Stella Maris Restaurant & Grocery

I’m gonna share a true local gem with y’all. Don’t blow my spot up and make it where I can’t get in please. Get over to Stella Maris in Arabi! Not only is this authentic Middle Eastern food at crazy good prices. There is a grocery store attached with Halal meat for sale, imported pantry items and a refrigerated dessert case that features, you guessed it, handmade Duba Chocolate! Let’s get to the food in the restaurant. Everything we ate had the freshest, lightest, most hearty, savory, herbaceous, clean taste of any Middle Eastern food we’ve had. It took us on a culinary journey that had twists and turns but not sharp turns, carefully manicured, intentional turns that took you to every comforting memory you have with food. You know someone’s grandmother is in the kitchen carefully but with precision that only years of experience brings crafting each meal that comes out of the kitchen. If you want to support local food, this is an amazing place to add to your rotation. Food and service are top notch and get the Lebanese tea!

So great y'all. Food came out promptly, a full roasted Cornish hen. Great smells and tender meat, fresh hummus with a second offer of complementary pita. It came with a sauteed bulb of onion you could cut into pieces with a side cucumber salad or your rice that added a great crunch. Very friendly staff and inviting grocery. Def recommend, and the ribeye special looked incredible, will definitely be back. I dug into my salad and hummus before I thought to take a picture. Very filling.

Stella Maris has been recommended to me for a long time and I finally went! I am sad I didn’t come sooner! The food was exceptional with a wide variety. I cant speak highly enough of the mint limeade in particular. It was extremely refreshing and packed with fresh mint. I also have Celiac disease which can make dining out very challenging. However, at Stella Maris the staff was so kind and so respectful. They asked me thoughtful questions about cross contamination and specific ingredients and took extra care to make sure I enjoyed a safe meal. I was so touched and will def be back! I also enjoyed browsing the little market attached and bought some halloumi to have with breakfast the next day!

The food here is absolutely amazing, a true flavor explosion that makes everything delicious. You must try the beef plate, the creamy hummus, the labne, and especially the falafels (seriously, the best I've ever had). The setting is unique, as it's located inside a store, but that only adds to the charm. You immediately feel the warmth and genuine energy of the family running it. 5 stars for food and heart!

Delicious family owned Lebanese food in Arabi highly recommend!!! They were so nice there. And you can stock up on groceries too. And you can walk so sister hearts thrift store (featured on queer eye) after <3

Stella Maris Restaurant & Grocery is one of those delightfully unexpected finds near New Orleans that feels both welcoming and packed with flavor. This family-run Mediterranean and Middle Eastern spot has a reputation for generous portions and bold, comforting dishes that always hit the mark. Walking in, you get a cozy, no-pretension vibe — part restaurant, part international grocery with spices, sauces, and goodies on the shelves that add to the experience. The food leans into classic Lebanese-inspired fare like hummus, baba ghanoush, falafel, grape leaves, and hearty kebab plates that feel rich and satisfying without being heavy. What really stands out for me personally is how authentic and flavorful the cooking feels — the gyro and chicken shawarma plates are packed with juicy meat and bright seasoning, and the mezze appetizers make it a great spot to share with friends. Overall, Stella Maris feels like a hidden gem outside the typical tourist trail: comforting, delicious, and genuinely welcoming — perfect for when you want true Mediterranean taste with personality in a laid-back setting.

I loved this place. Great service, very clean place. On the right side, you have the restaurant and on the left side the grocery store. They even had fresh beef and lamb for sale. The owner was very gracious and accommodating. The food was AMAZING. Great flavors, and even better portions. Where most places these days tend to charge more and give you less, this place was the opposite. It's a little out of the way, but the food makes it worth it. We even tried their baklava cheesecake and, D-D-DAMN! It was so good.

