Ayush K.
Yelp
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.