Stellina just became my favorite local restaurant. Â I have been there for lunch a couple of times and their caprese pressed panini sandwich is very good - along with their fries. Â We went for dinner last night and I wish I had a bigger stomach. Â 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. Â But to be fair, I went back a week ago, and it was MUCH better, food on point, service sharp and friendly. Â 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.
Review Source:A trip to... the south of France!?!
I know what you're thinking: Â Stellina is an Italian restaurant. Â And it is. Â 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: Â heaven. Â 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!). Â The fish (mussels, white fish and shrimp) was cooked perfectly. Â The couscous was unconventional, but worked. Â The aioli had plenty of the requisite garlic. Â 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!
WAY overpriced, bland food served in a room so dim that it makes you feel tired as it is hard for your eyes to focus. Â House salad dressing was mostly oil, not sufficiently emulsified, and had little discernible flavor. Â Swordfish was OK, not great, and definitely did not justify the $25 price tag. Â Completely unmemorable meal (in fact, we had been there once before, which I forgot because it was apparently unmemorable then also).
Review Source:Having eaten many times at Stellina's over the past few years we've always found it dependable and good. Warm, friendly atmosphere and excellent service. Clearly it has changed hands and we won't be returning.
The menu up on the website today is not up-to-date. There are other items on their printed menu now.
The "Warm Tomato Salad' that Stellina's-of-old was famous for (and that we loved) was not up to snuff. Poorer grade tomatoes and doused in too much dressing wilting the greens. I ordered an appetizer of two small quiches with a seafood filling. The crusts were dry and hard and the filling uninteresting.
The roasted beet salad was fine but our entrees were dull and one dimensional. We are sorry to loose a once favorite dining spot.
Ate here with a friend on a Thursday night. Â I had the Stellina meatballs with linguine and it was delicious! Sauce was fresh, meatballs were out of this world, and nothing was too salty. The assorted breads were excellent, particularly the rolls. Service was friendly and attentive.
A couple of complaints: I wouldn't categorize this place as romantic; it's very noisy. Also, the iced tea was from a fountain. I would expect fresh-brewed at these prices. However, neither of these details would keep me from going back.
Stellina's is a place I return to again and again - and not JUST because there is usually ample parking.  While there are the occasional off nights, the food, drinks and service are consistently very good.  I love the pesto dip and breads that start the meal, and the emphasis on fresh ingredients and thoughtful preparation really work.  Unfortunately that may mean you have a fantastic dish but then it disappears from the menu.  Overall if I wanted to fight traffic, find parking, pay more  I could find better meals downtown.  But make no mistake, while I appreciate the parking etc, I definitely return for the food.  Oh, yes and if it is warm weather, the outside patio is lovely.
Review Source:Had a great time here last night! It was my 3rd time and the best out of the 3. I live around the corner and this place is always packed. I've had the fig flat bread, mussels, soup, arugula salad and boar rigatoni...the rigatoni is to die for! They make their breads and pastas fresh so that's how you know it's a good place. Technically "pricey" for Wtown but not for the quality and you'd pay the same downtown or at Talk right down the street (Stellina is WAY better than Talk). Good stuff!
Review Source:I came to Stellina for an anniversary date, and was a little disappointed.
I made a reservation, which was honored. However, the seat was a window seat, and there were glaring street lights in my partner's eyes - not cool for a romantic dinner. Installing some shades would be a really nice touch.
The breads with dip were really tasty while we waited.
The pumpkin ravioli appetizer was the best pumpkin ravioli I've ever had! Why three stars, you ask? We got three normal sized ravioli pieces for $10. Sorry, but if you're charging $10 an appetizer, it should be at least a bit filling. I docked a star for this.
Entrees were solid, though again, at $20 an appetizer, I expected more - a bit more finesse with plating, or portions. My mashed potatoes were all over parts of my chicken, which was ok for me but some other people may not like that. There was plenty of room on the plate to separate them.
