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Yes, that's right I'm going to give it FIVE STARS and that's based on the BRUSCHETTA PIZZA ALONE. It is BANANAS. If you want really GREAT pizza, you must go there and you must try the Bruschetta Pizza. Every BITE is DELICIOUS and Authentic.
I've also had the Tomato Soup which was crazy AWESOME. Friends have ordered various pasta dishes and really liked them but for me didn't see the point when they serve BRUSCHETTA PIZZA.
The service can be hit or miss. In a single shift you may be served by the best waiter and others who make you go, HMMMMMM. However because they're all going to bring out AWESOME food, You're Good.
A week after our terrible experience at Osteria 832, I was so nervous to go back to Stella. "Are they going to have problems with subbing things?" Nope. No problems what so ever.
Awesome server, awesome food, awesome subbing abilities, decent drink prices. In fact, I got the special, which came with pasta: some sort of eggplant dish. I asked if it was breaded, "Nope." Can I not get the pasta? "Would you like something else? How about a nice spinach base?" Perfect!
Ah-mazing. And this kids, is why Stella is a staple in our book. In fact, I'm thinking I might have to do dinner there tonight. Yumm yumm. =)
And I continually have great food and great service here. The only problem I find is that it's… Read more »
A note first -- this review is all about brunch. I've only had dinner here once, and found it to be a bit lacking compared to their other fine Italian restaurant, Osteria 832, which is our favorite weeknight Italian joint. So if you're going for dinner, skip this review. Or skip dinner and come back the next day for brunch.
I can't say enough good things about the brunch menu. First off let me tell you about the gratins. They are delicious skillets full of various bits of delicious deliciousness. My wife and I each order a sausage gratin. It starts out with potatoes, then adds roasted mushrooms, sauteed red onion, crumbly fresh sausage, a lot of cream, and over-medium (over hard in my case) eggs on top. The whole thing goes in an oven or something and comes out so delicious I have actually laid in bed on a Monday evening wishing the weekend would come soon so I could go eat it.
Next favorite is the french toast, which frankly is wasted on my children, who order it each weekend. Fortunately we get a large order and they're small kids so my wife and I can eat some too. It's tasty, solid, fresh, rich, truly stunning french toast. If I wasn't in love with the gratin I'd probably order it directly instead of sneaking bites off my son's plate.
There is one mystery about Stella -- nobody is there. We show up each Sunday morning around 10 and it's deserted. My wife and I have marveled at this many times, since not 100 yards away all kinds of people are waiting in line to suffer at the hand of the hipsters over at Ria's. The food is better at Stella and the service is far superior. And there's no line. I don't want to do anything to change that, so I'm only encouraging you to come over to Stella instead because I'm afraid they're going to go out of business if we're the only people eating there each weekend. That would truly depress me.
Go while you still can! I was sorry to hear that the owners of Stella are transforming it into a Doc Chey's in January. Purely a business decision, I'm sure... but now that I've finally made it to Stella, it makes me sad that I won't be able to eat there again next year. We had a wonderful dinner this weekend with really excellent service. I highly recommend the calamari (which is served with fried basil leaves and lemon-garlic aioli), the white sangria (I think the secret ingredient is pineapple juice), and the Caesar salad, which I think is the best I've had. The pizza is really wonderful, though by the time it arrived I had almost no room for it, after the apps and salad and fabulous chewy bread. But it was delish reheated the next day! Great value... Doc Chey's has its charms, but the neighborhood is losing a real gem.
From the second we walked in the door, something was off. 20 minute wait for a table so went to the bar to grab a drink. This took a total of 15 minutes for someone to acknowledge us and get our drink orders as we were only two of the three people sitting at the bar. From the bar you can see directly into the kitchen as the expo line is right in front of you. Every entree/salad/appetizer that the kitchen staff placed in the expo window to be picked up also received the kitchen ticket laid directly on top of the food as it sat there for a minimum of 10 minutes before a waiter/waitress determined it was their food to be delivered to one of their tables. Not very sanity in the restaurant biz to put paper tickets on top of prepared food.
