which we'll get into later), and you find that conversations are very difficult to get. It has a bustling bar scene, with I think two bars, so that contributes some to the noise, but at least there is no loud background music (think Olives). My main main main complaint is the table spacing. The space between our table and the table next to ours was definitely less than half a foot, maybe an inch or two. Looking from a distance away, it probably seemed like the dark skinned early thirties Italian couple had a double date with some vaguely Asian looking college kids. It was not very enjoyable, and I know that the other couple got miffed when we were seated literally next to them. I'm not even sure how our server got to their table without yelling over ours. The food was ordinary, good, but nothing that jumped out at me. Usually when I go to restaurants with menus like Stella's, I order a pasta plate and an entree. That usually fills up the stomach with pasta being a bigger app, but here, the pasta plates are huge! A meal in themselves, I was glad that me and my partner shared the dish. I had the asparagus cream thyme truffle pasta dish. Fresh pasta was nice, and I love love love truffles, so I was very disappointed when I couldn't taste any of it besides a very faint smell. It was the best dish that night, very creamy and hearty , and the asparagus brought a very nice light, refreshing counter to the heaviness of the sauce. I had the Kobe beef as my main entree, again - nothing to write home about, it tasted fine and honestly I could've gotten that anywhere else, the texture was maybe slightly better than other cuts I've had at similar prices, but that's Australian Wagyu I suppose. My partner had the pork milanese, and she liked it, but didn't seem to be raving about it. The serving sizes are large, and you definitely won't be leaving the restaurant hungry. For dessert, we had a scoop of the sorbets of the day. The mixed berry was actually really good, but the lemon sorbet was literally a block of ice. I was not able to break it into pieces. Not joking on this one, I chipped away at it until was maybe two ice cubes big, then put it in my mouth when no one was looking. My partner was not amused. Service was a little slow, we had a little wait to get our orders in, and the check lingered on our table for a little while too long. An okay meal, but at the end of the day, not worth the crowds, unfortunate table placements, and slightly slower than average service.
(3)
nicole b.

The only thing Stella lost a star for was slow, although friendly, service (could have been the kitchen, could have been the server, I dont know). Gnocchi, Arancini, Pizza...all fantastic. And they have all my favorite wines on the bottle list (not so much on the wines by the glass list). Also, there is one bartender who makes a great gimlet. Loved the new back room and bar....felt like a great hideaway when you dont want to get spotted through the windows up front!
(4)
elle s.

Like no other place in Boston, its a hip scene in a hip neighborhood. Peter at the bar is fab, as always. The owner is always out and about, a really great guy. The food is delish, like the crowd. Love it here.
(5)
K. T.

I'm not sure why so many people give this place 4 stars but provide no basis for docking that one star to make this place a perfect 5. My experience is limited to restaurant week, but I absolutely fell in love with this eatery. The staff was very professional and our server Brendan was very knowledgeable about the extensive wine list and all the beers served in-house. I had no problems with my 7 PM reservation for two and my table was ready when I arrived. Instead of offering a pared-down version of their regular fare for their fixed-prix option, Stella allowed you to order a starter, main dish and dessert from their regular menu for a mere $33.09! The bread they serve with a potato butter was unusual and delicious. To start, I had the Spicy Mussels / saffron cream / roasted peppers / white wine / garlic and my date had Crudo Misto / tuna / salmon / lemoncello vinaigrette / sea salt grissini. Both were delectable. Brendan also helped me choose a wine to go with my fish, an Orvieto which I had never tried before. For my main course I ordered the Crispy Seared Halibut / melted leek / potato & summer pea ragout / sweet corn crema and my date had Kobe Beef Sirloin / potato parmesan puree / grilled asparagus / herb butter. His steak was the best steak either one of us had ever had in our lives. Ever. And for dessert we had the Chocolate Torte / Vanilla Gelato / Chocolate Sauce and Tiramsu. And did I say that the service was outstanding? I will definitely be back here, even after Restaurant Week is over!
(5)
m b.

Stella is good if you want to impress a date. Great location, good looking people, decent food. I took my parents there and they hated the noise though, it is ridiculously loud and probably better for the younger crowd. I think the food is somewhat overrated. It is good but not great. Whenever we have gone there with large groups the service sucks! It takes forever and the server seems like they cannot handle the large table.
(3)
Demetri P.

ginger pear martini and a lively crowd keep me coming back. also, i find the pasta dishes to be excellent.
(5)
Courtney S.

Food is delicious, best arancini in the city. Excellent service and drinks too.
(5)
Scott B.

the food was okay and so was the service - its amazing how many restaurants come and go in the south end - i cant see this being a stayer like mistral or some of the others - im sure it will bite the big one in a few years unless they change some things around. add it to the trendy list that will be on sale in a couple years
(3)
Natalie S.

An all around excellent experience- food, service, and atmosphere. I went here with my bf and we both left very pleased! It was our first time and had heard great things about this little gem in the heart of the South End. We shared the Crudo Misto and the Fig Appetizer to start. The limoncello vinaigrette on the fish was amazing, and the fig one was out of this world! We had the linguine with asparagus and the roast chicken with parmesan polenta. (NOM!) They were both delicious and I LOVE fresh pasta. They make it themselves! The atmosphere was trendy, lively, and the aesthetic simple. The service was excellent. Two very minor setbacks- the soap in the bathroom smelled industrial (I know, I know, it's a weird criticism, but c'mon, you know the smell I'm talking about!). Also, the acoustics were not good. I think that's the nature of the building however, with it's very high ceilings. So, those two items are certainly not enough to keep me from this place. I will happily return to eat more delicious Italian at Stella!
(5)
Nicole D.

Modern, aesthetically-pleasing decor, friendly and accomodating waitstaff. Although the menu is limited, featured items include thin-crust pizzas, salads, meats, and seafood. Enjoyable restaurant if you're in the area.
(3)
E A.

Stella hosted the wedding reception for myself and my wife in their private room and we couldn't be happier with the choice. Courtney, the in house event manager, and Ruben, the manager of the restaurant were a joy to work with. Both were extremely accommodating and fulfilled all of our requests. Our guests commented multiple times on how wonderfully intimate the service was as well as the staff's perky demeanor. Not only were the people spectacular, the food was even better. I won't even go into the details of each dish, but let's just put it this way... if you're looking to win the award for best wedding food and cocktails ever, Stella is the obvious choice. I think the dictionary doesn't contain enough superlatives to how awesome our experience was with Stella and I can't wait for our next big event we decide to hold here!
(5)
Melanie B.

Great food, amazing service and nice, calm decor makes this place a go to for anytime of the day. I ordered pizza appy (big enough to share) and chicken entree. Delicious!
(5)
Heather G.

Stella is great! I particularly love their pizzas... yum, reminders me of pizza in Italy. I found the pasta dish I had to be quite heavy, but it tasted great. They have a nice selection of outdoor seating with heat lamps when it starts to get chilly in the fall. I've come here for a dinner with my husband and his parents and sat inside (which is a very cool space), and sat for a quick drink and an appetizer outside, just the two of us. I've never gone for a drink late night, but I always notice a lot of people hanging out at the bar area. This is a perfect option for a nice Italian meal in the south end
(4)
Mike J.

Where else can you enjoy a full dinner menu at half past eleven pm while enjoying the sounds and taste of my guilty pleasures playing in the back bar; Kesha, Gaga, Britney and of course, A warm pecan pie with a scoop of Vanilla Ice. Fun crowd, great service, great food and a wonderful time in Boston. A must: spaghetti and meatballs just how it should be. Soup of the day with fries. Truffled mashed with a piece of medium rare filet.
(4)
Kiki P.

During this time of the year, Stella is an excellent place for Sunday brunch. The restaurant decor is pretty with spring colors and white tables and chairs. This gives off a lovely and relaxing ambiance. They also have outdoor seating, which is just perfect for the summertime. For brunch, I have tried: The breakfast sandwich with is served with a fried egg and pesto on a croissant. This sandwich is okay. Theres a bit too much pesto and it falls apart fairly easily. Maybe this was a one time thing, but the eggs benedict was rather disappointing for me. The eggs were not poached or runny at all. They were fully cooked. Eggs benedict is one of my fav brunch dishes so I pointed this out to my server. She noticed this immediately and took the dish off of our bill. I thought that was a kind act. The french toast is pretty delicious. It is light and tasty and topped with fresh fruit. The portion sizes at Stella are large compared to most other brunch spots in the South End. I ordered a side of bacon and for $3 and I was served probably 10 strips of bacon. At South End Buttery, you pay $6 for 3 strips of bacon. What a difference indeed! Value: Five star value because of the portion sizes. Unfortunately, I cannot give Stella a five star yelp review because five star brunch spots have usually mastered the art of poached eggs. I will certainly give this place another try to get it right....and then maybe I will update this review (for the better or worse). Overall, I had a delightful experience at Stella and plan on making another visit back in the next few months.
(4)
Melissa M.

Stella proves that you don't need to go to the North End if you want great Italian food. The atmosphere is trendy yet not overdone. The walls and chairs are all in white which compliments the dim lighting and candles. You can hear house music playing but it's not so loud that it's a distraction- just nice background music. If you're looking for a late night spot, all I can say is good God their pizza is amazing. Everything just tastes so fresh. You can tell the gnocchi and other pasta is homemade and they have a great wine selection. Service has always been solid and the prices are reasonable. I've never had a problem finding street parking and this is coming from someone who can't parallel park (my drivers ed teacher promised they wouldn't ask me to do it during the road test- blame her). The chairs are a little uncomfortable, hard plastic like the ones at Pasta Beach but the ambiance is great. Would love to try their brunch menu.
(4)
Kate L.

I love Stella! Just tried it with my boyfriend for the first time the other night and had a great experience. I enjoyed the braised short rib pizza-- double thumbs up. And we both had awesome cocktails, although I don't remember the names anymore. The atmosphere is modern but cozy and the service was wonderful.
(5)
Dan L.

Had dinner last night at Stella. We sat in the very open and airy dining room. Amazing food, service and the place was packed. Very nice energy and upbeat restaurant. I had the roasted chicken and a few others in our party had the seafood risotto along with a couple of cocktails. The lobster cake appetizers also were delicious ! Stella is a restaurant worth visiting and we would gladly return again !!
(5)
Christa S.

Great food, great service, very romantic atmosphere. This is a great place place for a date, and probably not such a great place to go with a bunch of friends and get rowdy. Overall very good!
(4)
Alisa K.

Ok first of all, I am definitely not hip or hot enough to dine at this restaurant. The ambience is beautiful and very chic and New York-eque and many of the other guests look and dress like models and/or escorts. That's ok though, they didn't hold it against me or my 10 other girlfriends that were gathering for a GNO (girls night out) for one of our friends' birthdays. The food was pretty solid. They serve foccacia at the start with hummus. Four points for the focaccia; minus one for the hummus (focaccia and hummus? how about foccacia and olive oil or focaccia and nothing?). For dinner, I had the asparagus truffle linguine and it was pretty yummy (and a huge portion). It did need a bit more salt and a bit more sauce, but was still pretty good regardless. We brought our own birthday cake which they charged 2.50/person to plate, which I thought was annoying till I saw how much of a better job they did than any earthly human celebrating being born ever could. My favorite thing about Stella, however, was how chill they were when I kept annoyingly calling and updating my reservation (5, no 5-7, no 10) . On a Friday night. That was packed. Oh, and then to be an even bigger douche, it turns out I counted wrong and there were actually 11 of us, not 10, so like an hour into the meal, we asked for an extra chair and they still graciously obliged. I would definitely go back--but maybe not bring a backpack next time.
(4)
Christie K.

Went to Stella's a few weeks ago for my birthday weekend and ended up at Stella's while we were waiting for another restaurant and this place was amazing! The drinks were so good! It was a martini with tequila and fresh thyme. I highly recommend trying it! We shared a pasta dish that was perfectly seasoned and pasta was cooked just right! I can't wait to go back!
(5)
David L.

This place is still great...it's the ultimate laboratory of democracy: white and black. straight and gay, rich and poor, naughty and nice. Stella remains tried and true - strong drinks and a nice bar menu for everyone. It was good to see that the dinner menu had not dramatically changed (try their bolognese or margherita pizza), and we were able to catch up with some familiar faces like Evan and Jon. The front bar is always jam-packed with an interesting demographic: gay guys that dress like the figure skaters from "Blades of Glory," struggling artists, unemployed hipsters, trust fund babies, and the token cute single females that are "besties" with either the gay guy to your left or the gay guy to your right. I would skip the bar that is hidden in the back of the main dining area...yes it's more low key, but you have to deal with the rants and gripes of melancholic divorced middle aged women, desperately trying to hold on to their youth as they blow their alimony on glass after glass of Pinot Grigio and/or chardonnay. Stella is located in Boston's "gritty" but "over-priced" South End neighborhood, deceptively marketed and price-inflated by Boston's crony/hack-riddled Redevelopment Authority (aka BRA) as "the up and coming premiere place to live in Boston." What the BRA forgot to tell you is that the South End is bordered by Roxbury and Dorchester, which is like being surrounded by Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez. Be sure to pack your mace and rape whistle.
(4)
Anabelle D.

A must when in south end! The Caesar salad, spaghetti aglio olio and chocolate mouse are the perfect order! Gnocchi are good too! Overall, the places is beautiful, always busy and lively and has great service.
(5)
Georgina C.

I went to Stella on a first date and as soon as I entered the front door was greeted warmly and quickly seated. I love the simple yet romantic decor at Stella and the service is truly unparalleled. Our waiter was well-versed on the menu and allowed us to enjoy our lengthy conversations during the meal. My date had the Gnocchi and loved it while I had the roasted chicken with a mushroom sauce, crisped onions and a whipped potato with gorgonzola. It was heavenly! I love this restaurant and plan to return!
(4)
Paula Z.

Just ok. Tables too close, too loud music, service was ehhh, too aggressive when getting settled, then long wait for food, which was adequate. Nothing special.
(3)
CC W.

Excellent all around. Delicious. Service was very attentive.
(5)
I G.

A quiet Sunday morning at Stella for Brunch. Nice crowd, great service. Love the salmon benedict and home fries.
(4)
Aimee C.

Tried this little gem out last night with some friends and WOW I am psyched I did. Adorable quaint, trendy little place in the South End. The decor, service and the food and drinks were top noche and will be back! We walked in without a reservation (after 8:30) and seated right away whcih was grand. Our server was very attentive and gave us plenty of time to order and he talked with us and gave us suggestions. He was great waiter. For Drinks: I ordered the pumpkin fest martini a little sweet for me but it was good. And my other guests ordered dirty martini which came out perfect. My second drink was the Red Berry Sangria which was absolutely amazing. I love when restaurants keep Sangria even after summer. For food: We ordered the spicy mussels which we three decided to share and the Beet salad with gorganzola cheese. They came out and the spicy mussels were in a small bowl and they were just the mussels not in the shell. A bit small but very tasty. The beet salad was outstanding and the cheese was so yummy! For entree's we ordered to all three share Honey glazed Salmon and the Chicken dinner. Both came out and were superb and so tasty. The Salmon was cooked to perfection and one of the best tasting salmons I have had in a while. The Chicken and gravy were excellent as well. All three of us ladies had enough to eat and were very pleased with the food. After that we decided to share the chocolate torte which was exactly what we wanted. All in all we left very happy, full and will be back! keep up the excellent job! A++
(4)
Niko K.

Went with my parents and friend and had a fantastic meal. Was last fall, and all of the American fall foods were in season and served with panache. Beets, duck, seafood, rice, soup, and salads were all cooked perfectly, and each had something extra or unexpected to add. It was a very hip crowd, and the decor is suave but understated. Service was attentive and happy to help. I don't know why I haven't been back, but I'm making a reservation now.
(5)
Kib L.

Mediocre for the city. The night I went, drinks were weak and the service was decent. Ordered fish and it was undercooked.
(3)
Erica F.

Been coming here since it opened and finally I'm writing a long overdue review. Been here 25+x's over the years and have yet to be disappointed with the service, drinks, decor and food. I've sat at the front bar, back bar, front and back dining areas and every time the experience is wonderful and I keep bringing more friends to share the experience with. Highlights: Service: Servers, bartenders and staff that are knowledgeable and polite. Ambiance: love the dim lighting modern bar and furnishings. People complain about acoustics but I've never seemed to notice or have a problem. Drinks: Awesome wine list, and cocktail list that changes seasonally! Food: Try the Crudo Misto, beets, roasted cauliflower, Pappardelle bolognese, Gnocchi that is grilled, Seafood Risotto, and the Swordfish. Sidebar: I'm a lactard and the staff always checks with the chef and never has a problem accommodating. Point: Go here for any occasion and you'll be sure to keep going back just like me.
(5)
Nikhil P.

We came here around 11:30pm in hot pursuit of one of the few places that serves food this late on a Saturday night. (What's with this city that everything closes so early?) The crowd was well-dressed, the candle to square-footage ratios were likely breaking fire codes, and it was a super cool spot, phenomenal ambiance, and the food was bang-on -- particularly for being so late at night. (Triple threat, right?) Our company really made the night a lot of fun. The Mojito (a little sweet, but good flavors) also contributed. The Quattro Fungi pizza which had really flavorful ?Gruyere cheese, and the legendary bolognaise sauce on the pasta we shared with our friends were both really good. A little backgrounder: The "legendary bolognese" sauce is a bit of a hot lie. But, our friends were raving about it so after putting a large spoon of it in my mouff, that shit is for real. My concept of bolognese sauce has forever changed. Say goodbye to the thin, watery stuff that always finds its way on my white shirts, baby. The standards for thick, creamy, quality bolognese sauce has been set by Stella!
(5)
Kevin M.

Wanted to like this place a lot: read about chef in the Herald: seems cool; attractive exterior, nice locale, great reviews. But. . . The good: service awesome; setting chic, if a bit loud; they allow substitution of spaghetti squash for pasta (paleo here); the red sauce on the spaghetti and meatballs was robust, sweet, and great; meatballs good too; finally, and importantly, we were not rushed on a busy Sat evening. The not-so-good (nothing was bad): had the spicy sausage appetizer and it was NOT spicy, asparagus was thin, stringy, and overcooked. Wifey had the beet salad and it was a lot of beets with goat cheese, nothing special. She then had the Salmon special and it was overcooked (ordered medium). And we had a bottle of wine to celebrate our 24th anniversary, a Barolo for $80. I'm not a brag, or a big spender, and the point of relating this is there were no Italian Red bottles at a "medium" price. I think the least expensive Chianti was $70. They did have "less expensive" splits, but still $40-range. They really need some moderately priced wines to match the well-priced menu. So, it was a really nice evening at Stella, and a great anniversary celebration with my favorite person on the planet, but next time in town will prob look elsewhere.
(3)
Boston Babe K.

Love this place. Food is amazing . Service is top notch. Like the California decor. Very pretty. The bar is fun but sometimes the music is a bit to loud.
(5)
Kelsey C.

I've walked by Stella for years, but I never went in. I assumed it's be overpriced and pretentious, and the sterile decor was doing nothing to deter my assumption. But it wasn't. Most entrees are around $20, standard for a South End establishment, and the portions are clearly reasonable for the prices they charge. I started with a simple Caesar Salad. Simple, but crisp and clean, definitely no complaints. The Spicy Mussels were a lavish indulgence of saffron cream. The mussels are tender and juicy, and they soaked up every drop of cream. This dish is amazing!!! If I'd know it was so good, I would have forgone the entree and ordered three of these! The Short Rib Pizza is an upscale comfort for real girls who eat their pizza. The sweet figs and gorgonzola are an unbeatable combination. I really didn't expect to like Stella, but I'll definitely be back. The mussels tell me that there may be several gems hidden under all that sterility.
(4)
Sean W.

We had a 9:00 reservation and waited for 30 mins until I asked WTF was our table. We were then seated in the back next to a wait station with a ghetto curtain hanging. Seriously? We were hungry so I changed my seat so I wouldn't have to look at the curtain. Our server was horrible. She must have been trained in a diner. Not graceful at all. She dropped things on table, slow to get drinks and wine, very clumsy. We had to ask for clean utensils. The short ribs were pretty good and huge portion but the rest of our meal was pretty lackluster. The noise level here is extremely LOUD.
(2)
Aman S.

Went back again... The meatballs were amazing. My friend had the gluten-free bolognese which was made with zucchini strings instead of pasta - very delicious. The other friend had the braised short rib pizza - to die for!
(5)
May N.

I always have a good time here. I can't believe I haven't reviewed it before! The location in the hot South End is located next to a dog park so there's usually great scenery with the cute gay couples and their adorable pups. In good weather, their sidewalk seating is fantastic with the aforementioned eye candy not to mention great people watching. At night, the place is loud and kicking with well dressed, attractive young professional crowd. Brunches are a bit more demure, but not by much. Recently, I made it here on a Friday night. Without reservations, our group of 4 waited about 20 min. We were in no rush so the bartenders kept libations coming while we waited. Once seated the staff was prompt in refreshing drink orders, letting us know specials, and getting our food out to us in pretty reasonable time. They serve Italian cuisine. My seafood risotto hit the spot. There were plenty of shrimp and swordfish and squid and mussels. The riesling I had went with it well. Everyone finished the food on their plate - the pasta special, the sausage appetizer, slow roasted cauliflower, every plate was eaten clean. We had a great time, the staff was attentive enough, and left us to our merry selves while keeping our table clean and waters filled. The atmosphere is pretty hip and there were lots of beautiful people. Pretty loud, music was thumping. Accepts credit cards and our waitress was totally cool about splitting the check amongst multiple credit cards.
(4)
Kris T.

