Stella

Unbelievable experience at Stella! My husband and I were coming through this adorable town on our way to San Hose and made a reservation because we love Italian. We couldn't find a place to store luggage and Dana at the restaurant accommodated us with no problem and was so nice! Craft cocktail menu was unique and delicious and the food was immaculate in taste and presentation! Thank you Stella for starting our vacation off so wonderfully! Next time we will stay longer in this adorable town!

Superb service when I called last minute to make a reservation. The host and severs were amazing and kind. Attention to detail was on point. They split our cocktail (we were sharing) without asking when I mentioned it to the server. The food was superb and rich. Worth the time and money

The bar area had a nice ambiance. I ordered the filet mignon, which was perfectly cooked and delicious, though the addition of cheese was unexpected; surprisingly, it worked. The real standout, however, was the espresso martini—rich, smooth. A must-try.

There’s no place like Stella’s for a crisp French 75 and a solid meal! I highly recommend their truffle gnocchi with their focaccia to share and I’m a big fan of their risotto.

Great food, great antipasto and meat secondi’s and orecchiette. Wine selection was great too.

If I had reviewed this restaurant at its old location a few years ago, I would have given it a solid 3/5. Since moving to the new spot, though, both the food and service have gone downhill bad. To be honest and upfront, I never thought this place was anything special to begin with, but my wife liked it, so I kept going back for her. I took her here for her birthday a few weeks ago, and it turned out to be a huge mistake. The place was empty on a Friday night and every other restaurant in the area was packed. That should have been a clue but here we go, story time. The service was friendly but absolutely terrible. Our orders were wrong three separate times, and we were even brought dishes we didn’t order. After the third mistake, an older man who seemed to be lording over the whole place came over to “smooth things over.” The problem was, I wasn’t even making a scene or complaining; I simply chose not to eat and let my wife enjoy what did arrive correctly. Instead of letting us finish in peace, he insisted on hovering and turning the whole thing into a customer service therapy session. It was awkward and made the meal even more uncomfortable. On top of that, the food just isn’t what it used to be. The quality has dropped noticeably. Honestly, watch a couple of YouTube videos, buy the ingredients yourself, and you’ll make a better version at home for less money and you won’t have to sit through a lecture while you eat. It’s too expensive for the experience and food quality to be this bad. 1/5.

I initially had some concerns with the food, particularly the lamb chops, which appeared smaller than expected. However, after sharing my feedback, the restaurant management reached out promptly, acknowledged the issue, and assured me they had taken steps to ensure consistency moving forward. Their response was professional and customer-focused, showing a real commitment to quality. I appreciate their willingness to listen and improve, and I look forward to returning for a better experience!

We celebrated our graduation ceremony. Atmosphere, service and food were amazing.

Had an amazing time renting the upper mezzanine for a private event! The restaurant was perfect - great food, chic space, attentive waiters, and overall great vibe. I coordinated with Bianca about a month before the event, and everything went super smoothly. I brought in my own flowers for centerpieces and it really added to the ambiance of the room. The decor, tables, and chairs really give it an upscale feel. The food was DELICIOUS. All of our guests complimented how great the dishes were. We also chose a red/white wine that was poured to our guests. -Truffle gnocci (4/5), the truffle taste was a bit slight, but overall a great appetizer, just a bit small -Rigatoni Salicicca Calabresse (5/5) - this was SO good. A combination of white and red sauce, the sausage really tied it together and pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. -Salmon with Prosecco beurre blanco (5/5) - the salmon was cooked perfectly. A creamy white sauce to pair and mashed potatoes I'd definitely come back here, not just for the event. I do wish Bianca gave me her personal number, as there were many times I was trying to get hold of the restaurant regarding the event and couldn't be connected to her/got a voicemail with no return. Overall, wonderful experience and I'm so glad I had my event at Stella.