Once we got seated, another 15 minutes for a waitress to acknowledge our existence. We finally get a waitress and order. I selected the lasagna, nope sorry, we are all out. So I opt for the pizza. Once our food came, I picked at the pizza as it was very tasteless and bland. As I scraped the cheese off one of the slices, there actually laid a large metal SCREW in my pizza. We politely called the waitress over where to her horror, she quickly brought the manager over. He explained it must have fallen off of the pizzza oven but given the previous lack of attention to detail- tickets laid on top of food, food sitting for over 10 minutes before being picked up at the expo, I just chalked it up to poor service all around. As they are completely lacking in any type of quality control here. They did comp our food which was very appreciated but given the number of restaurants in the city of Atlanta, I will never be back to this one.
I went to Stella with my sister one night. She had her usual caesar, I my usual caprese. Both salads were very good. Then, we both ordered pizza, slices of which had to be stuffed into to-go boxes by the end of the night.
Our server was exceptionally friendly, and I made the mistake of complimenting her on her attitude and efficiency. She then recounted the terrible episodes she had had with previous customers that evening. At fist, I was unperturbed, but her endless tales were a little too much. My sister and I quickly slid out the side door after paying, just to avoid listening to another Homeric saga.
My advice? Wait until just before you leave to applaud the wonderful service and food.
I want to like Stella. I really do. It has so much going for it.
Reminds me of an old boyfriend I had one time. He had everything going for him - nice guy, good looks - even had a good job, which at that time was important to me.
Problem was - he had a split personality. Big issue for me.
And so it is with Stella. Is this really an Italian restaurant? If so, then why the big pile of overcooked spaghetti hiding underneath a tiny little portion of eggplant layered with gobs of low quality cheese? That's eggplant parm? Me thinks not.
Is it a family restaurant? Well, there are definitely kids there, but I could swear that this place is trying to be cool and hip and...well, I just haven't evolved to a place where kids throwing food seems cool. Yet.
Is it a cool, hip joint? (OK, so I'm old. At least I didn't say "hep" instead of hip.) Well, the interior is modern - clean rectilinear design with a nod to Mies van der Rohe. But, dang, there's those kids again...
I would have given this restaurant 2 stars (after 3 visits) but the pizza crust actually reminded me of a Jersey restaurant my family used to worship - it had that combination of gritty cornmeal and the slight sogginess that happens when the pie sits in its own steam too long. Very Jersey. Forgive me, Jersey, for I have sinned...
Service has always been nice here. And ambience is definitely handsome, especially for Memorial Drive. Stella definitely got her groove on with the interior.
Recommended if you live in the area, don't mind kids eating next to you and don't require authentic Italian food. (Just in case you're wondering, which I doubt, but just to set the record straight, I dropped that guy with the split personality and hooked up with somebody much nicer - and after 29 years with him, we still enjoy our dinners together - even at Stella.)
Take it or leave it. I've only been once for dinner, and we went because a big sign said kids eat free on Sundays. The server was nice, the food was mediocre. We would've spent less money for similar at Little Azios. When the bill came and our son's mac and cheese was on it (that was great), we asked the server about the kids eat free sign, and he said "oh, yeah... that's if you have a [so and so] card. I mean, I could sign you up if you want one..." We left instead, and unfortunately have no reason to return.
Even though I only had an "okay" experience my first few tries at Stella, a great friend of mine works here, so that keeps me coming back for more. The food is very good, but my only complaint is that they do love the garlic a bit more than I do... it will stay with you, if you know what I mean. The fried ravioli is divine and the calzone (before they took it off the menu; although, I am pretty sure they still know how to make it) is heavenly; both are must haves for me.
As for the atmosphere and the service; amazing, and top notch are the only descriptors necessary. There is this sense of welcoming that you get with the Homegrown restaurants, and Stella is no exception.
This has become a regular spot of mine for a nice night out, and I can definitely say that it is a welcome addition to my regular haunts. You can get a great meal at a quaint and nice spot, what more could you ask for?