Went to Stella last night for an early dinner and it was good. Based on the "A-OK" guideline for 3 stars here that's the right rating. I'd say the decor is attractive, the service is good (although there's a high level of constant water glass filling) and the food is a solid B+/A-. Things were a little overcooked in general which I found surprising for what seems like a somewhat high end place. It's the price/value that keeps this from being a regular place for me. For two people having a pasta dish and chicken special with two apps, no dessert with two glasses of wine and one martini the bill was $100 with tip. There's just a mismatch here. For what Stella provides I'd expect to pay more like $70-80 tops and when I get to $100+ for two people I expect a higher level of cuisine.
(3)
Jim R.

Creative, modern Italian dishes. Sleek and sophisticated setting. A neighborhood gem.
(4)
Olga K.

We went to Stella for Sunday brunch by friend's recommendation and didn't regret a bit! The place is awesome. The design is very stylish with beautiful tables by the windows. We had bloody Mary's to start. They were a bit too spicy for my friends, but I enjoyed them a lot. For my meal I had eggs Benedict with smoked salmon ($12) - exceptionally delicious. When eggs Benedict are on the menu I always order them - these ones were the best I tried in Boston. My friends had two different dishes with duck and both enjoyed them. We also had tiramesu, chocolate mousse, chocolate cake and pecan pie (I know, I know :)) - pecan pie and melted chocolate cake with ice cream were superb! Our waitress (a Russian girl) was on top of things - very attentive and professional. Overall it was the best brunch experience in Boston. We will surely come back
(5)
m k.

We dined on a weeknight with our two children (ages 9 & 7) The meal was BEYOND delicious, the staff extremely helpful & polite. Highly recommend.
(5)
Emann B.

Five good friends together for dinner. Exceptional service, fantastic wine list, rich beef carpaccio (generously portioned), heavenly seafood risotto, and decadent desserts. The server was very attentive, informative, just enough checking in without being overbearing. And sexy. Sexy as all get out. That carpaccio could've been a meal by itself, but the true star was the rich and creamy risotto!
(5)
Jeanne W.

My husband and I went to dinner here with another couple with whom I was acquainted from work. The food was delicious - each couple got two pasta entrees: gnocci with tomato sauce; and linguini with alfredo, asparagus tips and a poached egg. The gnocci was tender (not mushy) with a robust and fresh tomato sauce. The linguini was tasty, but a tad undercooked. Service was ok, but geared more toward keeping the glasses full than serving us. Two of our party repeatedly declined, and were topped off anyways. Our waiter was just this side of sour-faced. The establishment seemed popular with young professionals, but for us not-so-young professionals it was quite difficult to have a conversation as we could not hear one another. Pros: food, decor, location, energy Con: service, attitude, noise level
(3)
Ashu S.

Amazing service , great food .....perfect place to sit outside on a sunny day and enjoy meal. True Italian food.
(5)
Ronaldo N.

The food it's AMAZING the only think I thought was cold was the service I know no one likes work on Sunday brunch but I would expect a great service for a great food I got it!!
(5)
Sara C.

Amazing food. The pasta bolognese was chewy and hearty. My husband's steak was cooked to perfection and accompanied by a delicious mushroom risotto. We didn't even have room for dessert and I had enough leftover for a big lunch the next day. I don't drink, but if I did I'd have a hard time resisting their tempting list of cocktails - creative combinations with cachaÃ§a, tequila and vodka and lots of fruit infusions. The service was delightful with just the right frequency of checking on us. The only reason I couldn't give five stars was due to the noise level inside - and you can't reserve the outdoor tables.
(4)
Richard D.

A good choice based on Yelpers comments. No problem with OT reservation. Apps were good - a beefy carpaccio and a very nice steak tartare (with a poached egg instead of fried). My entree was a pork milanese. Meh. Should have been more adventurous. But the pasta bolognese had lots of depth. Better than the norm. Would go back - a good value in the big city.
(4)
Adam S.

Really nice service and very good food. Unfortunately I was coming off of a night of drinking so I didn't try their alcohol menu, but I did have a great meal. Started with the arugula salad, then I got the spaghetti and meatballs. Both very good. Really nice atmosphere as well and recommended for a date.
(4)
Erica H.

Went here last night with a couple of friends. The food was delicious and the service was attentive... Only down side was it was a bit loud and no one at the table could hear what the server was saying, including the people sitting closest to her. Other than that, will be back, especially for the ribs:)
(4)
Tejas P.

We have been here on a Saturday evening. The food was good and so is the ambiance. They have good vegetarian options in the menu. We made a reservation using OpenTable and I think that helped us avoid waiting :) I recommend reserving your table especially on weekends. Next time when I'm in Boston, I'm going here :)
(4)
Ben P.

A coworker and I went here for dinner one night after having checking out the other reviews. It lived up to the hype - the wine was great, and my carbonara was definitely satisfying. My only complaint is that the chairs weren't all that comfortable; not sure the minimalist all-white look is worth the discomfort. *_*
(4)
FranÃ§ois S.

Food was fantastic, service was perfect! I was there for my birthday with my parents and I will remember this dinner for a very long time. Cocktails are really good too but there was not enough different beers for me.
(5)
A T.

Mediocre food paired with terrible service. We dined on Friday, Jan. 23. Our female server was incredibly rude and inattentive. My husband arrived before me and ordered a glass of wine. Our server brought my husband his glass of wine shortly after I sat down. She puts down his glass and walks away. She does not welcome me, introduce herself, or ask me if I would like a drink. She comes back TEN minutes later to see if I want a drink. Next, we order our meal. When I ask if the short rib is more on the fatter side, she responds: "Well yeah, It's short rib." Given that some restaurants get better cuts of meat than others, in my opinion, this was an inappropriate response. Either way, our food arrives to the table very quickly. It was fine but nothing impressive for the prices. (I the chicken; he the short rib). Part of the way into our meal, our server returns asking my husband if he would like another glass of wine. Although I have maybe 4 sips left, she does not ask me. Fast forward, she brings the bill, gives it to my husband. I pay and hand her the credit card and when she brings back the receipt to sign, she hands it to my husband. Overall, her service and attitude were terrible. (Oh, she also screwed up my husbands expresso martini by steering him away from the way the bartender usually makes it--which is the way my husband usually orders it)). Overall, Stella is a good place to get a drink (which we do a lot b/c we live in the neighborhood). But their food and service is going down down hill.
(2)
victoria e.

Loved the salmon here! Honey glazed to perfection. Only complaint- My friend got a gluten free pasta but there was a gluten noodle in there! Not ok! (Everyone also liked their cocktails, food, and ambiance).
(4)
Kiki K.

I thought it odd that after living in Boston for over 20 years I have never heard of this place. I even lived in the South End for a few years. This place is a douche-bag-a-torium.....why on earth would you play deep house-club beats in a restaurant?Each table was a huge party, I saw 3 b-day cakes go by in the 45 minutes I was in there. There is one bathroom 3 rooms away from the hostess stand, it's a unisex WC. I didn't see another one, but there must be , this place is cavernous and looks like the Milk Bar from Clockwork Orange, without the interesting clientele.
(1)
Phil O.

A cute, tranquil spot in the South End, that offers very good food at a reduced price. I definitely want to go back here at some point.
(4)
Megan C.

A fantastic place to bring your Girlfriend(s). Girlfriends that is is you're a girl :) Girlfriend if you're on a date. Definitely a good place for both. Stellar interior, small enough to feel cozy, but big enough for an event if you're bring ing a large group. Delicious food, good drinks, excellent bar for dining. Bolognese was a favorite of the dishes thus far and the bartenders seemed to know just what to serve along with it. Date Rating: 8 Pick up Scale: 3 Strong Suggestion: Make a reservation or come during the week.
(4)
Jacob M.

Great food. Great service. Trendy, even after all these years. Their wine list could improve a bit, but the bartenders make good mixed drinks here. A popular spot among the locals.
(4)
Amy W.

I came here with my family to celebrate my brother's graduation from medical school, and I'm happy to say that for the most part it did not disappoint. I'd rate this place more like a 3.5 for the food, but the beautiful windows and decor as well as the cute waiter tips it over to 4 stars for me. ;) I tried the parmesan aranchini, which was a first for me. Despite my brother and his girlfriend enthusiastically claiming that it was their favorite appetizer, somehow it just didn't blow me away the same way it did for them. I've never had aranchini before but the texture was just confusing to me -- simultaneously rich, cheesy, and gooey, but also crunchy on the outside but progressively softer as it sat in the sauce. Hmm. Not sure about that. I had the pan seared sole for my entree (and all the entrees are amazingly portioned and very well worth the price!), which was decent as well. I had the same reaction that I did to the aranchini; overall good, but just missing *some*thing to make it AMAZING. I thoroughly enjoyed the ragout and the corn, but the flavors seemed to overpower the subtler fish. I found myself eating all the vegetables and leaving the fish on the plate at the end of the meal, which seems rather counterintuitive since the fish is supposed to be the star of the dish! What a shame. I had a couple bites of the honey glazed salmon, which seemed like a more balanced dish in terms of flavors and textures.
(4)
Alec S.

To be honest, I had never heard of Stella before my dad made reservations here last night. We were in danger of showing up late due to traffic, but luckily Stella offers Valet parking and we happened to arrive right on time. Stella has a wonderful decor, it's a little hard to explain, but it's very artsy, yet comforting and intimate. There are two dining areas, one around the bar that is a little bit noisier, and a quieter dining room. We sat in the dining room and within seconds were greeted by our server. She was very friendly, offering up the specials and giving us time to think about what we wanted to drink and eat. For an appetizer, I had the Bistecca Tartar, which came with a fried egg on top and some toasts. The fried egg fit perfectly on the mountainous tartar and was still runny. The tartar itself was mouthwatering. For an entree, I had the special which was duck and pappardelle and mushrooms with parmesean cheese. The duck was cooked perfectly and fell apart the instant my fork touched it. The pasta was perfectly cooked, without a doubt. The portion was huge, so I luckily was able to took some home with me to have again! We were very full, but we tried the gelato for dessert. There were three options, chocolate, vanilla, or banana cinnamon. We ordered the banana cinnamon and it tasted like, for lack of a better description, banana pancakes. The flavor profile was off the charts and you could taste equal parts cinnamon and banana in every bite. There were three of us at dinner, and we all had decided beforehand that we'd order different things to share. The food was so good that we didn't even want to share a bite with each other. This was an absolutely wonderful dinner experience and I am glad that I finally learned about this great restaurant.
(5)
Ken V.

Stopped for a quick dinner ended with an awesome experience! Food was exceptional and service was awesome.
(4)
Jennifer I.

This restaurant was a perfect dining experience. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and inviting. We were a group of 4 and made our way to the bar and ordered some of their specialty drinks. We were seated within no time and had some of the best appetizers and meals. I had the gnocchi which was the best gnocchi I have ever had! Cant wait to go back.
(5)
Ribblet N.

Went with some friends, good food and drinks. Would easily go again. Had reservations, but still had to wait about an hour.
(4)
Ander J.

Came on a VERY busy Saturday night at 9:00. Our reservation was a little behind schedule, and later our food was delayed coming out of the kitchen. Management didn't just shrug it off, they were sure to apologize, explain why they were backed up, and keep us updated. Even with these two slips, I have to give this place a great review... Started with mussels for an appetizer. Mussels are always the same, but it's the sauce that makes the dish. Stella's sauce was perfect, exactly right to compliment mussels. Moving on, their pasta was top notch. I had the linguine with asparagus cream, and my girlfriend tried the bolognese. Both were delicious. I'm still not sure how I finished it all. The mousse for desert is a must. Not sure what that crumbly cookie is on top, but it's excellent. If there's anywhere Stella can improve, our waiter was a little inattentive. We had to waive him down both to order and get the check. Also, he wasn't very helpful when ordering. Simply asked "what have you decided for food?" Didn't ask if we had any questions, dilemmas, make suggestions, etc.. I like a waiter who knows the menu and offers up a little more than just passing an order to the kitchen.
(4)
AngelofAgony I.

As a New Yorker, I think I have a pretty good sense of fine dining, good food, and innovative menus. Accordingly, I rate Stella highly. The restaurant is a large attractive room, all done in white with floor to ceiling windows. The waiters, of course, are all in black. When we arrived at 8:30, the bar was packed and the dining room was about 75% full. Service was prompt and friendly. Drinks were generous. Both my friend and I started with a Caesar salad which came with bruschetta with anchovies on it. The salad was excellent and bruschetta tasty, but I'm a purist and would have preferred my anchovies in the salad. Next I had a tasty concoction of linguine in a light cream sauce with asparagus tips. My companion had a swordfish steak siciliano which he pronounced "delicious." For dessert I had some standard gelato; he had a creme brÃ»lÃ©e which he rated as ""superb." Two comments: our young waiter, Andre, was a Romanian, which added an exotic touch. I forgot that Boston is like Washington, an early night town. By 10:30 we were the last people in the dining room, the bar had four people in it, and the other waiters had gone home. I definitely will return when next in Boston.
(4)
Travis F.

Presentation wise, the food was outstanding. I am 97% sure that the crudo misto is what threw my digestive system out of whack for nearly three days though. Comedenti caveat!
(2)
Dean E.

Went there tonight the food and drinks were great problem was I tried to pay my bill with a stella gift certificate and the manager told me it was not valid because it was eight years old last time I checked gift certificates do not expire in mass beware if you go here they probably won't honor there gift certificates shame on them
(1)
David H.

Stopped in on a recent business trip to Boston on a suggestion from a former Bostonian. While it is a little off the beaten path, we will definitely get back to Stella when we return to town. Great vibe, fresh food, nice selection of adult beverages, eclectic clientele, and a superb wait staff. We were early for dinner and enjoyed a drink in the bar - small but lively. My wife had the braised short rib pizza and I had linguini with asparagus sauce. Both were delicious and the wine selection was ample. Overall, the best of the three places that we had dinner while in town.
(5)
Phillip A.

We went to Stella in the South End for the 1st time, the restaurant has a really nice atmosphere large bar, and was very crowded. It looked like it could be a favorite neighborhood restaurant's among many in the area ,the service was great but that where it stops the food was very average I was expecting more. We would go back just for their brunch and bar scene.
(3)
Abir H.

Great place! There's so many different and great dishes to choose from. My personal favorite is the aged sirloin steak with mushroom risotto!!! yum yum yum! The grilled chicken is great as well. The pasta bolognese is a big great pasta dish, ask for it to be extra spicy ;) They have a nice seating arrangement outside for those who like sitting outside, I personally prefer inside and the ambiance inside is really nice.
(4)
ACally C.

Had a great meal here last week. I am tempted to go with 5 stars but feel like 5 stars really needs to be reserved for those once-in-a-lifetime meals. But I did love Stella! The homemade pastas are amazing and the waitstaff was very willing to accommodate any requests. I ordered the braised short ribs over pappardelle. It was delicious. The parmesan cream sauce was not heavy at all. I never order cream sauces and was happy at how light this one was. Husband got the special: halibut and it was wonderful. I ordered the pumpkin martini without the espresso and it was so good I got a second! Our friends ordered the short rib dish as well as the seafood risotto and both were pleased with their selections. The one disappointing dish was the Crudo Misto. The tuna & salmon seemed to have been pounded with a meat mallet and were really mushy. But that is what I get for ordered raw fish at an Italian restaurant. Would definitely recommend and plan to go back again!
(4)
Jenny L.

Ordered the seafood risotto and the swordfish really ruined the entire dish. It didn't taste fresh and had a strong fishy smell/taste.
(2)
Elle W.

I walked in at 9:45pm this past Saturday. I was seated right away in the LOUDEST room- like a nightclub. I asked a busperson where the restroom was so that I could simply wash my hands. I was directed to a line of people in another VERY loud room. I gave up and sat back down. The waitress walked over and handed us the menus and began screaming at us to ask us for our drink order. I glanced at the menu and saw that the entree that I came for--- listed on the website-- Pan seared sole-- was not on the menu. And that was when I left... Sorry, but I would definitely recommend seating people more strategically--- large parties near other large parties, and updating the website to reflect what is currently offered on the menu. Also even in the dim lighting I could see crusty stuff on my water glass...
(2)
Steve S.

I am extremely fortunate in many ways, but I have eaten some of the Worlds' best cuisine. I went to school in New Orleans and had epic Cajun food at Commanders Palace and KPauls among others, been to New York, Chicago, San Fran and Vegas frequently and enjoyed many really sensational dinners What I had last night at Stellas rivals if not supasses all First Stella is a Modern Italian restaurant in Bostons South End. It has a funky, contemporary vibe with a bar and now three dinner rooms. I was lucky enough to have won a tasting dinner First course was a butternut squash soup with bacon and shrimp(this is not a Kosher establishment). Velvety texture combined with hints of bacon and chunks of shrimp. To be honest, I dont like shrimp, but this soup was really amazing Second course was the Caeser salad. Stellas' salads are always really good. The beet and goat cheese as well as the misto are some of my favs. The Caeser is amazing. The dressing is faint, but distinct. Third course was the pasta and cream sauce with and egg. The pasta is homemade from scratch, and you can really tell the difference. The sauce was creamy, but not heavy Fourth was sirloin. I have not had sirloin in almost 30 years. My Mom used to try to force feed me meat when I was a kid. I hate it. But what the heck, jad a few glasses of wine, and it was good. Salted and perfectly cooked. The dessert was chocolate cake and ice cream. Fantastic. Really. What is so memeorable is: I don't eat shrimp, pasta, sirloin, cream sauce or even chocolate cake(more of a pie type of guy), but finished and enjoyed every dish Great place
(5)
Harry D.

This review has been long overdue. I came here on Thursday night, the ambience was just like being back in Miami, great food, great drinks, phenomenal staff. I was amazed at the variety of dishes and cocktails in the menu. I got the flat pizza and a martini which had St. Germaine. Absolutely delicious, would come back here again!
(5)
Linda C.

My husband and I went here last night and found the food to be amazing. I got the arugula salad and orecchiette. I would highly recommend this dish! My only complaint was the white chairs were very uncomfortable.
(4)
Laura S.

Amazing Italian food and great atmosphere. The rigatoni bolognese is one of the best things on the menu if you're looking for pasta. The service is always great and the bar scene picks up later at night.
(5)
Maureen O.

Stella is one of the best restaurants in Boston. Hands down. The food is fantastic, and I've tried everything on the menu. They made some changes to their bolognese and no longer offered pork Milanese but, thank goodness, those delicious staples are back. Give this place a try. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Adriana T.

Stella, BEAUTIFUL Stella! This place reads class and style from the second you walk in!!! I love the white furniture they have there. The place is not very quite but not loud either - it's perfect for a date. It's a sexy and elegant place! In the summer time, they have outdoor seating as well which makes diner even more enjoyable. Their pizza is delicious : thin and crispy!!! The carpaccio is to die for!!! I definitely recommend Stella for a fun night in town!!! The also offer valet.
(5)
Stephanie J.

I went to Stella last Thursday night for a girls night out for holiday celebrations. We had a great waiter who was helpful and made great suggestions. We started with a couple different appetizers including fried artichokes, mushroom pizza, mussels (so good and the sauce was perfect for dipping bread), and the eggplant parm appetizer special. The portion sizes are great and although we ordered 4 appetizers we still moved on to dinner. For dinner, I got the linguini with asparagus cream and a poached egg. I felt as though I was back in italy. The pasta was cooked perfectly. It reminded me of carbonara without the pancetta. So yummy!! Other dishes on the table included the braised short rib, seafood risotto, salmon, and roasted chicken. There were no complaints and everyone was very pleased. Instead of dessert we opted for martinis. We enjoyed espresso martinis which were delectable. You can tell the bartenders are passionate about there job. I noticed this the first time I ate at Stella and sat at the bar. Will definitely be back and excited to try their brunch.
(5)
Nanny K.

Wonderful ambience. Friendly service. AMAZING pasta bolognese. Like, lick your plate amazing. Wonderful beet salad. I will be back for sure!
(4)
Lauren W.

Food, cocktails and atmosphere- all amazing. 5 dollar happy hour appetizers during the week? That's also kind of awesome. The only thing is that it gets super crowded on the weekends, so either make a reservation, or try Stellas after work with some girlfriends over a cocktail.
(5)
Gerald F.

Amazing portions, excellent food, great waitstaff. Linguine w/ egg was awesome, while the Bolognese was rich, the meatballs (3) and spaghetti was family size. The chicken w/parpadelle, wine sauce was lighter, tasty. The homemade pasta is fairly dense. done al dante, of course. We must have brought home 3+ pounds of pasta leftovers. Fried oysters, very good, mussels in saffron cream, delish. homemade focaccia outstanding. Sorry, cannoli ok. Yup, 5 stars. And this was a Saturday nite, super crowded holiday weeekend.
(5)
Bashayer A.

Favorite Restaurant: Beet Salad. Roasted Chicken. Done.
(5)
Coco K.

Stella was oh so stellar! Great patio, nice selection of bubblies and cocktails, and the pizzas are to-die-for. Since the weather is finally shaping up for once, I decided to sit outside at one of their street side tables. I started with a refreshing glass of prosecco, which was brought over by our very friendly waiter. Although we did have to ask a couple of times for our second glass, overall the service was good and timely. We started with the pear/romano/balsamic/arugula pizza to share and it was absolutely delicious. The portion was on the larger side, but the crust was thin and crisp. Just the way I like it! I wasn't very hungry to begin with so I ordered the parmesan arancini and the crudo misto as my entree. The arancini was flavorful, crisp, and paired deliciously with the tomato sauce. The crudo misto was very refreshing for the hot evening and the lemoncello vinaigrette was a nice addition to the buttery tuna and fresh salmon. Evan Deluty is a great chef and I will most definitely go back again to enjoy some of their other menu items, enticing libations, and their late night menu as well. Next time I'll remember to come with an empty stomach though!
(5)
Lisa I.