Came in with a coworker for dinner, and overall, it was a really nice experience! We started off with the rosemary focaccia and the caprese, both of which were solid choices. The focaccia was warm and fragrant, with the rosemary giving it a nice earthy flavor. The caprese was fresh and simple. For my main, I had the truffle-stuffed gnocchi, and it was absolutely delicious. The gnocchi was perfectly tender, and the brown butter sauce had just the right balance of richness and flavor. The truffle filling added a lovely depth to the dish; it was indulgent but not overwhelming. The food was really great, but the service left something to be desired. We had to flag down our server a couple of times, which was a bit frustrating,

Came back to try again after 4 years! Forgot to leave a review the first time around so I'm back again to revisit the dining experience & ordering the same things I did last time. Escargot was good; wasn't a fan of the tiramisu. Main dish had a wonderful mascarpone polenta. The meat was dry, but the red wine reduction saved it. The wine was the best part of the meal. Loud date night vibes. Thanks!

We went here for an early mother's day dinner. We had reservations and were seated right away. The restaurant had dim lights which added to the ambiance. The food was coursed out nicely since we ordered all of our food at once.

Great ambiance and a large, unique menu. Cheesy Bread appetizer is fantastic. Lasagna had good flavor but was served lukewarm and the interior layers were quite dry. My partner's shrimp risotto was very bland and under seasoned. Service is a bit slow even when the restaurant isn't busy.

I had a company lunch here on a weekday. It was an amazing experience. The waiter recommended a good menu and patiently explained. I ordered the fish of the day, which was the grouper. I enjoyed the fish; it didn't taste fishy to me at all, and the texture was quite tender when biting it. The dessert tiramisu was delicious, too, but it was a little sweet to me. The restaurant is big and clean.

The service was friendly but one order didn't make it to the chef so my husband ate after the rest of our party. The food was perfect. I would definitely go back.

I haven't been to Stella's in a while but the wife suggested it so we went. Sorry to say, but won't be back anytime soon and it's not due to the service or anything. The food was just bland and boring. The bread was $8, which I guess some places charge for bread, but this was just focaccia bread...good but definitely not $8 good. We would say the best part of the meal is supposedly what they are known for, their truffle gnocchi. Their beet salad was good. We also got the veal chop special and the carrots had no seasoning, the broccolini had a little lemon zest and the chop was just eh. The best part was the crispy aspect of the potato slices. The cheese that was added to the pasta was good but the pasta was just ok. We also shared a bread pudding, which was pretty plain as well. Almost like cake with sauce around it. I would assume it might have just been an off night but...yeah...IF we go back, it definitely won't be for another while. Way better places to eat all over that street. Sorry.

Went to Stella for a birthday dinner--definitely on the pricier side, but the food made an impression. Started with the garlic bread, which was seriously amazing. It was fragrant and packed with flavor. For the main, we had the risotto of the day: saffron, shrimp, and marinara. The combo sounded a bit odd at first, but the flavors came together beautifully. That said, the texture was a bit inconsistent. Some bites were perfectly al dente, others a bit too soft.

Feeling like a little bit of Italian bistro vibes. Delicious and bold favorite of appetizers (butter fresh crab meats on toast, lobster or regular Escargot). Old fashioned cocktail is delicious. Salmon with mash potatoes is tasty. Overall we have a great time! Will be back

First time at there new location. A lot more spacious. Has a second floor and outdoor seating. Food is still amazing. Started with their cheesey garlic bread, beet salad, and the truffle gnocchi. I had their braised boneless short ribs, while others had their special seabass, seafood spaghetti, and a scallops special. All dishes were great except for the seabass, it was a bit more on the dry side.

We had a very pleasant experience here at Stella in Burlingame. We celebrated my husband's birthday with a sumptuous dinner and great conversation with family. Although the restaurant was packed, it was not too loud. It helped that we made reservations thru the Yelp app. Our server was attentive and helpful. We started with some mushroom soup that went very well with their Rosemary Focaccia. We shared the Penne all' Arrabbiata which has a bit of heat. The Scottadito di Agnello is this tasty grilled lamb chop dish with rosemary and mint gravy, served with baby carrots. The Osso Buco di Vitello is this delicious dish of tender veal shank served with mascarpone polenta. We shared a side of the Roasted Brussel Spouts with Pancetta and Balsamic Reduction, and Roasted Garlic Butter Mushrooms. We shared the Bourbon Bread Pudding drizzled with crème anglaise as a perfect finale to this hearty meal to celebrate another milestone for my hubby.