This place reminds me of a fancy Olive Garden.
The calamari fritti with fried basil leaves was awesome! They were lightly dusted and very tasty. The lemon-garlic aioli that came along side it was OK. Not too much of a lemon or garlic taste, but there was definitely mayo! Hahaha... never mind.
My girlfriend had the chicken parm. I had a bite... not too bad. I wish I could say the same for my scampi. The shrimp were cut all the way down and they curled up like ribbons on a present. This dish actually reminded me of Lean Cuisine. The pasta had a very frozen/ thaw like texture to it.
Their service was excellent! If service had been terrible, I would have given Stella 2 stars.
I don't think I'd ever suggest to dine here if I were in the area. But if a friend wanted to go, I wouldn't say no.
I have now been twice to Stella and had two great experiences. The food was delicious and fresh, and the servers were prompt and courteous. I have tried the Calamari and Ravioli appetizers, the Chicken Pesto pizza and the Chicken Tuscan pasta. The weakest item would be the Calmari simply because I like a spicy tomato based sauce over a creamy, mayonnaise like sauce. But the Calamari itself was really good. All other items were fabulous and I was very impressed. It's also a really cute atmosphere. I also very much appreciate all Stella is doing as far as the environment and the community. It is good to support those types of businesses and I will certainly be back.
Our waitress had a Hawaiian word tattooed on her wrist. She told us it meant "star under the protection of heaven," which her Hawaiian grandmother came up with in a dream... I can see that you can see I'm moving towards a pun about this waitress's STELLAr personality, so I'll back off it.
Text-tattooed waiters and waitresses who are patient with my reading compulsion are typically very good at their job. I know it's kind of creepy, so I try to explain how needing to read is a bit like having an itch to scratch. Suffice to say, this waitress was good and Stella puts on a good show.
Yeah, it's Monday, I'm supposed to be working but hey, the power's out so that's out.
Some friends had guests in town and were on their way to the Aquarium. Lunch? Sure! We led them from Candler Park to Grant Park looking for something open. Stella was it.
We've been here many times before- on their soft opening night and several times since. Service is consistently efficient and friendly. Food is good Americanized Italian.
It will never be a stand-out, but the prices are reasonable and the food was well-prepared. The brunch menu looks great.
Starting with the bad... they charge you for bread. I guess my American upbringing has me accustomed to free bread at Italian spots.
That's it for the bad.
Service: Very, very friendly and attentive
Food: A 4 out of 5. I recommend the Bruschetta and Baci (soooo very good!). The Pomodoro is decent and the pizzas have a great thin crust.
Parking: Plentiful
Decor: Typical. Nothing fancy but, nothing bad.
Wednesdays: Half-off bottles of wine!
I couldn't wait to get to Stella when I read on Creative Loafing that the fig and prosciutto pie is back. We made it this past weekend for brunch, not knowing that the pie is a dinner special. As you can see, they gave it to us anyway. :)
photos of the meal can be seen at http://livetonibble.bl...
For a light lunch, two can share this special, which also comes with an arugula salad. Salty and sweet is the ultimate combination in my book. On top of that, I am completely smitten with fresh figs. These were small, but still fresh and sweet. The light drizzle of balsamic vinegar is right up my alley, but I could do with just a little less of the olive oil used to finish the pie. Not really a complaint though, it did make the prosciutto quite moist.
With the economy getting more depressing by the day, Stella is a great place for go to get some good… Read more »
Duane M and I ventured here after the awesome Yelp event tonight. He'd been here before, I had not and I was in the mood to go somewhere new.
The space was nice and relaxing and the service was exemplary. It was a quick in and out dinner and I had a Mediterranean salad with Gorgonzola and pine nuts, which I liked a lot.
I did notice they offer whole wheat penne pasta as a substitute for all their pasta dishes, so that'll definitely bring me back.
This place was bordering on 2 and 3 stars but Im going to go ahead and give them a bump because I would go back here for the pizza.