I'll be honest: I'm not as in love with Stella as everyone else. Their food is good, but not amazing. They also haven't changed their menu much in years! I keep waiting for them to introduce some new dishes, but there has been very little change in the menu since they first opened. FOOD: The simple spaghetti with garlic and olive oil is delicious, but I have a hard time justifying $16 for it. The braised short rib pappardelle is quite good. My friend always gets the bolognese, which apparently is good if you' like bolognese. The truffle mushroom flatbread was too salty and slathered in oil - too bad because it had my name written all over it. ATMOSPHERE: nice atmosphere, upscale, although can be a bit loud at times, especially if you're in the dining room right next to the bar. Try to get one of the back rooms if you can.
(3)
Bill B.

Very good food and service. Great bar and vibrant scene. Quite expensive though.
(4)
R ALopo C.

DELICIOUS food, awesome staff, and fantastic service. This is probably one of my favorite restaurants in this area. Recommended: White sangria and Roasted chicken with mushrooms... to die for.
(5)
Collyn B.

Had a very disappointing experience at Stella on a Friday night. Our waitress was not very attentive - it took several minutes for her to greet us, even longer for her to take our drink order, and she didn't understand what we were asking for and we had to repeat ourselves several times. When we ordered an appetizer, she asked if we wanted to place our dinner orders as well. Unfortunately, the appetizer arrived, and 30 seconds or less later, our dinner arrived. Poor planning on her part, particularly at a nicer restaurant. Our food was so-so - nothing exciting, particularly for the cost. The deal breaker was at the end as we paid the bill (which she did not understand how we wanted split), she took 2 steps from the table, opened our check and looked to see what we tipped her. As she was standing in the middle of the restaurant. Rude and disrespectful, particularly when you're spending $180 on dinner for 3. I leave nearby but will not be going back.
(1)
Isabella C.

Atmosphere is very nice, service is good. Nice place to bring a date for brunch/dinner - noise level is average. Roasted chicken was not bad but not great. Spaghetti is absolutely delicious. I always get crispy fries and asparagus appetizers and you can't go wrong with those. I tried duck omelette for Brunch which I'd rate about 4.5/5 in taste but it was VERY filling! Would definitely recommend at least trying.
(4)
Chelsey V.

Went to Stella around 2pm on a sunday the place was packed but got a seat right away. The staff was amazingly polite and cordial... Our waiter was very nice and super attentive given how busy the place was. I order the best burger and Fries i have ever had delicious drinks all around. The atmosphere is trendy but understated... and the cliental definitely added to the feel of the place! WOULD DEF. RECOMMEND!!!
(5)
Mackenzie M.

Just average. Nothing stood out to me about eating here. Drinks were great- we both had wine. Service was very prompt, but a bit too prompt. My boyfriend had braised short ribs in pappardelle pasta. Delicious. I had the pork milanese. Just ok. Presentation was a bit strange for this menu item and it seemed a bit dry. Our appetizer came to the table about 3 minutes after ordering. The appetizer plate was then taken before I could even eat the last bits off of it. The whole night just felt extremely rushed. Same thing with the entrees- they came very quickly after ordering. Makes you wonder how fresh everything is? Perhaps the kitchen staff is just very, very on top of things! The restaurant was pretty full too, it wasn't like it was empty. Appetizers and entrees were all finished in 45 minutes. No exaggeration. I still had 3/4 of a drink at this point. We then felt rushed to box up our food. I have worked in restaurants so I understand that things happen but this was a date night that I was trying to slowly enjoy and it's a bit disappointing when it feels so rushed. Probably won't be back since there are so many other restaurants in Boston.
(3)
Ilya E.

Stella answers the proverbial question: " Its late, and i'm drunk and hungry, but I don't want pizza or chinese food" Their kitchen is open until 1:30am which gives you ample time to drive over, and order their amazing burgers or arancini fondue. Both are extremely delicious. The burgers come out slightly undercooked (the way I like it) and come with a load of sweet potato fries and bacon. The wine is good, and the atmosphere is perfect for a first date.
(5)
Aaron L.

On-line reviews are tuff to decipher. As a reader, we ask ,"who is this reviewer?", "can I trust him/her?" Even with this preamble to establish credibility, you may take this review with a grain of salt. But - Stella may just be the most overrated restaurant in Boston. Not that it ranks as one of the cities best, but to even regard it as fine dining is a complete miscategorization. The ambiance is nice - simple, white; albeit the music is from the elevator in the W Hotel. The food is reminiscent of a big box hotel in Cleveland. Huge portion lovers will delight - however, the gargantuan portions are cream laden, truffle covered messes. Even the drinks were off - every mixed cocktail had half a cup of simple syrup. Take my advice and don't be like Marlon Brando. Stay away from Stella. P.S. if its summer and over 85 outside - stay even further away as their AC doesn't really work.
(1)
Kunal G.

Went here for New Years Eve and they had a pre-fix menu. Between the four of us, we got tuna tartare, rice croquette, corn soup with bacon and shrimp, short ribs, steak, glazed salmon, seafood risotto, mini doughnots with chocolate gnache, chocolate torte. Food overall was very good - I wasnt super impressed with the tartar but the croquette was out of this world. Short ribs very good and everything else was borderline spectacular including the deserts which were all homemade. One of our cocktails had a bottle cap in there, presumably because of an accident and they replaced the cocktail promptly, apologized and the manager comped the drink. Service was prompt and courteous. The bread came out right away when we sat down. Although food and everything was great - I believe the meal was a bit overpriced at $68 per person. Portion sizes were pretty big and none of us could finish all 3 courses. I will be back, primarily because I want to eat the croquette again and I've heard that their bolognese is to die for.
(4)
D M.

I live just down the street and so my roommates and I went here for dinner on Sunday. It was great weather to sit outside! Two of us shared the Linguine with Asparagus Cream and the Quattro Funghi pizza. The pasta was good but nothing spectacular. It was more oily than necessary. I would have like a bit more cream sauce also. The pizza was fantastic. Thin and crispy. And if you're a mushroom fan this will not disappoint! I wanna go back to check out the awesome brunch everyone is talking about. Only one negative remark: One of the staff was refilling my roommate's water and filled it too much. It overflowed and spilled on her leg. He moved on to the next table without even saying anything... and it wasn't like he didn't see what he did. But I didn't deduct a star for this bc our server was quite friendly and cheerful.
(4)
Cindy W.

I really heart everything about them but one thing...PARKING. But thats what you get in the south end. This is a great place for a little intimate date with a special someone, grabbing drinks with the girls or a group dinner with a bunch of friends. Whatever the case is...Stella is a great place to be anytime (open later - yay!). Stella has a very clean, crisp, and sexy atmosphere very similar to 28 degrees on Appleton. However the food IS WAY BETTER! Everything is great and at a reasonable price. And for todays tough economy that means a lot to the locals. Here are some of my rec's : Corn soup, shiitake pizza, sworfish. And to be honest with you...pick whatever you like and it will blow your mind.
(4)
S. S.

Great ambience, contemporary decor, decent music and very very attentive wait staff. I came here late on a sunday evening (1030ish) on my way back from he BSO nearby and this was the only "nice-ish" place open for a bite. We tried the beef carpaccio, gnocchi, chocolate mousse and decaf cappuccinos. Food was good but not great. The antipasti was too heavy for me to start off with but I wasn't very hungry wither. I would come back to try the main course for sure. Friend loved the gnocchi. The mousse was a bit like boxed chocolate pudding buy the cappuccino was excellent. I wish I had asked them what beans they used. Overall, I liked the nice quiet atmosphere a d would go back to try the brunch and dinner entrees.
(4)
Eric F.

It's always a pleasure to find gems in the South End within walking distance of my place! Stella delivered on all fronts and that's something that can hardly be said of the vast majority of restaurants I've been to. The honey glazed salmon with the added tanginess of citrus vinaigrette was delicious as was the orecchiette. For libations, I'd highly recommend the Stella 75 and ginger pear martini. The bar area is indeed a bit on the small side, but the main dining area is plenty spacious and a nice balance of modern minimalist design and classic upscale decor. Kudos to the staff as well for their attentiveness, refined, professional mannerism and composure. The latter was especially evident when one of the waitresses dropped an entree at an adjacent table. Her colleagues intervened quickly and one of the managers arrived soon after to check on both of our tables to ensure everything was okay. Impressive =D Whether you're looking for a date spot, group dinner venue or a nice bar scene, Stella will not disappoint.
(5)
Anna B.

Bright, beautiful, good wine, good service, good prices. Go.
(5)
Kim D.

Stella is one of those go to restaurants that you just can't seem to miss with. We went there this past Saturday night for our 12th wedding anniversary with our two daughters. We were seated promptly and given complimentary champagne (and ginger ale for the girls) for an anniversary toast. The service is super attentive without being overbearing. The food is excellent and it is wonderful to see a restaurant take into account that people with children don't want to only be able to dine at chain restaurants! To have a restaurant like Stella have a children's menu shows that they realize parents want to have a nice night out with their kids every once in a while! Again, the food is always stellar! My husband is still talking about the Seafood Risotto he ordered. I got the linguine with poach egg...fantastic! We will be back very soon.
(5)
candice g.

I dined here for the first time last night. Totally dating myself here, but I have not been in this building since it was Blackstones on the Square. We showed up 30 minutes late for our reservation. Not a problem, the hostess seated us with a smile. Chris was our waiter. He came right over, we ordered a bottle of wine. Water and bread were served right away. There were 3 of us and we shared the Mussels, Beets, Tagliatelle Bolognese and Short Ribs w pappardelle. Overall the food was good, nice presentation. I found the Short Rib to be a tad on the dry side, but the sauce was very flavorful. What was the best part of the dining experience was the service. Chris was a very good waiter, not intrusive. He made sure we were well taken care of. The busboy was also spot on. Our waters were always filled and our table was cleaned the moment we were done. Our silverware was replenished and they provided extra plates and serving spoons without us having to ask. Best of all, the people that worked there were happy, no attitude. I was a waitress for a very long time. That is a very tough job. The staff at Stella are top notch. Good wine list with an impressive price point. The only buzzkill was the crying baby. I know i am going to get flack for this, but I have 2 children and I would not bring them there. they have a kids menu, but this is not a place for children. maybe on the weekends for lunch or brunch, but not at night.
(4)
Genevieve B.

Two friends and I randomly decided to stop in and have Sunday brunch here, but unfornately that did not happen. As we waited for a table, my friends and I felt very uncomfortable, particularly because of the looks we kept getting our way from the hostesses. We don't really know what that was all about and all we were able to surmise is perhaps they weren't really used to our kind around there, so we hauled ass and went to Darryl's Corner Bar (which we HIGHLY RECOMMEND) for brunch. So as for the food, I can't really comment, but I will add that the decor is very stunning! Maybe next time Stella....or maybe not. -_-
(1)
Michael C.

Stella in the south end is a small but well designed restaurant. Went here with a group of friends on a Sunday afternoon for some brunch. The brunch is very typical with a handful of unique choices, like the duck hash I ordered. There were also some gaping holes in their brunch menu (no waffles or pancakes). I'm not sure it is worth the long wait or the need to make reservations. Their brunch consists of mostly egg dishes and french toast, they also had a pasta dish on the brunch menu called Carbonara that was the stand out item of the meal. Service was slow overall and they seemed to be too busy for such a small kitchen to handle. The food was good but nothing to brag about.
(3)
Charles K.

Visited last Saturday night at 8pm for drinks and dinner. The restaurant was nicely busy with good energy. There is a front and back bar that gives Stella an upscale speakeasy feel. Lighting was romantic (candles!) but the noise can be a bit loud if you're on a first date. Or maybe it will help you get closer so they can hear you better... The cocktails are great and the food is simple and delicious. I had the lamb with risotto and a salmon/tuna ceviche appetizer that I shared with my table. Everyone had a great time sharing from their plates/appetizers and the atmosphere is welcoming for a night out with friends. Will be coming back.
(5)
Danielle B.

Always a nice brunch option, or pre-brunch drinks... They seem to always have early or late brunch availability... The outside heaters and blankets make me feel like you're not in Boston for a meal--- just a fun little spot in the south end. patio is dog friendly, (they have to be on the other side of the fence, but if seated nearby it's not a big deal...) and they even bring out water for the four legged friends!
(4)
Canarsie Mama S.

What a great meal! What a great place! What a great scene! The four of us had the carpaccio, beet salad, mussels for appetizers, Then the Roast Chicken, Pappardelle with Bolognese and the special pasta - Pappardelle with Chicken and mushrooms. All Great! Also had some super wines. Really felt the prices were all fair. Will definitely be back.
(5)
Zoe S.

Wow. Wonderful atmosphere, and even better food. Get the gnocchi, pizza, or chicken. They're incredible. Best Italian food I've ever had.
(5)
Chris W.

I've been here several times and the food never disappoints. Get the mussels... you won't regret it.
(4)
Brandon L.

This place is consistently delicious......the tagliatelle bolognese.....like crack ........UNBELIEVABLE. I try to get something different every time I go but just can't bring myself to steer away from it. I agree with some reviewers they haven't changed the menu much.....but hey ....if it ain't broke.....well you know the rest.....YUM.
(4)
Angel M.

I mean, this is kind of embarrasing, but I had never had a bloody mary before. But like, duh, you are supposed to have one the morning after "____". So, like, I did. Stella's brunch was pretty much the place to be that day, it had last nights club crowd (having fully showered and re readied themselves), mixed with some cougs( no offense to any of them, they were fierce :)), and the traditional brunch surfers (people surfing for a good brunch crowd). My duck confit omelette was very good, though I was skipped out on much duck, my friends plate had more than mine. My toast was really dry, sad. dry toast. My friends enjoyed their food and it was nice weather out. We arrived rather late for brunch, and the place was packed, and by the time we left it was practically empty. Come here first and then hit up SoWa. SoFun.
(4)
Stacey G.

I went to Stella with my boyfriend on a Saturday evening; we had a 9:30 pm reservation. A reservation is a must because even then you will have a slight wait. The bar was packed, the restaurant had large parties and gave off a very young, fun and romantic vibe. I don't mean to sound like a grandma but it was pretty loud at first which is to be expected after people have a few drinks. After about 15 minutes the volume quieted down a bit and i was able to have a stellar experience. The waiter was quirky but very friendly. Now on to the food, for starters their bread was warm and sooo fresh... it was delish. Then we ordered the beet salad. It was refreshing and delicious, we ate it up. I am glad we did not have to wait long in between our appetizer and entree because I was starving. I ordered the Linguine in a cream sauce with asparagus topped with a poached egg. This was quite out of the ordinary, I don't typically order pasta. It tasted like a very upscale mac and cheese and you cant go wrong with that. The egg yoke really cut the creaminess of the sauce, it was just fantastic. I highly recommend this dish to any diner. We ordered a side dish of roasted cauliflower... I wasn't a fan. It was more fried than roasted and tasted like french fries. That was the only downside to my meal. We were too stuffed to order any dessert. ** I'm a food blogger, if you enjoy my review check out my website: metropolitanfoodie.blogsâ€¦
(4)
Joanna S.

Aside from the beef carpaccio appetizer and the ambiance, I have nothing good to say about this place. We wanted to go to Toro down the street, but it was a 2-2.5 hour wait, so we searched nearby restaurants and came across Stella. We called, and they told us it's a 1-1.5 hr wait. So we put our names down, and walked over to wait! After 1 hour, they told us our table was almost ready. After 1.5 hours, they told us our table was almost ready. After 2 hours, they told us our table was almost ready. Are you catching my drift here? We weren't seated until 2+ hours, and there was no apology. The host said well, we recommend reservations. #1 rule for ya buddy, ALWAYS estimate up, and never underestimate the wait. We could have been seated at the delicious Toro and we wouldn't have come here! Stella, you suck. Foodwise, we got the gnocchi, which was WAY too doughy. Tasted like mush in your mouth. They oversold the linguini with truffle and asparagus for us too. It was just a big plate of pasta with specks of asparagus that was quite tasteless. My other friend, got the swordfish that was way too dry, and another girl got Halibut, which was decent. I was the most satisfied out of my group, I got the lamb shank, and it really did just fall off it's bone as our waitress said. We told our waitress about the doughy gnocchi, and she offered to change my friend's entree for free after she saw that my friend hardly touched any of her plate. That was a good thing I guess, so you can voice your opinion freely on your entree. Overall, so not worth the 2+ hour wait for mediocre Italian food. The goat cheese, tomato grilled pizza wasn't awesome, but it was good. 2 stars. Maybe, half more star for the ambiance and the bar. Oh yeah, there are a lot of fancy gay people here. I didn't believe our cab driver when he said there were a lot of gay people in Boston until I went to Stella.
(2)
Andrea M.

I think people just like Stella because it's pretty. Sunday afternoon drinks are awesome, but I think this place it overrated for dinner. Food: It doesn't really feel Italian. It doesn't even really feel modern Italian. It's totally fine, and there's nothing wrong with it, there's just nothing absolutely authentic or creative about it. The pasta is good, but doesn't have that homemade, eggy taste to it. Service: I've had good bar service here (again, on Sunday brunch), but poor table service. Once, my mother explained that she had a fish allergy, and the waitress barely made eye contact or confirmed that she had even heard her. Other times have been fine, but nothing to write home about. Atmosphere: Looks a bit like Clorox. It's very pretty, but a little overdone for Italian. I feel bad for being so down on this place, I just don't really understand why everyone else loves it.
(2)
Ann K.

Really enjoyed dinner at Stella. We started with a few appetizers including an excellent goat cheese and beet salad and some kind of fried risotto ball that was awesome. My entree was a scallop risotto that was excellent. My husband gave the thumbs up to the salmon. One of our dining companions had the orecchiette that looked really good too. They have a good wine list with a good selection of middle of the road wines. We split the pecan pie for dessert - really good and went well with my port! It's Italian but it's not North End Italian. If you want a good red sauce like momma made, this isn't for you but if you want a more electric Italian you'll like Stella.
(4)
M. N.

Great ambience and atmosphere. Food was great, we got a couple appetizers (Arugula salad, beef tartare and carpaccio), truffle pasta, corn cream soup and pizza. Nothing mind blowing but definitely delicious! One thing which bothered us was that the service was not responsive. It took a couple nudges for us to get the server's attention to order. I expected better service!
(4)
Priscilla T.

Just had to write a brief update and say... toasted garlic, olive oil, and spaghetti pasta. SO GOOD I DIED. That is all.
(4)
Jill G.

Awesome food and drinks. I recommend the spaghetti and meatballs, straight up- it was amazing for such a simple dish. The restaurant and bar were full of a young, fun crowd, as well as the wait staff. The service was awesome, even when it was really busy. I have heard that their brunch is great too, and I can't wait to try it!!
(4)
Molly J.

We went there as a large party. They arranged a big wooden table and matched chairs that does not aligned to others. I like the atmosphere of the restaurant but the service was A-OK and the food wasn't good either. It is true that people praise small plates more than entrees. The swordfish I had was too sour and salty. The steaks my friends order were over cooked. I didn't try seafood risotto but it looked damped and not attractive. The only plate that align with the review was the pasta. The dish was cheaper (around $15) compares to entrees ($25). If there is a next time, I will go for late night dinning or drinks instead of dinner.
(3)
Bobby C.

I have been to Stella twice in the last two years. I should have learned the first time around. Stella gets busy very quickly and has a vibrant bar scene. I like the trendy decor and lighting, but once it gets busy, you'll need to turn up the volume a few notches for the person seated across from you to hear you. I met up with an old acquaintance for dinner. We were seated promptly. Food was good, nothing special. After our entree was served, our waitress was no where to be found. We sat there trying to get our food wrapped up. I ended up attributing this to how busy the place was. Fast forward a year later...I decided to give Stella a shot again after hearing the positive review on Phantom Gourmet. I took my date to Stella. The outcome was the same. After our entree was served, the waitress was no where to be found.
(3)
Stewart C.

Stella is a great place - good food, delicious drinks and a very fun atmosphere. My only negative is that it is VERY noisy. I often come here and bring friends from out of town. I also like their brunch... but it can get very crowded. My favorite items on the dinner menu are the Caesar Salad, The Homemade Sausages, The Sirloin, and the Grilled Pizzas. For Brunch, the Linguine is delicious - and very naughty.
(4)
Tory L.

Our first experience at Stella and we were all smitten with the food (linguine with truffle cream and asparagus-OMG, short ribs, sirloin, chicken, artichoke hearts, beet salad and 4 different desserts). Service was exceptional as was the ambiance. Great mix of people. We loved everything about our experience and when we feel a little less full (portions are substantial), it will become our go-to restaurant in town!
(5)
Mallory C.

Stella is an all time Boston favorite, hands down! The food is fantastic, the drinks are strong and the wait staff is usually friendly and on their game. It's one of those rare places where the restaurant could be packed with people, but you can still have an intimate dinner. Dinner is wonderful and you can't go wrong with any of the pastas, although their bolognese is my ultimate favorite. Pasta dishes are *huge* - a half order is more than enough for one meal. Stella also has one of the largest patios in town and has been known to bring out a heat lamp and a blanket on cooler nights. Sunday brunch is pretty killer as well!
(5)
Christalee G.

