I highly recommend Osteria Stella for anybody seeking an authentic Italian meal experience plus a romantic, dark atmosphere. The environment, service, food and drinks are all amazing. I cannot brag on the food quality and staff enough, it was truly a fantastic experience. We loved everything we were served and our server Matt was a rockstar. I loved getting to try their imported meats for an appetizer, and the house made gnocchi with pesto as my entree. Thank you guys so much for the memories. Check out Osteria Stella when you can!
Matthew Brooks
Had a reservation for 14 people for a wedding dinner (and cocktail hour at Brother Wolf next door). Everyone was raving about the meal, the drinks, the atmosphere, and the hospitality. Casey, Luke, Savannah, and Jaid took excellent care of us—it was truly as magical as we dreamed. We would use them to host any future events in Knoxville.
AJ F
Osteria Stella is an absolute gem!The food was simply divine – every dish we tried was bursting with fresh, high-quality ingredients.Aside from the cocktails, they also have a fantastic wine selection that perfectly complements their menu.
Schy
I can’t say enough amazing things about our experience at Osteria Stella. It was our anniversary, and they went above and beyond to give us a special experience. The food was very tasty, drinks were perfection, our server Bella was a peach, the entire staff made sure we were well taken care of, and the atmosphere really made our night one for the books. An incredibly special gem in the city!
Lauren Ruff
Stellar! The service was impeccable, the food delicious, and the atmosphere sophisticated yet cozy. We'll definitely be back soon!
Donel Sosa
This was our first time eating here, and we will definitely be here more often! We kept looking around at how beautifully decorated the space was, and I loved the table settings being so unique. All of the staff were professional and kind, and we received some great recommendations from Jade! The focaccia, arancini, gnocchi, pappardelle, and tiramisu were all fantastic!
Kerry Ruff
A perfect meal in a perfect setting! From the foccia to tiramisu and everything in between...perfection! Matthew was a great guide and waiter for this experience. Excellent!
Olivia Sears
We had an exceptional dining experience this evening! My wife and I are in town visiting my parents and my mom surprised us with a restaurant we hadn’t been. Osteria Stella will be our new go-to.
Everything was amazing - delicious food, from the focaccia appetizer to the gnocchi, and thoughtful non-alcoholic cocktails. Very appreciated.
And the cherry on top: Our server Matt was fantastic. He went above and beyond! All in all a great experience and we can’t wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi
Maddy c
I heard the host call other patrons a derogatory name, which was off putting. Anyways, I reserved a table. They tried to put us outside despite it being 30 degrees and dropping. Then tried to reschedule it for an over an hour later. Not sure why they would have reservations for a patio on a late December night. Host was unhelpful, told me to go try the bar side that had an abbreviated menu and also no open availability
Service: 1
Tony Taylor
We closed on our house, and our realtor set us up to dine in. This was our first time at Osteria Stella. It was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was great, the host was terrific, and the food was fantastic. We will definitely recommend it to our family and friends.
When Too Much is Just Too Much: A Lesson in Overcomplicated Flavors
After successfully wasting my precious youth, I am now experimenting with novel ways of wasting the rest of my beautiful life. Unfortunately, Osteria Stella was less than beautiful - or at least the food was. As someone intimately familiar with Italian food, I can honestly say that this was... underwhelming and over-flavored.
We started with espresso negronis for an aperitif and they were far too sweet. We then dove into our starter, the Cozze al Peperoncino (mussels). I didn't have a lot to complain about here, except that the sauce, a lovely creamy pepper and white wine concoction, was so rich that we couldn't taste the mussels at all and, where mussels are concerned (myself being from a mussels region), I would prefer tasting at least a modicum of the sea in my shellfish. Plus, the bread was soft, but over-charred.
For the primi, as vegetarians, we wanted to try the gnocchi and risotto. I had high hopes for the dishes, but the kitchen seems to have mistaken "more" for "better." Both plates were exercises in excess—too many flavors, poorly combined, leaving the palate overwhelmed and confused.