The service was remarkably slow and one thing we ordered was completely forgotten. So in that aspect it wasn't very good, but the pizza i thought was fairly good for Atlanta standards.
The Caesar salad I could take or leave and I didnt think the calamari was anything to write home about.
I will be back, but ill probably just get a pizza next time and perhaps try one of the pasta dishes.
Went here for the first time tonight. I really, really wanted to love it, but I just liked it. The pizza was outstanding - we ordered the basil and tomato. The crust was thin and crispy, and the toppings were light and fresh - the cheese was tasty. Loved the pizza.
Other than that though, everything was just ok. Our waitress was very perky and nice, but she forgot to bring out our calamari. The calamari was really average - big pieces, and lightly battered, but not as much flavor as I would have like, and I didn't care for the strange mayo dipping sauce it came with. Would have preferred a marinara.
We also got the Chicken Caesar Salad, and while this was ok, the chicken was overcooked. Little hard chunks of chicken. But, the rest of the salad was tasty, good dressing.
Parking is super easy, which is great. The inside of the place kinda feels like it's trying to be have a cool vibe, but it doesn't quite get there...it's more upscale than something like Doc Cheys, which is in the same restaurant group, but there were noisy kids there tonight, which could ruin the mood a bit. The decor inside was pretty nice - modern and I liked the lighting, but I felt like it really didn't have a "personality" I could put my finger on. It definitely didn't stand out as being Italian to me in any particular way.
I'll be back for the delicious pizza, and I'd like to try the Arugula Salad as well as the bruschetta.
Service was slow tonight, too, which surprised me since they weren't very busy at all.
Found ourselves at Stella on a cold and rainy Saturday evening. First, we were VERY pleased to find private lot parking behind the restaurant- a definite plus in this area. Stella welcomed us with a table in the bar area- no waiting. Off to a great start!
We liked their beverage selection- I found a wine that was very nice with a no so bad price. We ordered the calamari, mussels and a veggie pizza with the addition of parma and shrimp. (My man made this choice- kind of surprising as he's usually all meat.)
The calamari and mussels arrived quickly- right after the drinks. (I'm always so pleased when the wait for food is short!) We loved the calamari- nice fat chunks, lightly battered, and the sauce was very nice. The mussels were cooked perfectly, and the broth was good. With only two pieces of bread, we needed to order more to sop up the broth, a custom that seemed unusual here. Although the mussels were good, we have some pretty high marks set from previous tries (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) making it hard to compare.
The pizza, though, stole the show. The crust was extra thin and crispy- a rarity around this town. SO GOOD! The ingredients were a perfect balance- a lesson is "less is more". A simple touch of mushrooms, onions, olives, spinach- topped with perfectly cooked shrimp and paper-thin parma ham- delicious! Each ingredient was tasty and the combo was really nice. A winner!
We'll be back!
This is mostly a brunch review, but I've been there for dinner as well and it's good.
Run by the same folks who operate Osteria in Highlands, Stella's brunch menu is almost identical, but I felt like it was better than Osteria. All of the eggs are organic and free range which is rare if not impossible to find. The prices are a good value for what you get (usually $8-11 for an omelet with a side and toast). I really dig the caprese omelet which consist of eggs, mozzarella, basil, and grilled roma tomatoes. Their potatoes and parmesan grits are really good and everything is very fresh.
Not a lot of people there when we went Saturday morning. Good service and easy parking. Go out and support these guys. They're pioneers in an area that needs them!
Ventured out to Stella last night after Six Feet Under had an hour and a half wait. Stella quickly turned my disappointment about not sharing Six Feet Under with the in-laws, to a smile when I entered their welcoming and oddly familiar restaurant. This was my first visit, but the overall setup and ambiance fit like a snug glove.
The house red wine (a pinot noir) was average, but what was above average was my no-stem wine glass: Loved It! (It's the little things...)
