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Stella's Restaurant and Bar
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
4 reviews for Stella's Restaurant and Bar
In the heart of Historic Perrysburg lies Stella's Restaurant and Bar. Three of my friends and I found ourselves here for a much needed celebration -- a birthday amongst other things. I personally found the layout to this restaurant quite charming: bar on the first floor and dining area on the second adorned with Dale Chihuly works. The redness of the dining area also lended a homey atmosphere that would make this a great place to eat on a cold winter day. Once seated, we were greeted by our server, who seemed rather brusque at first but let her guard down and was more conversational as the evening progressed.
Warm bread and butter were brought to our table upon placing our orders. While the butter tasted rather generic, the sourdough bread was moist while maintaining its crispiness and chewiness. Needless to say, the bread basket was gone faster than the time it took for my appetizer to arrive.
For starters, I had the Baked Brie en Croute, which for its price tag and presentation, was rather steep. While I didn't care too much for the fruit medley, the brie was baked to perfection and wrapped with just the right amount of flakiness. Warm and gooey, it hit the spot in an instant. My friend who went for the fruits claimed them to be a let-down and would have wanted to see more berries on the plate since berry season is upon us afterall.
While the menu was rather enticing, I found myself settling with the Beef Tournedos Stella for my main entree along with the split pea soup -- a good choice not only for the fall/winter time but also for the cold Ohio spring days -- as it came out piping hot. Smooth in texture and rich in taste, croutons would have added an extra 'oomph' to this soup.
As for the entree itself, ordering the meat prepared well was a mistake since I spent more time trying to cut the meat without sending it flying across the table than I did eating it. The 'rich demi-glace' (aka brown veal sauce) was a-okay; in retrospect, I was expecting more hints of red wine and brandy rather than simply the brown veal sauce. The whipped potatoes was also a smidge disappointing, since it lacked the fluffiness (and taste overall.) The same holds true for the accompanying roasted vegetables, which could use a bit more flavor. Other entrees ordered at our table were the Rib-eye and the New Yorker. One caveat: a 12 oz steak translates to petite here at Stella's.
To end on a sweet note, I went with the chocolate cake for my dessert. What was described (since Stella's doesn't have a dessert menu) sounded absolutely divine -- i.e. six or so types of chocolate in a slice of cake. Rich without being overly sweet, each bite of the chocolate cake with a dollop of the fresh whipped cream proved to be a bite of heaven.
While I wouldn't necessarily call my dining experience at Stella's stellar, it wasn't an unsatisfactory one either. There clearly were some hits and some misses, and in the end, it just seemed as though they balanced each other out to the point where I would say that it was a-okay overall. That's not to say that I won't venture back in the near future, however. Stella's distinctive features and its quaint location -- not to mention the option of outdoor dining -- may actually send me back when (and if) the warmer weather comes.
I went to Stella's after reading Jessica C's review in search of something while I was in the area on business. I went on a Thursday night around 6, and it was hopping, though I was easily the youngest person in the building by 10 years, make that 20 in the bar area. I was dining alone, which always leaves me conflicted, because I love to enjoy a leisurely dinner, but frankly, I get bored when dining by myself, particularly since I'm a rather speedy eater.
I ordered a glass of wine, and in order to check my ID, the waitress had to take it and physically scan it or something... and in that drawn out process, she forgot to actually put in the order for my wine. So while the lobster bisque was good, it got cold quickly while I was waiting to enjoy my wine with it.
I was impressed by the distinctive details of the house salad, specifically the great mix of greens, the blueberry pomegranate vinaigrette, and homemade crutons.
I had the Tournedos Stella. It was a good dish, but somewhat lacking in seasoning - the sauce was very gravy like, and that seemed to be the only flavor on the plate. The meat was the right texture and color, but it could have used some salt, pepper, something. The vegetables were colorful, but a little too watery. The best part was the perfectly whipped mashed potatoes.
The wine list was impressive, and the decor was nice. The staff was friendly and attentive, after that first glass of wine.
Interesting menu......too bad the service is so awful that my aunt, mother, and myself got up and left after 11 minutes without the attention of a waiter. Sure, there appeared to be only one person working, but honestly that is no excuse.
The time was around 3:30pm on a Saturday, there were only 4 tables filled in the entire joint......we walked out.
I'll not be back.
When I go home to Toledo, Stella's is a must. This is my favorite restaurant back home. Stella's is in a beautiful, renovated old building with two stories and huge windows and the atmosphere is perfectly cozy on a cold winter day.
The martinis here are incredible and can be ordered with blue cheese olives- my favorite! Stella's food options are huge and consistently delicious. The baked brie appetizer is my favorite, but the lamb lollipops are not to be missed. For soup, the lobster bisque is a must-have and is rich and velvety smooth.
The entrees change a bit with the seasons, but I really enjoy the beef tournedos stella with whipped potatoes and the pork tenderloin, which comes with the most amazing apple-brandy cream sauce.
I'm looking forward to my Stella's fix when I'm home for Christmas! If you ever visit Toledo, Ohio be sure to check it out.