I went to Stella on a busy Friday night for dinner. I would highly recommend making a reservation, because this place was jam packed. We arrived early and had a drink at the back bar. The decor inside is beautiful. The lighting is very dim and romantic, a perfect spot for a date. I was very impressed with the menu and food. They start you off with some freshly baked bread and a delicious hummus spread. For my entree I ordered the Stella Homemade Gnocchi with tomato, basil, and reggiano. The gnocchi were perfect!, fresh, light and fluffy and literally melt in your mouth! This would also be a great spot to meet for some drinks. They have some delicious creative drinks on their list. I tried the dragon berry drink. I had an amazing dinner and great experience at Stella ! I will definitely be back .
(5)
Mindy L.

I love the small, intimate atmosphere at Stella. The lightness of the space lends charm and the fabulous waitstaff doesn't hurt a bit! I went here on a Friday night with a girlfriend for some wine, some food and some gossip! We ordered a bottle of their Malbec which was delicious, as I knew it would be! To start we shared the arancini. Served hot, fresh from the fryer, the center spilled onto my plate in a gooey mess. It was very tasty, slightly under-seasoned, but still good. For our entrees we chose to share the saffron risotto (packed with mussels, calamari and clams, oh my!) and the special of the night, scallops over a bed of squash and caramelized onions. The risotto was pretty good and the overly-generous amount of seafood was very much appreciated. However the "meal of the night" belonged to the seared scallops! 1) there were at least 10 on the plate (amazing portion size) and 2) the squash was an absolute perfect pairing with the delicate flavor of the scallops. We weren't rushed out even though the restaurant was packed and busy on a Friday night. We enjoyed our wine and gossip and would definitely come back here for another girls night!
(4)
S S.

Yipee, Another 5 star on my list. I went there saturday night. We got there around 8:30 ish and didnt have a reservation. The wait was an hour forty five, but we got our table for four in an hour and 15. We waited at the bar. Great Space, very lofty feel to it , like a nyc bar and the crowd is awesome, Beauty-ful gay men wearing prada belts. I loved the Bellini, which was peachy flavor champagne drink. The food was well worth the wait for the table. I ordered the tuna that was delish so was my sampling of the salmon. We topped the meal of with very fluffy choclate mousse and biscotti. The food and the ambiance definetly get thumps up from me.
(5)
Lindsay R.

Great service, great atmosphere, great food especially in the summer time when the little patio is open. They offered an impressive mix of cocktails that were not only delicious but refreshing. One thing I especially love about Stella is the option 1/2 portions. It's just enough food for a light dinner and doesn't make you feel like you have to pop a button on your jeans to feel comfortable. I had the spaghetti and meatball and pomodoro sauce which really blew me away! Their bolognese is one of my fav's. Def a great warm weather place to hang have dinner and grab a couple delicious drinks.
(4)
Lindsay B.

WARNING: Have reservations about making reservations! I was recently in Stella for my boyfriends 30th birthday. Since I originally thought there were going to be 13 people I had e-mailed the private party planner about coming in for dinner. She immediately replied with an impersonal : "Hi, I'm out today - pls. call the restaurant to make a resv." I guess I should have guessed if you don't have time to spell out the word PLEASE or RESERVATION you aren't going to be much help in general. So, I called Monday and made a reservation for 10 people. They said If I have any more then 10 we would have to come in at 5:30. Since the majority of the party worked until 7:00 this clearly wasn't going to work. I was upset about having to cut my list down, but my boyfriend really enjoys eating here. So we showed up Friday at 8:00. I had never gotten a confirmation phone call Thursday or Friday, but I don't think its my responsibility to confirm a reservation I have already made. When checking in with the host I was mortified to see they had my reservation for two. I almost had a heart attack. We weren't seated until 9:00 and when we were sat it was at a table for 12! Dinner was delicious. I can't argue that. Our server was O.K. and friendly. We had spent about $500.00 for dinner for 9. Bottles of wine, appetizers and dinner. I brought cupcakes that I had purchased because I have a gluten allergy and they don't offer any GF desserts. Stella charged me $28.00 for a plating fee. 3$ a person for putting my cupcakes on a freaking plate? Also when I gave the waitress the cupcakes I specifically said I do not want candles or anything like that. My boyfriend doesn't like attention on him. Of course there was candles and a big presentation. Clearly there are some communication issues going on with the staff at that restaurant. I did speak to a manager at the end of the night who did nothing for me. I am so disappointed in this place I will not be going back.
(1)
Lisa C.

Our visit to Stella's was chosen and recommended by my brother-in-law who happens to live a mere 2 blocks away. We visited on a Friday night and walked in, after being told it was casual, that it was a bit more swanky than our jeans and sweatshirts that we were wearing on our flight in from Chicago. A great Friday night crowd was enjoying themselves at the bar and we only waited about 5 minutes to get seated. My husband's very simple palette was overwhelmed by the menu and I had to explain everything to him. While I thought the place had great music playing, my husband found it to be too loud to have a conversation. The bread and hummus on the table was a nice starter. There was a total of 5 of us and we all tried each other's dishes. I had the spinach salad for a meal, which turned out to be more than enough and filling. The amount of dressing was perfect and my salad was not drowning it. My husband and brother in law #2 each had the pizza - one had the meatball with mozzarella, the other with veggies. Both were good, although my husband laughed when his pizza arrived with a bunch of "salad on it" as he put it. Brother in law #1 had the Italian Sausage which was very good and sister-in-law had the halibut which was great. Overall, if you're looking for lighter fare with great ambience, this is a good place to start!
(4)
James S.

I can only give 3 stars to what really should be a 4-star restaurant because of the service. While I've certainly had worse service in the past, our waiter seemed disinterested or preoccupied the entire night. We asked about a few suggestions and it seemed like he was bored with the question. Then, I ordered a glass of Grenache/Syrah, he looked at me incredulously and said, "You DO know that is a rosÃ©, right?" Well, actually I didn't, seeing as how both those grapes are primarily red wine grapes...no need to make me feel like a fool for ordering it. Other than that, and a slightly over-boisterous table behind us (it is a small dining area), the meal was exactly what I hoped for. The arancini were solid, though I think a bit underseasoned, but the pomodoro was quite good (though definitely not spicy). For entrees, we got the swordfish and the braised short ribs - both excellent choices. Portions were more than friendly, with two huge short ribs and a heap of tasty pappardelle for me, and a very healthy cut of swordfish for my fiancee. They were even kind enough to substitute the potatoes for some delicious spaghetti squash on her meal as well! For dessert, we tried the much-hyped pecan pie. It was the perfect size for two, came a la mode, and though it toed the line of being too sweet, I really enjoyed it. Someone with less of a sweet tooth may want a different dessert. Overall, great work Stella. I know why you're an institution in SoWa after close to a decade in business. Seems like it has a great buzz in there on weekends, the food is delicious and fairly-priced, and it is in a good location. Just train those waiters to be a bit nicer to newbies!
(3)
Leah A.

Although I enjoyed it, the food here is super salty. We came before a concert at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and I found myself needing to chug several waters afterwards. They have an interesting cocktail list, but no draft beer and the bottle selection is a bit lame. Our waiter was nice, and even folded our napkin when we got up to use the restrooms during the meal.
(3)
Sue M.

Great atmosphere and out door seating. I recommend a reservation or giving yourself enough time to sit and wait at the very cool bar! Great drink list. Awesome arancini's, mussels, and beet salad The spaghetti and meat balls are amazing Always a good meal and great service!! Great place to bring someone from out of town you are guaranteed a good time.
(4)
TheBiggestJuiciestPiece a.

Delicious! The food here was great, I came for brunch on Sunday. The place was packed, filled with your typical south end individuals all drinking and crowding around the bar. I ordered the hamburger and tried the linguini carbonara. The hamburger was pretty good, nothing unique about it, but it was made perfectly and the buns resembled something of a savory brioche. The linguini were also great they were in a typical carbonara sauce. The sauce was delicious, without being too heavy. The poached egg was perfectly done, I hate it when the yolk is solid the best part of a poached egg is to break the yolk and mix it in the dish! Good service, good food, and a ton of light on a sunday morning! Definitely coming back.
(4)
Janak S.

This place had good pizza but the Pepsi was only soso =( The rice ball appetizer was very tasty and the place had comfortable chairs with flexible backs. The place was very crowded and very popular. My only complaint is that it was very expensive
(4)
Derek B.

This modern Italian restaurant embraces all things chic with its low lit, relaxed, and swanky setting. I felt sexier just walking through the doors. There is a nice mix of simple to extravagant dishes, with good portion sizes. Fried Artichoke hearts are amazing, but so is the simple linguine dish with its olive oil and hint of Italian herbs. A surprising discovery was how good of a bar scene appears on Saturday night. We had a late dinner, and as we were wrapping up around midnight, we looked over at the bar, which was not only full and radiating exciting energy, but contained the densest population of attractive people I have yet to witness since I've lived in Boston. Apparently I missed the memo, but Saturday nights, this is the pretty people place.
(4)
B D.

Would return for lunch with a friend or two, not a large party on a Saturday night when the so so staff can focus better. Food was excellent. The Ceasar salad was creamy and parm cheesy, excellent. The mish mosh tuna salmon appetizer was delicious and easy to share -the consistency was almost pureed. Sword fish nothing to write home about -overcooked atop two punched down red bliss potatoes. Salmon was simply good. The winner dish at our table was the seafood risotto. Most risottos have its ingredients masked and hidden by the rice -here the lively seafood took center stage in the mushroom infused rice (undercooked to perfection). Service was -eh with a smile, (not experienced). Luke warm desert beverages were brought to the table twice, after the second time we quit complaining. Four stars for food, 2stars for service =3 stars.
(3)
Jimmie L.

Big fan. We went a couple of weeks ago, and I had written a really fun review, but my computer decided to shut down just as I was getting ready to click "POST IT" and so i was dejected and didn't re-write it. That being said - we went as a group of 6 people. We had the table in the middle of the room, it was a great spot for people watching and food watching. We had called a week before and were given two choices for reservations - 5:30 or 9pm. Since two of the people in our group were going to the BSO, the 5:30 it was ! My guess, called two weeks or more in advance, or be willing to sit at the bar and hope someone cancels. The bar is cool as is the rest of the interior. Calming even. And as open as the floor is, they have used baffles and other sound-deadening devices...it isn't loud. You can hear everyone at the table, and no one had to raise their voices (except when we started talking politics....). Nice sized portions, great quality. I had the gnocchi - which were perfect pillows of potato goodness. Really some of the better gnocchi I've had out. Reasonably priced wines. The steak was tasty, the chicken was cooked well. Dessert was lovely. All around a quality experience. Definitely moderately priced, especially looking around the place at who was dining there...they could jack the prices up and people would still flock to the joint. They have Valet, but there are plenty of street parking spots on Washington Street in front of Stella. Just realize that the meters go til 8pm. Enjoy !
(5)
Haley M.

What started out as a search for a cheap meal out on a Saturday turned into an evening at Stella - not a bad turn of events. The BF and I walked by and since it looked so warm and inviting and boy was it cold outside, we made the spontaneous decision to just do it. Thank God I had thrown on some lipstick before leaving the house. The ambiance is undeniably chic and sophisticated while remaining unpretentious, a hard thing to do. We had to wait about 8 years for a table for two, since they only seat your party at an appropriately sized table (so maybe not the best place to be spontaneous...). But we got our table with a nice view of the park and our waiter suggested an incredible wine and I ordered the pizza that's been haunting me ever since, the truffle pizza with mushrooms and truffle oil. I would have licked the plate if I weren't such a lady. We split a warmed pear tart, another recommendation, for dessert which ended the meal perfectly. My only grievance was the noise level. For a place that looks so demure, I found myself screaming over the table at my boyfriend, which is not very lady-like. However, I was not the only one who had to raise my voice: the lovely couple next to us was detailing what they were going to do with some recently purchased items from a shop-not-to-be-named later that evening... That said, it's the perfect place for pizza and for eaves-dropping, if that's your thing.
(4)
Seiji K.

Just stumbled upon this place I had a drink with my wife at Stella. A nice upscale crowd. The decor was very bright yet sophisticated. Looking forward to have food there. A nice find in the South End. ****update**** my wife and I finally had the chance to dine at Stella. It was a warm early fall evening, and a lot of people sitting outside. The food we looked forward so much was....disappointing. I ordered pizza.... it was limp and soggy. Too bad, because I really wanted to like this place.
(2)
Adam M.

The food at Stella is great. The service, over the past year, has really gone down hill. They are consistently understaffed, many of the wait and support staff are surly, unfriendly, and uncaring - it is as if part of the new staff training includes a section on how to ignore your guests. My friends and I have been watching this trend occur over the past year and it only continues to worsen. It is always worse if you sit outside. Sadly we all go here less and less because of this.
(3)
Andrew M.

Went for dinner on a Monday night because my sister has been raving about the place for weeks. I can say that it didn't disappoint! This place is an all around gem: great atmosphere, very nice bar, and amazing food. We had their meatloaf and the seafood risotto and both were amazing. The meatloaf might have been the best I've ever had. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a nice dinner out!
(5)
Robin S.

Went here for restaurant week/friend's birthday dinner with friends. We each got to order something different & shared everything, the perfect way to try it all. Can't wait to go back; loved everything, cool ambiance too. Apps: mussels (come already de-shelled), fried artichokes, beet salad & arancini --all delicious! Entrees-- swordfish, gnocchi (not as good as I thought it was going to be, too doughy), pasta bolegnese, and tomato mozz pizza-- outstanding! Desserts-- told you we went all out...cannoli (least fave), biscotti, gelato & sorbet. Did i mention two bottles of red too?
(4)
Jeff W.

Let me start by saying that 4 stars is not necessarily the 'average score' based on my three visits. My first visit was very good, my second visit was a nightmare: a true half-star, and my third visit was as close to a perfect dining experience at this type of place you could ask for. In fact, I had to throw away the half-star to give the rating that I think this place truly deserves. The only reason why I went back after my awful second visit was because well, I, uhm, voiced my opinion. The folks at Stella ensured me it wouldn't happen again. The Decor and layout: It is a surprisingly large place with clean and contemporary decor. The clientele is chic and eclectic which is a nice deviation from the typical Boston crowds you find at the more 'local' establishments. I do prefer the front dining room; the tables are a little crammed but the atmosphere is lively and the buzz is fun. The Wine: First, I love the "Wine Critics" who bitch about the wine list here. Fact: If you know what to look for, there are some gems. Yes, it is very Italian, but it can also be very good. And you know what? If you actually know anything about wine (or ordering it) and you know what you are looking for, they have a basement (or whatever) filled with wines not on the list. I asked for something specific by varietal and size (not name) and the GM sought it out and brought it to the table. Seriously people, don't be afraid to ask for suggestions. Wine snobs piss me off. End of Rant. The Food: Very good for the pricepoint. I am not sure if the 'inspiration' is authentic but there is definitely a contemporary flare to it that I really dig. Of the multiple things I tried two stood out: The Ossobuco was tender and flavorful and the saffron seafood Risotto was cooked perfectly and the flavor was well, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Saffron is a flavor that is really growing on me. Of the three times we went we pulled the trigger on dessert only once. Wow I regret going through so many meals without experiencing their chocolate tort. Simply ridiculous. Stella is also a great place to have a drink and people watch (in a non-creepy type of way ;-)). They have a nice cocktail list with some fresh tasting and creative drinks. So whether you go for a cocktail, or dinner you can be assured that you'll have a pleasant evening.
(4)
Daniel G.

What can I say about the infamous and trendy Stella. I went with a few coworkers after work sat down for some alfresco dining. The service was a little spotty, but the food made up for it. We started with a few cocktails, I can't remember what they were called, but the few I had were tasty. I had the mussels and rock shrimp for appetizers, both were solid. I had the seafood risotto for my entree which was divine. Stella's was good but maybe they are losing their edge.
(3)
Nicole F.

Food and atmosphere are worthy of 5 stars. However, our waiter would disappear.
(4)
Linda T.

My recommendation is the pasta bolengnese. The bread is amazing and the service at the bar is pure entertainment. Its a great place to spend a fun weekend late evening with friends. There is always a great crowd there and the loud music and dim lights makes it even more appealing. Definitely a place for a more mature crowd which is totally more my scene.
(4)
Matt C.

You know that scene in every episode of Hell's Kitchen where Gordon Ramsey, in his permanent yell voice, takes his minions to some gleaming restaurant filled with happy customers and a kitchen staffed by the children of Epicurus? Then he yells some more and some of the people cry because they know they will never run a restaurant that good? Yeah, that's actually Stella. After two visits, I'm convinced it can't possibly get any better. Great drinks, perfect food, and kickass staff is the trifecta of restaurant excellence. The wine is boss (boss, by the way, is one of those words I plan to bring back into rotation in 2009) - first visit we had several glasses of an excellent merlot recommended by the waitress, second time a round of winter ales and prosecco left us feeling warm and ready to eat. Dinner arrived quickly, but not in that "how long has this been sitting back there?" kind of way. The arancini is so delicious that you'll end up with flashbacks to how good it was. You'll be sitting in front of a failure pile of a pizza at some crap place and want to jump in the fastest cab possible down to the South End for some risotto ball excellence. Split it with another for a perfect way to kick off a meal. We've tried the mushroom pizza, the gnocchi, the orecchiette and sausage, the artichoke hearts - it's all ridiculously good. It's even better when the chef gives you two bowls of the butternut squash soup on the house as you wait for your entrÃ©e. Yeah, that happened for real. Be sure to get there early and grab a seat at the bar for a pre-dinner drink and just take in the scene. Stella, now that's boss.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Perfect September evening. Restaurant was quite loud on Sunday evening so we opted to sit outside. Started with the Napa Cab (wine list is short and sweet so there's only one cab, one pinot noir, etc.) and it was awesome--black cherry, tasted like a fresh bottle. Shared a fig, goat cheese, prosciutto starter. I ADORED my salmon on citrus-vinaigrette infused spaghetti squash, as did my father, his. Husband's tagliatelle bolognese was "eh"--I tasted too much pork, he felt it was fishy. But the presentation and texture/level of sauce were perfect. Service was absolutely lovely, not overbearing but present when needed. We'd definitely go again.
(4)
Paula A.

I went back to Stella last night, we were looking for someplace nice to celebrate my guy's b-day. OVERALL: I love the look: bright, white, big windows w/ lots of sunshine in the early evening, a good crowd at the bar & outdoor seating (if/when it warms up). SERVICE: They didn't disappoint. The hostess was a doll, our waiter was great, waters were filled, dirty plates removed, etc., -- no complaints at all. FOOD & DRINKS: I loved the bread & hummus we started with. We each got a few glasses of red wine, good & reasonably priced. They offered a flash-fried eggplant parm special that sounded too good to pass up... so we didn't; it was super crispy, drizzled with olive oil and a bit of sauce, really good! The main-dishes: I cannot say enough about the Bolognese, I've heard whispers that theirs is the best in the city & I may have to agree. The portion was huge, I was full, so I shared (it was his b-day after-all), & STILL left with today's lunch. He got the roast duck w/ root vegetables, I had a taste -- it wasn't as good as mine but he cleaned his plate so I'm thinkin' he enjoyed it. the dessert menu didn't wow me, but we were stuffed anyway.
(4)
C K.

Killer bolognese! My mouth is watering....just thinking about it!!!
(5)
Wayne D.

I have never had dinner here, just cocktails on a few occasions. I heard the food is good. Once I sat at the bar and ordered a few appetizers with a friend and I remember a good experience. I typically drink wine when I go out or an occasional mixed cocktail and as long as you are a bartender with some skill at all there is usually no issue with my drinks. I rate this place based on atmosphere and service. Perhaps I should wait to write this after I have dinner there, but that could be forever from now. There is an itch inside me to tell you that I feel that bartenders there profile people. I know that we ALL profile people at one time or another, however, the service is noticeably different to people who don't "meet their standards". This is not a fact, just an observation on my part. I typically do not ever have a problem but I notice it in other people. This past weekend an older gentlemen walked into the bar who was obviously a sore-thumb in a bar full with a young hip gay crowd. He three times ordered a drink and the bartender repeated to him that he could not hear him. The older man just walked away frustrated and never got served. The bartender sort of laughed it off and to me, being an industry professional, thought it was gross. I think the atmosphere here is great but come-on Mr. Bartender, grow up.
(4)
Sara S.

[rewind] Let's take it back.. senior year at BU ('05-'06): My favorite place to eat when shitfaced by 1 AM in the South End.. a sign that I (1) went out way too early (before midnight), (2) went to Club Cafe and enjoyed too many free shots as FH of the night, or (3) need to start attending those AA meetings again. In any case, as long as you act relatively sedate, you can enjoy the best late night meal here, bar none. You'll sit at the bar in the peace of the empty restaurant, enjoying perfectly prepared pasta with the chill bartenders, occasionally the chef's wife (or was it gf?), and other older late night diners (decidedly NOT the typical BU crowd) to listen to your drunken philosophizing. They continued to be very very good to me considering either one of my friends or myself has returned this deliciousness to the sidewalk within close proximity of the glass restaurant windows on more than one occasion.
(4)
Michael M.

I have been going to Stella for years and it never ceases to impress me, I can always count on a guaranteed good meal here. From out of town guests to lively dates, Stella is the place to go. Last night was particularly exceptional, we started with the antipasti platter which came with marinated vegetables, heirloom tomatoes, some assorted meats and marinated fresh mozzarella-- it was excellent, the size of the platter was perfect for two people. I ordered the halibut and my friend ordered the roasted chicken, after our appetizer before our main course our waiter brought out a plate of fried artichoke hearts, compliments of the house, also delicious! As per usual the entrees were delicious, the halibut could have been a little bit bigger for the price that they charge, but what it lacked in size it made up for in flavor. The chicken entree was gigantic and also delicious. As long as Stella maintains its friendly atmosphere, great service and delicious cuisine I will be a customer for years to come!
(5)
Gabriel P.

