The food was good, but the wait was far too long and the service was spotty at best. It was a little dark in the restaurant, as our candle burnt out within the first 20 minutes and was not replaced.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Josef
Food was very bland for our tastes, especially for myself having grown up in an Italian household. The restaurant was a little too dark inside but otherwise a nice setup, and our server and the bus boy were great hosts. The soup was good, but like other I don't recommend eating here. Plenty of other great options close to here with better food and prices.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
Ellen Evans
A Cozy Gem with Room for ImprovementNestled in the heart of the city, the restaurant exudes an inviting, dimly-lit ambiance that promises an intimate dining experience. As we settled into our seats, the cozy atmosphere enveloped us, creating an ideal setting for a relaxed evening.Upon arrival, we couldn't help but notice the olive bar tucked away in the corner, a delightful surprise that could easily be overlooked. Its assortment of olives added a touch of Mediterranean flair to the restaurant's ambiance.However, our initial excitement waned as we realized that we were the only table not to receive bread—a small oversight that nonetheless left us feeling slightly neglected.Despite this hiccup, we eagerly delved into our mains, with high hopes for the butternut squash ravioli. Regrettably, our expectations were not fully met. While the flavors were promising, the dish arrived lukewarm, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Additionally, a lack of sauce left us feeling as though the dish was incomplete, longing for that extra burst of flavor to tie everything together.Nevertheless, the restaurant's charming atmosphere and attentive service did not go unnoticed. The subdued lighting and quaint decor set the stage for a memorable dining experience, albeit with room for improvement in certain aspects of the culinary offerings.In conclusion, while our visit to the restaurant was not without its shortcomings, its ambiance and potential for culinary excellence make it a venue worth revisiting—with the hope that next time, every aspect of the dining experience will shine as brightly as its ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Garlic and Olive Bar
Adriana Reynoso
I showed up to Stella’s hoping to get dinner around 7:30. They were quite busy so it didn’t seem likely, so we made a reservation for the next night at 7:30. I’ll preface this by saying I believe they are understaffed so I think that would fix almost all of the problems I had. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we even showed up a little bit early, but our table was not ready until close to 8:00. Even then, we were waiting for them to set our table. Again, I could tell they were understaffed, so I was patient. Our food order was finally taken around 8:30. While waiting for our food, a waitress came by to ask if we were ready for our check and we had to awkwardly say we were still waiting for our food. I also noticed a couple that was seated at least 20 minutes after us, got their food before us. We finally got our food right around 9pm. The food itself was delicious! But, the service just made it hard to enjoy the dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmesan
Evan Davis
Summary: Do not eat here if you have Celiac disease. Also, this place is run by a very rude owner.We visited this restaurant last night after researching gluten free restaurants in Taos. My wife has celiac disease so we were happy to see numerous mentions of gluten free options on the menu.We had reservations right when they open at 5:00 (our two young kids eat early). We were seated and the owner took our order. I mentioned to him that my wife has celiac to double check that they could accommodate. His response was quite strange. He kept repeating that “We are an Italian restaurant.” and “We have cheese on everything.” He does not seem to know what gluten is despite the numerous mentions on the menu.I, again, tried to explain to the owner that my wife has a disease so I needed to understand if they could accommodate. I point blank asked if we should find a different restaurant to eat. He assured me they could accommodate and brushed off his comments as “dry Italian humor.”While we waited for our food, many of the staff members arrived. If you plan on visiting this place, you probably don’t want the first reservation.The food arrived and my wife’s gluten free lemon chicken dish had a piece of bread on the plate. Anyone with celiac dreads this moment. I had to inform them that they would need to remake the dish instead of just removing the bread.The owner heard that we sent the dish back and yelled the f word, loud enough that my kids heard.A nice lady stopped by our table to assure us that they would remake the dish, that the kitchen knows what to do, and that the owner just forgot to list gluten free on the order.I ordered a piece of chocolate cake for the kids which, while it was listed as gluten free on the menu, they said was not appropriate for someone with celiac. They did end up comping the dessert.