We only ordered entrees, but the table behind me had the fried ravioli appetizer, and it looked divine! I plan on trying those out next time around. I ordered one of the specials: Shrimp Scampi. It was delicious! I cleared my plate, and then had a slice of my Mother-In-Laws margarita pizza, which wasn't as good as my scampi, but still had a really nice thin crust which I enjoyed.
The host was friendly and our waiter was prompt. No complaints about the service what-so-ever....
We had a pretty quick visit, but I could see myself lingering here for hours over wine, and some excellent Italian dishes.
My only wish? A side-salad with the entrees and/or some bread for the table. An inexpensive thing that would go a long way in my book. It's Italian cuisine! Put some bread on the table with some olive oil!
Despite my small wish-list, I plan on visiting Stella again soon and I think you should too!
I just went there for lunch today with a friend... I think they only recently started opening for lunch on the weekdays. Anyways, I tried the Chicken Club sandwich and was not disappointed. The bread was tasty and the seasoning on the chicken was perfect. I haven't tried their pizzas, but they look delicious.
They usually have some good specials on drinks and appetizers, especially if you get there during typical "happy hour" times.
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Stella was our lifesaver last Sunday night. We went to 3 other restaurants, all with various issues ranging from no liquor license to a burst pipe, before finally arriving at Stella at 8:45 on a Sunday. Luckily they were open until 10 - and they were busy well past then.
They had really decent wine prices and we went with a bottle. Ceasar salads were pretty yummy, though I think they could step it up a notch with the croutons. I had spaghetti and meatballs and their meatballs were AWESOME. I really enjoyed it. The boy scarfed down his eggplant parm as well.
I saw some people eating pizzas and they looked like a really good size for personal pizzas. We sat on the patio, which was very nice, and our server was very friendly.
I'll be returning. Thanks for saving the night, Stella.
Yes -- bread is $3. it is also SPECTACULAR bread that they bake fresh each shift. Truth is, the bread was actually the best thing I had -- my pizza wasn't all that great.
FYI -- they have Wii set up for anyone to play (at least on Wednesdays), which was pretty fun.
The owner does great things for the neighborhood, and does a wonderful job with Doc Chey's. However, I've tried this place twice, and while it is decent food, there was just nothing exciting.
Really, my requirements are simple, if you are going to serve Italian food, it should taste better than the spagetti I make in less time that it takes for me travel to the restaurant. If its not better, then well, it should at least be cheaper.
"I never met a dame yet that didn't know if she was good-looking or not without being told, and there's some of them that give themselves credit for more than they've got." - Stanley Kowalski
Stella... you think you're pretty and you boast Eye-talian fare but yet I was pleasantly surprised. I had never been a fan of Doc Chey's with their faux Asian grub. So when they opened this joint, I was pretty much in stitches from laughter. I heard Stellaaaa at first, then Adriannnn in the background... it was a real knee slapper. How authentic could it be? Is it old school Italian grub? No... but it'll do for the urban pioneers in this area. I'll give HomeGrown this much... it's affordable chow.
Mussels "bianco" - The PEI mussels were plump and fwesh but the white wine and garlic bwoth tasted like "binaca". It was just too watery and kinda bland. The foccacia bwead seemed like it came from the Last Supper... hard, old and dusty.
Margherita 'ZA - With fwesh mozza ($2 extwa) was not too shabby. I don't get why restos give you the option b/t shredded or fwesh mozza. It's like... "Do you want old ass shredded cheez in a bag or fresh sliced cheez? Ah, I'll take the fromunda cheez pweez!" Besides the cheez issue, the 'organic wheat' crust was thin, crispy and nicely charred on the bottom. The slice actually folded without breaking apart. The 'organic' sauce was a bit watery and bland. The basil was added after it came outta the oven... which is wrong. It ain't NYC style or approved by the Naples Pizza Association but it was decent nonetheless.
Pork Ragu - Fwesh pappardelle was decent and al dente but it was all stuck together like a 200 yr old house with 20 layers of wallpaper. The "slow cooked" pork ragu seemed like it was from last week... I think it was Jack Link's jerky instead of Riverview Farm pork. The shaved pecorino romano cheez was ok. Overall, this dish coulda been verra good if it was prepared a bit better. I would order it again.