Come here often for Sunday Brunch and on this particular evening to celebrate my son's 40th birthday with 20 of his family and friends. The service was good for a busy Saturday evening and this large group. The food never disappoints and the ambiance is always festive and fun.
(4)
Katharine N.

The white on white minimalist decor gives Stella a sleek cosmopolitan feel that is a rare find in Boston's often drab dinning scene. The bar vibe and music were lively on a Wednesday evening making it a smart choice for a fun date night or a large group. Our party of 9 was seated at a comfortable round table in the back room and given time to order and linger over our wine. The creative pizzas (bartlet pear with baby arugula and mixed mushrooms with truffle oil) as well as the homemade pastas, particularly the spaghetti and meatballs, bolognese and asparagus cream linguine) were delicious--brimming with fresh ingredients. However, be warned--the pasta potions are gargantuan--our leftovers could have fed a family of 6! Finishing one of these overflowing bowls of homemade pasta could increase your waistline for days. The fish and meat were certainly tasty and well-prepared but nothing special or overly impressive--certainly wasn't blown away by the swordfish, salmon or steak. I'd stick to their modern takes on traditional Italian pizzas and pastas. The cocktail list offers something for everyone (flavored martinis, basil lime gimlets, bourbon-based side-cars etc) making Stella the perfect stop for either a late night drink or start to a night out.
(4)
Nicole R.

Just wanted to quickly update. Honestly, i come here on close to a weekly basis. Everything about stella is truly STELLAr (ha ha ha...). From the charming and totally solid waitstaff to the quality of the food, they really dont miss a beat. I am trying to branch out in my ordering, but really am having a hard time breaking away from the orecchiette. Jesus. Its really spectacular. I am vegetarian, so no sausage but i always ask for broccoli rabe instead, and they always oblige. Seriously, it is my life's goal to find out how this is made. Ughhh so good. Definitly worth every cent you spend.
(5)
Paddy B.

What a great little place. Found Stella randomly on the recommendation of a bartender at Icarus...and what a great recommendation it was! The food here is solid, but the best part is that they serve until 1:30 in the morning! Its refreshing to find alternatives to the usual late night diner (sometimes eggs and pancakes just doesn't cut it after a night at the bars). Anyways, the 2 of us shared a bottle of prosecco, the bistecca tartare, crudo misto, a pizza, and the canoli desert. They were all pretty good. The tatare was a little mustardy, but still tasty. The crudo was definitely my favorite, I'm always down for some good crudo. All of this was only $80 before tip. Definitely not breakin the bank here. Ended up here randomly, again, the following night. Came for drinks during our hour and a half long wait for a table at Toro down the street. It was about 7 pm on a Wednesday and the bar area was pretty crowded with people who looked as off they had just gotten off work (imagine that). I had the Camparitini off their specialty drinks list. It was tasty and refreshing. Will definitely come back here next time I'm in Boston. Its a great little spot for drinks or late night dining.
(4)
Ryan T.

I came into this bar then walked out. No real reason why. I didn't eat anything. Or interact with the staff. Weird, right?
(3)
Marilyn T.

Stella feels like a place to be seen, and I'd go there for the atmosphere over the food. Everything is white and pristine and feels very metro. Salads are a bit small, but the parmesan arancini are a great way to start your meal. They're very filling and satisfying, and I love the chunky tomato sauce that goes over the crispy balls of gooey rice and cheese. Orecchiette was al dente and had a good sausage and tomato to pasta ratio. The pork milanese was also thin and very flavorful. Food isn't bad, but the place isn't really my style. I prefer more of a focus on food over the scene, but it'd be a great place to come late night, especially since they're open later than most other places.
(3)
Rachael T.

Food is meh. I can make equally good Italian in my own kitchen. Drink list is great. And the bar area is fun and not too crowded. Went here for my birthday last year with about ten people for drinks after having dinner elsewhere and everyone had a really good time. I will keep it on my list of places to cocktail but not till after I've had dinner somewhere else.
(3)
R C.

Good but not great... The service was fantastic! I'll start with that. We were in and out before the rush, so maybe that had something to do with it. Our light meal consisted our a couple of appetizers and a pizza. The saffron mussels were very flavorful, but so much so that you couldn't really taste the mussels in all of it. The arancini was also good- but the tomato sauce was pretty bland and didn't really add pizzazz to the already bland flavor. Finally, we had the mushroom pizza, which was pretty good. The mushrooms were tender and tasty. The ambience of the place was nice - a very good spot for a date. The bar looked busy and lively - something to check out for next time - and their drink list looked like fun.
(3)
Christine W.

Bottom line one of the best restaurants in Boston. Everything on the menu was outstanding. . Service: Impeccable Food: Gnocchi is awesome, can order as a small side if you want to try it. The other items we ordered were specials and they were seasonal, creative and excellent. Drinks: The specialty drinks looked amazing. I started the night off with a bellini and moved on to some wine off of their A plus wine list.
(5)
Kate D.

Stella is the best! It's one of my favorite places in the South End. Every meal I've had there has been amazing and the service is fabulous. Don't miss Stella!
(5)
J'aime A.

Serene, funky atmosphere. This place is always busy and there is a good reason why. The food is amazing!! If I am craving Italian I come here (forget about the North End and just head over to Stella in the South End). Stella DEFINITELY will blow you away with the exquisite food. Some of my favorites dishes are the fried artichokes, beets and goat cheese salad, in the cold winter months osso buco and lastly their homemade gnocchi. I studied in Italy which exposed me to some of the freshest and best pasta dishes there are. The gnocchi at Stella is by far one of the best pasta dishes I have had in the states. If you are craving Italian in Boston venture over to the South End for an unforgettable meal!
(5)
Nancy P.

Stella is worthy of A T-stop Named Delightful. The decor is all-white without creating a cold or austere environment. On the contrary, it pulls off sleek and chic -- with the dim lighting in the evening radiating subtly cozy. The ever-buzzing crowd only adds to the ambiance (although it can get a little loud). I like getting started with the amazing fried goodness that are their arancini balls. The crispy fried artichoke hearts usually make their way onto the table as well. The quattro funghi pizza -- I give it quattro stars. My entrees of choice are often the tagliatelle bolognese or the linguine with asparagus cream. The staff gets top marks all around! Host, server, bartender, manager, exec chef -- received friendly, attentive service from all. Sttteeelllllaaaaaa! Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)
denis s.

Scale 1 = poor, 5 = outstanding CUSTOMER SERVICE: 3. FOOD: 2. We weren't expecting too much and we were still pretty disappointed. I think the food is actually not their main attraction (see below). AMBIANCE: 2. But this is very subjective. We were there on one of the first great days/nights of Spring and sat outside, which is always nice but at their location on Washington Street that basically meant a front row seats for buses at the traffic light and the valet staff shuffling cars. But walk inside this place and you pretty much understand right away that it's sort of cheesy meat market for the cougar crowd. Over-the-top attempts at 'swank', etc. And that puts the food quality right into perspective -- this place exists to serve drinks, not food. VALUE: 3.
(2)
Allison S.

Our party of 4 opted to sit inside, and it's just as nice as sitting outside. The tables have granite tops and most of the chairs are white and they match. It was a great setting for a great meal. I didn't feel really cramped, like I was sitting on top of another table. Stella is actually pretty spacious, for a place in the South End. If I can give you just one piece of advice for this place, it would be to GET THE FIG APPETIZER. I've never had figs before that particular evening, but I could probably have died right on the spot. Trust me. If they have it on the menu (I remember it being a special), order them. The tartar appetizer was also quite tasty, and I'd recommend that one as well. Our waiter seemed really nervous while he was helping us, but there was no need because he did a great job and pretty much ensured that I'd be back....some day.
(4)
R O.

looove this place! brings a NYC feel to Boston! best bolognese!! also love their arancini and bellinis! perfect for a group outing or a delicious date. their brunch is also delicious!
(5)
Barbara S.

We went to celebrate our daughter's 21st birthday. I told them we were celebrating and brought decorations. The restaurant looks like a cafeteria and there were a lot of kids. The service was really slow. It took about 20 minutes to get drinks. The drinks were good. I thought the food was only okay. My fish was drenched in butter and so were the vegetables. They did not make a big deal about her birthday other checking her ID. They did not even give her a complimentary dessert. I would not go again.
(2)
Craig C.

I traveled on a streetcar named desire to reach Stella and although I couldn't stop yelling Stella at the bartender and mostly everyone around me and although I actually arrived in a 1998 Volvo named Betty I believe I was destined to be here at this time 12am on a Thursday night. I had just left Sonsie where I got to watch one of my friends hitting on a girl who ultimately was a lesbian and I got to watch a different friend buying Hollywood shots and screaming "There's a man on the wing of this airplane" over and over so really I was ready to eat. So we ate some sort of sushi thing, a mushroom pizza thing and a pasta w/ meat sauce thing. ALL GREAT. I realized I am totally over sweet Martini girlie drinks(Ginger Pear Martini did not cut it) but it was my like 6th drink and my body was saying, "Hey you're going to forget how to drive man!" So I ate, enjoyed it watched my other friend try to pick up a different gay woman and although I didn't forget how to drive I did forget my white Eddie Bauer jacket which sucked because I looked great in it. The highlight of this night came when I convinced some random person to pull into the parking lot, get me a ticket and back out of the lot leaving me with the ticket and saving me 30 bucks for parking. So Stella was fun. Pretty hopping too for a late night Thurs. I give it four Hollywood Shots. There's a man on the wing of this airplane.
(4)
Me B. M.

Don't believe the hype. Food is straight-forward and just OK. The atmosphere could be the best part if the staff and patrons lived up to the design... Could be a fun watering hole, but prices are not gonna really let that happen.
(2)
Yogagirl B.

first off, I want to say I have been to Stella over about 8-10 times (I live in the South End), and have loved it for brunch, after work cocktails and dinners. I love the food. Naturally, the other night, meandering around the South End with my boyfriend in search of some good cuisine for a belated 25th birthday dinner, Stella was an obvious choice. We arrived at 6:00 pm on a Sunday night, and despite being Mother's day, there were plenty of open tables and we were seated right away next to two open tables and one table for four. And then we sat...and waited...and sat some more...planned our entire meals...including ideas for dessert...and waited some more...and no waitstaff came over ...AT ALL...for a good 15 minutes. Finally the waitress came over and asked what kind of water we wanted, when we said 'tap', she grabbed the bottled water off the table quickly and disappeared as we were verbally trying to order at least a cocktail... So we sat, and waited...and after another 10 minutes (it was now almost 6:45 pm after almost 40 minutes of sitting, and we still had no water), we said screw it and got up, explained the situation to the hostess who simply said "sorry", and walked down the road to Coppa. Where, despite a short wait, we got cocktails immediately. I was a waitress throughout college, so I know this isn't a fact of overreaching expectations. Get it together, Stella...you are turning an avid fan into an avoider. I'm still going to give you a couple stars, because I'm sure the food I WOULD have enjoyed would have been fabulous...
(2)
Raymond W.

This is for the back room bar area only. I came here for a co-worker's going away and liked was pretty impressed with the interior and decor of the place. A lot of the clientele were dressed well and probably ranged from mid 20s to mid 30s. The only gripe I had was the unevenness of the 2 gin and tonics I got. The first was as expected, but the second was probably the strongest cocktail I've ever had. The alcohol content had to be at least double so either the bar tender wasn't paying attention or they were trying to finish off their customers because that one certainly did me in. Some might say I should be giving an extra star for that, but... no.
(4)
Quinn B.

Pricey but worth it. This is where we go when we want to treat ourselves to a spendy, upscale place where everything on the menu is great. Also a good choice to bring guests who are visiting from out-of-town, as the neighborhood is nice and parking's rarely a problem. Try the roasted chicken with the wild mushroom ragout--fabulous
(5)
Olivia F.

I'd heard mostly positive reviews of Stella, and my experience was solid enough to make it positive. Highlights included our waitress, who was absolutely fabulous and attentive and willing to do whatever she could for us (which included asking the chef to make a caprese salad that wasn't on the menu). Other dishes that are a must-try: beef carpaccio (never had it before, but the portion was super generous and the Parmesan cheese grated on top was a perfect touch) and the orecchiette with sausage/garlic/tomato (my brother's entree). I had the linguine with asparagus cream, truffle oil, poached egg and thyme. It was very good but I felt it was a bit lacking in flavor at times and I added a little salt to mine (which I rarely do because it covers up good flavor). Had a glass of the Rioja along with it, which was mild and pretty good but tasted like it was from the tail end of a bottle. Overall, a tasty meal. I would definitely go again and try something new -- I was pretty impressed. The prices are reasonable for the huge portions of pasta, but the other entree prices seemed high to me.
(4)
Risa X.

Took my boyfriend here for his birthday dinner after hearing all my coworkers talk about it all the time. The food is phenomenal. The portions are appropriately sized and the price is really not that bad for the atmosphere and quality of food you're getting! Will be back for our next special occasion :)
(5)
Jackie K.

Waited over two hour for an okay Italian dinner. Head to the North End (for Italian) or Toro (actually worth the wait) down the street. The food is better than average but it's not worth the wait or a trip to the South End.
(2)
Liana K.

I love the minimalistic look of the place! Perfect for a relaxing Sunday brunch! The duck/goat cheese omelet was amazing and left me quite satisfied from noon til 7pm even with a full day of museum walking! What can I say? I was having a classy day of sorts. One of my friends had the french toast which looked soo good that if i could have somehow fit two dishes into my tummy, I would have!
(5)
Allison R.

I have a mental list of a few places I've held off reviewing, classified on a list of "Been there with the ex." And only with the ex. Fun was had, food was eaten, memories were made...but, I held off hoping I'd have experiences there with others to give me some material for a review. Alas, I only went to Stella once. It was on a self-declared "pub crawl" Thirsty Thursday that began at Cambridge Common and ended with some classy drinks and an appetizer pizza at Stella. We were there with a couple of gays, and really had a gay old time boozing, chatting, and enjoying the sleek white decor that is Stella. Everything was swanky in a summer-at -the Hamptons kinda way, and the service was on point. The other apps looked tasty. One of my gays was planning on throwing a private event at Stella-- I didn't end up attending, but from what I overheard during the planning process, they were very accommodating and reasonable-- and we were shown the room that evening. Very nice, indeed.
(4)
Lindsay H.

BRUNCH REVIEW: The food was fantastic - the service was awful. Made a reservation, still had to wait 10 minutes for a table. Once seated, another 10 minutes until anyone came over to us. I ordered a coffee, was asked "milk or cream"? Another 5-10 minutes to get the milk for the coffee. Food was dropped off, not once did anyone check to see how the meal was. Just a busser to come pick up our plates when we finished. The check was the quickest thing to come to us, probably because they wanted to turn tables as quickly as possible. I'd return on a quiet evening when I would hope the service would be more attentive. The brunch is very busy, and generally the servers seem unconcerned with how the guests are doing. Food: Eggs benedict and French Toast. Was pleased that the French toast came with ample fruit on top (adding some healthiness to a dessert for breakfast). Benedict was also scrumptious - one complaint was the english muffin was too thick. Hollandaise was perfect amount of spiciness and the proscuitto instead of regular ham was a great italian touch.
(3)
Chris F.

Stella does not disappoint. The food is excellent, especially considering the price compared to other South End eateries. The vibe is okay, not great but not bad. The drinks are delicious, the staff is solid and they run a good restaurant. I like brunch here the best - the duck omelet is awesome and the french toast is great as well. Good spot to start the Saturday morning off right.
(4)
Jeremy D.

I liked Stella. Nice atmosphere. Trendy yet comfortable. The place was packed on a Saturday night and there were two very large groups in the back room with us making talking slightly difficult. My date and I each had the Gnocchi. It was very good. We also had the Crudo Misto and the Parmesan Arancini. I thought the Arancini was fantastic and I highly recommend it. Overall, it was a fun place and I'd go back again, though I might try a weeknight when it is a bit less crowded.
(4)
Jan R.

Ahhh Stella! It was a delight! the service was wonderfull and the food was so tasty. I enjoyed the atmosphere. My husband enjoyed this little restaurant as well and said he would love to go back soon.
(4)
Michael D.

Underwhelming. If the price point was 25% cheaper I'd give it three stars. Oh by the way, if you're over 30, be prepared to be ushered into the kind of dullish back dining room and back bar with the other oldsters.
(2)
Zakir B.

He and I standing there, dressed well. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. It is 4:45 p.m., admittedly early. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Maitre d'hotel: How many? Two, we say. Maitre d'hotel bustles back to his post. Finally, with a bustle, the maitre d'hotel bustles back over and faux-breathily begins, "Our dining room isn't open for fifteen minutes . . . " and I try to interrupt, to say, "Well, we'll leave, then . . ." but the maitre d'hotel raises his voice to speak OVER me, "SO IF YOU WANT TO SIT AT THE BAR--" I look at him, who was standing there with me. Since my speech didn't serve me with the maitre d'hotel, I try silence. We leave, and go up the street to Union Bar. Which is I think owned by the same people anyway.
(1)
Kelly P.

Don't forget to try their carpaccio. Really good!
(5)
Karen C.

Great first dining experience at Stella's. Used OpenTable to make the reservations, put in the Note Section that it was our 30th anniversary. At the end of the meal we were presented with two glasses of champagne; very nice touch. I got the scallop dish. Hubby got swordfish. With tip and vallet spent a little over $130. Our anniversary gift to each other. Would do again.
(4)
Carolyn B.

Bravissimo! Stella is my new favorite for Sunday brunch! It doesn't get any better than this, prompt seating, attentive service, delicious food, casual, relaxed atmosphere, a view of the park and a coffee cup that is never empty. I highly recommend the Brioche French Toast topped with fruit. It doesn't even need syrup. The only minus is the music, a very strange mix of not so good 90's.
(5)
Cora J.

I loved this place! Had been once before, and was far less impressed with the menu than I was the second time around. I highly recommend. Fun, boisterous, yummy and filling.
(5)
Kathleen H.

Big place with big portions - redeemed by the fact that the space is separated into smaller rooms and the food is excellent. Tagliatelle was the best option, while salmon was also well done and a more reasonable portion. Share the starters for sure. Finding a cab at the end of the meal wasn't easy. Bar looked fun for a drink or two!
(3)
Jeni N.

i love stella. maybe partially because we just moved in a block away, but mostly because i can't stop thinking about their luscious, perfectly cooked pasta. yes it can be loud, and has a very club-y vibe during the evenings, and the service could definitely be better... but i like to judge places on their food and drinks. and the food and drinks here are worth writing home about. i prefer to come when it's a bit warmer out (their outdoor seating with heat lamps on a cool spring or fall evening is really quite charming (and they provide blankets as well). the parmesan arancini (i'm a sucker for dumplings, and arancini are basically italian dumplings...) are slightly crispy on the outside and oozing cheesy goodness when you break them open with your fork (or fingers.. definitely fingers for me). i really enjoyed the dipping sauce that accompanied them as well. the tagliatelle with bolognese is heavenly... and HUGE. doused with a generous portion of freshly grated parmesan, i could bathe in a vat of this delicious, fresh, perfectly cooked pasta. great to bring home for leftovers! my go-to meal when coming here is definitely the short ribs with pappardelle. the short ribs are tender and luscious.. melt in your mouth delicious. and i really am a sucker for perfectly cooked pasta. this would be good to bring home if there ever was any left! broccoli rabe was still a little undercooked for me, and quite bitter... much more so than when i cook it at home, but i'd just go for the asparagus or cauliflower next time. drinks are pretty, well mixed, and generous. the servers and bartenders are a bit sullen.. but hey, i'm not coming here to make friends. i just want a belly full of carbs! all in all, i'd say definitely come to stella. whether it be for post-work drinks or an intimate meal, it's definitely a charming little spot.
(4)
Jennifer S.

It was a beautiful day in South End so my husband and I wanted to dine outside. We made a reservation through opentable, however when calling to check to see if our dog could join us outside I was rudely hung up on. None the less, we still went to brunch. Had the smoked salmon and bagel and my husband had the duck confit hash. I'm usually not a fan of lox since it sometimes has a very strong smokey flavor, but this was absolutely delicious. It was a subtle smoked flavor, accompaniments were perfect and the bagel was enormous!. Dining outside was wonderful, they have it separated from the sidewalk so you don't feel on top of the people walking by. Even though the hostess was not very hospitable and we weren't able to bring fido along we will definitely return! Four stars for the food Two stars for service
(3)
Elle C.

Great spot, especially for a group. We had a great round table and all the food was fantastic. Really reasonably priced for a night out. All the food was really great, we didnt have a bad entree in the group. Everyone had a great time and we stayed all night having drinks at the front bar. Good place to meet up, there are other reviews that reference its not a good pick up spot. I'd tend to agree it seems most people go there to see people they knew were there, not to meet new friends.
(4)
Alexis K.

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Boston! The pasta choices are superb. It's our "first" option for a pre-marathon meal. The atmosphere is pristine and the service was exceptional. It was also just a number of blocks away from Encore Bed and Breakfast where we stayed due to getting to wasted the night before.
(4)
Jen F.

Stella is phenomenal, both in terms of food and service. Starting with the apps: Crudo misto--fresh, impeccable quality, delicious. Mussels--served without a shell, in a really great saffron sauce. Awesome! Entrees are the size that entrees are meant to be. In other words, you're not thinking about that left over pizza you're having as soon as you get home. I had the orecchiette, which was fantastic and one of the better italian dishes I've had. The menu has a good variety for everyone, especially if you don't want pasta or pizza. The grass fed steak is really good (and so are the fries:) Also, the Stella Cafe during the day is awesome as well. Best staff ever (!), not to mention you can create your own salad and sandwiches. One of the better restaurants in Boston, never mind the South End. Highly recommend!
(5)
Jon S.

