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Stella is Stallar

This modern Italian restaurant boasts and elegant and almost angelic atmosphere, with white walls, chairs, tables, and hanging lamps, and subtle but striking framed artwork featuring galaxies of stars. The bar area is small, with about 10 white barstools and a small seating area where guests can wait for a table or have a cocktail. The dining area is separated into 2 seating areas by a wall, and a there is a recent addition of a third dining area, complete with a bar and a fireplace, as well as a small cafe featuring tasty tidbitds for take-out during the daytime hours.

Yes, Stella is loud, and as always, I prefer to sit at the bar as I am about 95% sure to bump into a friend or a neighbor. Plus, the bartenders, especially Jennifer and Will, are so much fun and make killer libations!

The menu at Stella is spectacular! If you go there for brunch, you HAVE to order the Burger, served with caramelized onions, apple wood smoked bacon, Fontina cheese and crispy fries; by far the best in town. Being a brunch and an egg-lover, I was skeptical about it (a burger for brunch?!?), but I found myself with plate envy when I decided not to take the plunge. Be aware, they like to keep it on the red side of the temp scale, so if you normally order your meat medium rare, you may want to order it medium.

If you dine at Stella for dinner, the appetizers are all top-notch, like the Steak Tartar paired with a fried egg. And for entrees, you can't go wrong with the Tagliatelle Bolognase, but trust me, you'll want to share it or opt for a half-order, as the portion size is more than generous. The Grilled Salmon also absolutely mouth watering, served with a zesty lemon spaghetti squash and cherry tomatoes.

If you haven't been to Stella yet, you are really missing out. I would recommend reservations, as its always packed, or just a bit of patience if you want to sit at the bar. They serve food until 1:30am and have a great late-night menu; also, during the summer months, there is patio dining. Valet is available, but you can get lucky with Washington Street metered parking.