Gnocchi alla Bava: The idea of delicate gnocchi in a Fontina cheesy roux with caramelized onions sounds delightful in theory, but in execution, it was a disaster. An unexpected balsamic reduction clashed harshly with the richness of the fontina, turning what could have been a cozy, harmonious dish into a discordant mess. The crispy potato skins felt like an afterthought, adding an unnecessary textural distraction rather than complementing the dish. The result? A confusing plate that drowned out the beauty of its core ingredients.
Risotto alla Zucca: Risotto should celebrate its star ingredients—in this case, squash. Instead, this dish buried its beautiful simplicity under an ill-advised (again) aged balsamic drizzle. While Calabrian oil offered a nice hint of heat, the balsamic completely dominated, clashing with the squash’s gentle sweetness. The delicate balance that makes risotto special was utterly obliterated.
If restraint is an art, this kitchen missed the memo. Sometimes, less really is more, and these dishes would have been far better if they had stayed true to their foundational flavors instead of trying to do too much. It’s a shame the kitchen didn’t share the same sense of finesse as the front-of-house team, whose lovely service and thoughtfully curated, sommelier-forward wine list were the saving graces of the evening. The tiramisu, was also a standout—one of the best I’ve ever had, with perfectly balanced layers of creamy mascarpone and espresso-soaked ladyfingers that ended the otherwise disappointing meal on a high note.
As an aside, the lasagna was delicious (according to our neighbors).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Mark Slacin
Had a great experience dining here for a special occasion. The service was fast and friendly and the food was quite good. We had some food left on our plate and our server was kind enough to take it to the back to box it up for it. The next day when reheating leftovers we discovered there was significantly less food in the box than we had left on our plate. One bite of food in the box when over half our meal was left after eating at the restaurant ):
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lasagne Alla Bolognese
Casey Arvin
Wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Brooks Ramsey
Our server and host were very accommodating and so knowledgeable on the menu and drinks. When you walk in, you feel as though you have traveled to Milan or Venice. The atmosphere is fine dining without being stuffy, giving it a nice relaxed casual feel.
The attention to detail with the menu was amazing! Everything on the plate was intentional, not to mention the silver and fine china that was replaced with each course.
We started with the homemade focaccia and oil along with the beef carpaccio. Both were so well done and then we moved to the salad course. The salad was smoked mozzarella with butternut squash, sliced apple, walnuts, and aragula drizzled with balsamic. Next was the pasta course. Christy opted for the corn carbonara while I indulged in the gnocchi with crispy potato skins and carmelized onion. The meat course was memorable as Christy chose the halibut, which is butchered in house, with cauliflower and broccolini. This included fish meatballs which were to die for. I chose the breaded veal chop with fingerling potatoes and radicchio salad. This was easily the best veal I have ever tasted.
As we were celebrating our 7th anniversary, the staff left us a nice card they had all signed and we were given Prosecco to start. We also had a green apple Bellini to drink along with an orange creamsicle Italiano cocktail. Christy did have the chocolate cannoli with orange simple syrup, and noted it was the best she had ever eaten.
You can go anywhere and have a good meal. Here, you get an experience and the meal is the perfect compliment to that. Parking is pay parking directly across the street and is easily accessible.
Make sure to make a reservation and get down to Osteria Stella! You won’t regret it or ever forget it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cannoli Siciliani, Gnocchi, Veal Chop
Jeanne Silver
Located in Old Town Knoxville, this restaurant is small and charming. It may not be for everyone, as the menu is not yor typical italian. It is interesting and quite a surprise. The food was delicious. The service was great. It is very gourmet with people looking for an italian experience that is quite different. I recommend the fish that was cooked to perfection. I added a picture of the spritz menu, as I like to make them, and they had quite a few. Definitely worth a try, but if you were looking for your everyday italian menu, you won't find it here.