Brunch review: The first time I dined here was after a brisk morning walk with my now fiancÃ©. We were both hungry and wanted to try the place. She thought we were underdressed (we were in our gym clothes). I didn't care. Overall, we found the staff to be very friendly and devoid of pretention. Since then, I've returned here for brunch a few times and often recommend this place to others. The inside is contemporary and airy with a reasonable amount of space between tables. The French toast is one thick slice (like a piece of cake) and is quite good. On the lighter side is the smoked salmon/bagel which I've enjoyed as well. When I dined here with a friend, he tried the omelet with duck and goat cheese and said it had the perfect flavor profile that he wanted. All in all, a go to brunch spot for me in the South End.
(4)
Craig S.

Stumbled in on a Saturday night because the wait at Toro down the street was an hour and a half. Got a table with no wait even though the bar was packed. Decor was modern chique (sheik cheke SHeeke ...you know what I mean I cant spell) Nice, simple, clean and refined. The entire staff was attentive friendly and helpful, almost to a fault. It was very obvious from the start that this place was VERY South end.. which is probably why I got so much more help and attention then the GF. I think we were one of two straight couples in the place..it was like we had infiltrated a secret gay mecca of deliciousness. The first thing recommended was the special app of the day lightly fried Skate (that's right a Sting Ray was on the menu). I was in an adventitious mood so I tried and was rewarded with one of the most interesting and delectable starters I've ever had. Plus I can check Sting Ray of my list of eaten exotic animals. My drinks were also excellent - The Ginger Pear martini was a perfect blend of flavors that masked the harshness of the vodka. For the main dish I had the Ocelieete (again w/the spelling) with spicy Italian sausage in a oven activated tomato, olive oil, and parm cheese il conomento. It was lightly dressed with the sauce so i just clung to each sliver of perfect pasta. It was surprisingly light for such heavy ingredients but because it was applied just right it stayed light. So good I tried to recreate it at home and even my recreation was one of the best things I have ever made. Desert - on par with Grotto's chocolate cake - amazing Overall highly recommend this spot
(5)
Jay N.

While I love the bacon-wrapped sea scallops at Stella, my praise for the neighborhood eatery must end there; and I've been a customer several times over. High on pretentiousness, the staff seem to suit the all white decor with a splash of yellow, giving the average diner not the feel of a chic eatery which is obviously the hope of the owners, but of an outdated bistro frequented by aged local stage actors. Stella is also a proud practitioner of the "The Smaller the Dining Party, The Less Important You Are" club. I say this because as a neighbor, I would often pop-in either alone or with another friend for dinner, ALWAYS to be pushed into one of the tiny, TINY two-seater tables; the type of wobbly table you have no room to rest your arms on when there is a mere glass present. At one point, I asked for a regular table; *GASP* went the waitress!! Those are ONLY for four people or more!! Nevermind there this was a slow evening. Boston is full of these little joints, trying so very hard to compete with their image of a trendy New York or L.A. bistro but failing to realize it doesn't work the way they hope. Unless you're a poser looking for an outdated haunt with mediocre fare, try one of the other FANTASTIC restaurants in the neighborhood and let Stella stay in the past.
(2)
Amanda G.

What I like most about Stella is, you can't go wrong. The atmosphere, the food, the varieties of food, the drinks and the service, everything is spot-ON. Highlights: -Trendy, all white, modern restaurant that serves food late and is popular with industry folks (and local celebs)... more like NYC than Boston at times - Moderate prices - not nearly as insane as some of the other restaurants in the South End - Consistently great, yummy food, from the appetizers (parmesan arancini, fried artichokes, beet salad) to the entrees, which include amazing pasta dishes (love the gnocchi and seafood risotto) to your traditional slew of grilled fishes and meat. - It's called Stella. Hot. I've been here for special occasions, and it's a great place to take a group for a fun, relaxed, tummy good time. I've never sat at the bar, but they have cheap eats from 4-6 during the week, and it's always got a good crowd hanging around it. Lastly, outdoor seating is que romantico if you're on a date.
(5)
Michelle N.

We had a disappointing brunch experience at Stella. The food was quite good, but our server was very slow and went MIA for at least 15 minutes when we were done with our meal and looking for a check. Also, the wait staff put food down in front of us, that was not ours! When the staff realized their mistake they simply removed it from our table and then put it down on the correct table which was next to us. Is that a health hazard? Won't be in a hurry to return here.
(2)
Catie C.

The service was impeccable - attentive and friendly. This goes well with the dim ambiance and white decor. Stellar indeed! My hot date and I didn't realize that Stella was involved with RW. They have quite an impressive/extensive RW menu that you can just order individually if you don't have the 1st, 2nd or 3rd course. Thumbs up for that concept! Everything I had was delish and hit the spot! Beef Carpacio was tasty with the dijon vinaigrette. I tried to eat this VERY slowly so I can savor every bite. As for the salmon, I asked for medium rare so it was perfect to indulge. To top off the night, 2 scoops of vanilla gelato! What a perfect ending. It's not often that I get to choose my favorite dessert in RW menu. We did talk to the manager briefly to send our compliments. A warm and friendly guy!
(5)
Cindy O.

We got there around 6:00 on a Thursday and seated right away. Within 30 minutes it was packed. Very noisy and cramped seating but the food was exceptional. I was with a friend who lives in Boston or else I would have not found this place. Parking is not fun but it's Boston! If you do not want to hurry do not order right away. Our food was at the table in 5 minutes. Not enough time to enjoy a glass of wine or my friends company. It felt like the server wanted us to move along so her table could be turned over. I had the short ribs and requested the mushroom risotto which came with the lamb shank. The short ribs were on the menu to be served with with pappardelle. I wasn't in the mood for pasta so I ordered it with the risotto. Sooooo melt in your mouth tender and amazing flavor. Almost as good as mine (ha-ha) The risotto was cooked perfect and also had a great flavor. My friend just had a salad and said it was good. She had a late lunch but did have the cannoli for dessert and was not a fan. I had the Pecan pie but it was a very small, thin tart with vanilla ice cream. I am from the south so it missed the mark for me, yet, not to be wishy-washy, it was enough after eating the main course. So the reason for 3 stars? Noisy, cramped seating, rushed server and the dessert was just fair. I would try again but I will not be rushed!!
(3)
Tom K.

Brunch Review! I'm going to keep this review nice and simple, kinda like Stella... First off, this place is great. Its not outstanding, but its solid all around. The food isn't overly inventive or unique, but they get it all right. Everyone seemed to enjoy their dishes and left happy. The breakfast pizza we split for the table might have been the highlight. Service was perfect- they promptly refilled dwindling water glasses and coffee mugs without getting in the way. Sometimes I didn't even notice when it happened. Past that, our waiter seemed always available without hovering... doesn't get much better than that! The decor is cool and clean. Might come off as cold to some, but its just sleek without much getting in the way of the meal. They're located a bit off the beaten South End path on Washington street- a bit tough to via public transportation unless you're taking a bus (like the silver line) but the few times I've gone out in this part of town, I haven't had a problem finding street parking. This past brunch was no exception. All in all, I wouldn't mind recommending this place to friends or coming back here for another go myself.
(4)
Sidney Z.

A hot caesar salad (I mean 80 degrees and sent back twice)? Cold, overcooked meatballs? Sandy gritty unwashed scallops (that hurt my teeth)? A noise level so high my wife and I ate this mess of a dinner in silence? Our one night in Boston was shot! We should have gone to Burger King and that would have been an improvement!
(1)
Samantha G.

I just went here for the first time recently and it was delicious. Everything my friend and I got was awesome and interesting. Particularly the crispy duck leg appetizer. I liked the ambiance and the staff was friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend it for a nice night out.
(4)
Joshua D.

Stella is a true hot spot [and staple] of the South End. The South End sees high turnover in restaurants, so for Stella to hold their footing in such a volatile atmosphere, speaks true to their quality. The atmosphere fits the neighborhood as it is trendy, progressive and lively. The view overlooks Washington St or a large park depending on where you are seated. The service is hospitable and the servers were knowledgeable as well as friendly. Food here was excellent. I had the Angus Sirloin and my girlfriend had the Salmon, both of which were cooked to our liking. Stella has bar specials for the after work crowd, so do check those out if you don't want a full dinner. They are also open late at night so they do have a late night menu as well. Stella and their popularity can make it difficult when it comes to booking reservations [depending on your flexibility], so do plan accordingly. They do have valet parking if you drive in but unsure on the price. Definitely a great dining experience and strongly recommended.
(4)
Aubrey T.

I probably would have given 4 stars after my first visit on a rainy night. The food and service were superb though, so I wanted to revisit for my last dinner in Boston. Our party of three sat out on the patio on a summer Thursday. Wow, this place really sparkles on a beautiful sunny evening! I We snuck in just in time for half priced apps. This is from 4-6pm on the patio or in the bar, but there isn't much room in the bar area. This is an AMAZING deal, so go while the weather is nice enough to take advantage of it on the patio. The apps are the same ones that are on the regular dinner menu. All are sizable and delicious. I had a second app for my entree, but my mom and boyfriend ordered regular entrees. Everything was delicious. Drinks Sangria - my mom really liked this refreshing sangria (I thought it was pretty good but much preferred the blueberry cocktail) Apps Sausage with broccoli rabe - hearty and delicious Beet salad - large portion of red and golden beets with goat cheese was very tasty and the toasts were a nice tough. Almost too many beets unless you share this Beef carpaccio - I think this is amazing, and can't believe they ever sell it for $5. It is a large potion of carpaccio with a lovely hazelnut topping and pesto sauce. Perfect on the toasts they serve with it Spicy mussels - these were delicious, not very spicy Entrees Seafood risotto - my mom said she expected bigger chunks of fish, but thought it was "4 out of 5 stars" Scallops with risotto
(5)
Boris M.

Stella is another favorite of mine. Loooove this place. The food is just amazing. Never had anything I did not like here. They have two bar areas, one in the front and one in the back. I prefer the front and one of my favorit bartenders is there, April. She is not only very nice, but knows what she is doing. Great cocktails. The pizzas are to die for. Sooooooo good. I love the service, the people and the ambiance of the whole place.
(4)
Jamie F.

My friends took me to Stella for my 21st birthday last year. They thought pasta would be a good filler to soak up all the alcohol that would be the death of me that night. Everything was going swell; drinks, apps, entrÃ©es were all good. The tagliatelle bolognese was too cheesy for me though. And then, the grand finale of the evening ... *drum rolls* The waiters brought out the surprise ice cream cake that my roommate had so thoughtfully bought for me. Big problem: they had the nerve to bring out a completely MELTED and very sad-looking cake because they forgot to put it in the freezer (nope, not even the refrigerator)! The hostess did not follow my roommate's instructions and ignored the fact that it was an ICE CREAM cake. Good job, girl with no common sense. The manager came by to apologize and the next thing I saw, 12 complimentary assorted desserts for our party of 12. They were sooo pretty that I didn't want to eat them! Honestly, they probably cost more than the cake itself (sorry, roomie). It was a sweet ending, and I was pleased that Stella came through in the end. Although I haven't returned since, I will soon and update. I always see so many people eating out on the patio!
(3)
Kathleen F.

So I can see how Stella could annoy some people, but I think you have to go in thinking you are going to have a nice leisurely dinner and are there to enjoy good food and drink with good friends, don't go there in a rush. We had reservations but waited a bit to be seated since I don't think the tables were turning over and quickly as they thought they would. Once seated we proceeded to order in courses which made for a very nice and drawn out dinner experience. Our waiter was slow to come to the table at first, but then was very attentive for the rest of the meal. First we ordered drinks, two favorites from that were the chilled pineapple infused vodka they had and the candy apple. Next, on to appetizers, I thought the arrancini were comparable to what i've had at other places, but the fried artichokes were incredible, I HIGHLY recommend them! For dinner we tried 3 dishes, the steak, the swordfish, and the lamb. I did not try the swordfish but heard it was very good. Lamb was cooked to perfection and the risotto that accompanied it was heaven! Steak was also cooked perfectly and had amazing flavor. Seems like you cannot go wrong ordering meat here. We were too stuffed for dessert, but it was a great experience. Can't wait to come back and try more!
(4)
Lulu C.

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Cocktails at the bar, dinner with a date or friends, Stella has it all. I've been here multiple times and have never had a bad meal. My boyfriend enjoyed the tuna appetizer so much that he ordered it again for dessert. One of the best restaurants in Boston.
(4)
Paul S.

I have noticed a very disturbing trend at Stella, which I used to frequent when it first opened. The bar now attracts a very rowdy, drunken crowd of single men, especially on Sunday afternoons. Management (and bartenders) does not seem to care the extent to which the men become obnoxiously drunk and offensive (and aggressively flirtatious). Most bars would cut off their patrons who were so visibly drunk; not Stella. It's a shame but the place basically has been taken over by rude, self-entitled, self-absorbed men, fueled by alcohol service that has no limits.
(2)
Frank W.

I decided to give Stella another try because I was feeling A) loose in the wallet and B) hungry for some chic food. So I went back with my brother, who is from out of town (and I feel like I should take him to nice places every once in a while). Went for Brunch. Again. I guess it's my thing. Last time I had a horrible waiter, but the food was great. This time I had a better waiter, but the food was just good. The rating remains the same. We walked in around 12:30p (30 mins before my reservation) and were seated promptly by a very nice hostess. Water was filled and we were greeted just as promptly. These are improvements from my last experience. After mulling over the menu (and having some morning cocktails because hell yea we're going to drink) we both got duck breakfast items. We chatted for a while, and our food came. It was hot, and very obviously fresh, but some flavors were definitely overwhelming others in my duck omelette. So much to the point that I had to remove some of the goat cheese and put it to the side. Sort of disappointing. My brother liked, but didn't love his duck hash. It left something to be desired. I've sworn off of Stellas for brunch now, I have too many other places that I know are as good or better, for cheaper. But I will try to come back here for dinner. It has a nice atmosphere (though super loud.. even at brunch I had to yell at my waiter my order (and he thought I was angry at him.. yikes)), packed with some great people, and i've heard good things. Stella, maybe we'll have better luck next time.
(3)
J H.

Solid. Interesting pasta sauces and combinations. Had the bolognese which has a touch of cream in it to give it a very unique (and good) spin on your standard bolognese. Also, had the gnocci which were truly homemade- mishapen and all. The portion sizes are quite large and make great leftovers the next day. The wine list is excellent and reasonably priced. Interior is a bit Philippe Stark with white tables and walls. Overall, a really good experience and unique spin on classic Italian dishes.
(4)
Jennifer W.

Just went for Sunday brunch with a few girlfriends. The brunch food there is AMAZING, and really great value I think. The menu has a very diverse range of choices, so if you're craving sweet, eggs, lunch food, whatever, you'll find something you like! The reason why I'm giving 4 and not 5 stars is that we sat outside and the service was pretty slow. My friend ordered a cappuccino which took probably 10-15 minutes and our waiter forgot sugar, which took another 5 minutes.
(4)
Laura B.

Let me just start by saying that I am not usually a fan of Italian food for going out. However, a recent craving led my boyfriend to choose Stella for my birthday dinner. My first impression was, wow, crowded and loud! But then as soon as the hostess led me to my table, I realized the restaurant is much bigger than I thought. There are 3 rooms, that I saw. The room we were sat in was a lot quieter than the original with the bar. The bread they started us with, delicious! So fluffy and the dipping hummus? was also yummy. I had a good glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and my boyfriend ordered cocktails, the Rosemary Blossom and the Blood Orange Negroni. He said of the latter, "I have had better Negronis". I thought the Rosemary Blossom tasted like bath soap but he found it to be very tasty. We split the arugula salad and in providing good service, the kitchen at Stella actually split it for us (I have noticed that restaurants don't do this a lot lately). It was very tasty though my boyfriend said he would have preferred more endive (picky, picky!). He had the lamb shank with mushroom risotto. The "truffle aroma" was delicious, according to him. "The whole thing was delicious." I felt the same way about my seafood risotto. The calamari and swordfish were perfectly cooked. We cannot speak to dessert but were very happy with our meal overall.
(4)
KL M.

I thought the place was great and the food was pretty good, although I think I had higher expections as a foodie. The beet salad was just pickled beets, the pasta bolognese had way too much meat it was like meat with a few noodles and the pizza was pretty good. Next time I think I'll order more of a staple meal than a carb meal. Again it was pretty good, very generous portions and great service, just didn't totally love the food but it could just be a personal taste thing. The atmosphere was great though except for the lady next to us eavesdropping on our conversation that talking about it with her husband. Some people need a life.
(3)
Alyssa K.

My local friend made a few dinner recommendations for my weekend in Boston and after checking out the menus (and spotting the homemade gnocchi), we chose Stella. Atmosphere was really cute. Wish it had been a warmer night so we could have enjoyed the patio. The food was really good, although seemed pretty overpriced for the portions/the fact that pasta costs nothing. Unfortunately the service lost them a star. Could honestly not tell if it was one of those places that gives you a different waiter for each course or if everyone simply kept forgetting the two girls they had tucked away in the corner.
(3)
aland f.

I ate here as part of a large engagement party and found the service staff to be what made this place a cut above the rest. Everyone was ridiculously nice and patient with us (even as we proceeded to become louder and more intoxicated as the night went on).. Kudos to the staff! This place is your standard italian restaurant... I ordered the honey glazed salmon (which was tasty, but nothing terribly exciting) and the arancini balls (which I totally recommend). I highly recommend this place for large groups (they're ridiculously accomodating!) and for first/second dates (because it's quiet enough to hear your date).
(3)
Liz K.

Stella was recommended by a friend awhile ago and I finally tried it out. I was definitely not let down. I went on a Saturday night with a group of friends. We made a reservation and were seated right away when we arrived. Stella is a classy and trendy spot. I like the bar when you first walk in a lot and the white decor all over. We started with the crispy fried artichoke hearts which were excellent. Then I ordered the linguine with asparagus cream and poached egg. I wasn't sure about the egg when I ordered it since I have never had egg in my pasta before, but I LOVED it. The pasta dish was delicious and I had plenty leftover to take home. Great service, great food, great spot. Will definitely be back and recommend to others.
(5)
C R.

Unlike some of the other trendy places that have popped up in the gayborhood, Stella offers a tastesfully trendy atmosphere with excellent food quality to match. Devoid of the attitude that most of these places possess, we were made to feel welcome the moment we arrived - as a passing waiter gracious got the door, gestured with his hand and offered us both a smile and a "welcome." The place was packed at 7pm and despite the throngs of people we were immediately greeted - and although were were a little early - we were offered a chance to sit at the bar - or go right to our table. (We chose the table). The place iteself is simple and stylish - all white with some nice marble top tables. It seemed very loud - but it's safe to say that everone was enjoying themselves. I had the Halibut - and it was absolutely perfect. My guests had the fig appetizer, the pasta bolognese, the honey glazed salmon and the eggplant. Each dish was HOT, beautiful and delicious. Entrees were on the higher end of the price scale - 20-26.00 The waitress was very attentive and pleasant. The other patrons were nicely dressed - kind of nice when you're spending all that money. I'd definitely go back.
(3)
Val N.

First off, the decor is beautiful. I love the clean, minimalistic look. The food was absolutely fantastic. I went with my family and everyone was blown away. I had the Bistecca Tartare for my first course and a lot of us at the table (which included two restaurant chefs) agreed that it was the best tartare we've had in Boston. My boyfriend had the Crudo Misto and it was equally impressive, I plan on getting it the next time we go because he loved it so much he didn't share very much with anyone else :) For my second course I had the Gnocchi. They were giant pillows of deliciousness. My sister had the swordfish and was disappointed with it (under-seasoned), so she gladly helped me clean my plate. There was so much good food at the table that no one really cared about the misstep with the swordfish. My boyfriend had the linguine and had to fight my sister to get his plate back after he offered her a taste. Everyone at the table loved his pasta, it was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. My mom had the Seafood Risotto, it must have been good because she was the first to clean her plate. All in all, a fantastic experience. I can't wait to go back.
(5)
Melissa B.

If you are in Boston, do not miss Stella! The staff is attentive and helpful. The food is fresh, wonderfully seasoned and beautifully plated. Be sure to try the mussels steamed in white wine, San Marzano tomatoes and saffron. Ask for extra bread to soak up the intoxicating broth. Stella's Ginger Bartlett is one of the best cockatils I've ever tasted. Have one! Hell, have two!
(5)
Melissa P.

Stella is one of my favorite restaurants in the South End. I honestly can't think of any time I've been here and haven't loved every minute of my dining experience. I take friends here when they're visiting from out of town and they specifically ask to come back the next time they're in Boston. Whether you're seated at the outdoor patio (with heated lamps--serious bonus in late summer) or inside with the all white, South Beach-esque decor, you'll get impeccable service and delicious food. I've been here for dinner a bunch of times, once for brunch, and once to just sit at the bar. I had a very picky (almost embarrassingly so) friend with me for dinner once and the server was so patient and sweet about answering all of my friend's questions. I think she wanted one of the pizzas without the cheese and without any oil, with the sauce on the side, or something ridiculous like that. Having dined with this friend for years, I know that it's tough to find someone who's willing to put up with all her questions and wishy-washiness. The servers at Stella took it all in stride. Anyway, my favorite items on the dinner menu are: crispy fried artichokes and the braised beef short rib. The dish that originally got me hooked is, very sadly, not on the menu anymore. But even without the halibut, there's always something on the menu that I want to eat, even something as simple as the spaghetti and meatballs. I'm hoping the menu is seasonal and the halibut will return, but without a doubt, just being at Stella makes it feel like a special meal.
(5)
Talisha M.