Joanne Persico
Worst meal ever. Terrible service, food was inedible. I'm 100% Italian and consider the quality, taste and service to be rated a 1. Don't waste your time and money.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
amy Kovach
This our first time here and everything was outstanding!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pasta Bolognese
Steven Reed
The food is good but to rate the service as inconsistent would be generous. The service was inexplicably weird. We’d been warned but it still amazed in all the wrong ways. Good luck!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Aspen Maria Lanouette
The atmosphere was nice. The service was pretty ridiculous, a server for another section checked on us a couple of times which was great because we never saw our server again after she eventually took our order. The chicken was extremely pink in the middle but we didn't even mention it, too hard to even find staff to tell and we just wrote the whole thing off as a bad experience. Too bad because it was Valentine's night and we were looking forward to a nice dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
B Paul
Nice atmosphere and that was about it. Showed up for our 6:30 reservation and the host seemed confused, but finally seated us. Took over an hour to get our food after ordering, and it was mediocre at best. Bread was stale, had to flag down someone to get water refills, nobody ever checked on us after our meals were dropped off. Finally finished our meal and had to wait another 20 minutes to get acknowledged and get our bill. Paid and Walked out over 2 hours after being seated, for an Olive Garden level food experience. Avoid this one.
Rude. Walked in without a reservation and asked if they had a table. Host was Rude, stating it was a weekend and walked away.
Aurelia Ayers
Tdlr: DO NOT GO HERE. Terrible smoke smell.Terrible food. Terrible service.If I could give zero stars I would. I don’t think I have ever had such a bad experience in a restaurant and as a service worker myself I try to be very understanding when I’m out to eat. That being said, you walk into to Stella’s and there is a terrible smell of cigarette smoke so strong it caused a headache by the time we left, like someone had been smoking inside for years. That should have been enough to put us off but for some reason we decided to stay. We were sat in and incredibly dim and hard to see, we notice there are only two workers a server and who seems to be a busser. they get our drink everything is starting out ok, did not care for the bread they brought out, server only spoke to us about 3 times. First get our drink, order again to get our food order, and then the last to drop our food off. No drink refills other than the water the busser girl kept running around with. No check in on how our food was. And the food was not good. Bland dry chicken, and undercooked pork chops. When no one came over to our table I waved down the busser and she just asked if we needed our (very full) plates cleared. I told her the pork was undercooked. No words from her or anyone else about it. No sorry no compensation. The worst food and service I’ve ever had. By the end of our meal here who I assume is the owner was showing his face to tables and when he was the one to bring over our check we were sure he would say something but he silently dropped it grabbed some platesAnd quickly walked away. I was baffled. We were clearly very unhappy and we’re just confused how you serve someone raw food and no one bats an eye acknowledges there was anything wrong or even apologizes at all. Crazy. Do not go here!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sue Taylor
Beautiful, intimate dining experience. The food was excellent! Top notch service and reasonably priced. Because it's a small space, be sure to make reservations. You will not regret it. We simply loved it!!Parking: Parking lot right around the corner.
Carbonara had frozen veggies in it that were STILL frozen. Mozzarella sticks were likely frozen as well and lukewarm. Caprese salad was the only dish that seemed to be made from fresh ingredients.Other than that the service, wine and overall vibe was great. Low effort for a $25 pasta dish.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Zack Woodfin
Starting off positive, the food was good, fairly priced. If you want to be treated nicely by the owner, I would highly recommend calling ahead to make a reservation. Which we did and were still treated poorly when we arrived a little early. All in all, I would NOT go back to eat there. I would NOT recommend it to a friend. Maybe recommend it to someone you're not very fond of and tell them not to worry about making a reservation. Rest assured, they will have a terrible dining experienceParking: Non existent.