I can't really bitch slap this place b/c it really doesn't try too hard to be something they're not. Just a decent neighborhood pasta joint on the cheap. The service is attentive and nice. The menu is pretty simple and straight forward... just keep the execution consistent and this place could be a winner or is that wiener if we're talking about their sausages?
A good addition to this armpit of Atlanta. Just don't venture too far off Memorial or else it'll get hairy... well, there is Ria's a few doors down.
Burp.
A surprisingly good place.
I ate here a couple weeks ago. I didn't know anything about this place or what to expect.
I was helping a friend move in the area, and after working all morning and into mid afternoon, we stopped by this place.
Being Sweaty, Starving and Sore, I was just ready for a beer, some food, and a place to crash. I got much more than that.
They have a decent selection of beers, domestic and imports. I felt woefully underdressed in sweats and a t-shirt, but it wasn't a problem in the saturday afternoon, when we were the only ones there.
Another reviewer mentioned how they charged for bread, but its good enough that I could see people crashing the bar buying a bottle of wine, and consuming bread all night long, and walking out happy.
i ordered the Bacci, which was bowl-lickeningly good (is that even a word??).
My friends pizza was very good as well.
I'd like to go back to this place during the week, to check out the wines and the scene.
I think Stella is fab. It is a great addition to Memorial Drive and we have not had a bad thing to eat yet. (We have been 3 times in the last couple of months.) Mostly, we share the Caesar and the friggin amazing Boci pasta, but we have had other stuff- including a pizza, a chicken dish, and a shrimp pasta special.
The reason why we have gone so often is threefold: they use organic and local ingredients as much as possible, the pastas are homemade, and it is extremely affordable.
I know I am not being very descriptive this late morning, but I am cold and want to go take a hot shower.
Love it and am craving it now.
p.s. am not a fan of osteria or whatever the name is - the other restaurant owned by this same group. blah-blah.
A great Italian joint. It looks a little flashy for the menu and servers in T-shirts, but the food is fantastic. The pork ragu is unreal. The first time we went, we both ordered it and practically licked the plate. The second time, wanting something mellow, I had the pomodoro - spaghetti with organic tomato sauce, basil and parmesan. It was just what I wanted. The (not your typical) caprese salad is absolutely delicious and unexpected.
The wait staff are very friendly and accommodating - we arrived and joined three friends halfway through the meal - and they were so kind to keep things flowing as evenly as possible - though it takes a while to get your drinks no matter if you order water or a glass of wine. Great place for families too. We've seen a lot of large groups and folks with kids there so I'd recommend it for a casual, mellow evening out or a great place to meet friends and relax over a great Italian meal.
So many reviews already...so I'll keep this simple. I like Stella. It's currently my favorite neighborhood spots for a quick pizza fix. It's consistent and the prices are palatable. I think this is the best Caesar salad under 10 bucks in the city (try it with chicken or shrimp!)They also have a good pomegranate martini. I have tried several of the pizzas, but typically stick to pepperoni and mushroom. As far as apps go...calamari is the way to go..for dessert try the tiramasu...light and tasty.
This is also my new brunch stops as it's cheaper and quicker than trying to go to Murphy's. I love the potatoes/fries and the french toast will satisfy any sunrise sweet tooth. Stella has also just started opening for lunch.
The service is always great and people are talkative as well as attentive. One of the servers is my good friend Kelly T. Fun times!
The only day I dread is when Stella becomes crowded, particularly brunch. I like the fact that i can come in and sit down immediately. I've never waited to dine. They even accommodate a group of the gals for a brunch gathering one day.
Came here with my wife on a Friday night. Ordered a range of food and was generally impressed. The Caprese salad was well above average. The scallops in the white sauce were not however. The scallops themselves were cooked perfectly, but the sauce was bland and forgettable. Service was average. I'd eat here again if I was in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't drive across town. On a side note, the decor was very nice...the throng of customers who looked liked they came straight from a Phish concert seemed a bit out place. Clean clothes when you go out to dinner....it's not that hard.......
