Stella's Cucina

We visited Stella’s on Friday night, two days after New Years, walking in around 6:30pm & sat at the bar without a wait. We ordered a beautiful glass of red wine, a martini, & a beer, enjoying the vintage style 1920’s atmosphere & beautiful energy surrounding us. We chose the mushroom risotto fungi e tartufo (I was accidentally brought the risotto cacio e pepe instead of the fungi but still greatly enjoyed the alternative) & ragu d’angello to share & both were magnificent. Our bartender was so sweet & attentive, providing elegant service & quickly acknowledging the mistake with one of our dishes (risotto) & remedied our “problem” without stress, even though we still enjoyed the dish & were 100% satisfied (props for the speedy awareness & remedy). The general manager Alessandro took the time to connect with us as we were leaving & listened to our experience, highlighting his goals to continually improve, grow, & develop such a unique hidden gem in Boulder, CO as he is a newer member of the Stella team coming from LA, his dedication & dreams are inspiring & exactly what Boulder needs. We will be back again because of the wonderful staff & stressless accommodations, we left feeling happy, well fed, & heard in a respectful manner. While this place has made major improvements since we have last visited during the opening months in early 2023, it was so meaningful to be able to openly share our thoughts & suggestions as guests who really observe & review places like this honestly. The placement of cutlery, the ring holders on the napkins, the lighting, the ambience which immediately scratches the itch of a well experienced foodie who searches for consistency. Because of Stella’s dedication for higher standards from the moment you walk in the door to your last steps as you’re leaving are unmatched but still leaves room in the middle for improvement. Add this wonderful restaurant to your itinerary on Pearl St. Round of applause!! Thank you, Stella’s!

We have been a few times, and would have given it 5 stars without the short ribs. Everything else we had was delicious, and the drinks were good. Really like the pastas, as well as the fried egg appetizer. However, for the price, the short rib was a miss. It was a dry, bland puck. For being around a similar price if you have multiple courses, I do think it is a step below Frasca a few blocks away.

Stella’s is a first class experience from start to finish! From the cool, understated entry, to the reveal, to the top notch service from all the staff. Just wow! NYC in Boulder! The vibe is full of energy. The drinks are beautiful. The salads full of flavor. The ox-tail ravioli was superb. No doubt this will be a hard table to get soon enough. Alessandro, Eric, Jason and Stella truly made us feel like family. Can’t wait to bring friends!

Excellent experience from the atmosphere to the service to the food. Beautiful presentation. The risotto ai funghi plate looked like a whimsical forest floor carpeted with berries and mushrooms. Met Stella and learned about her special touches to the menu, including incorporating her own peach jam. If visiting Boulder and looking for a nice place to eat, visiting this restaurant is a must.

I love the whole experience of eating at Stella’s. It is authentic Italian, delicious and service is extremely good. I especially recommend you go in your birthday they gift you this amazing lavender panna cotta. The tiramisu was spectacular too!

I LOVE this place. The service is impeccable. They remember their regulars, greet us with warmth, and give little perks. They change the menu frequently and I was so sad then they removed the Truffle Beef Tartare - it was hands down the best tartare I’ve ever had AND one of the best dishes. Ever. I would do anything to have that back on the menu. Even if it’s just a “call back menu” of the locals favorites or something like that… as long as it includes that dish. I have dreams about it. SO GOOD!! The current tartare is still pretty good. 😌 The pistachio crème brûlée is also a 🏆 🍮

Nice venue hidden from Walnut street in Boulder, CO. Good ambience helped by live music. Our minestrone soup, lamb chops, octopus and creme brulee were very nice, but the pasta dish was bland. Definitely worth the try, but would recommend skipping the pasta. Service was attentive.

We had a truly excellent experience here on a recent visit. Our expectations were already quite high, because it's an expensive dinner. I can say that it went beyond. First of all, every single thing we ate had marvelous presentation and was delicious. I included a photo of the steak on a salt block, before they took it in the back to cut it for us, and the salad. My own choice was sea bass and I loved it. We each had a cocktail from the interesting menu. My espresso martini was ridiculously good. We ended up sitting at the bar, and the bartender who was serving us was extremely pleasant. The general atmosphere was vibrant and warm. I can't think of a single thing to criticize, so I'll just end it there and recommend this place for special occasions.