The chicken and pasta dishes we got were tasty, at least. Just wish the prices were a bit less steep.
Service was great, my water was filled tons of times, and checkins were frequent, but not so frequent that they bothered us.
Parking was pretty convenient, in the lot off of Church street. You do have to throw in some quarters, so come prepared.
Overall, I liked the food and the service - however, at $70 for a dinner out, I can do better, so I won't be back any time soon.
Since writing my original review I have been to Stellina at least 10 more times and I'm happy to say that they are now one of my favorite restaurants. Â I think I just wasn't happy with my original meal decision, but I have tried so many other things on their menu that I have been happy with. Â I like that their menu rotates, but that they keep some of the staples. Â My favorite dessert on the menu is the Napoleon creme brulee - layers of crispy fillo layered with creme brulee - perfection!
Review Source:I love the food here and have gone many times over the years. The warm tomato salad is amazing and the pork chop with cherries is fabulous.
But I'm giving it 2 stars for the following reasons:
They are cheap on their wines by the glass portions. I know that it's a popular practice for restaurants to measure wines by the glass up to an etched in line on the glass, ensuring a measured portion, but their glasses are exceptionally small to begin with so you end up with just a few sips. At $10.50 for a glass of mediocre Cabernet, it left me with a stingy impression. (A stark contrast to the generous glasses served at The Talk across the street, by the way).
They are pricey on certain items. The warm tomato salad while excellent is just tomatoes, goat cheese and bread is high at $14.00, for example.
The wait staff can be cold. When I ordered a second glass of wine, I politely asked the bartender to give me a full serving. The waitress just replied saying "it was filled to the line". I'm thinking she could have handled the situation with more grace. In general, she was flat and had zero personality. In fairness, I have had very nice experiences with waitstaff, though.
It seems in general Stellina may be struggling to make ends meet and are bordering on price gauging their customers. With Porchini's and The Talk offering better values nearby, I'll probably not return.
After living in Watertown for 5 years, I have passed by Stellina several times, but never tried it - until last night.
Atmosphere is very charming.
Food was incredible. I had the pork chop with cherries - and my BF had the "special" shrimp puttanesca. Both were delicious. We shared the fried oysters and white bean with sausage soup. Finished up with creme brulee and an Italian steamer with Baileys. YUM!
Service was great. Our waitress was attentive, my water glass was constantly filled (which was great since I did a double at the gym earlier). She visited our table just enough/not too much. I tried to find her name on the receipt, but her name wasn't there - only Server ID #10.
Pricing is slightly higher than what you'd expect in the 'burbs ($20+ entrees, $7 desserts, $10 drinks), but on par with what you pay in the city.
In summary - Stellina is a great "local" place to get "city" quality cuisine. If you haven't yet tried Stellina, I recommend you give it a try. Manga!
I have so many things to say about Stellina, both good and room-for-improvement, that we need bullet points:
- Romantic. Dark bar, just the right amount of noise.
- Tasty. Seasonal ingredients, constantly changing menu. Perfectly fried oysters. (See below.)
- Generous. I always have leftovers. Except for the pizza, which is the size of a dinner plate.
- Expensive. I really must think twice when I suggest Stellina for dinner because it's all too easy to drop a Benjamin. Yes, I get dinner and lunch out of one entree. Well, except for the pizza. Add chicken to a pasta dish and it's $4.00! Because it's not going to pluck itself, obviously.
- Socially awkward service. Several bartenders and a couple of wait staff are just... awkward. Not rude, just maybe not people-persons. Which is weird in the service industry.
- Closes early. This is not a bar to go to for late evening or for lingering over drinks. Wait staff makes a big deal about when the kitchen closes, which is well before the restaurant.