Had a get together with coworkers for a birthday and we were a group of about 15 people. Staff was very accommodating although our group had increased in size, it was very nice of them. We all had a great time, our waiter was absolutely attentive and kind. I ordered the gnocchi with pesto and it was delicious

Stella's new location just around the corner from where it was previously is stellar! Service is outstanding. Thrilled to hear that many of the individuals who worked at the Fish Market off. Norfolk in San Mateo are working now at Stella. Community is a big factor in my choices of restaurants to visit - alongside the fantastic food which was gnocchi and the lasagna. JT reminded us that Stella has the rights to the famous cheesy bread. I'll be back soon and definitely ordering that from the menu!

I had dinner with friends from work and honestly everything was good. I mostly ate appetizers but I got some bites from other people and the gnocchi and the steak was excellent. The bread pudding was wonderful. Dinner for the three of us came to about $300 with alcohol, and I didn't feel like it was a ripoff. I'd go again. Stella might consider serving hot tea in little cups instead of a glass though. Glasses cool off too quickly.

Stella, the reimagined Stella Alpina is a huge disappointment. A lovely build out of what was Sixto's on Burlingame Avenue. The "good" stops there, however. I visited twice within two weeks to see if my first experience was accurate-- something I'd call, "a typical Burlingame dinner that was under whelming. Second experience last night even worse. Service: staff not trained. Constant interruption with no consideration to the customer. Having difficulties opening wine bottle, no decanter, extra small wine glasses. Food: heavy, zero flavor, ordinary. Salads- small, ingredients mid quality, not creative. Expensive for the product. Pastas. Boring, almost delivered barely warm. Lasagna "limited" a joke. Must have cooked 3 days ago and reheated in microwave, mushy. Bland, accompanied with red sauce straight out of the can. Are 1/3 of it - server picks up plate and doesn't ask if there was something wrong. I dislike complaining about a restaurant but there is no value here except for the very nice setting. Too bad the food doesn't match and shame on the owners for allowing this to happen.

Had a great last minute meal with friends at Stella which is in the heart of Downtown Burlingame. The interior design and dinner wear aesthetic was eye catching with warm tones, plush booths and beautiful light fixtures throughout the space Unfortunately we weren't hungry enough to indulge in any of their appetizers but I saw a few go by and I'm definitely going to try their truffle gnocchi and a salad next time I visit We invested in mains and dessert. All of which was delicious, had a beautiful presentation, and generous portions. My favorite main was the short rib and apple gellette dessert. Our server Danilia was kind, attentive and super knowledgeable about all the menu items. We definitely want to come back and their pastas which looked amazing

Everything was amazing. We came out for a business dinner and we didn't know what to expect! I've never been somewhere where every single person in the group loved their food! What a treat! Can't wait to come back again.

Had a birthday dinner with family there. Service was great! Loved drinks and appetizers! Short rib was not very impressive.

This was my first time at Stella to celebrate my friend's birthday. Service was amazing and our server kept checking in on us to make sure we had everything that we needed. Definitely order the truffle gnocchi! So delicious. Can't wait to come back here!

Two weeks ago we and our friends went for dinner at Stella celebrating 2 birthdays and an anniversary. We made reservations a day before and informed them to the occasion. As far as the dinner is concerned the main dishes were very good but the Cesar salad was not as I expected. I would have given Stella 4 stars but they really blew it when it came to the bill. Without looking at the details I signed the bill which came to over $200 for the 4 of us. When I came home, the following day I looked at the bill and to my surprise I saw that Stella charged us $12 for a "birthday dessert ". We didn't ordered it and when it came we assumed that it was a complementary dessert that restaurants usually serve for special occasion( besides it wasn't good at all). Stella should have informed us that they will charge for the desert even though it was not ordered. That is the reason I am giving Stella only 2 stars. For you future customers a warning, watch extra charges on your bills. In my case, they made $12 but lost 4 customers .

We came here for my nephew's high school graduation and birthday party. Top notch quality restaurant: great staff, good drinks, well prepared food, clean restrooms, etc. The best part was the food. So allow me to get to it. Without a doubt I ordered the Osso Buco. Haven't had one in years and this one did not disappoint. It was flawless, perfectly braised, texture was tender, a little fatty. And the bone marrow - OMG! I knew I ordered the best thing on this menu. Coming in on a close 2nd was the pear stuffed pasta. The only way to describe it is creamy, refreshing, and satisfying all at the same time. I did get a chance to taste everything we ordered. The proportions are medium to large size; the menu could be served in a semi-family style setting. All you have to do is to get everyone to select two items each; and of course, I'm selecting the Osso Buco and pear filled pasta. The bar looks friendly, I would come here by myself: Osso Buco Pasta Double French 75 in a pint glass with ice Dessert

Great service and great food! Love the new location. Beautifully decorated and so much more space!