I've only been to this place one time before. And it was OK. I was only there for about 45 minutes with a big group that was drinking lots of wine and mostly having apps,. So that first meal was fine because I was just there for the glass of wine, salad and conversation. Unfortunately, my second experience was abysmal. The service was painfully slow, and with some attitude sprinkled in. Even though they had a ton of staff and they weren't that busy. Our dinner took two + hours (!) from start to finish. The room was cold. It was loud (normally I don't mind a DJ playing dance music, but it didn't fit with the high end price tag and was turned way too loud). And the food was absolutely terrible. The portions are too small, the flavors are strange, it came out cold and the presentation and combinations were a sad attempt at fine dining. After waiting as long as we did, there was no recognition from the servers or the management. It's unthinkable to me that a restaurant would charge this kind of money and do such a substandard job. One caveat, the hostess was wonderful. Melena has been around the restaurant scene in Boulder for a very long time. She's lovely and attentive. Boulder is known for their great restaurants. This is not one of them.

The food was good but the service could have been better. The ambiance was beautiful though. The Caesar salad was pretty good. The saffron pasta and risotto were yummy but not mind blowing. The tiramisu was cool and I liked the textures. The espresso martini was yummy but could have been stronger. Overall this was a good restaurant but maybe a bit overhyped.

The ambiance is nice, the servers and staff were very friendly. We were not prepared for the portion size of the food. We all left hungry, the food is a work of art and beautiful but many dishes lacked taste and if they were good every plate was literally 4 bites or less. Great place for drinks and atmosphere but don't expect much more than snack size plates at very high prices.

You may just miss the entrance to stella's cucina. Look for the S marking on the door to enter into the beautiful restaurant. The overall ambiance from the furniture, colors, and the live music it felt comfortable to be there. I especially loved heard Studio Ghibli on the piano during our meal. Our server was most attentive and ensured our plates came in order and not too overcrowded our table for 2. I enjoyed the gnocchi and risotto most. The gnocchi especially was the BEST I ever had. Extremely pillowy, light and pesto filling (chef's kiss) that paired sooo well with the pine nut cream. I requested the sea bass whole which gave me access to so much flavorful parts of the fish. The paired potatoes were also crisp, soft, and well seasoned. The risotto had so much flavor built in from the mushrooms and garlic that kept me wanting more. For dessert, I was tempted to get the interesting looking tiramisu but ended up with the pistachio crème brûlée. No regrets there. This was an amazing dessert to end our beautiful meal. Meal was paired with two cocktails - il giardino and the ciao, konnichiwa. They both were great accompaniments and would drink them again. I'd give a 4.5 as this is a great place to have a nice, elegant dinner for a special occasion or if you're looking to treat yourself a little extra.

The food was incredible. I loved the experimentation and healthiness of many of the options. The interior is beautiful, unique, and swanky. Very cool bar. With some gluten sensitivity, we were able to order a very gluten friendly menu without menu modifications - which is rare for Italian! Not to mention all items were delicious. Would highly recommend the risottos and beet carpaccio.

Outstandingly meh. Ambience was excellent except for the loud music playing throughout dinner. It's a restaurant, no it's a night club, no it's both...so expect to talk loudly to hear yourselves over the music. Service was excellent all around. Portions were beautifully presented but lacked, what's the word?, taste. That's okay because they were so small you won't be disappointed for long. Seems like a great place for drinks. Outrageously expensive as a dining experience.

Just finished dinner at Stella's Cucina. An amazing experience- from the greeting when we opened the understated door to leaving with evening well-wishes. Our person, Amanda, was a total pro and treated everyone at our table with respect and with her complete attention while she was with us. She listened to our group dynamics and made recommendations that fit the group. All of the dishes were delicious, and I can't say that one was better than the others-except the bread, which I think everyone would have enjoyed a to-go basket!. Forgive me for not wrong the Italian names - we shared an egg yoke in panko crust dish (this, on toast, was unreal), beet carpaccio with soft cheese foam, steak tartar on scalloped potatoes and a Caesar salad to start. We were with three college aged young men and they devoured this selection. Followed by dishes of striped bass, lamb pasta, two lamb dishes and mushroom risotto. We shared everything and the table had all positive reviews. The drinks were delicious, too, with more than a few Manhattans and a few glasses of wine. Not inexpensive, but very fairly priced considering the service, ambiance and experience. We'll make this a must visit every time we return and we'll be telling everyone we know about Stella's.

Truly one of those places that you don't know what to expect until you go yourself! A "speakeasy" vibe with a fine dining experience. Really enjoyed all the items we tried. Servers were knowledgeable about the menu and were helpful in making decisions. Was glad we tried this place during a stop in Boulder!

I had such an incredible meal at Stella! I stopped by on a Sunday evening without a reservation and dined at the bar. The bartender was friendly and service was wonderful. I ordered the Caesar salad and mushroom risotto and the server informed me of the amuse bouche this evening, which was a truffle polenta. All three courses were extremely tasty! The Caesar salad was unique and sooo wonderful! I'm a huge fan of mushroom risotto and this was my favorite one ever. It was a great portion and was cooked to perfection. The bar was a great place to dine alone and the restaurant was busy on this Sunday evening! There was live jazz music which was perfect.