They are so friendly and welcoming. The food is so well prepared and always beautifully presented. They are family oriented and is one of my go-to spots to take people. And y’all! They just revamped their menu! They have so many delicious new items! I’ve her. Coming here for quite a while now and have never had anything bad. I also love their grocery selection! Come check them out and expand your palate!

In 2024, it's difficult to find eateries (or any business, for that matter) which check most to all of the standard boxes. Ask yourself when you last went out to eat somewhere with good food, prepared and presented thoughtfully, served promptly, in a pleasant atmosphere, by caring and attentive waitstaff, for an amount of money that didn't sting when the check arrived. Stella Maris meets and exceeds each and every one of these criteria, which has been cause for me and mine to return there on a biweekly basis for the past several months, as we will continue to do for the foreseeable future. Jamal and the rest of the Stella Maris crew have gone to noteworthy lengths to make each dining *and shopping* experience one which, lamentably, resembles fewer and fewer businesses in the US, and feels more like the hospitality one could expect abroad, in a far less atomized, sanitized, corporatized, price-gouging country than this one. When after dinner one night, one of us accidentally knocked over our hookah, shattering the glass base, Jamal was emphatic that we not worry one bit about it, and didn't charge us a cent for the damage. When I later bought my own (beautiful and affordable) hookah from him as a surprise birthday present, and discovered in it a small design flaw, Jamal automatically and graciously offered an entire replacement hookah at no additional cost, along with a handful of other proposed remedies to ensure I was taken care of. Upon leaving the store that day, I had accidentally left a small piece of our hookah behind, and failed to see him flagging me down in the rear view mirror as I drove away. The next time I stopped in, at first sight of me entering the door, he immediately went to the back and retrieved the piece, perfectly and wordlessly anticipating the very reason for my visit. These people are just plain kind, and that kindness shows up in every facet of their work and their business. You can taste it, hear it, see it, feel it. I feel as nourished by that kindness in my trips to Stella Maris as I do anything on its menu. Rare is the restaurant or store where you feel like helping the place out for free on your day off. This is one such place.

I pass Stella Maria everyday heading to and from work. My first time trying it was on the go to get a quick bite to eat. Walking into the store it has a very big selection of different things. I tried the gryo sandwich slices of lamb wrapped in this soft bread with veggies and fries, so good and made to order!!! The service is amazing walking into this place your greeted each time with a smile, they can always tell you other things on the menu that maybe good as well. There's a mint green tea that's very good the mint is just right with the tea. Ambiance cozy chilled comfortably vibe. I also got some lamb chops from there for dinner freshly cut and perfect side AMAZING on price. I'd definitely recommend Stella Maria for both great food and chill place.

What a hidden gem. There aren't many places I would eat hummus from, but this is definitely one. This place is not just a restaurant but a grocery store, too. They sell all of the seasonings and items I used to go to Metairie to get. The mint lemonade is beyond refreshing, especially on these scorching summer days. The shawarma is cooked to perfection: tender and packed full of flavor. The staff is always pleasant and ready to share the specials of the day. The place feels real homey: the perfect spot to hideaway, relax, and enjoy a good meal.

I truly enjoyed the soup and my gryo plate was very tasty. My only complaint was the meat being chopped up into think pieces and it was grilled a little too hard. The service was very excellent and I would definitely come back again.

I love that I can eat some great tasting authentic food that I grew up eating. My step dad growing up was Palestinian and we ate some great food. The service is great and fast. I love the hookah lounge on the other side too. The best touch is the grocery options and aisles.

Good food and service, great add to the parish! There's a convenience store in the restaurant to further your interests in the Mediterranean culture.

Run don't walk! Luckily they were open on Sunday! The staff are super nice and has grocery next to cafe seating! The food here was so heartwarming. Loved everything they suggested and got a wide variety of flavors here. Shawarma is excellent and definitely try the mint frozen lemonade!