The food was good, but the wait was far too long and the service was spotty at best. It was a little dark in the restaurant, as our candle burnt out within the first 20 minutes and was not replaced.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Food was very bland for our tastes, especially for myself having grown up in an Italian household. The restaurant was a little too dark inside but otherwise a nice setup, and our server and the bus boy were great hosts. The soup was good, but like other I don't recommend eating here. Plenty of other great options close to here with better food and prices.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
A Cozy Gem with Room for ImprovementNestled in the heart of the city, the restaurant exudes an inviting, dimly-lit ambiance that promises an intimate dining experience. As we settled into our seats, the cozy atmosphere enveloped us, creating an ideal setting for a relaxed evening.Upon arrival, we couldn't help but notice the olive bar tucked away in the corner, a delightful surprise that could easily be overlooked. Its assortment of olives added a touch of Mediterranean flair to the restaurant's ambiance.However, our initial excitement waned as we realized that we were the only table not to receive bread—a small oversight that nonetheless left us feeling slightly neglected.Despite this hiccup, we eagerly delved into our mains, with high hopes for the butternut squash ravioli. Regrettably, our expectations were not fully met. While the flavors were promising, the dish arrived lukewarm, detracting from the overall enjoyment. Additionally, a lack of sauce left us feeling as though the dish was incomplete, longing for that extra burst of flavor to tie everything together.Nevertheless, the restaurant's charming atmosphere and attentive service did not go unnoticed. The subdued lighting and quaint decor set the stage for a memorable dining experience, albeit with room for improvement in certain aspects of the culinary offerings.In conclusion, while our visit to the restaurant was not without its shortcomings, its ambiance and potential for culinary excellence make it a venue worth revisiting—with the hope that next time, every aspect of the dining experience will shine as brightly as its ambiance.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Garlic and Olive Bar
I showed up to Stella’s hoping to get dinner around 7:30. They were quite busy so it didn’t seem likely, so we made a reservation for the next night at 7:30. I’ll preface this by saying I believe they are understaffed so I think that would fix almost all of the problems I had. Our reservation was at 7:30 and we even showed up a little bit early, but our table was not ready until close to 8:00. Even then, we were waiting for them to set our table. Again, I could tell they were understaffed, so I was patient. Our food order was finally taken around 8:30. While waiting for our food, a waitress came by to ask if we were ready for our check and we had to awkwardly say we were still waiting for our food. I also noticed a couple that was seated at least 20 minutes after us, got their food before us. We finally got our food right around 9pm. The food itself was delicious! But, the service just made it hard to enjoy the dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Eggplant Parmesan
Summary: Do not eat here if you have Celiac disease. Also, this place is run by a very rude owner.We visited this restaurant last night after researching gluten free restaurants in Taos. My wife has celiac disease so we were happy to see numerous mentions of gluten free options on the menu.We had reservations right when they open at 5:00 (our two young kids eat early). We were seated and the owner took our order. I mentioned to him that my wife has celiac to double check that they could accommodate. His response was quite strange. He kept repeating that “We are an Italian restaurant.” and “We have cheese on everything.” He does not seem to know what gluten is despite the numerous mentions on the menu.I, again, tried to explain to the owner that my wife has a disease so I needed to understand if they could accommodate. I point blank asked if we should find a different restaurant to eat. He assured me they could accommodate and brushed off his comments as “dry Italian humor.”While we waited for our food, many of the staff members arrived. If you plan on visiting this place, you probably don’t want the first reservation.The food arrived and my wife’s gluten free lemon chicken dish had a piece of bread on the plate. Anyone with celiac dreads this moment. I had to inform them that they would need to remake the dish instead of just removing the bread.The owner heard that we sent the dish back and yelled the f word, loud enough that my kids heard.A nice lady stopped by our table to assure us that they would remake the dish, that the kitchen knows what to do, and that the owner just forgot to list gluten free on the order.I ordered a piece of chocolate cake for the kids which, while it was listed as gluten free on the menu, they said was not appropriate for someone with celiac. They did end up comping the dessert.