It was busy here even for a random Tuesday so definitely don't plan on dropping in if you haven't made a reservation (barely held onto ours after being stuck in traffic for +15 mins). That said, the food was decent - the spaghetti bolognese I had was flavorful with noodles cooked just right. Beet salad wasn't bad neither - but nothing to write home about. Their focaccia bread tho .. that was fantastic. I could have eaten a loaf of that and call it a night. All in all, a pretty good experience @ Stella.

Great food, good service and elegant venue. Recommend the fondue appetizer as a fun family sharing dish

I made a reservation on OpenTable and requested a quiet table for me and my wife so we could hear each other. We were first seated at the noisiest table in the place, next to the bar. We asked to be moved, and were seated in another room which was almost as noisy. It appears that they have no quiet spots. The staff and service are good. The food was good. The corkage fee is too high. Summary: If you like noisy places to eat with poor ambiance, this could be your thing. We will be looking for quieter places, or at least places with some quiet areas and a bit more ambiance.

Ideally, I'd give it 3.5/5. Stella Burlingame had all the charm of a cozy restaurant with warm lighting. Unfortunately, the experience wasn't quite as idyllic as the atmosphere. Hits: Ambiance: The restaurant nails the rustic Italian restaurant vibe. It's a great place for a special occasion or a romantic dinner. Misses: Food: While the dishes sounded enticing, the execution was inconsistent. My gnnochi was a bit dense, and the consistency of the sauce (if you can call it that) was very watery, so it didn't really add much to the flavor, and the flavors felt muddled. If you order gnocchi, you also have to provide the number of gnocchi you want (minimum is 10). I did 20 and felt that 15 would have been enough. Others at my table got overcooked meat, and when we told the server about it, we were informed that that's how it is cooked. The tiramisu was light but sweeter than other tiramisu I've tried in the past. Price: The price point felt okay for the overall quality of the food. You're definitely paying for the ambiance. Noise level: Despite the cozy atmosphere, the restaurant got quite loud, making conversation difficult at times. Service: Our server was attentive, but his off handed remarks were too much and felt unnecessary. Overall, Stella Burlingame offers a charming atmosphere, but the food quality and the service didn't quite live up to expectations.

For our night this was more a 4.5 star review. The restaurant is very clean, and our waiter was very attentive. The food was great. We got the fondue for the appetizer and the truffle gnocchi. For dinner, we shared osso buck braised short rib, and the chicken Parmesan . For dessert, we had a crème brûlée and the tiramisu we came here for our anniversary and they took really good care of us. Will definitely come back.

Loved the food and ambiance. Wait staff were pros and menu had some classic southern Italian dishes. Nice and well priced wines on offer and Italian sauces were spot on. Highly recommend Stella and felt price/value ratio excellent. We will be back

I've been to all of the restaurants in Burlingame, but this one is the best. Great menu, well executed, friendly staff, nice crowd. Highly recommended.

Great food ! So noisy outside and inside that it was hard to have a conversation. As it is a new business maybe the owners should be aware of this issue

Came here for a company event where we celebrated the holidays. We booked the private space up on the second floor which comfortably seated all 30+ of us. We had a limited selection menu, but I appreciated that it was diverse and accommodated various dietary restaurants. It was also a generous amount of food. I enjoyed the gnocchi and dessert most. Appreciated the patience and friendliness of the waiters as we were quite the rowdy bunch. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a cool restaurant for a corporate event.