Midnight snack w/some Bolognese... SCORE! Who knew you get late night food & it be soo incredible...far from the greasy midnight diners. Elegant place w/a cute alternative lifestyle crowd...love it love it love it! It was busy for drinks and just a few tables eating at hour so I didn't feel like complete pig. I also had them throw in a meatball, which was good...but not to die for unlike the Bolognese. You can't have it all, but you can have pretty people & pretty damn good bolognese pretty freakin late!
(4)
T. B.

High on show and low on substance. Gnocchi was enjoyable but nothing special, spaghetti was surprisingly bland, the crispy artichoke appetizer was tasty only because it was fried but was clearly made with canned artichoke hearts, poached egg on pasta dish was over-poached. Would have rated it 2 stars at any price point, but was definitely way overpriced. Not recommended for foodies.
(2)
Mike G.

every time i'm here, chef deluty is out on the floor glad-handing. he should be in the kitchen cooking my supper cuz food just ain't as tasty as it used to be. minus one star.
(3)
Rob Y.

Visiting Boston for work and had a friend recommend the restaurant. Fantastic food and service. The tiramisu was outstanding.
(5)
Jayme F.

I dine at Stella frequently. They have a fantastic brunch and an equally delicious dinner menu. I always make reservations because Stella is always packed. The waitstaff and management are always friendly and attentive to our wants and needs. Last night was a different situation. My friend and I were catching up over dinner, sitting about 3 feet away from each other. I could not hear him speak due to the incredibly loud, and drunk party of 8 seated next to us. They were making the entire dining room uncomfortable with their volume and obnoxious getsures. Many diners were making comments and obvious glares at their table hoping they'd get the hint. We kindly asked our waiter to do something about this. He consulted the manager who then came over to our table to have a conversation with us. In a condescending tone, she offered to move us to the other dining room but said "It's going to be loud in there also, it's a loud resturant." Yes, ma'am. We get it. Stella is always on the louder side as it's frequently full of people. However, when the entire dining room is uncomfortable because of the inappropriate behavior of another table, you need to do something about it, and because you made us feel like we were in the wrong, we won't be dining at your establishment until you figure out how to make all of your customers happy.
(3)
David B.

Excellent place. Pricey...but you get what you pay for and Boston is not a cheap city. I've had several plates here and been here several times. Had many drinks from here which were almost always excellent. First of all I can say that the neighborhood isn't my favorite and not easily walkable from subway stations but the place is so good that it's worth the trek. The interior is fairly modern and bright. Lit up nice when it's dark. Definitely looks like an expensive place. The food is....really really good. My favorite so far is between their Salmon and the Bolognese. The Salmon is cooked nice and rare with the outside being this perfect crispy texture. Very tasty and they never screw this dish up as many times as I've had it. The Bolognese is sure to fill you up as they give you plenty of pasta to go with it. Delicious and very flavorful. Their brunch dishes are also excellent. The only downside to the two dinner plates I mentioned is that personally for me, they don't keep well when you save them for later. Something happens to them when you try to reheat them. Still very good though. The drinks........oh the drinks. So good. Always strong yet quality liquors. The thing that impressed me the most though was that a bartender custom made a martini for me and she created this interesting cucumber martini and actually tasted it before allowing me to have it (sanitary way of tasting it of course). Really impressed me that she would only consider giving me a drink she'd drink herself. Huge points for that. The drink turned out to be really amazing. My other favorite drink here is their Stella 75. Made me love St. Germain. Only downside to this is the price. They're not cheap but not out of reach either. I'm certainly not rich and still consider splurging here when I come to Boston. Highly recommended.
(5)
Robbie M.

My favorite restaurant in the city, its my go to spot when my friends come to town, whether its just for drinks or dessert or a full meal! Some of the best tiramisu ive had outside of the North End.
(5)
Arnold C.

Decent dinner. The service was attentive. Ambiance was romantic. Amy Winehouse's music was on and the noise level was good for conversation. Bread was good, the spread was especially delicious. My girlfriend had the seared scallops, which was made tender and delicious. The mushroom compote was also tasty. I had the seafood risotto. The presentation was appealing and the seafood was fresh, but the flavor and taste were bland and a little sour (too vinegary, perhaps). Overall, I am impressed and look forward to trying the restaurant again. SIDENOTE: Valet parking is about $16, but there are few street parking spots if you are there early. Also, the bakery shop Flour is a block from there and you might want to check out their yummy bakery too.
(4)
Jessica D.

Delicious restaurants - beats North End. Love sitting at bar and having Short Rib Papperdelle. Dining area is a bit awkward (tables ontop of eachother), but always bustling. LOVE this restaurant.
(4)
Valerie L.

My husband and I came here twice on a Boston trip. Our first trip was for drinks and dessert and the second time was for our anniversary dinner. It is on the corner, with two walls of clear glass to see the park across the street. We were thrown off where the door was, but figured it out (LA doesn't have two sets of doors in the same entryway :D ) It is really nice inside, with exposed ceiling, brick wall, and upscale feel. As a result, for as much as it said "casual" I totally felt underdressed in jeans and tennis shoes. It definitely had a great ambiance and there were no kids! I made life easy on myself by making reservations on Open Table. In any case, great cocktails, with higher end brands- they actually have St Germain! For dessert, we tried the apple crostada (their spelling) and the tiramisu. Excellent dessert, good portion size, and we agreed to eat half and swap plates. I was totally happy with the apple dessert, but the tiramisu was smooth, creamy, and almost as good as my mom's. For our dinner a few nights later, we totally got the same cocktails and desserts, because they were just that good. For our entrees, we ordered the orecchiette and the braised short ribs. The portion sizes were ridiculously large; I would have preferred half the portion (and a lower price). The food, however, was excellent. My short ribs were great on their own, but with the other elements on the plate, it made for an excellent composed bite. Husband tried some, and I think he understands why I love short ribs and order them at every opportunity. I tried some of husband's pasta, which was equally as tasty, and the sausage was not a super spicy variety I usually find in pasta dishes. They also serve a square of bread and some sort of hummus like paste, which was a nice nibble while waiting for food. Excellent service both visits. I would love to come back if I ever make it back to Boston.
(4)
Prarthana N.

One word: duck omelet. OK fine, that was two. But seriously, it is fantastic. Pair it with a Bellini or a Mimosa and you are setting yourself up for a delicious afternoon. Stella's location works towards its favor immensely. The South End is eclectic - filled with artists, architects, men wearing cute purple shorts...The list goes on. It is probably a smaller version of San Francisco. Therefore, Stella almost always has an upbeat, friendly, and trendy vibe whether you frequent it for brunch, drinks, or dinner. i usually go for the salmon (divine!), but I decided to be adventurous one evening and opted for the swordfish which was pretty good. Scallops are fantastic, and did I mention the Duck Omelet for brunch?
(5)
christine c.

I can only speak of the good (and strong) drinks and the bar scene at Stella, because I've never had a taste of their food, but everything looks fantastic. Yes, this place is across from the projects, but that doesn't stop crowds of people (mostly industry people) from filling it up late night, even on a Monday. The bartenders were friendly and the drinks were relatively cheap for a trendy little Italian eatery. My "Al Fresco" was only $9, my friends "Stella 75" (all booze) was $12. I saw some of the dishes come out (including the Spaghetti and Meatballs and a Ceasar salad) and let me tell you, I wanted them all. I'll be back from late night or dinner soon, I'm sure. A cute little space with lots of windows, and a patio perfect for summer nights makes this place a neighborhood gem. The late night makes it a neighborhood staple.
(4)
Meghan M.

I love Stella. It is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in South End. I think the food is phenominal (especially the mussels and the linguini with asparagus cream sauce...I can't get either out of my head!). They have a decent wine list and the drinks are good. The ambiance is simple almost SoBe-art-deco-style (not quite as cozy as a lot of South End places...definitely more of a metro feel) and the service is good. It is hard to get a reservation and I would venture in there without one. The bar is always crowded and lively but a bit hard to access when the place is packed. Brunch is also pretty good, especially in the warm weather when you can sit outside on the sidewalk. Two thumbs up Stella! I'll see you soon.
(5)
Chris C.

Stella is near perfect. The decor is simple but chic. The staff are unfailingly freindly and professional. And the food is never disappointing. There is a reason they just expanded to a 3rd dining room in a recession. But the main reason to come here is the food, which is modern, simple, fresh, always well prepared and just delicious. Standouts for me are: Grilled Italian Sausage / broccoli rabe / oven cured tomato / parmesan: The grilled sausage is just delicious and nicely contrasts with the tomato and the slight bite of the broccoli rabe. And not to skimpy a portion. YUM! Linguine / asparagus cream / poached egg / truffle / thyme: The Linguine always looks like it's too small for a main course, but it's so rich and satisfying that it would be way too much if it was any bigger, and you eat it slowly to savor the egg as it runs into the asparagus cream and makes it even richer. It's just perfect!
(5)
Jon H.

Stella is exactly the type of hip, fun, and fashionable places that you are looking for dinner on a Sunday night. The mood and setting go to great lengths to promote people watching and intimate conversation. The food is pretty good as well. I must say though, I had the filet mignon and was not blown away - my medium rare was more medium, the sides were charred too hard, the meat tasted a little bland - but the pastas at the table were all very well done: perfectly light and blended with great pasta, great sauce, and succulent meats. To be specific, we had the fried artichoke hearts and the beet/goat cheese salad to start. The beet salad was so-so, served with toast, offering a very farm-animal-esque experience. The fried artichoke hearts on the other hand tasted like creamy walnut shrimp you get at chinese restaurants - PERFECT. Our table ordered the Quattro Funghi (four mushroom) pizza, linguine (with poached egg), and the orcchiette (along with my filet, but you already know). The pizza was very very good - great cheese, soft salty mushrooms, topped with a little bit of truffle oil to finish it off (also a huge size pizza). The linguine was perfect al dente, and the poached egg really adds to the creaminess yet light sauce. The orcchiette is a meat lovers pasta, like a light but delicious red sauce based pasta shell dish....really good. Overall, my experience was so-so, but the food everyone else had begs for another attempt, and a really great review. Oh yeah, about that $140 bill...a litte on the expensive side, but justifiable.
(4)
V. T.

Stella was one of the first high-end restaurants I checked out when I started diving into the fine dining scene of Boston. My first impression was : "OMG, everyone is so sophisticated, so well-dressed and amazingly attractive". I kinda felt embarrassed coming there not being fancy enough. Boom...2 years later...I came to Stella without giving a damn! After all, It's what you know and how you present yourself, not what you wear, right? Right! The crowd here is still the same, very good looking people, wearing high end fashion and almost obnoxious from time to time. Again, I don't give a damn. I just wanted to check out the Italian dishes here, since I now have more experience in the fine dining world. Let me tell you this...the food here is mediocre. I've had better Italian food in the North End. I would say most people came here for the atmosphere, which is very fun and cosmopolitan kinda thing. The drinks are pretty good though now I can't even recall what they were. Well, there ya go...I must have had more than 3 cocktails that's why! Yup, it means the bartender knew what he/she was doing! Somehow Stella feels like more of a summer place more me. I would pick other choices during the winter. It's not cozy enough for my cold Asian feet!
(3)
Nancy L.

The food was actually pretty good and the service was attentive but I was disappointed that after I gave the waiter a 20% tip on my debit card, I later saw that the waiter/restaurant had added $.50 onto the tip when I later checked my bank statement. I was shocked that I would be taken advantage of this way as I am sure most people do not double check their statements afterward. I did not request that they fix my bill as they only over-charged me fifty cents but if they do this to all their customers, the total really begins to add up. A high-end restaurant shouldn't be stealing their tips and the amount I left was more than adequate. I don't think I will be patronizing this establishment ever again.
(2)
Andrew H.

I've been here twice and would come again, without question. Everything on the menu seems to be, at minimum, reliable (probably an understatement). I can't quite remember what I had the first time around, but the general consensus among the five of us was "Delicious!" Of course good company and attentive service made the evening that much better. Second time around (Friday, 4/29) was with a friend. We arrived around 7 and, though it seemed busy, we were seated promptly, with our preference for outdoor seating honored. The host did a great job of balancing jocular, friendly, and polite. One of my first remarks was "This feels like Beauty and the Beast" because we were immediately provided - in a "Be Our Guest" manner - with water and (delicious) bread, which I suspect would be a nice touch for anyone who arrives somewhat famished. Our server seemed disinterested, but wasn't rude at all. He definitely had a personality, but it required some digging on our part. We ordered a bottle of Reisling, which was perfecto for a spring evening. I had the linguine with asparagus cream and poached egg and it was such fun to eat. There was a subtlety to the flavor that I loved and the cream wasn't anything that was overly heavy. My friend had the honey glazed salmon, which looked fantastic, but I wasn't in the mood for fish that evening so I didn't get a sense of the dish beyond his approval. I would certainly avail myself of the opportunity to try the dish at some other time. I took most of my dinner home with me (the conversation was great so I ate very slowly and very little) and suspect it'll be just fantastic by itself or, as I plan to do, with some roasted asparagus and a little shaved parmesan over the top. Hello dinner #2. We didn't order dessert, but I definitely would on another visit. Overall, a delightful and relaxed way to spend part of a Friday evening. I just noticed they have late night options and that seems like it could be quite fun to try now that things are getting warmer.
(4)
Ariana Z.

Best restaurant in Boston. Always great food, always great service. No matter what you order it will be good.
(5)
D.J. L.

At about 9pm on a Saturday night, we looked for a place where we could still get a reservation. Stella was one of the few places who had seats available, and I have no idea why. The place was fantastic. We got there a little early, but were brought right to our seats. The bar area was extremely crowded and the restaurant was very loud, but that is to be expected on a Saturday night. For an appetizer, we ordered the heirloom tomato and buffalo mozzarella, which was delicious. For my main course, I had the Pork Milanese. It was slightly overcooked, but tasted excellent. My wife ordered the filet mignon and was absolutely blown away by the flavor. Also, we had a bottle of white wine, but when the main course came, she ordered a glass of red wine and the waiter brought it over immediately. Absolutely no wait. Dessert was excellent, also. Had the chocolate torte with vanilla gelato and a warm rum drink. Both were delicious, and the perfect compliment to my meal. The decor of Stella was beautiful. It was very inviting from the outside, and perfectly setup inside.
(4)
genevieve r.

My second time back, and I tell you: this restaurant can throw down!! I think they have a great selection, and the drink menu is innovative. I just can't wait to bring Ursula! I highly recommend the spicy mussels! Their pizzas are so hard to resist; you won't be disappointed. The fish dishes are excellent as well. I was very please with everything we ordered. And being around good company always helps!
(5)
Jason B.

I don't hand these out like candy, and I don't toss 'em around like my cookies, but Stella deserves its 5 stars from me. The restaurant is perfectly lit and decorated - just the right blend of subdued atmosphere and chatty dinner talk make the room a perfect balance of elegant and neighborhoody. True, the seats can be a bit close to one another, and the chairs remind me a little of sixth grade, but no matter, we are feeling good so far. They greet you with smiles, seat you, and soon the foccacia and pellegrino magically appear, complete with a rich, flavorful hummus and some olives (which I don't like, but I understand are very popular with other humans). Service here is *perfect*. I mean it, from the efficient busser who brings you water and clears your plates, to the waiter who is friendly and knows everything about the menu, to the manager who breezily but believably wants to know if everything is good. These guys have this down *cold*. We ordered the Crudo Misto / Tuna / Salmon / Lemoncello Vinaigrette / Sea Salt Grissini, which jumped out at me as the way to go, and I was not wrong. Like, at all. This is a dish for the senses - the salmon and tuna, with their firm texture and cool temperature, burst with flavor, and with the delicate but sharp vinaigrette, and the crunch of the grissini, it's quite simply a perfect antipasti. Their cocktails are excellent, as well. I tried their Dark and Stormy, made with Gosling's and good ginger beer, as well as their zippy little version of the Sidecar, Maker's mark shaken with lemon juice and triple sec in a chilled martini glass with sugar on the rim. Gyum. The braised short ribs are nothing short of culinary mastery. This difficult but oh-so-rewarding cut of beef is a real pain in the ass, but when it's done perfectly, you get this: falls apart under your fork, is tender, moist and an absolute assault of flavor. Served with the Crispy Onion Strings Of Power, over a layer of some kind of angelic mashed potato, I could not have been happier. So much so that I ordered a Remy Martin - something I only do after a truly satisfying meal. Stella, you guys get my Remy Martin mark, and you rock the proverbial Casbah.
(5)
Cornelia M.

I recently went here on a wine tasting event and as a result my friends and I decided to come back for dinner on our own. I've been here before and I wasn't super impressed at the time but this time I have to say it was fantastic. We all spilt the aranchini which was enough for four of us. I got the gnocchi which was excellent and one of my friends got the bolognese which I got to try and I thought that was even better. The drinks are really great here as well.
(5)
Palak S.

Eh. To be honest, it was underwhelming. The food was only OK and the service was mediocre. The ambiance felt a bit sterile but the people were definitely nice. I am a little surprised by the rave reviews. As a vegetarian, I thought the food was no better than a chain restaurant.
(2)
Ash T.

Stella. No, not the Belgian imported beer we're so accustomed to. This is an Italian restaurant where everything is done just perfectly. Some restaurants are known for their dessert, some for their ambiance, some for specific items on their menus...but Stella is one that is awesome in every category. PROS: from the drinks to appetizers to main course to dessert. Its a great journey like a traveler discovering unique gems on every place visited. The result is a resounding Wow and a smile that only appears when the senses of smell and taste are undulated in waves of food. Bring your appetite...and bring it as hungry as ever. Lap up every morsel in sight, but don't get up on your chair after the meal and exult :) Great place for a group dinner, date or celebration of an anniversary. CONS: the music can get a bit too loud, especially in the back room where the second bar is located. Pricey but worth it.
(5)
Jiwon K.

We tried brunch at Stella's on a Saturday and it was very good! I tried duck omelet for the first time and remembered why I'm not a big fan of duck. But I will give the place 4 stars because of it's attentive staff and drink menu. Also had a great vibe, almost like a bright daytime dance club without the dancing. Brunch service was a large portion.
(4)
Michael N.

So, most of my reviews tend to revolve around those carefree periods when the parents make the trek up to Boston to visit, and I can point them to the upscale places where they like to go, thus receiving a good meal that (presumably) doesn't involve a microwave and bottle of Kraft Parmesan cheese. Hey, we all win, right? Such was the case last weekend, and such is my triumphant return to Yelp after an absence. I mean, I can only review Sidebar so many times. Stella is located in the heart of the South End, right on Washington Street, a refuge for the chic urban / gay nightlife. I'm certainly far from either of those scenes, but it's nice to witness the hubbub every so often - especially when someone else is paying. We strolled in on a Friday night around 8, to find the joint buzzing but not overwhelming. The place is bigger than it looks, with a very nice "secondary" room right off the bar area and the main dining hall, tastefully decorated and with its own, smaller bar. Bar service was quick and friendly, and they even accommodated a friend of the family's request for a slice of watermelon with his gin and tonic. As for the food...delicious. The Caesar salad was monstrous and delightful, and the simplest dish on the menu - spaghetti and meatballs - was better than anything I've had in the North End. Big, thick, homemade pasta, with a perfect and hearty red sauce...it doesn't get any better. Food service was impeccable. Also, mega points for some excellent foccacia bread served on the side. I could have taken a loaf home. I made an absolute hog out of myself, demolishing a chocolate torte cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert - rich and very tasty. Hey, I was being treated, damn it. DON'T JUDGE ME. So, yeah, get thee to Stella. If you're gay, chic, or urban, you'll find yourself right at home. If you're none of those things, you'll still find yourself at home - the food's that good. Also, obligatory. STELLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!
(4)
Cami F.

I have been to stella for brunch twice now and had a good meal but was not impressed by the menu. The service was a bit slow and not always attentive, but the food tasted fresh, the drinks were yummy and overall meet my brunch needs. We were able to get a table after about a 15 minute wait, which is really quick without a reservation on a sunday in the south end. Loved the big windows and natural light!
(3)
Chris K.

A good Italian option in the South End. I went tonight with two friends. We had blood orange margaritas (which were good, but VERY acidic), a basil lime gimlet (good), and wine (standard). I had heard great reviews for the mussels, so we started with the mussels and crudo misto. The mussels were good, but not as excellent as I expected. The crudo misto was also good... again, very acidic... nothing to write home about. But the gnocchi entree is absolutely to die for. it's the best gnocchi I've ever had, and I will definitely go back for it (as I am already craving it again!). The seafood risotto is heavy on the seafood (which is a good thing!), and the swordfish has a really good flavor (although maybe on the dry side). The gelato was nice also - nothing amazing, but tasted super good. I'll definitely be back... if only for the gnocchi!!!
(4)
Aboud Y.

SSSTTTTTEEEELLLLAAAAAA!!!!!!! Ok, had to do that first. I love this place. The food is HHHeavy and rich, but absolutely delicious. Very nice atmosphere too...esp in the summer if you can grab a table outside.
(4)
Mark S.

I love Stella. Great fresh food and a fun atmosphere. I like the chill bar scene. I took my parents there and they loved it too.
(4)
stephanie c.

