Melanie S.
Yelp
I came to Lo Stella with a friend who was in town from out of state who had seen something about their Parmesan wheel on Instagram. The photos on the online menu looked incredible, so I was really excited to try it and made the trek downtown to meet her.
I loved the building. The space was small and cozy that gave it an air of exclusivity while still being casual. The ambiance was so on point, with fairy lights and eclectic decor, and soft music playing. The service was also great. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, and very attentive. A+ for first impressions.
I ordered the Chardonnay by the glass and it was AMAZING. It is very rare to find wine that I like that much because I have a hard time describing what my tastes are. I got a "B" in wine class in college and never really studied up to "A" level.
While everything else was on point, I didn't think the food fully delivered. We started with the bread basket and I was surprised when it arrived five seconds after ordering. It had obviously been prepared and was waiting for order, which might be reasonable for efficiency's sake. Unfortunately, some of the pieces were stale. The pieces of focaccia that were in good shape were perfectly buttered and salted and pretty delicious, but it was unfortunate to get some pieces that were not. The other role provided in the basket was pretty mediocre. Nothing special about its taste or texture.
My very favorite food is a really well made pasta. I don't eat pasta often because I'm not as young as I used to be, so when I do I want it to be worth every bite. If it is, I don't beat myself up after. The pasta here, though beautifully presented, was not the type of pasta that felt worth it. I ordered the Taglierini Al Cighiale tossed in the Parmigiano Reggiano wheel and felt the noodles were slightly too al dente, which made them feel like they weren't a homemade noodle (I'm sure they are, the texture was just off). Also, the wild boar was tough. I have ordered wild boar noodle dishes at many restaurants (it is my very favorite), and usually it is melt-in-your-mouth tender, but this was pretty chewy. Because the boar wasn't as tender as it could be and the noodles were a bit too firm, it threw off the whole dish. I didn't finish it (a rarity for me) and gave the rest to my husband when I got home, who agreed with my assessment of the boar.
I would totally come here again for a drink because like I said, the ambiance and service was amazing. I do think there are better options for well prepared pasta in Denver, though. I may be willing to give it another try because some of the other reviews are raving, so I wonder if I just had an off night.