So, after all that is taken into consideration, here's more about the food: it really can be sublime. The pizzas (although, yep, small and expensive) are some of the best I've ever had, and that includes Brooklyn; the tangy sauce and the cheese are just right. The steak is cooked as-ordered and big for a tenderloin, and the accompanying truffle fries are NUTS. Last night I had the Fresh fusilli with garlic, cream, roasted mushrooms, Swiss chard, parmesan & Westfield Farm's smoked goat cheese and it was such a smoky, wonderful mix of flavors. The grilled jumbo shrimp used to be served with grits that rocked my world. Now that it's summer, you get delicious corn cakes. I dig it.
Tally: One appetizer, one pasta (with chicken) one pizza, special dessert, two beers, one cocktail and one glass of wine: $91.00. So, yeah, not every week. Unless you roll like that.
Went here the other night.
The warm figs were nice.
The arugula salad didn't have a lot of taste.
The blue fish was mustardy, and good.
The decant hot chocolate cake was impressive.
The pork chops were good.
Eating outside was very nice.
The waitress was a pickle, not fun.
The prices are right up there.
I'd go back with a groupon or some other savings.
d
Biggest let down in Watertown. Â After growing up here and always smelling their aromas as I went to Trescas and CVS I was super psyched especially based on price and reviews. Â This place was VERY disappointing. Â The food was over priced portions were small and the flavor didn't stand out. Â I liked the variety and daring ness of their menu but none of it worked out well. Â Many better selections nearby that do Italian cooking justice.
Review Source:We went on a saturday night and the place was packed but they were able to seat us immediately. Â Unfortunately it took the waitress about ten minutes to ask us for our drink order and bring us bread. Â The waitress seemed frazzled and clearly was looking after too many tables at once. Whoever manages this place needs to get their head out of their ass and hire some more wait staff for their busy times. Â When you pay $20+ for a meal you expect half decent service otherwise we'd head on over to CrappleBees and pay half the price.
I was craving some pasta and was diappointed that they only had three options for pasta none of which I was interested in. I settled on the chicken Marsala which was very tastey and saved this place from a 2 star rating.
Have been here several times and would return again. AS everyone ahs said, the warm tomato salad - oh Yeah! Although not a fan of the pesto potato bread spread - tasted like cold potatoes. Bleah! Friend had eggplant lasagna - oozing with cheese and delish! I had swordfish and caponata - the fish was Kabobed and I was expecting a steak - a little dry but tasty nonetheless. The caponata was excellant!
For dessert had the Salted Butterscotch Crumble  - simple (like a sundae) - and a nice ending to the meal.
Price is $$-$$$ depending on what you get
Wine list very good!! Missed the jazz this time (enjoyed it last time)
It's outrageous that Stellina is at only 3.5 stars. I've been here twice over the past few months, and everything has been amazing. We've ordered apps, entrees, and deserts, and nothing has been less than stellar. The Veal Scallopini and Chicken Marsala have so much flavor. My girlfriend's halibut and stuffed sole (seperate meals) were cooked perfectly. The tiramisu is one of the best I've had and the pastry in the apple crostada the other night was obscenely delicate.
Service is great. Maybe I haven't found the right place, but Stellina beats out every restauranr I've eaten at in the North End. Prices are very reasonable and portions are large. Go to Stellina today!
Stellina's in the kind of refreshing place you go when you're sick of NYAJ or sushi. I work right next to this place and should go more often than I do...
Atmosphere:
B+
kinda italian-trendy-small-owner-operated feel. Works for a business lunch or a glass of wine after work. I LOVE the cute bar here, if I could drink a glass of chilly white wine here after work everyday, i would, hands down.
The outside patio is nice, it has a cute fountain and all...but....tends to have bees flying around (I'm petrified of them), which made me a little uneasy. I doubt anyone else would have this same problem though lol.
Food:
A+ in my eye.s The menu changes, so there is always something new to try. They combine recognizable  dishes with new and interesting flavors. For instance, pasta with a slightly 'new-tasting' sauce. I had the sweet potato gnocchi once and omg was it good. The panini are also amazing (portabello panini i had last summer was the best ever).