I highly recommend Osteria Stella for anybody seeking an authentic Italian meal experience plus a romantic, dark atmosphere. The environment, service, food and drinks are all amazing. I cannot brag on the food quality and staff enough, it was truly a fantastic experience. We loved everything we were served and our server Matt was a rockstar. I loved getting to try their imported meats for an appetizer, and the house made gnocchi with pesto as my entree. Thank you guys so much for the memories. Check out Osteria Stella when you can!
Had a reservation for 14 people for a wedding dinner (and cocktail hour at Brother Wolf next door). Everyone was raving about the meal, the drinks, the atmosphere, and the hospitality. Casey, Luke, Savannah, and Jaid took excellent care of us—it was truly as magical as we dreamed. We would use them to host any future events in Knoxville.
Osteria Stella is an absolute gem!The food was simply divine – every dish we tried was bursting with fresh, high-quality ingredients.Aside from the cocktails, they also have a fantastic wine selection that perfectly complements their menu.
I can’t say enough amazing things about our experience at Osteria Stella. It was our anniversary, and they went above and beyond to give us a special experience. The food was very tasty, drinks were perfection, our server Bella was a peach, the entire staff made sure we were well taken care of, and the atmosphere really made our night one for the books. An incredibly special gem in the city!
Stellar! The service was impeccable, the food delicious, and the atmosphere sophisticated yet cozy. We'll definitely be back soon!
This was our first time eating here, and we will definitely be here more often! We kept looking around at how beautifully decorated the space was, and I loved the table settings being so unique. All of the staff were professional and kind, and we received some great recommendations from Jade! The focaccia, arancini, gnocchi, pappardelle, and tiramisu were all fantastic!
A perfect meal in a perfect setting! From the foccia to tiramisu and everything in between...perfection! Matthew was a great guide and waiter for this experience. Excellent!
We had an exceptional dining experience this evening! My wife and I are in town visiting my parents and my mom surprised us with a restaurant we hadn’t been. Osteria Stella will be our new go-to.
Everything was amazing - delicious food, from the focaccia appetizer to the gnocchi, and thoughtful non-alcoholic cocktails. Very appreciated.
And the cherry on top: Our server Matt was fantastic. He went above and beyond! All in all a great experience and we can’t wait to come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi
I heard the host call other patrons a derogatory name, which was off putting. Anyways, I reserved a table. They tried to put us outside despite it being 30 degrees and dropping. Then tried to reschedule it for an over an hour later. Not sure why they would have reservations for a patio on a late December night. Host was unhelpful, told me to go try the bar side that had an abbreviated menu and also no open availability
Service: 1
We closed on our house, and our realtor set us up to dine in. This was our first time at Osteria Stella. It was a wonderful experience. The atmosphere was great, the host was terrific, and the food was fantastic. We will definitely recommend it to our family and friends.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cannoli Siciliani, House Bread, Lasagna, Gelato, Focaccia Osteria Stella
Restaurantji Recommends
When Too Much is Just Too Much: A Lesson in Overcomplicated Flavors
After successfully wasting my precious youth, I am now experimenting with novel ways of wasting the rest of my beautiful life. Unfortunately, Osteria Stella was less than beautiful - or at least the food was. As someone intimately familiar with Italian food, I can honestly say that this was... underwhelming and over-flavored.
We started with espresso negronis for an aperitif and they were far too sweet. We then dove into our starter, the Cozze al Peperoncino (mussels). I didn't have a lot to complain about here, except that the sauce, a lovely creamy pepper and white wine concoction, was so rich that we couldn't taste the mussels at all and, where mussels are concerned (myself being from a mussels region), I would prefer tasting at least a modicum of the sea in my shellfish. Plus, the bread was soft, but over-charred.