Came here for dinner on Sat night and loved it! Cute spot =very modern yet cozy. Hidden in the more residential part of the South End. Great date spot or small group spot. I sat at the bar with my girl friend. Drinks were delicious. Had the basil lime gimlet, capinriha (sp?), and margarita. All tasted fresh, strong, and unique. To start we had the beef carpaccio and crudo misto. Delicious. HUGE portion of beef carpaccio. I love beef carpaccio and usually most nice restaurants give you approx 3-4 slices. Umm...we ordered two apps thinking these portions were going to normal app sizes. Beef carpaccio came out in a pizza round shaped plate...like 12 good slices. We stared open mouthed at each other and wondered whether or not we could finish it all-We did of course!! It was incredible fresh, delicious, light, and so satisfying with our cocktails. Then we shared the shiitake truffle oil pizza...heaven in my mouth. So delicious. Overall, cute classy restaurant. Delicious food and drinks for such reasonable prices...why have I not come sooner?!? I'll be back with more friends soon enough!!
(4)
Adrienne T.

Nice spot for Sunday brunch, too! If you go with a group of friends, do yourself a favor, and ASK UPFRONT for separate checks, or bring cash. The "pay the bill" process for a large party at a recent Sunday brunch outing was NOT cute- but, the food was.
(4)
Nathan T.

Great space, tasty food and not all that noisy - which is surprising given the high ceilings and windows.
(4)
Jeannie H.

ATMOSPHERE - There's a bar area that is relatively small, low on seating, and relatively uninteresting. They, of course, had the Celtics game on TV. You can't escape Boston. It's a young crowd, which makes it a good place to mingle and hang out with friends. SERVICE - Perfectly fine. FOOD - Surprisingly good. I mean it's nothing earth shattering but for the price point, everything was well-cooked and solid. The food is definitely better than the typical pretentious South End eatery. Crispy Fried Artichoke Hearts / country mustard remoulade - The batter was a little too thick, which masked the artichoke flavour. Beef Carpaccio / pickled shallot / shaved parmesan / dijon vinaigrette - Thinly sliced beef, lovely parmesan, judicious use of vinaigrette. Unimaginative but well done. Half Roasted Duck / toasted orzo / root vegetables / sour cherry sauce - This was a seriously large and hearty dish. The duck was a little overcooked but enjoyable nonetheless. I will definitely be back. I think the place had good energy coupled with solid food.
(4)
Sara L.

Helllloo, awesome sauce! Both literally and not. I came here the other night while in town with two of my best friends who I rarrely ge tto see. So I was already in love, especially because the South End os my favorite part of town. Had the guava lemonade, which was awesome, and all of the drinks were great, so said my party. My friend and I split two pastas, the orechiette with sausage and the bolognese. Both were absolutely fantastic. Portions were extremely large, but the food was so good that we ate it all anyway. Their homemade noodles were fantastic. The bolognese had chicken livers in it, in a way that was just a little bit funky, but not overpowering. Wonderful. The sausage in the orechiette was lovely, very flavorful without being taking over the dish. I tasted my friend's gnocci which were light and the sauce was great! The linguini my other friend had was good, but I was glad I hadn't ordered it. He seemed happy enough, though. Service was phenomenal, and the place was packed on a Monday, even at 9 p.m. which seemed a little crazy to me, but bodes super well for the restaurant. Overall the food and service were lovely and my company was beyond compare, so I was a happy camper. Would come back any time!
(5)
Edward M.

Came here for Sunday brunch and it could not have been better. We were greeted and seated promptly by very friendly host; all of the staff seemed to smile which was another positive sign. Bloody Mary was great and full of spice. The Duck confit and hash plate really made my experience to rank this establishment at 5 stars. The poached eggs blended so well with the duck; potatoes were roasted and had just enough crispiness. My partner had Eggs Benedict and declared it was delicious. I recommend eating outside if possible as the indoor space seemed loud when I walked in to use the restroom. I will definitely be back for brunch and excited to sample their dinner menu.
(5)
Paula S.

Arranged to have a dinner of 24 people as a pre wedding weekend dinner the first night every one was in town. worked with Courtney on a set pre fixe menu and she was very accommodating, especially since we asked for separate checks and I know that can put out a restaurant. Arrived early and had a few drinks in the bar. Cocktails were inventive and tasty. Our service was great, they kept the drinks flowing and the pace of the meal was great. Each course was wonderful and a great selection for everyone. Great choice all around.
(5)
Kelley S.

My entire family was thrilled with everything at this South End gem. Our drinks, appetizers, entrees and desserts. But what I found most lovely was the staff. On a cold and rainy night in November, we were warmly welcomed by the slew of hostesses dressed in black who graciously took our wet coats and umbrellas. As we walked through to the second dining room, every single staff member greeted us with an "enjoy your dinner" or "thank you for coming" you could tell they were well trained. I LOVED loved LOVED the linguine with asparagus cream, truffle and poached egg. Didn't reheat well, but shame on me for not finishing it in the first place. Portions were perfect too. A little noisy that particular night, but it very well could have been the large party next to us and likely isn't the typical ambiance. Go to this place!!
(4)
Jess M.

I'd love to give Stella 3.5 stars. Four of us had dinner there on a Friday evening. The restaurant setup is a nice change from the typical dark wood vibe that most restaurants around town sport. Our waiter was very attentive as soon as we sat down. The menu choices were varied, but not overwhelming. The wine and cocktail list had some nice modern updates, again breaking away from the monotony of trends around the city. My husband and I both started the night off with the Stella 75 martini: gin, lemon juice, prosecco. Very tasty and refreshing... rather dangerous. The baby arugula salad was light and full of bright flavor. The seared bass with potato leek ragu was cooked well but there wasn't anything memorable or uber savory about the dish. The main reason for the mid range rating was dessert. The chocolate torte knocked an entire star off my review. The torte seemed more like a molten lava cake (which is one the worst lingering culinary trends.) Like most flourless chocolate cakes of the day, it had a strange semi-burnt but yet under cooked feel. The vanilla gelato was nice, but couldn't save the dessert. I would definitely go back as the menu has many more tasty treats to try.
(3)
David D.

Great Food- FANTASTIK staff
(4)
Clifford T.

I found this place to be a little pompous. The food is pretty good, but the attitude is not. The crowd seems to be the type that aren't really interested in anything other than themselves. If your looking for a nice place to have a cocktail with a few friends, then this place is fine. A very gay friendly venue.
(2)
Rob W.

Great meal, ceasar salad was delicious and the spaghetti and meatballs are yummy. Service was outstanding. Great place to go and have dinner at a reasonable price.
(4)
Nick S.

I don't get why people have railed on the service here. I find it to be meticulous, deliberate, and frankly a heck of a lot better than in most restaurants. On my most recent visit we were waited on methodically by several different people, and it felt well orchestrated and unobtrusive. The design is really awesome - the large windows and light decor, esp now that Blackstone park is awash in green, couldn't feel more appropriate. We split appetizers, and for two moderately hungry people it was perfect. The mojito was delicious. You will also notice a preponderance of women clientele here, which is striking - there were several large groups of ladies eating while we were there...not a bad thing at all. Enjoy!
(4)
Oz L.

Great Brunch on Sundays..Get there early! The eggs benedict are amazing....
(4)
Min L.

I came here with my girls on a Thurs night to celebrate an upcoming wedding and had an amazing time. We loved the clean and modern decor, our waitress was patient and accommodating, and the food was fresh and tasty. We had to wait a bit despite our reservation but not long enough to complain about. We sat in the back room, where the noise level was significantly lower and the mood more intimate (just what we were looking for!). I ordered the linguine with asparagus sauce and poached egg which was divine (not too creamy nor skimpy on the sauce)! Other favorites at the table included the gnocci, the parmesan arancini appetizer, and the grilled pizza with the mushrooms. Stella is a great pick if you're looking for a night out with the girls or a place to get dressier and eat out on a date.
(4)
Ben K.

Stella. My new favorite late-night spot. Open till 2 EVERY NIGHT, not just for late-night pizzas and cheese blah, but for full-on tagliatelle alla Bolognese, arancini that melt my heart, and a full wine list... Stella, I may sell my soul to YOU. Some of the best pinot noir I've had in Boston is their Emeritus 2007, which is an excellent vintage, so drink up! And, directing the conversation back to risotto balls (arancini), theirs are incredible, garlicky, gorgeous, but could use a touch less lemon and some more time to heat (they were a little tepid this time round). Although the server tonight, when asked to describe a martini, said "boozy, very alcoholic, will get you drunk with one" in broken English, I was still very happy with the selection of cocktails, and the GM is enthusiastic and made us feel at home. I'll be back!!! You should go.
(4)
Ryan H.

Simply great. My fiancee and I decided to check this place out for dinner. What a great decision. Our server was great and the drinks were even better! I had the basil and lime gimlet and it was spectacular. The food was amazing and very vegetarian friendly. The atmosphere was fresh and upbeat. Overall, I was very impressed with Stella and would most certainly go there again!
(5)
Kylie H.

My sister has ranted and raved about this place for awhile and I had the pleasure to cat sit for her and was able to check it out. She suggested the rice balls (aracini) and they were the most delicious things I have ever tasted. The fondue sauce the balls were in was pretty amazing. We split them and there was only two and afterward we both agreed we could have eaten twenty! The sangria was also impressive and we ordered several glasses. I had the gnocchi and it was good and tasted home-made. However, the portion was really small. I know it is a filling entree, but I'd rather leave left over food on my plate then lick it clean wanting more. Ya know what I mean? We ended the night with some grappa and beware if you drink grappa because it was VERY strong. The dining experience was overall one of my favorites and I would definately return again and keep the aracini all to myself.
(5)
keira s.

I really like the food. I really do. However the staff there is soooo pretentious and displays such overt favoritism. On my last visit I was asked to move when i sat down at the bar where a couple had just vacated. The bartender wanted me to make room for another couple who had definately arrived at the establishment after I did. My boyfriend was just outside parking his car and I told the bartender that and he...HUFFED and said in such a bitchy unprofessional tone "oh..ok." and went over to his favorite couple and gave them the news. After that display I decided "screw this guy, we will just give our money to one of the waiters instead....he obviously doesn't want out business" and when my boy arrived we got a table in the dining room and I graciously told the bartender we decided to get a table instead. Now here's the really annoying part. We sat down, the busser came over and asked us if we wanted bottled water or tap, we told him a bottle please. He never came back. And neither did a waiter. For 15 minutes. I watched as another couple was sat right next to us. They ordered their water. They got it. A waiter came over, brought them bread, discussed the dinner menu, etc. Nobody came over to our table still. I tried to make eye contact and get someone to come over to wait on us. Nothing. AND IT WAS AN EMPTY DINING ROOM! so there's some sort of stick up this staff's collective ass. that's all i can figure. screw their good food. I can find fantastic pasta WITH fantastic service elsewhere.
(1)
Arestia R.

I never order spaghetti and meatballs when I go out because it's something I can make at home - well, unless I'm dining at Stella. Their meatballs are the best I've ever had and pair it with their homemade pasta and it's a winning dish for me, time and time again. I love the cool and classy feel of the restaurant, too. Perfect for a date, birthday, entertaining out of town clients, girls night out, it's Tuesday - any occasion! The staff is so friendly and attentive - it's a go to destination for my dining pleasure.
(5)
Ted W.

This was where we ended up when we couldn't get in to Toro down the street. We were lured into their plush bar with the promise that we would be seated in 15 minutes. It took more like an hour. I guess that's the brilliance of a bar as a waiting area. The food was underwhelming in general. The carapaccio, however was pretty fucking special and if you ever find yourself eating here and craving thinly sliced meat of the raw red kind, definitely worth a try. Decor was good and the service was reasonable. The waitress didn't know what wine was on the menu but the busser gave me a good entree suggestion... In aggregate I don't think I'd recommend the place to a friend but I'm new here so maybe this is as good as Italian gets in boston...
(3)
Nicole C.

We've been here twice. The first time, it was absolutely perfect. The bar was great, the host was super friendly, our waiter was extremely attentive, the food was amazing, and we raved and raved about it to everyone. The second time, we brought friends and everything was very good - the bar, the drinks, the appetizers and everyone else's food, except mine. I got the butternut squash ravioli. It was so salty that I got that "Salt Cough". You know what I mean. I think it was a fluke because everything else was great, and everyone else's meal was fine. With all of that said - I would go again.
(4)
Andrew K.

Very solid meal. Food was 5 stars Service was 4 starts Overall dinning experience 4 stars
(4)
Mindy A.

I went here a few months back for a small bachelorette celebration. It was the perfect atosphere for a girly girl event--lots of chic white decor, outdoor seating, nicely dressed crowd, etc. The food was great. Our server was flexible and didn't mind that we ordered several entrees to taste and share between all of us. The cocktails were fun and fancy, too. I liked it so much, that I recently took my younger sister here when she in town from the Midwest. I knew she'd like the atmosphere--and she did! I love to bring people to fun places while they are in town. For some reason, to me, Stella seems like a girls night out place, or some kind of celebration type place. I don't think I'd frequent it for a regular Wednesday night meal--more for special occasions. It's a great place to wear a cute new dress. But I've loved it when I've been here, and I will definitely be returning!
(4)
Omar F.

When I ordered the roasted chicken, I may as well had ordered a plate of foodgasms. Seal the deal with a tiramisu. Done and done.
(5)
Kamilla Q.

I thought I had already written a review for Stella but I've neglected my favourite resturant in the South End. I"M SO SORRY!! The food is excellent...think the menu of Mistral with out the priceyness, and a casual modern atmosphere. The Wait staff is just okay....but i think waitstaff in gerenal is just okay! The bar menu rocks and the service at thebar is impeccible. The kitchen is open til 1 i believe making Stella a great place for a later night snack**plus at 1 you can get a seat at the bar!** Anyway defiently try it out....And order the curly fries....trust me!
(5)
Tori G.

I went here this past Friday night with a group of 12 for my friends birthday. We had a really good time, loved the location once we got here, but coming from north of the city and various suburbs of Boston, it was a little difficult finding it. (Then again, I unfortunately don't know the South End that well, but I'm learning!!) I think our whole party didn't all get there until about 6:45 and we had a 6:00 reservation! But the staff was very nice and didn't rush us at all despite being late and messing up the party that was coming in after us. The drink menu looked good at first glance, but I was underwhelmed. I've had a better Bellini at the Cheesecake Factory, but when I tried the Raspberry Lime Ricky, I was a happy girl. Those are what the birthday boy and I drank allll night, and they were delish. And you can't beat a $8 martini in Boston! That's pretty unheard of. Our appetizers/entrees were all in all very good. Here were some of our favs: Crispy Duck Leg / Agri Dolce / Basil Oil...12 Prosciutto / Gorgonzola Cream / Vin Cotto...15 Linguine / Asparagus Cream / Poached Egg / Truffle / Thyme...17 Stella Homemade Gnocchi / Tomato / Basil / Reggiano...19 Grilled Sirloin / Crispy Fries / Herbed Lemon Gratinata...26 The bathrooms are small and always crowded, but Stella is a beautiful space in a great area, with a lively and fun crowd. I would love to go back for the Sunday brunch that they offer and take advantage of their outside patio space. So, Stella was a good time, my friend had a great meal and they brought him a sampler of 4 desserts with a candle on a plate that said happy birthday in chocolate sauce. I would definitely recommend it to anyone, and I will be going back again!
(4)
Alex R.

You people are insane! And so is the Improper Bostonian, which recently named this place the best of the South End. (That should be a tipoff; the Improper Bostonian is nearly always wrong about everything.) Stella's a crap joint that serves $12 food on a $20 menu. The dishes are thunderingly obvious: pour on the garlic and cheese and serve too much of it. That's a $12 entree strategy right there, man. That's a Spaghetti Factory strategy. The sterile white decor makes the place look like an operating room. The clientele all have cell phone clips on their belts - which, admittedly, is hard to avoid in the South End. For an extra-special laugh, try sitting on the couch just inside the front door, which is hands-down the least comfortable couch since my mom's basement in high school, and doesn't come with any of the same fond memories. There are many, many fantastic places to eat in the South End. Stella is not one of them.
(2)
erica c.

5 stars for this star! Stella, as most of you know is Italian for star, is one of the best restaurants in the south end. The decor is fabulous, the staff is unpretentious and the food is reasonably priced and truly phenom. Here are my recs: Crudo Misto / Tuna / Salmon / Lemoncello Vinaigrette / Sea Salt Grissini...12 Grilled Italian Sausage / Broccoli Rabe / Roasted Tomatoes...10 Melon Salad / Prosciutto / Basil Vinaigrette / Vin Cotto...10 Quattro Funghi / Shiitake / Crimini / Oyster / White Truffle Oil...15 Tagliatelle / Bolognese...17 Pork Milanese / Pomodoro / Buffalo Mozzarella...18 Crispy Fries...6 Broccoli Rabe / Garlic / Parmesan...6 Grilled Asparagus...6 I realize this is half the menu but it is all really really amazing! Lastly, the bar is also really fun for drinks and nibbles......
(5)
Jennifer L.

Stella is one of the few places in boston that has a late night menu.
(4)
Matt L.

Not as good as all the hype suggests. Went here after work and thought it was mediocre and plain. The inside decor was plain as well and the service was just okay. It is tucked away in the South End but not sure why people rave about this place. Portions are small and waitstaff could care less. Skip it!
(2)
J. H.

Best fries ever! They are served tossed with spices and cherry peppers. I would go to Stella just to sit at the bar, have a drink and munch on these fries. The Crudo Misto appetizer (tuna and salmon) was very fresh and flavorful. The Quattro Funghi grilled pizza was rich and earthy. The swordfish with spring asparagus was excellent as well. Some of my dining companions who ordered other entrees weren't as pleased with their selections. One great thing about Stella is that they offer a late night menu from 11 pm-1:30 am 7 days a week.
(4)
Billy Su B.

ok yes, it sounds like you're eating in a Home Depot wherein someone recruited a team of vagabonds to bang sundry forks, plates, and glasses together while simultaneously holding drunken and equally stupid conversations via megaphone.. and yes, i've had a couple of waiters here and there that seem to have had some kind of alzheimer's disease and failed to bring me my drink.. and my dinner... and my check. but i still go. why? one may well wonder. because i have no need to sit in the "cafeteria" here. i'm a civilized adult. i'll take my pasta and my double vodka rocks at the bar, thank you. i know that the food is expensive and i know that it's not the best food in the city. but the fact is, every single time i eat a Stella, i sit at the bar, i have a delicious cocktail, the crowd is alive, and the food is completely solid. you pick and you choose. the pastas are exceptional, the pizzas are actually the best gourmet pizza in all of South End- they are STELLAR. the swordfish isn't genious, it's just flavorful and delicious and satisfying. same with the other entres. they have some really fun apps, the bartenders are fantastic, and additionally, it's just great to go to a buzzing, sexy bar. am i right? and if you're sitting outside you're going to need a flair gun so your waitress will remember you.. seriously, it's like you're marooned or something.. can't help myself. love stella, hang there often. (also, Crudo Misto very good, ***desserts...meh. i'd go somewhere else)
(4)
Andrea G.

I have eaten at Stella twice and have been more than impressed both visits. First, the dcor and ambiance are to die for---high ceilings, funky tables. There are two dining rooms and both are cozy, inviting, and comfortable. The waitstaff is very courteous and helpful; we had last-minute additions to our party and they had no problem squeezing an extra person in, though the restaurant was packed. The unique cocktails should not be missed! My favorite is the "Fresca," an alcoholic version of the soft drink. The basil lime gimlet is also very tasty. And then the food! My favorite dish is the spaghetti with roasted garlic. Unlike other places, they do not skimp on the garlic here. Probably not the best dinner to get on a date, but delish nonetheless. All in all, Stella is one of my favorite restaurants in the city and I am always looking for excuses to eat here :)
(5)
Korri Leigh C.

I worked at Stella for one hot minute when it first opened and was reluctant to go back based on my experience working there. Well after trying it this week I realized I waited too long. The place looks great, the food is reasonably priced, and can we please talk about the martini/drink selection? All of Stella's drinks are $8 - why do all the 'swanky' bars and restaurants in Boston feel it necessary to charge $12 for 4 ounces of alcohol? Anyway, the entrees we chose (Asparagus cream pasta and pork entree) we probably not the best they had to offer but our appetizers were amazing. I will definitely return to Stella, if not simply to sit on the patio and watch all the beautiful people go by : )
(4)
Michelle P.

This is my favorite restaurant in Boston. I live in Boston and have been almost everywhere so I think that's saying a lot. Their food is consistently delicious. The bread and hummus (which tastes like like the most amazing mashed potatoes ever) is to die for. I usually get the broccoli rabe pasta dish - is it SO good. They make really good cocktails as well. Overall - everything from the ambiance, to the food, to the friendly staff make Stella my absolute favorite!
(5)

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Address : 1525 Washington St
Boston, MA, 02118
Phone (617) 247-7747
Website https://www.bostonstella.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :4:00 pm - 12:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Stella

1525 Washington St, Boston, MA, 02118

Stella Menu

Antipasti

Grilled Pizze

Le Paste

Pesci / Carni

Contorni

Dessert

Healthy Meal suggestions for Stella

Antipasti

Grilled Pizze

Le Paste

Pesci / Carni

Contorni

Dessert

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olivia c.

Paul C.

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Bob D.

Holly B.

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Mr. F.

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Ying X.

Cristy Z.

Soo U.

MacKenzie D.

Chris C.

Boy W.

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Virginia C.

John K.

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Andrew B.

Keisha W.

Marco M.

Alexis B.

Ashley P.

Anna M.

Ryan R.

Peter M.

Kristen M.

Jenn Z.

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XiaoQi W.

Paige T.

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Irving W.

Lyndsey C.

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