They put just enough in your plate for lunch portions that you initially think, "aw thats all?" but by the time you get to the last bite, you are perfectly full and satisfied and glad for the proper portion size they served.
The staff always seems friendly. The only drawback is how long you tend to take there. Usually just makes the 1 hour lunch mark, sometimes more. But worth it.
Jazz Mondays!!!! Woo hoo! So fun!
I really like Stellina's - i would really give them 4.5 stars b/c i think their prices are a bit high for the food but it's still good food!
I ordered the arugala salad and the feta, spinach and garlic pizza with the Strawberry and Basil cocktails (i got it on the rocks...). Very happy with my choices and the best part is they come to the table with 3 types of bread and some pesto mayo/butter stuff that is awesome...
yum! thanks!
This is my family's go-to spot for drinks after work on a Friday evening. Â We usually sit at the bar and if you get there any time before 7 there will probably be seating at the bar, otherwise you can just wait about 5 mins for a table in the bar area. Â If you would like to sit in the actual dinner area on a Friday or Saturday night I would suggest making a reservation.
The reason it is our go-to spot is because the cocktail menu is so fun and has some great, yummy options. Â They also have a great wines "by the glass" list.
The food  (you can order the full menu at the bar) is just absolutely incredible.  I don't think I even have to bother mentioning the warm tomato salad but it is just that good that I might as well add to the hoopla over it! They also always have some amazing specials.
Prices are not bad at all but if you're looking for a cheap, average burger head next door to Joe's.
We were off to Watertown anyway (to buy produce at Russo's), so we figured why not stop at Stellina for lunch.
The room is beautifully sunny and warm (enough to make you forgive that awkward entrance which requires you to walk to the back of the restaurant to meet the very, very friendly hostess) and the menu is very simple: salads (maybe 6 choices), pastas (5 or 6 choices) and some paninis. Â
We shared a "mediterranean" salad (which purported to be a Greek salad but lacked the sharp tang of a Greek salad -- I don't fault them. Greek salad probably isn't their forte. Â That said, Stellina, throw a few more tomatoes in, please!) and the chicken piccata with pasta which was garlicky and had a complex taste. Â The whole thing came to $18, and we felt like we had a lovely, relaxing lunch time outing. Â The lunch menu at Stellina is really, really simple, and the food is relatively simple too - but it's an affordable and pleasant place to dine.
It's hard for me to write a review for Stellina because it's a place that means a lot to me. Â The hubby and I have been together for 12 years and for a majority of our time together we have been going to Stellina. Â We go for special events. Â We go for romantic nights out. Â We bring our friends and family. Â
What keeps us coming back? Â Consistently excellent food and an approachable wine list that won't make your wallet jump out of your pocket and run away. The menu changes frequently to reflect Italy's various regions and seasonally to utilize fresh produce, but there are static items, like the Chicken Marsala. Â The hubby would cry if they took that off the menu. Â He swears it's the best he's ever had.
In the summer we dine outside under the grape arbor and eat the fresh heirloom tomato salad. Â In the winter we dine in the cozy dining room that somehow feels like home. Â
When, after 10 years, my hubby and I finally got married we named the guest's tables for the places that have made an impression on our lives together. Â A table was named for Stellina.
Stellina is such a pretty name and rightfully fit for such an aesthetic restaurant. Â With a water fountain and small garden in the back entrance, white Christmas lights, and cute dimly-lit table lamps, Stellina is the perfect spot for drinks and eats with loved ones.
And if you're a pesto fan, then you'd probably marry Stellina.
Rustic bread + pesto/hummus = delish. Â The pistachio-almond pesto linguine with chicken was very satisfying - I loved the crunch from the nuts and the non-overpowering cheese/pesto flavor from the pasta ...Giada (from 'Everyday Italian') would've approved. Â Bf had the roasted sole florentine with garlic mashed potatoes and spinach - too rich and buttery for his liking, though he still cleaned his plate.