I get falafel whenever it's on the menu, and this place by far has the best I've tasted. The gyro plate and chicken tawook plates are both delicious as well. Food is fresh and well prepared. We eat here often and are consistently pleased, always looking forward to returning. The ambiance is calm and there's a little store for shopping. The desserts are quality and delicious.

This is another Palestinian restaurant similar to others around the metro New Orleans area. It is a combo middle eastern grocery store and restaurant. They serve the usual menu items such as humus, felafel etc., except their felafel tasted fresh, humus was smooth and the portions were very generous and well priced. The restaurant part is basic and clean. The staff is very nice and friendly with good service.

Absolutely amazing food! Fantastic service every single time I've been here and the staff are absolutely the sweetest!! Love bringing my friends here and they always have the best specials! The general vibe and feeling of the store is very homey and the ambiance is nice and comfortable! The attached grocery store includes so many different things including spices and traditional mediterranean treats and foods that you truly can't find anywhere else in the parish. If I could rate 10 stars I would because they absolutely deserve it!

Great hummus and falafel. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. Group of four of us, plus appetizers and we enjoyed it all.

Finally made it there, lunch special was lamb , rice ,soup and veggies. Amazing flavors, fork tender lamb, rice pilaf hummus soup, appetizers didn't want to stop. Enough for a family. Dessert caramel tres leche. Could only eat half Soo good. All this and cheap prices. Coming back for the grilled fish stuffed with shrimp only because on the weekends. Well worth the drive!!

Chicken Shawarma and fries were amazing. Tazziki was bland and watery. Same as the tajin. The hummus was delicious, Labna was Rich and thick and delicious. The kibee tasted pre-made. I like delicate fluffy kibee. There's was dense and over cooked. Beef shawarma was amazing. Just some small things we didn't like but we will be back for sure.

Stella Maris, the Middle Eastern restaurant/grocery on Judge Perez in Arabi has a new owner. He is usually there, along with another gentleman who are super hospitable and helpful. I really recommend going there. I have spent time in several Middle Eastern countries and am happy to see that they have daily specials that are rarely found in the restaurants in New Orleans. I had "Mensef" which is the national dish of Jordan. It was really delicious. Lamb shank, rice with almonds, and a special yoghurt sauce. Another day I had lamb and cauliflower with tahini sauce. Plus they have everything from the old menu that we are all used to. Oh, and I bought a box of rose petal Turkish delight for a friend of min. That was so good. Stella Maris is at 7555 Judge Perez Dr., Arabi

I don't leave reviews often, it takes a place to be amazing or awful for me to take my time to leave reviews. I honestly wish I could give more than 5 stars for this place. First the service - The service here is second to none! I have only ever seen one gentleman serving and at the register, I believe he is the owner. He is quick to explain the menu and any specials going on that day. He has pictures on his phone of all the menu items and he is great at explaining each dish. This is awesome for people like me that is not familiar with this type of food. He is very nice and polite. You can see him running around the store to ensure you get served quick! Always has a sense of urgency. Atmosphere - it is a restaurant/grocery store. On the right side they have a few booths and a few tables. The booths are comfortable and and clean! I love that they have a grocery attached! After you order, go and explore the grocery side. They have so many things that I've never seen before! Candies and foods from the other side of the world! Ingredients that you can't find anywhere else. It's honestly really cool to look at all of these different items available. Food - I have only eaten at a few different Mediterranean restaurants, it's not something I typically go for when choosing a place to eat. From what I can tell this stuff is the real deal! I watch a lot of different YouTube channels that explore other cuisine and culture and this place looks spot on and the flavors are great. Please ask about the special of the day! It is always interesting, different, and delicious! Just ask the nice gentleman what it is and he will explain and show pictures right away. Don't shy away because you're unfamiliar, I can guarantee you'll love it. I always get a side of gyro meat no matter what, the small is enough for 2 people. The hummus is delicious and comes with warm bread for dipping. The menu is very diverse and I can't wait to try everything. My fiancé loves the chicken shawarma plate with humus. The portions are enough for 3 meals. You MUST try the fresh mint lemonade. It's made in-house, fresh squeezed juice and blended mint... it's so refreshing and delicious! Ok so that's the savory food part... now the desserts that are offered look great as well. I have tried the pistachio honey cheese cake... words can't describe how good this item is. I had to eat it over 3 days, it doesn't look like a huge slice but it packs a punch. I had to get another one this time around and I also opted to try the biscoff cheesecake. It looks great and I can't wait to dig in later today. Just do yourself a favor and give it a try! The menu is awesome and healthy to boot!