Old school. Ricardo our waiter did not take notes. Everything was perfect. Great atmosphere. Perfect staff. My go 5 star. Excellent food

FOOD: 1. Fish of the day (Branzzino) (5/5) - Was so buttery and delicious! Loved the pairing with the veggies. 2. Chocolate pudding dessert (5/5) - I've never had anything like this. It was quite sweet and a bit heavy but it was heavenly. I would come here just to have this again. 3. Truffle gnocchi (4/5) - This is really delicious and I know everyone raves about it here. I've had better gnocchi elsewhere but this is still really good! 4. Antipasto charcuterie board (4.5/5) - Not bad, large assortment and included some veggies and olives, which I appreciated 5. Caesar salad (3/5) - Hm, felt like a basic caesar for a child. Wouldn't order this here. ------ ENVIRONMENT / AMBIANCE * Recently transformed into a winter wonderland through gorgeous winter and ski-themed decorations everywhere. Felt like I was at a lodge in Park City. * Big open space and a cool bar area on the first floor. Doesn't feel crammed at all * We were at an event in their top loft space which seated quite a few people and was perfect setting for a more laid back yet still formal dinner ------ SERVICE * Wonderful, they cleared our plates in between courses and everyone was very nice

Made a rezzie about a couple weeks prior to coming since the holidays seem to always be so busy everywhere and thankfully we did because upon arrival, the restaurant was packed! We were greeted by the front hostess and staff quickly upon entering and then quickly seated upstairs. The ambiance of the restaurant is definitely on the darker and romantic side, but I'm a huge fan of that vibe. We ordered: - roasted Brussels sprouts - risotto with scallops - Rigatoni Al Ragu Di Maiale - pan roasted prawns served over arugula Our server was an older gentleman who helped us begin our nights with drinks. Can't remember the names of our drinks but they were all well made: not too sweet or overbearing. Safe to assume the rest of the drink menu would likely be good as well. The food came out quickly and altogether. Our favorite was definitely the risotto with scallops! Would definitely recommend trying this. The rigatoni was a solid 4 out of 5, and the pan roasted prawns were cooked to perfection. The only thing I'm knocking a star off on this review is that when I was on the way to the restroom, another server/busboy completely walked into me, looked at me and walked off.. hopefully not a usual occurrence here. Anyway, overall, we still enjoyed our time here and would likely return+recommend!

Made reservations for a weeknight birthday celebration. We were seated right away. The table was decorated with a birthday card and birthday confetti, nice touch. The restaurant looked very spacious and the decor was very cute - lots of stars. Vanessa, our waitress was super sweet and helpful. It was our first time at Stella's. We had heard great things about it and were so excited to finally try it. We ordered a variety of dishes to share: Drinks: Espresso Martini Martini Arancia Appetizers: Truffle Gnocchi Focaccia Burrata Caprese Side: Roasted Brussel Sprouts Main Dishes: Gamberi (subbed the shrimp for chicken) Spezzatino (short ribs with polenta) Desserts: Bread Pudding (birthday dessert) Apple Galette Tiramisu They were very attentive (clearing our dishes when we were done, filling our water glasses, etc.) We enjoyed all the food - everything was delicious! And even though we were full, we always have room for dessert. =) We will definitely come back again!

Service -3 Ambiance-3 Food-3 Was a bit disappointed. We were there many years ago at the old location and had a wonderful time with the service and the food was great. But this time around it's just not the same The risotto was undercooked. The halibut was overcooked and tough. Cesar salad was bland Maybe the chef was too busy cater a big party The rib eyes was good and the short ribs has great juicy Davies and falls off the bone.

This was my second visit to Stella at their new location on Burlingame Avenue. I didn't want one issue during my first visit to the new location downgrade the five-star rating I had previously given the former Stella Alpina so decided not to write a review the last time I was here. For those of you who have eaten at Stella, you know that one of their most popular dishes is the truffle stuffed gnocchi. The last time I was there, I took a former manager of mine who was visiting from out of town to try the gnocchi. They were out! How could they be out of one of their most popular dishes, a restaurant staple? The worst part was the server failed to tell us this until we placed our order. Apologies, I obviously digressed. This visit was as amazing as I expect Stella to be. I arrived 30 minutes before our reservation time to leave my credit card since my dining partners have a habit of never letting me pay. I was planning to grab a drink at the bar while waiting, but the host offered to seat me at our table even though I was early. I waited for the server to come take my drink order, but assumed he didn't because the entire party was not present. The same nice host who seated me noticed that I had been waiting about 10 minutes and asked the server to come take my drink order. This kind of attention to detail is what makes Stella shine! Alas my dining partners arrived and we ordered the heirloom burrata caprese, truffle stuffed gnocchi, and osso buco. All of that rich, dreamy, creamy, yummy food clearly wasn't enough so we got the tiramisu and warm apple galette for dessert. Every dish was exceptional. Service was excellent. The new location is spacious, warm and appealing. Stella continues to be one of my favorite restaurants on the Peninsula.