Jim and I ate here last night. I prefer eating at the bar and there was plenty of space even though it was 7 p.m. on a Friday night.
I ordered the pork ragu. Jim had spaghetti and meatballs. Both of us split the antipasto appetizer. Really, the food here is solid. You will not be disappointed and it is inexpensive. I had a Folie a Deux wine (I think that is the correct spelling) which was a blend of whites. It went with my pork really well.
The service was attentive and not smothering, which I greatly appreciate.
They take Cash, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
The decor is nice. Not flashy, but nice enough to be a date place. Even though it was only the… Read more »
Ended up going there on a Wednesday night with Ashley since she's been a bit out of the Project Runway loop ever since we've moved and been waiting for cable service. Not that Project Runway is my cup of tea exactly, but I've always kind of wondered there there aren't more places that do similar things for other shows. I mean, you love a popular show, other people love it, why not go somewhere where you can experience it with a group of others in the neighborhood, all while grabbing a drink and a bite to eat?
At Stella they do this weekly, and it's a small but friendly crowd, but facilitated by the Stella staff. Our server went out of her way to make sure to get us a good spot, turning up the volume if necessary.
We only had the pepperoni pizza. Not 5-star delicious, but there was plenty else that looked good. I'm sure other reviews have touched on the food.
But HUGE plus: the $2 beer special. I figure they probably rotate, but our night was Red Stripe. That's damn hard to beat from what I've seen here in Atlanta.
Kinda half-sketch neighborhood (our first time out there, and we went at night so maybe it's not actually that bad) but they've got their own well-lit parking area.
Going through my Amex statement I realized just how often we frequent this neighborhood gem.
I'll get the cons out of the way first- a limited menu, wait staff that is always friendly, but not always attentive, wine list could use some work, and parking at night (the back lot is secluded and not patrolled).
However, the pros far outweigh those minor complaints. The food is always fresh (their bruschetta is the best in the city), they have options for meat eaters and veg heads, the menu changes up a bit seasonally to take advantage of what's new but they still keep the mainstays (pomodoro, baci) on the menu. Their brunch is awesome- the breakfast sandwich has just the right balance of cooked (but not rubbery) egg and cheese with a crisp, slightly salty bread. The grits are sinful, although the potatoes are just ok. You can't go wrong with the french toast, esp. if you add marscapone and fruit.
The restaurant itself has a comfortable, yet stylish feel that doesn't feel manufactured or too hip. Oh, and don't forget to sign up for the Karma Card program for free food and other discounts. The staff are genuinely interested in what you have to say about the food and any recommendations you may have.
Overall, fresh ingredients, very reasonable prices, a stylish, yet not snobby venue, and very friendly staff make this a regular stop for us.
Local places rock. My girlfriend and I slogged over here after Six Feet Under said it would be an hour wait for the deck. And this country boy doesn't wait an hour for food. Period. So we made our way the three blocks over to Stella, which was on my list anyway.
So once there, we asked to sit on the patio... and they said it would be an hour wait. It's like there's some sort of vast right-wing patio/deck conspiracy or something. So then we asked about sitting *near* the patio... and the hostess said the server was on break, so we couldn't sit there until she returned. This did not amuse my blistered and overheated angelpumpkin, who said "anywhere is fine', which it wasn't really, but the hostess got the message and found us a four-top out of traffic. Which wasn't so hard to do as the interior was about half full what with all the patio dining and such.
But the food salvaged the evening. The locally organically grown antipasto plate was spare but the contents were flavorful. I ordered a draft Framboise, which strictly speaking is impossible, but the waitress painfully smiled and brought that and a Smithwyck's as requested. When I say "painfully smiled", I mean that in every sense of the expression.... she looked like she'd rather be waterboarding. But she checked in (painfully) every so often, so aside from the intensely pained expression I really can't complain.
