Stella Blue

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  This restaurant is a great find in Northwestern Ohio.  I stopped in for lunch  August 2012 & thought it was great.  
  I have lived near San Francisco for almost 40 years after growing up on a farm near Defiance.  The food was comparable to a fine bistro in SF.
  Tonight we had an excellent dinner with delicious desserts.  The food is freshly made with wonderful ingredients & beautiful presentation.  The wine selection is excellent.  We found out that the chef trained at the California Culinary Academy in Napa Valley & at many of the best restaurants in San Francisco.
  The staff is friendly & attentive.  
  Tonight there was a wonderful jazz trio.
  It's an art gallery too with great contemporary art lining the walls.
  
  Blue satisfies the senses:  taste, vision & sound!  One doesn't need to travel to the West Coast for a great dinner.  Please enjoy the flavors of well-prepared, healthy food.

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  Posted on 09.12.13 Theresa F.

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  Started off very well when they first opened.  Quality steadily declined.  However, recently the food has come back to life and it looks like they may be turning things around.  It deserves another chance if you haven't been here in a while.  A four star is within reach for them!

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  Posted on 09.01.13 Jay Rand B.

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  Love the food here, it's a nice change from the usual bar food. The selection of beers is great too. They also have live music which is a nice change up to from some of the local bars around the area.

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  Posted on 08.29.12 Paul K.

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  Okay, I hope this was just an off night, but when we went it was not a good experience.  The service was paint drying on the wall slow, and the waitress seemed confused about simple matters.  The appetizer I had was fine - a buffalo dip with pita chips.  The actual meal was sub-standard.  I had the "smoky chicken" which was a chicken breast with some barbeque sauce, cheese, tomato and bacon on it.  The  breast meat was bone dry, the sauce was mediocre.  My additions were a salad which was okay, and the parmigiano whipped potatoes which were strangely dry and lacking in flavor. My wife had a tough sirloin steak that had lots of gristle, and my son had the stirfry with chicken which both he and my wife described as basically inedible.  To try and get the tastes out of our mouth we ordered a raspberry cake dessert which was okay once it arrived (about 15 minutes after we ordered it).  Overall a disappointing experience.

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  Posted on 08.22.12 Wade G.

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  Yelp led us here on a trip across country. Not far off I-80, and Yelp delivered! My wife and I had a balanced meal of smothered fries and BBQ chicken salad. Both were great, but the salad was awesome. Big portion, beautiful presentation and delicious.

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  Posted on 06.16.12 Chris H.

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  Visited on a Thur night and it was busy at 6pm, a good sign.  Was by myself as I travel on business a ton.  Was welcomed and seated by a friendly attractive girl.  Server was right over for drink order.  I was taking my time reading the whole menu and she did a good job keeping track of me do that I did not have to wait too long once I laid the menu down.  
  
  My server was friendly, attentive and efficient (and yes attractive).  Her timing on courses could not have been better.  Everything came out fresh and I could tell she was keeping control of the timing and communicating with the kitchen - that is something that a lot of restaurants do not seem to be able to do - they did it to perfection.
  
  The chicken chili was tasty, a bit mild for me but most likely good for a regular audience.  The risotto balls were great.  The ribeye was very good.  Had it New Orleans style and they know how to cook a rare steak.
  
  There was no salt and pepper on the table.  The kitchen/Chef is making a statement with this and they got it right.  I did not need any salt or pepper on anything.  Seasoning was perfect.  At this price point I have never experienced that.
  
  The Creme Brûlée was spot on.  No graininess and smooth as silk.  They used a trick I learned from a pastry chef in Atlanta and used brown sugar for the topping instead of white sugar.  Gives a richer, fuller, sweeter flavor and brûlées really nicely.
  
  I recommend Stella Blue without reservation!
  
  Enjoy.
  
  UPDATE 2/7/12
  Have been several times and this continues to be excellent.  One of my favorite restaurants and I go whenever I am in town.  Have still not ever needed the salt and pepper to adjust the food!

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  Posted on 10.25.11 David L.

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  Stella Blue is my favorite restaurant in Fulton County.  The menu changes seasonally, but there is always a good mix of sandwiches, meats and seafood.  They also serve some pretty darn good barbeque on occasion.  Everything I've had at Stella has been good, so feel free to cruise the menu.
  
  There's always a couple seasonal beers on tap, so that helps with me happiness as well!

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  Posted on 10.17.11 Brian F.