THE FIOCCI PASTA PURSES ARE A MUST! They are soo good we ordered two for the table; a little mix of sweet and savory. You really can't go wrong with any of their pastas or entrees. Our favorites were the short rib and ossobuco. The restaurant itself is gorgeous inside, especially during the holiday season. They also have an outdoor area and an upstairs with private rooms.

Wow, maybe one of the top five meals I've ever had. I had the petrale , my guests had risotto. Everything was delicious. The topper was they now have the fish market chef who brought along his secret crab garlic cheesy bread recipe. Definitely not inexpensive, but worth every penny

Came for lunch and and had a fantastic meal. We tried the truffle gnocchi and the risotto cake to start. Both were good, but the truffle gnocchi really stood out. I got the salmon picatta for my main course. The salmon was cooked perfectly with a little crust on top and moist center. The lemon caper sauce complimented it well. Service was excellent the whole meal.

Went to Stella this Thanksgiving weekend because I had heard really good reviews about it. We got the Gamberi All'Aglio and the Fiocchi con Pere E Asiago. Both dishes were good, the Fiocchi in particular did not get monotonous over time. The Tiramisu however was the highlight of the meal for me with well balanced flavors and sweetness to it. The service could have been better as the appetizer we ordered never arrived and the order in which items were brought to the table was also messed up.

Disappointed... I remember coming here years ago and the food was phenomenal. I always give the benefit of the doubt to restaurants and servers, but this last visit was subpar at best.

Lovely , food delicous , great for family service was awesome.dessert was yummy we have a great time

Great pastries and cakes, as always! Nice selection, and Excellent service too. Really enjoyed the apple turnover, tiramisu, sarapintina

Stopped in for dinner with co-workers while on a work trip after it was recommended by a local. It did not disappoint! We were able to get in without a reservation but you should probably make one. Even on a Wednesday it was bustling! And for good reason... The service was great! Our waiter was a perfect mix of attentive but not hovering. The ambiance was lovely but not too loud. Order the truffle gnocchi to share as a group so everyone can try their signature (and amazing!) dish. For dinner, I got the Fiochi (pasta purse noodles stuffed with pear and cheese) and it was a delightful sweet and savory mix.

Would definitely recommend coming here! My family and I have come to eat here a few times now. I always look forward to their pasta. This time, I got their special - saffron risotto and short rib. It was really tasty! My dad got one of the chicken dishes and unfortunately didn't really eat it because it was too salty, but he was also full from all the appetizers we got too. However, my brother and I shared the pasta dish with pears, and it was absolutely incredible. The service was amazing, thank you to all the staff there who made the dinner great! Overall, we enjoyed our meal.

Stella moved to a really nice space. It's beautiful inside. However, I think the food was even a little below average. Our table and another near us both had to send items back, now I want to set the stage for that and say I send back less than 2 items a year. It was bad. Couple what was mediocre food at best with a server who's language barrier and desire to move so quickly had him mess up multiple items (think no sauce on the kids pasta, or gosh the other was a gnocchi and instead we got something else that sounded like gnocchi) Just kind of a mess. Cocktails and wine were fine. Upstairs smelled of fish, which was of bad too.

3.5 Stars*** Came here for my birthday and thought it was just okay. Starting with the service, we thought it was pretty slow especially since it was a Tuesday and not too busy. We also got seated all the way in the back near the bathrooms and kitchen, which meant there were people constantly walking by and noise coming from the kitchen every time the doors opened. Our drinks took a while and the Rosemary Focaccia came out even slower. We thought the focaccia was just okay, as it was a bit dense for our liking. After seeing all of the reviews about the Truffle Stuffed Gnocchi, we knew we had to try it. It comes with ten pieces or you could ask for fifteen, pricing depends on market price of truffles. I'm glad we just got ten, as we thought the dish was average. While the sauce was good, the gnocchi itself didn't have a whole lot of flavor and barely had any stuffing. As for the Maiale con Pancetta E Aglio, roasted pork tenderloin with pancetta and beans we really liked all of the flavors. The dish was good, but some of the end pieces of the tenderloin were a bit over cooked and dry.