For the primi, as vegetarians, we wanted to try the gnocchi and risotto. I had high hopes for the dishes, but the kitchen seems to have mistaken "more" for "better." Both plates were exercises in excess—too many flavors, poorly combined, leaving the palate overwhelmed and confused.
Gnocchi alla Bava: The idea of delicate gnocchi in a Fontina cheesy roux with caramelized onions sounds delightful in theory, but in execution, it was a disaster. An unexpected balsamic reduction clashed harshly with the richness of the fontina, turning what could have been a cozy, harmonious dish into a discordant mess. The crispy potato skins felt like an afterthought, adding an unnecessary textural distraction rather than complementing the dish. The result? A confusing plate that drowned out the beauty of its core ingredients.
Risotto alla Zucca: Risotto should celebrate its star ingredients—in this case, squash. Instead, this dish buried its beautiful simplicity under an ill-advised (again) aged balsamic drizzle. While Calabrian oil offered a nice hint of heat, the balsamic completely dominated, clashing with the squash’s gentle sweetness. The delicate balance that makes risotto special was utterly obliterated.
If restraint is an art, this kitchen missed the memo. Sometimes, less really is more, and these dishes would have been far better if they had stayed true to their foundational flavors instead of trying to do too much. It’s a shame the kitchen didn’t share the same sense of finesse as the front-of-house team, whose lovely service and thoughtfully curated, sommelier-forward wine list were the saving graces of the evening. The tiramisu, was also a standout—one of the best I’ve ever had, with perfectly balanced layers of creamy mascarpone and espresso-soaked ladyfingers that ended the otherwise disappointing meal on a high note.
As an aside, the lasagna was delicious (according to our neighbors).
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Had a great experience dining here for a special occasion. The service was fast and friendly and the food was quite good. We had some food left on our plate and our server was kind enough to take it to the back to box it up for it. The next day when reheating leftovers we discovered there was significantly less food in the box than we had left on our plate. One bite of food in the box when over half our meal was left after eating at the restaurant ):
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lasagne Alla Bolognese
Wonderful experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Our server and host were very accommodating and so knowledgeable on the menu and drinks. When you walk in, you feel as though you have traveled to Milan or Venice. The atmosphere is fine dining without being stuffy, giving it a nice relaxed casual feel.
The attention to detail with the menu was amazing! Everything on the plate was intentional, not to mention the silver and fine china that was replaced with each course.
We started with the homemade focaccia and oil along with the beef carpaccio. Both were so well done and then we moved to the salad course. The salad was smoked mozzarella with butternut squash, sliced apple, walnuts, and aragula drizzled with balsamic. Next was the pasta course. Christy opted for the corn carbonara while I indulged in the gnocchi with crispy potato skins and carmelized onion. The meat course was memorable as Christy chose the halibut, which is butchered in house, with cauliflower and broccolini. This included fish meatballs which were to die for. I chose the breaded veal chop with fingerling potatoes and radicchio salad. This was easily the best veal I have ever tasted.
As we were celebrating our 7th anniversary, the staff left us a nice card they had all signed and we were given Prosecco to start. We also had a green apple Bellini to drink along with an orange creamsicle Italiano cocktail. Christy did have the chocolate cannoli with orange simple syrup, and noted it was the best she had ever eaten.
You can go anywhere and have a good meal. Here, you get an experience and the meal is the perfect compliment to that. Parking is pay parking directly across the street and is easily accessible.
Make sure to make a reservation and get down to Osteria Stella! You won’t regret it or ever forget it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Cannoli Siciliani, Gnocchi, Veal Chop
Located in Old Town Knoxville, this restaurant is small and charming. It may not be for everyone, as the menu is not yor typical italian. It is interesting and quite a surprise. The food was delicious. The service was great. It is very gourmet with people looking for an italian experience that is quite different. I recommend the fish that was cooked to perfection. I added a picture of the spritz menu, as I like to make them, and they had quite a few. Definitely worth a try, but if you were looking for your everyday italian menu, you won't find it here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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