Bonus points for serving seasonal drinks and desserts like pumpkin ale, martini, cheesecake, and ice cream - this was yummy, perfectly spiced, and came with a sugar biscuit :)
Service was friendly, quick, and welcoming from all the staff. Â There was no wait when we arrived at 7, but the restaurant filled up pretty quickly after that. Â The only problem was the tight seating area (bf kept hitting the makeshift wall when he leaned back and my chair was practically glued to the person's chair behind mine). Â
I would definitely return to try the rest of the menu, especially the winning tomato salad that I missed out on ... damn it, I really need to start yelping beforehand.
Went to Stellina with a group and was seated in the back private dining area. The room was very narrow, so much that plates to the end of the table were passed from the waitress down because she couldn't get in there.
The bread was good. I didn't really care for the oily hummus it came with though.
For dinner I ordered the grilled salmon and roasted veggies. The mashed potatoes it came with were some of the best mashies I've ever had. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the gravy/sauce that topped it all was delicious.
Huge plus was the giant parking lot in the back.
We had to wait too long for someone to come to the hostess stand and seat us. The inside was like an icebox, so we sat outside. A few of the tables, though, I think could really use umbrellas, as we didn't want to sit IN the bushes with the bees, so had to opt for out in direct sunlight. Our waitress was not helpful and took a long time to take our order.
The caprese panini was really good, but I don't like when places provide "side salads" that have some kind of dressing all over them that you might not have wanted all over it, instead of asking maybe what kind i might want... Â my friend said her penne with vodka sauce was only worth 3 stars. I didn't taste it, but believe her, altho if I were judging on appearance alone, it would have gotten 5. It looked GOOOOOD.
In my attempt to hit every single food establishment on Main Street, I have hit up Stellina's a couple of times for drinks and once for food.
Bar is not bad, and there are usually 3 or 4 beers on tap.
As for the food...also pretty good. Extra star is added simply because the corn chowder was excellent. And served with a bundle of sourdough bread bits. Yum. The other components of my lunch special-- a half pressed caprese panini and a side salad-- were less to write home about, but still made for a tasty lunch.
My major gripe about the food here? It has that "same place" taste...when all the food has the same underlying flavor in a uniting way that's not that good. Also, it took these guys a solid 25 minutes + to put our takeout order together, and they missed two salads and tossed in zero utensils. But, they did let us split up the tab.
- Very cute atmosphere. The room is intimate and dimly lit and the space itself feels warm and inviting.
- The service was great. The waitress was very attentive and friendly.
- The menu was small and nothing really jumped out at me. To be honest I was barely hungry so this could have had something do with it. I had the pizza with figs and gorgonzola. Too many figs IMO which didn't work in harmony with the gorgonzola. My boyfriend had a salad and it was fine.
I might be back to give it another whirl, though it was a bit lackluster. The fact that I have to drive through dreaded Watertown Square might impact my decision though.
Sorry, but I wasn't that impressed at all.
The seating was horrible in an already tight space (had to move my body to the side each time a waitstaff went by which happened a lot because I was next to the kitchen)
Our server forgot about us so a few other people kept chasing him down for us.
The menu was not impressive it all.
It was freezing out and they had the fans on. Â I had to eat with my coat on.
Its a really tight space.
To sum it up, I didn't leave happy and probably wont go back again.
I have been to Stellina 2x now and I gotta say I am not that impressed with the total package. Â If this restaurant didnt cost a lot then I would give it a higher rating, because then my expectations wouldnt be so high.
yes, the atmosphere is great. Â very romantic.
The last time we went the waitress wasnt that friendly. Â not at all. Â very disappointing.
the food is really good, not great, and not worth the prices that are charged. Â last time i had the black bean soup, good stuff! Â also had the eggplant lasagna. Â i was hoping for breaded eggplant but didnt get it.
i guess i dont have exotic tastes, at least what i consider exotic, based on the options on the menu. Â there just arent many things that appeal to me on the menu. Â and no, there is no chicken parm on the menu.
i am sure stellina doesnt really care or cater to people like me...but i dont think i will go back there.