Highly Recommended! Everything I've tried is seasoned to perfection and taste authentic. The owner and everyone else that works there is very welcoming. You must come and eat here. 5 stars!

Haven't been yet will terrains to this when and if we go. Friends did recommend this restaurant and I plan to try it

Sooooo good! Great place to go if you are looking for something different to eat than the typical places.

Superb, Delicious and amazing. By far the best Mediterranean food I've had! I have tried alot of falafel and this is the BEST! I have never had such light and moist falafel, typically I have had overly spiced, dried hard patties...I could not stop eating these. The gyros was plentiful and cooked to perfection. This is a must if you love Mediterranean food and a must if you have not tried it.

What a gem!! Amazing selection of spices and food! Absolutely delicious deli and restaurant, best salad I've had in Louisiana! Not to mention the absolute best customer service!

Great Mediterranean food in Arabi. The service is excellent and the food is amazing. The care that is put to the quality of the food is the key. Their Gyros and other dishes are to die for. I highly recommend Stella Maris

My husband and I order from here a good bit. Their food is really good, and they always have great service. They deliver with DoorDash, and our food comes super quick and hot. Definitely recommend!

This spot is what I call an actual hidden gem. The Mediterranean food here is amazing and probably the best in the city in my opinion. I usually just get the gyro plate and the Lebanese tea! Service was good and prices are cheap compared to a lot of other places! The meat that comes with it is amazing and their tzatziki sauce is what tops it off. I definitely recommend stopping here for lunch if you're in the area!

I had to download yelp just to review this place. We came in and the waiter showed us pictures of the specials for today and we got the appetizer and entree specials. They were so delicious. The appetizer was a cheese stuffed dough thing with the homemade tzatziki sauce and it was to die for. My entree was like a falafel made of cauliflower and the plate came with so many different sides. The lady came by the table and showed us all of the desserts and made it impossible to not get one. I've never had such great service from a restaurant. I can't wait to come back and try whatever specials they have next time

Walking in, I was confused. It's actually a grocery store with some tables/booths on the right side being the actual restaurant. The hookah lounge is connected through a walk way leading next door, but you can't really smell it so thats good! Overall, the food was good with pretty big portions. I came here with my SO. We got the Stella Maris special appetizer, I got the gyro plate, and he got the shish kabob lamb plate. The appetizer was enough for 2 to share. I've never had grape leaves before so it was interesting to try from the appetizer! The rice was a bit dry, but everything else was pretty good. No complaints at all about the food. One weird thing I noticed was that there was literally no music, no TV, no noise... and me and my SO were the only ones here. LOL So it was very quiet, and we felt like we needed to whisper. I'd definitely come back.

I love this place! I come here every time I come into town. Looks can be deceiving. It presents as a small store, but inside there is a Mediterranean restaurant. I always take mine to go. The lady that is usually at the counter is sweet and helpful. Every time I go order the Stella Marie plate and Lebanese ice tea as part of my order. So good, I think I'll go tonight.

While the food is enjoyable at times, the female at the counter is not. The several times I have visited the grocery, dined or ordered takeout her attitude has not wavered, rude. The last time made it my final time. I rather drive out my way.

This is one of my go-to take out places in Arabi, and the food is great and consistently good . The owner /manager was so kind to me tonight, it really made my day. I will go out of my way to come more often. Amazing customer service and delicious food.