Worst meal ever. Terrible service, food was inedible. I'm 100% Italian and consider the quality, taste and service to be rated a 1. Don't waste your time and money.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
This our first time here and everything was outstanding!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pasta Bolognese
The food is good but to rate the service as inconsistent would be generous. The service was inexplicably weird. We’d been warned but it still amazed in all the wrong ways. Good luck!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
The atmosphere was nice. The service was pretty ridiculous, a server for another section checked on us a couple of times which was great because we never saw our server again after she eventually took our order. The chicken was extremely pink in the middle but we didn't even mention it, too hard to even find staff to tell and we just wrote the whole thing off as a bad experience. Too bad because it was Valentine's night and we were looking forward to a nice dinner.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Nice atmosphere and that was about it. Showed up for our 6:30 reservation and the host seemed confused, but finally seated us. Took over an hour to get our food after ordering, and it was mediocre at best. Bread was stale, had to flag down someone to get water refills, nobody ever checked on us after our meals were dropped off. Finally finished our meal and had to wait another 20 minutes to get acknowledged and get our bill. Paid and Walked out over 2 hours after being seated, for an Olive Garden level food experience. Avoid this one.
Restaurantji Recommends
Rude. Walked in without a reservation and asked if they had a table. Host was Rude, stating it was a weekend and walked away.
Tdlr: DO NOT GO HERE. Terrible smoke smell.Terrible food. Terrible service.If I could give zero stars I would. I don’t think I have ever had such a bad experience in a restaurant and as a service worker myself I try to be very understanding when I’m out to eat. That being said, you walk into to Stella’s and there is a terrible smell of cigarette smoke so strong it caused a headache by the time we left, like someone had been smoking inside for years. That should have been enough to put us off but for some reason we decided to stay. We were sat in and incredibly dim and hard to see, we notice there are only two workers a server and who seems to be a busser. they get our drink everything is starting out ok, did not care for the bread they brought out, server only spoke to us about 3 times. First get our drink, order again to get our food order, and then the last to drop our food off. No drink refills other than the water the busser girl kept running around with. No check in on how our food was. And the food was not good. Bland dry chicken, and undercooked pork chops. When no one came over to our table I waved down the busser and she just asked if we needed our (very full) plates cleared. I told her the pork was undercooked. No words from her or anyone else about it. No sorry no compensation. The worst food and service I’ve ever had. By the end of our meal here who I assume is the owner was showing his face to tables and when he was the one to bring over our check we were sure he would say something but he silently dropped it grabbed some platesAnd quickly walked away. I was baffled. We were clearly very unhappy and we’re just confused how you serve someone raw food and no one bats an eye acknowledges there was anything wrong or even apologizes at all. Crazy. Do not go here!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Beautiful, intimate dining experience. The food was excellent! Top notch service and reasonably priced. Because it's a small space, be sure to make reservations. You will not regret it. We simply loved it!!Parking: Parking lot right around the corner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Marsala, Grilled Shrimp
Carbonara had frozen veggies in it that were STILL frozen. Mozzarella sticks were likely frozen as well and lukewarm. Caprese salad was the only dish that seemed to be made from fresh ingredients.Other than that the service, wine and overall vibe was great. Low effort for a $25 pasta dish.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Starting off positive, the food was good, fairly priced. If you want to be treated nicely by the owner, I would highly recommend calling ahead to make a reservation. Which we did and were still treated poorly when we arrived a little early. All in all, I would NOT go back to eat there. I would NOT recommend it to a friend. Maybe recommend it to someone you're not very fond of and tell them not to worry about making a reservation. Rest assured, they will have a terrible dining experienceParking: Non existent.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Chicken Parmesan, Pepperoni Pizza