Stellina offers lunch now! The Enoteca is open for lunch Tuesday - Friday. Today is a happy day for my office lunch posse.
The lunch menu consists of thin-crust pizzas, paninis, salads, soup of the day & pasta dishes (regular and daily specials too). Oh, and I saw a Kobe beef burger on the menu too. Â I don't think anything on the menu costs more than $10 (excpet for the Kobe burger - that was $12).
I had a combo: Half panini (grilled rosemary chicken with pesto and carmelized onions and cheddar cheese) and a cup of butternut squash bisque. The sandwiches all come with a side salad or fries. I had the salad which was a basic mixed green salad with really good dressing. My co-workers had Caprese paninis (one with and one w/o prosciutto) with fries and the lamb ragu pasta.
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The food was delicious. The atmosphere was inviting and the service was friendly an efificient. I really don't have a bad thing to say about this place. Not one.
I've never been here for dinner (because I usually blow out of Watertown right at 5:30 on week nights) but I can, without a doubt, recommend it as a terrific lunch spot in Watertown Square.
I went on a Saturday night around 6:30, and it was pretty packed, so I was glad we made a reservation. The decor and atmosphere are cozy here.
The food was really good. I ordered the grilled pork with figs, and the meat was very juicy and tender. Delicious! (and this is coming from a girl who doesn't ever order pork). My dad got the lamb, and my grandma got the chicken marsala, both of which were also very juicy.
My only gripe about the place is that its so dark you can't really see what you are eating. I'm not a big fan of eating the fat found in meat, and I found that in the dim light, I couldn't see if I was eating meat or fat.
But other than that, I really enjoyed the meal. And also, when we left around 8, the place had a bunch of free tables.
Very reliable Italian Italian food (not American Italian food) served by a reasonable staff in a pleasant wood floored interior illuminated by art deco ceiling pendants.
The entrees make a strong impression and are a better value that the appetizers...
A contiguous parking lot too.
All this plunked down in the middle of Watertown.
Awesome - fresh food, great service, beautiful and romantic little place. Â They have an interesting menu that changes frequently, and some great vegetarian options that you ordinarily don't see!!! Â Get anything with the Westfield Farms cheeses or their polenta. Â Top your meal off with one of their great wines, and you'll be thrilled you decided to head to this place. Â A good choice on a weeknight if you're looking for something a little special. Â And, they have a great back room for smaller parties. Â You have to try this place!!
Edit: Â This place just gets better and better. Â Now a new, lower priced "sandwich" menu at the bar and on their outdoor patio. Â There is nothing at this place that isn't outstanding.
Great location, warm ambiance.
Was there for a company party, so we have a fixed menu. Â The 3 apps were crab cakes, warm tomato salad, and calamari. Â I didn't try the crab cakes, but everyone at our table did, and enjoyed them. Â The warm tomato salad was nice, simple. Â There was a small amount of goat cheese on the platter, and it was almost an afterthought. Â Likewise was the grilled bread under all of the tomatoes. Â I think if the waitstaff had explained the dish a bit more, each of the people would have taken a bit of each...it wasn't until the pile of fresh chopped tomatoes was diminished that we realized that there was bread underneath. Â The amount of goat cheese was small, but off to the side, and hidden as well. Â The calamari, on the other hand, was presented well, and tender as could be. Â
Of the choices of entree, our table mostly went with the chicken piccatta, one sirloin, and one eggplant lasagna. Â The chicken was tender, flavorful. Â Could have used more capers, but that is my personal preference. Â The mashed potatoes were creamy and delicious. Â Â The sirloin was tender and flavorful.
We were pretty well stuffed at that point, with the Chianti flowing, but a few of us got the tiramisu. Â After reading Joyce's review, Â I had to try it...and it was quite nice.