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  What a delightful restaurant!! Service Impeccible. Food Completely flavorful. Atmosphere Delightful. If you're in the NW of Ohio, this place is well worth the trip. Prices great, too. We had Mussels and flatbread as appetizers, both incredible flavor (get bread to sop up the mussel broth), I had the Salmon for dinner. I'm usually hesitant about ordering salmon out, but threw caution to the wind this time. Glad I did. Perfectly cooked, just a teeny amount of lobster cream (perfect amount) and some crabcake made it the right amount, the right flavors, Perfect.
  Wait staff was very attentive, very prompt, Very Good. Gotta Love It!

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  Posted on 07.07.11 Cindy H.

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  We made it four weeks in a row.  And our opinions of the place remain the same.
  
  I, and two of our companions, tried the fillet.  My wife had the turkey bourbon club, which she said was great.
  
  My fillet wasn't the best cut of fillet I've had certainly.  But how it was cooked and seasoned more than made up for it.  It was fantastic.
  
  So of our four times here, once I had something I won't order again, though it was ok, just not special.  And three times I had something very wonderful.  I'll take that kind of track record any day.
  
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  We've now been here three times, the last three Friday nights,  Yes we love this place.
  
  My second time I had the Chicken Parmigiano, which was a nice try, rolled with the cheese and some filling.  But unlike the other things we've had there, it wasn't spectacular.  
  
  The third time I had the American Burger, my wife the Blue Burger.  Both of us will be getting get these again.  Mine didn't come with ketchup, so I added some, which was a mistake.  They were right in not putting ketchup on it, I should have trusted them.
  
  With my burger I got wings (barbeque sauce) as a side.  The wings themselves were fantastic, perfectly cooked and very juicy.  But they were way too smokey in flavor.
  
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  As we drove out to this place we already had preconceptions and were even excited just from having read their menu online.  The item descriptions are enticing, letting you know right off this is not an ordinary restaurant.  
  
  Inside, the place is spacious and very nicely decorated.  They suggest one make reservations for Friday and Saturday nights.
  
  For a fancier place, the portions were large, both appetizers being way more than we should have eaten, as I later paid for.  The portion size really was quite surprising, as the prices are remarkably reasonable for what you get.  The one entrée, a barbeque platter, was of a ridiculous size, and the guy who got it (though often amazing us with his ability to eat small cows in a single sitting to our chants of "Man vs Food") couldn't even finish half of it.
  
  When the entrée's came out, I was stunned.  All four of them were photo quality plates.  The food didn't just look wonderfully tasty, but looked like something you would see in the Food Network's magazine!  This is when I really knew we were having an amazing experience.
  
  My meal was the Jammed Cod, "Flaky cod jammed packed with shrimp, scallops and crab, Asiago crusted and drizzled with creamy Alfredo sauce, twice baked potato au gratin and julienne vegetables" to quote from their menu.  All three items were exquisite, none of this slapping on some out of the bag veggies to fill out a plate.  Every last bit of it was amazing.  
  
  The packing of the shrimp, scallops and crab wasn't just a token amount so they can legally state this in their menu.  You could taste it with each bite!  
  
  One of my gripes I'm having of late is that restaurants have cheap silverware which bends when you put even just a little force on it.  Stella's cutlery is quality, and another thing I noticed is that they have classy plates and dishes as well.  My au gratin potatoes came in a bowl of sorts which wasn't just attractive, but functional also, as it served to insulate them better, keeping them from cooling off as they would have otherwise.  
  
  The food was superb, our server was very friendly, very helpful and very attentive, the prices unbelievably reasonable.  About the only complaint I have is that it is a long drive for us from Toledo.  Of course we are trying to arrange a trip back within a week of our first visit.
  
  Unless all four of the meals our group had were anomalies, Stella Blue's has become one of our favorite places to eat in NW Ohio, if not the favorite!  It makes me wonder if I'm going to have to reconsider my whole rating system as I can't give this place more than five stars.

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  Posted on 06.14.11 Hank's Dad R.

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  We dined at Stella Blue this evening with another couple. We drove the hour west to Archbold and were hoping not to be disappointed by what we read on their website or from other Yelp foodies. WOW - Stella Blue really delivered tonight. We started with the crab and artichoke dip and the onion haystack. Both were gigantic and fantastic. I selected the Penne Primavera with chicken, my spouse selected the enormous BBQ ribs, wings and brisket special and our companions selected the jammed cod and the shrimp scampi ravioli. All were presented in an artful and upscale fashion. The pastas were served with a house salad. The mango chardonnay vinaigrette was superb. Each of us raved throughout the meal about our respective choices. They came to the table piping hot and done to perfection. The prices were very reasonable. We will definitely be returning very soon. Stella Blue is well worth the drive. The staff was very personable and helpful. We learned there is live music three nights per week - a pleasant surprise for this rural community. We had outstanding service and an amazing meal - what more could we ask for?

