Stella

Went to Stella’s only to learn that they are closing on Wednesday :-(they are opening again as a Doc Shey’s in a month:-\
The waiter was cool and very knowledgable. Great recommendations. Thank you.
We had chicken pesto pizza and tuscan chicken. The pizza was fantastic and really fresh. The tuscan chicken is fettuchini with dried tomatoes, chicken, and a cheese/​wine sauce. Also very tasty and a great mixture of flavors.
A great experience and we will certainly go back to check the place when it opens up again.

I went for the first time last night and I loved it! This was the cutest area! I am so sad they are closing the end of the month, check it out while you still can!
They have great specials, and all the food is super fresh.
I’m sad to see you go.
STEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! couldn’t resist.

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. =)

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.

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.

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.)

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!

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.

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!

Wow. They close at 10 PM on Saturday nights? Early, early. We walked in at 9:55 PM and they still took us. We scarfed down some decent pomodoro and where outta there. One thing that threw me off was the $ 3 bread. Pricy, when in comparison to the loads of free bread you get at Figo.

Sadly they are closed now and will become a Doc Chey’s. Bah.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Stella Haiku Review
Warm focaccia
is super tasty at this
local pasta joint.

I agree with pretty much everyone else… this place is Stellar! I can’t say much for the décor 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!

We Atlantans love our new toys and the reviews are flying fast for this new Italian trattatoria in Grant Park. Let me put in my 2 lira before it gets too late. The jarring presence of the Oakland Lofts in Grant Park notwithstanding (and besides, it’s not Stella’s fault), we’ve all been watching this restaurant’s progress with much anticipation.
«Ooo, they just put up their sign!»
«Hey, their doing interior work!»
«I think I see people inside!» So even before they opened, Stella seemed well on their way to their goal of being a neighborhood hangout. Much care was put into the space though this early on, it still had that «new restaurant smell.» A few more months of sauted garlic ought to burn that smell right out. Dark wood paneling abounds. I’m not sure if they plan on adding any artwork, though, since the walls seem strangely naked to me at this point.
Our waitress was the preternaturally perky Holly. Now normally perky would bother me, seeing as how the only times I’m not cranky is when I’m surly. But it seemed to genuinely fit her personality so it was okay. She apologized for the lack of a liquor license just yet, but she listed off the bottled water and soda options off with the care of a master sommelier. I will take your best Pellegrino. And may I smell the cap?
The girlfriend ordered a mushroom pizza while I ordered the braised beef short ribs served with polenta and parsnips. Wayne ordered the chicken piccata Wait, who the hell’s Wayne?
The short ribs were great and the parsnips an unexpected, yet good addition. The pizza’s crust was thin and fairly crisp. We did have to blot the pizza before eating though. This being mushroom sans meat, makes me wonder what’ll happen if pepperoni’s on it. However, having blotted some of the best pizzas, I didn’t really find it too worrisome. The only negative was, after being sold on «the best Caesar salad in the world,» I thought it was just ok. The dressing had good flavor, but the croutons, like this past season of «24,» were hard and overcooked.
Oh and based on what I saw the night we went, if it’s your birthday, you will be sung to. No, not Bennigans style. I’d describe it more in the style of Babyface. The guy wasn’t bad, but he got a little pitchy in the big notes, Dawg.
Finally, it seems brunch will be served here once the weather settles and furniture is placed on the porch. We were told the menu will look a lot like Osteria 832’s brunch menu, but with some unique touches. I don’t know what that means since I’ve never thought about going to Osteria 832 for brunch. And those who have karma cards from Osteria or Doc Chey can use them here too. So Stella, hey STELLA! Welcome to the neighborhood you cute little starlet you. We’ll be keeping an eye on you, so don’t let us down.

Brand new neighborhood Italian restaurant in the Oakland Park condo building across from Oakland Cemetary. Went last night on their 3^rd day of business and the service was amazing! Our waitress, the runners, hostess – everyone was super friendly, had suggestions for what to try and gave us plenty of time to study the menu. They haven’t gotten their liquor license yet, so wait a few days if you can’t eat pasta without your vino.
This place is owned by the same folks who run Osteria and Doc Cheys. The pizzas are similar in size & style to Osteria’s except they’re experimenting with a whole wheat crust, which was pretty good. My boyfriend had the chicken parm with fresh mozarella and said it was the best he had had in years. Our friend had the spinach linguini and loved the light alfredo style sauce.
We will definitely be back – it’s super convenient and not smoky like some of the other neighborhood options.