A few things -
the mens bathroom is smaller than your tub.
there is a back patio for the warmer months.
parking lot is around back.
they stop serving at around 10pm..
That being said, we will definitely go back. Â It is cozy, warm, homey. Â And the glowing grapes over the bar are a pretty darn cool touch...I want them for my house somehow!
Watertown surprises me - there are restaurants there that rival what you
would find in Boston -- this is one of them. Excellent food - very Italian - and an excellent wine collection. The ambiance is cozy and relaxed. You
can have a business dinner, casual dinner or a romantic night out
at this place...
The most crave-able, dripping with cheese and olive oil pesto Italian dinner everrrr...I'm not an Italian food aficionado so I'm not into the whole wild boar/figs and saffron crawling out of my risotto type of exalted Italian cuisine. Â I went for the Eggplant Parmesan Lasagna ($16) with a Italian bean soup ($3-4) to start. Â The bread was excellent with a hearty crust and moist, fluffy insides that I could not stop slathering it with the pinenut topped pesto that accompanied it. Â The soup made me quite full so it's pretty miraculous how I finished my entire lasagna! Â Thank god I was wearing sweatpants. Â The lasagna was all drippy with cheese and marinara sauce, al dente noodles and beautifully creamy slices of eggplant. Â
For dessert, I ordered the tiramisu which was amazing. Â All the layers blended effortlessly into the next to form a silky union of espresso soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream on my tongue. Â I had a piece of my friend's chocolate cake with a molten center and my eyes bulged and widened at my SHOCK of how GOOD it was. Â It was the best chocolate cake I've ever had!!! Â
The waitress was not at all polished but performed her basic duties well enough. Â Most of the people there were twice our age and the vinyl table clothes could've taken me to a BBQ house in Texas if I just closed my eyes and ran my hands over it's plastic-y, textured surface. Â The random birdhouses thrown on the walls here and there were pretty damn ugly, but the lighting was dim enough to mask their decorating shortcomings. Â The fountain in the back courtyard is really cute and beautiful, and after dinner, I performed an interpretive victory dance for the multiple food-gasms I had had.
After hearing only good thing about Stellina, it was selected as the location for a small dinner party to celebrate a few birthdays. I left not knowing what the hype was all about.
First, the setting. It was charming, quaint even, and I enjoyed the long rustic table the six of us were seated at. (I'm going to skip over the fact that it was a rectangle, which made same-side conversation difficult, but my preference for round shouldn't come into play here.) The menu offers a nice selection, and since we were with a few fish-eating vegetarians, it was good to see a lot of seafood and pastas alongside the meat options. Delicious bread and a great hummus/pesto blend, complemented with a smooth sauvignon blanc (they have a nice wine list) started the evening off well.
We selected a few appetizers and everyone got a different entree. It's here where things get shaky. Our server, throughout the evening, was less than adequate. I hate when you have to ask for water; I'd be forgiving if he had come and checked on us at least once during the meal. He hadn't. I don't see the point of tipping someone if they are only taking an order (someone else delivered the food). The appetizers (an antipasto, a fried calamari, and a family-style house salad with roasted vegetable dressing [a surprising treat]) were good, but not great. They weren't generous with the calamari, the antipasto was a big soggy... and again, no check-in from the waiter.
The entrees arrived in an adequate time. Gorgeous presentation. I just wish the taste were reflected in the looks. Everyone reported that the proteins were lacking in flavor; the roasted seasonal vegetables were tasty... in fact, all sides saved each meal. It's unfortunate, though, when you spent $15+ per meal and the main element was lacking.
We had birthday cake already arranged at home, so skipped desserts. We had to flag down the waiter to get the check, which was just a pinch too much considering the overall lack of excitement surrounding the dinner.
I still give Stellina 3 stars because it has a lot of redeeming qualities, and there are few restaurants in Watertown that are as cozy and city-like as this one. I may give it a try in the future, but am not planning to rush back any time soon.
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