Stellina Restaurant

Stellina just became my favorite local restaurant.  I have been there for lunch a couple of times and their caprese pressed panini sandwich is very good - along with their fries.  We went for dinner last night and I wish I had a bigger stomach.  The grilled black fig antipasti was excellent and my chicken marsala with wine sauce and garlic potatoes were super delicious!

I appreciate Stellina's seasonal menu and overall quality of food and service!

Okay, we all have off nights, and my previous review of Stellina was clearly not one of Stellina's best performances.  But to be fair, I went back a week ago, and it was MUCH better, food on point, service sharp and friendly.  I still think it could use a little refresh of decor, menu, and wine list, but it was much closer to the Stellina I adored pre-2008.

A trip to... the south of France!?!

I know what you're thinking:  Stellina is an Italian restaurant.  And it is.  But the menu just changed, and I had dinner there tonight--and I feel like I've taken a little trip to the south of France, but without the jetlag.

All it took was one half glass of the (extremely tasty) rose, and an order of the sicilian seafood zuppa:  heaven.  Better than any seafood stew I've had in the Boston area, and better than half of the provencale seafood soups I've had in Nice, France (close enough to Italy!).  The fish (mussels, white fish and shrimp) was cooked perfectly.  The couscous was unconventional, but worked.  The aioli had plenty of the requisite garlic.  My only criticism is that the dish is quite rich and the portion generous, but that led to me taking half of it home for lunch tomorrow, and so all is forgiven.

Oh...and did I mention the amazing live jazz, which, as it happens, occurs every Tuesday night?

I ate at the bar, with attentive, kind, but non-intrusive, staff.

I'll be back!