I ordered the Baci (kind of a ravioli, but without the cursed Boyardee association), and my sweetpea had the eggplant parmigiana. The latter was notable in that it wasn't fried but instead oven-roasted, which made it ever so much lighter and GI-tract friendly. We shared our entrees, and while we initially thought we'd be taking some home, we ended up fairly cleaning our plates.
So then we left and walked quietly back to the homestead... contemplating the evening's ups and downs, the blisters, painful smiles, and organic mortadella. Woodward St. was quiet and offered no answers, and so we were left wondering about where the evening fit into the univeral plan, the mandela of the cosmos....
But the food was good.
Great food and prices! Weekend brunch is excellent! I love this place because you can get great Italian food and they are kid friendly. My kids love the macaroni and cheese dish on the kids menu. I did not give Stella 5 stars because the service is just OK. I have been there at least 5 times. Each time the service was not impressive.
I agree with pretty much everyone else...this place is Stellar! I can't say much for the decor or the ambiance, but hey the food is good and the patio is huge! Plus, its hard to find a decent Italian place that won't break the bank!
The food...it is excellent! Most of the items are organic or home grown and come from local farms. We started off with the Cesar Salad and Calamari. The Cesar dressing was different and packed a punch! Calamari was seasoned and cooked well...not too chewy and they excluded the tentacles! (Yay, because I don't like eating them). For our entrees, David got the Pork Ragu and I got the Chicken Parmesan. The ragu had shredded pieces of pork and David mentioned the noodles were tasty. I enjoyed my chicken Parmesan and realized at the end, that I had 2 chicken breast instead of one! You gotta love a restaurant that can pound some meat flat! Overall, the food tasted very fresh and nothing was salty.
I definitely look forward on coming back! I think next time I will try one of their whole wheat pizzas!
Special tip: Ask for a Karma Card! Once you register the card on line you get points (1 point per dollar) and are eligible to receive free food and stuff. Oh and you get $5.00 off your bill the next time you go to one of their rest.! The ones participating are Stella, Doc Chey's, and Osteria! This is a must for anyone that goes to these places often!
Stella opened up just down the street from us about 6 months ago, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with it!
Stella's interior has a very modern, clean feel, but somehow it's still got "warmth" and you feel like you could sit there and really spend time there.
The staff are simply... awesome. I feel like every time we go, I want to leave the waitstaff a larger-than-normal tip because I always have a really good experience. They're funny, they're nice, they're attentive to your order and refills, I can't ask for anything more from these folks, they do an excellent job.
Now, the food is probably the clincher. As somebody who really could care less about "Italian" food, Stella manages to impress me every single time. You can taste the obvious differences in the quality of the ingredients, as well as the creativity of the dishes they serve. This ain't Olive Garden! My two favorite things on the menu are the Tuscan Chicken, and the Pea-Ravioli (trust me, it's awesome). My wife is totally obsessed with the Bacci. Every single time, she gets it.
If you live in the neighborhood or your just looking for a new place to get your Italian fix, be sure to check out Stella, you won't be disappointed!
I've been eating at Stella since they first opened, and I have yet to have anything but a wonderful experience!
The bruschetta and baci are my favorites. The service is always attentive and friendly, and parking is a breeze in a free lot behind the building. Most of their food is organic and locally grown, and their menu has a large selection of vegetarian options. Their prices are relatively low considering the quality of food -- I think you can expect to eat really well there for around $15 per person.
Get the pizza. I've had both the Pesto Pizza and the Gorgonzola pizza here and both were outstanding. The food is great, the staff is attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere is nice. This is part of the Homegrown group of restaurants (which includes Doc Chey's and Osteria 832) which all use locally grown produce (yum!).
I'll be returning to Stella to try more dishes soon.
Neighborhood: Morningside / Lenox Park
Category: Asian Fusion
Neighborhood: Inman Park
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Virginia Highlands
Category: Pizza
Atlanta, GA
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Grant Park
Category: Seafood
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