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  Posted on 05.13.11 Sabrina G.

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  I was treated to dinner at Stella Blue while visiting from afar. It's easy to see why this star shines, and no need to feel blue about eating here! The only thing I feel blue about is not being able to return for MORE, and I live in an Eastern city known for it's dining establishments.  I wish I lived closer, I would be a regular here!  Very impressive!
  
  The walls have artwork by area folks, much of which is for sale. I always like it when eating venues do this. Ambience was casual, yet you could be dressed up and not be out of place. Jeans or designer duds work equally well here.
  
  I had the chicken coated with panko, stuffed with mushrooms. The Perfectly crispy outside covered moist chicken filled with mushrooms and sauce. Delish!
  
  One dining companion had the lobster ravioli. It was made with GENUINE lobster, NOT THE SEAFOOD LEGS that so many use and have the nerve to call lobster and had fresh baby scallops in the sauce. Another hit. I know, because I tasted! Another dining companion had the shrimp macaroni cheese, which was also very good.
  
  The green beans  were FRESH, not frozen, as is often the case. They were cooked correctly, too. Not that horrible undercooked, that  is really just raw and hot rather than cooked but still crunchy. These were done just right. Another plus.
  
  The side portions were just right-not too much, not too little. The only complaint, if I had to find something, is that the ginger-orange sauce on the green beans had a suspiciously bottled quality: very sweet, and lacking in any of the zip and pizazz I expect from a ginger and orange treatment. The same is true of the dressing on the Asian slaw: too sweet, no zippy flavor, suspiciously tasting like something out of a bottle. The slaw had the addtional problem of cabbage that was too tough,cut too large and bitter. It would be better made with Chinese cabbage, or at least cut the cabbage into thinner slices,and work on the dressing!! The very fresh starter salads had only one type of  lettuce-I think it was Romaine- as a base for other ingredients. I would have like it better to have just a LITTLE BIT of baby salad greens in there, not a lot mind you, just a tiny bit to give interest. I take my veggies very seriously, although most folks might overlook this. All these are minor complaints that would be easily corrected. I believe Stella Blue deserves 5 stars.The restaurant really shines in so many ways.
  
  Many varieties of coffee drinks were available. Available was my favorite HOT CIDER!! Alchohol is served, and another fav-HOT BUTTERED RUM!! Wait, it gets better! Tea selections were better than what I get in a major urban area known for it's dining!! Amazing! How refreshing that there is more being offered than just the ordinary brands. They had an authentic Chinese tea as well.
  
  I did not have room for dessert, but peered into the case at the offerings. Clearly, the desserts were NOT of the usual pre-fab variety commonly offered in establishments that should know better. Gelato was available. I was told by other diners that the desserts are very, very good, and I believe them. The custards (Flan?) in the case appeared to be homemade.
  
  Service was, well, stellar! Our server was genuinely friendly, and cared about what she was doing. Very professional. How refreshing.
  
  Be aware there is a problem with acoustics, as the building was once a hardware store. There is a wood floor and no ceiling tiles. This, along with the artwork, makes for great ambience, but if there is a band, conversation is very difficult. If there is a band, try to sit as far away as possible if quiet conversation is on your menu. There was a section off to the side by the entrance that appeared to be a "quiet section", away from the bulk of the noise, but it didn't seem as quiet as it should be. Nice to see that management was aware of the issue, though.
  
  Restrooms were clean and well stocked, even though it was a packed house night.

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  Posted on 12.29.10 D L.

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  Came here for brunch last Sunday. And it was DELICIOUS. First off, the coffee comes in big mugs (a plus after church ran unexpectedly long...). You have two options: single items or buffet. We went with the buffet route and it was a great choice. Sister got waffles that she said were cold, but everything else was good. I had pancakes with crasins (other options included chocolate chip, pecan and plain), sausage gravy and biscuits, and apple pear cobbler. There were Eggs Benedict, omelets (I think), fried chicken, bbq pork, potatoes, salad bar, fruit and blackberry bread pudding. It was a great brunch, something I would do over and over...

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  Posted on 09.20.10 Jessica L.

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