I liked food, especially the lamb it was good, and I enjoyed it. I recommend this to others.

My girlfriend, my best friend and I were craving Mediterranean food. Our usual spot was too far away so we decided to try somewhere new. We found this jewel nearby in Arabic. We were pleased to see a small Arabic grocery inside that had a good selection and a cafe inside that was also very delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Having sampled all of NOLAs Mediterranean offerings, nothing compares with Stella Maris. The appetizer plate is a meal unto itself. And the mint lemonade to die for.

I would always pass by this place and never think much of it. My friend sees it on yelp all the time with 5 stars and wondered how good it was. The first time we came here, we went inside and became confused. A few people were in line at the register and it looked like a grocery store with a few tables on the side. Since there were people in line, we assumed we had to order the food at the register and they'll bring the food to us. When we got to the register, we told the lady that we were there to eat and she laughed and told us that we could just take a seat and she'd take our order. My friend ordered the Gyro Plate and I order the Beef Shawarma (always my go-to when I eat at Mediterranean places). The food looked really good and we both chowed down after taking some food pics. In my head I was thinking, "This Beef Shawarma is great, nothing on this menu can beat this dish." My friend looked at me and told me that her Gyro plate was amazing. I looked at her with disbelief and I told her, "No way!" She told me to try it and I offered her some of my Beef Shawarma. After one bite with a dip of Tzatziki sauce, I was ADDICTED. My Beef Shawarma was good, but her Gyro Plate was amazing! I would enjoy the rest of my plate, but I was jealous of hers. At that moment, I knew to always go here if I'm craving a Gyro Plate. Overall, my experiences here were great and I would say this is my favorite Mediterranean place so far. The food is consistently good and I always tell my friends about this place!

Been eating here for years every time I'm traveling to hopedale . Several meals and not once have I ever experienced anything but perfect serve and meals that are flavorful and fresh . I've eaten 3/4 of the menu and it's one of the best in the state . Shish, gyro and kabobs stand out from all the rest . You won't get that thin, long shaved frozen coned gyro meat that was made in Chicago year ago

Absolutely amazing food. I love the marketplace, you can find various goods from around the world. The service was great and I felt very comfortable and welcomed.

One of the best Middle Eastern places in the city. Prices are cheap, the food is delicious, the place is clean, and the workers are very nice. The grocery store has a bunch of stuff you wouldn't find elsewhere.

This place is for real! There is nothing more satisfying than finding a place like Stella Maris! The food is absolutely perfect!! I would always recommend if you are in these part of town!

Great food, close to home, and friendly service. We will definitely become regulars here. The only downfall is they are closed on Sundays. It's small but busy, while we were waiting for our food there were people walking in to shop in the grocery and order Togo plates which took time from serving dine-in customers. I didn't mind waiting because we got up and looked around the store which was interesting (they have honey with the comb!). The food was great! The lamb was so tender and tasty my son (a picky eater) LOVED IT, he kept stealing from his dad's plate and the chicken shawarma was delicious. The chicken breast was a bit dry, but what do you expect? It's white meat, it's always dry. Now the Lebanese tea was to-die-for. I have never tried Lebanese tea and I fell in love! I ordered guava juice for my daughter and it was delicious and tasted fresh. My husband ordered Arabic coffee and it was strong to me, but he liked it. The best part about our experience here was at the end, our server was so nice she gave a surprise to my children, a Lindt chocolate for each of them.

The only reason why I ever venture into Chalmette! Great food, friendly staff and well priced. Only thing is that they are a bit slow bringing out the food so when you go make sure you are not in a rush. Try the mint lemonade it's amazing!

It's really more of a grocery than a sit down, by the girl working the counter was very attentive to our table. The food was excellent - best flavor rich and full of flavor, fresh, and with attention to detail.

Food was dry and terrible. Onion they gave is literally burnt to the crisp where it's literally giving me cancer sitting near it. Would not recommend, i even to my worse enemy. I ordered the combination plate (#28) and EVERY single item on there was dry. Service wasn't any better; I'd say the service was just as dry as this food.

This place was a HUGE disappointment!. After seeing the positive reviews on yelp, I decided to come by for dinner with my family. I ordered 2 hummus as well as chicken Kabab for every one. When I tasted the hummus, I couldn't believe that he was serving canned hummus. I am mediterranean so I'm very familiar with middle eastern food. I have had hummus at many middle eastern restaurants and have never had any of them serve canned hummus!. They all make it fresh. It's really not that hard to make. Some chic peas, some tahini and then you blend it up. That's it!. He gives you about half a can of hummus for like $5.99. A can of hummus cost $1. Also on top of that, the chicken Kabab was extremely dry and had barely any flavor. Also, the portions were tiny. Most of the plate was the canned hummus and salad. There was barely any chicken or rice. Canned hummus?!!!. This guy should really stick to selling groceries. Leave middle eastern food for people who care about the food. It really bothers me that this guy is serving this to Americans. I really don't want them to think this is our food. It's not!. The only good thing about the experience was the waiter. He was very nice and helpful. I've ate at middle eastern restaurants all over the country from Texas to New York and this was the one of the worst ones.

Not only is the food here AMAZING, but the staff is so welcoming and kind! I left my ID here when I was picking up my order, and the woman found me on facebook and let me know it was there! My favs are gyro plate, lamb with hummus, and you can't forget the kibbys!!

I've never left a Yelp review before. But this place was seriously so good that I had to. Best Mediterranean food I've had hands down. Drove 1 hour round trip trip to get it and I'd do it again tomorrow!!!

Inside the store is clean and organized, with a nice comfy cafe part to eat inside. Nice staff, and very impressive selection on imported items. I will definitely be returning. Prices on food one of the most reasonable in the area.

Great Middle Eastern food! Friendly atmosphere. Falafel is amazing, and the Chicken kabobs, I highly recommend. I've been there few times and enjoyed every meal. I highly recommend.

I go to this restaurant almost on a weekly basis, and love it. The food is great, and service is always friendly, and quick. Prices are also fantastic for the quality of food. After dinner, I get to shop their store for Middle Eastern groceries! Their hookah lounge is also great! I don't smoke hookah, but my children and their spouses speak highly of it. Highly recommend.

Love this place. Great food, great servers. Really chill casual atmosphere and the market is attached and has lots of good stuff. Also options for vegetarians on the menu.

The food was delicious! My husband and I just discovered this restaurant, thanks to yelp. We ordered a variety of things to try and everything was amazing! Everything was perfectly seasoned. We found our new favorite spot. We ordered the Stella Maris special (appetizer), #9 beef shawarma and the chicken kabob.

Best Middle eastern food ! I've thought Falafels are the kind of food that you can be amazed, their falafels are just die for. And the Kabab, so juicy and and tender, gyro with their homemade tzatziki sauce was amazing. And the Turkish salad come along kabab and rice gives you nice heat and balance for the whole dish. I can tell they use good and fresh ingredients for their food. Wish them the best!!

One of those "hole in the wall" delicacies that locals keep referring too. The atmosphere is rather interesting being that it's restaurant seating area is fused with the grocery shopping section. So ideally a customer could go grocery shopping while watching you eat. Two televisions play on mute in each corner as you listen to a rather interesting genre of music. There appears to be an official seating area that's much more appealing to the eye but appeared to be in use for overflowing crowds. I had #35. Shish Tawoo Plate. If you like Chicken, then GET THIS PLATE! Better than #33. Chicken Kabab Plate. You heard it here from the mouth of the goat. The establishment has some reasonably priced dishes as well which is a plus! Great for quick get togethers or quick lunch. :)