I visited Stella's recently with my husband for my birthday, and we had a wonderful experience. One of my friends had warned me about the speakeasy-style entrance, so I was looking for the "S" by the door on Walnut Street, easy to miss if you don't expect it. Behind the door, at the end of a hallway, a friendly hostess greeted us and led us to a stunning room dominated by an imposing circular bar. Booths frame the space, while tables with very comfortable leather chairs give it an almost a café feel. The mirrored back wall adds depth to the glamorous gold and beige palette. The overall atmosphere is sexy and chic, unexpected in a city such as Boulder, more something you'd see in New York City. A video installation is s cool way to showcase art; I only wish the designs, which constantly morphs into new shapes, were more visually appealing. I love abstract compositions, but wondering if it's stylized chicken feet on the wall (my husband's interpretation) is not very attractive. Service was impeccable and the food perfect. The menu is Italian with an original twist, including molecular gastronomy in some of the dishes. The Caesar salad was especially impressive, each leaf surrounding the foam-like dressing. Amazing! My husband loved his pappardelle dish, while I was very happy with my striped seabass. For dessert, I was offered a panna cotta since we were celebrating my birthday, which concluded a perfect evening. We'd definitely go back, and I'd love to try their late night menu!

Wow. This was one of the best dining experiences of my life. Service was phenomenal (shoutout to our server Chris!) and food was some of the best I've had. Complex flavors, unique takes with simple ingredients. Also one of the most romantic vibes for fine dining, super classy. Chris paired our dessert with an incredible wine that blew me away as a special gift for my partner and I's anniversary. We will be back!

This is not my first review for this restaurant, I've been here many many times and they never disappoint. My son took me here for Mother's day brunch; I must say I'm not much of a breakfast person so I order from their regular menu instead of the brunch menu they had for the special day. I tried the warm octopus salad with potatoes and it was spectacular. For the main dish I ordered the eggplant tortellini and not only was it beautifully presented, but it was delicious as well. For dessert, we had the pistachio crème brûlée, and the tiramisu, they were both amazing. The service and the ambience were on point as well. this is one of the few restaurants in Boulder, where price and quality are aligned. I can't wait to go back!

Really great spot. The interior is so unique and immersive, and the food is easily the best Italian in town.

Wow! Now they're offering Brunch every Saturday and Sunday I'm so excited! Brunch will never be the same again! Stella's offers a classy brunch. The dishes are incredible! They source locally as well as spoil you with an $800 bottle of balsamic that's 25 years old! The entire meal was incredible! The bone marrow was perfectly cooked and seasoned. When it hits the bread and both reached your mouth-its almost as if time stopped. I swear! It's that good! Although if you ask me if id have everything again id trust Florin who's on point with his recs! Featured dishes: The Chef works with local farmers as well as spoil his customers with the likes of a 25 year old $800 bottle of balsamic vinegar directly from Italy. ( the roasted endive is lightly drizzled with it) When you brunch here you're going to be spoiled! Featured dishes: CAPRINO Roasted endives, assorted goat cheese bon bons, D.OP. 25yr balsamico - GF. V MIDOLLO ARROSTO Herb-infused roasted bone marrow, arugula, cherry tomato, lemon citronette, garlic-scented toast UOVO AL CAVIALE* add another quenelle of caviar +12 Two poached eggs, Camisus black caviar, hollandaise, mascarpone, spinach, house made bread - GO. DF CROSTONE SPECK E CIPOLLA 2 pieces of rustic Pugliese-style bread buffalo mozzarella, speck, red onion BACON CARBONARA* Artisanal spaghettone alla chitarra, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, egg yolks, crispy bacon CROSTATINO (desert) was superb! Saturday and Sunday 10:00-2:30pm! Reserve now!

I was NOT expecting to find a place like this in Boulder. I love Boulder, but I've never shifted from the granola, relaxed-vibe perception I first formed 20 years ago, even after subsequent visits. So it was a welcomed surprise to find this place, highly recommended by a local friend. The best way to describe this is "granola meets Vegas." The decor is upscale sharp, sexy, and with all the right colors. The crowd is still faithfully granola, with hints of hip. I absolutely love everything about this establishment in Boulder. I have no idea what the bartender made for me (I told him to make something he'd want to gift me if I went to prison for 6 months for a crime he committed, but I took the heat for). Whatever it was, it was so delish I had 3 that evening (picture attached). Steak tartare deserves a shoutout, as does the risotto with cheese foam. If you're one with an elevated palate, these two dishes are must-tries. I'm in Boulder once a month, so I'll be back here pretty frequently going forward.

Amazing food, we ordered a bunch of things with another couple and ate family style. Definitely recommend doing that to try all the deliciousness. The Sommelier was super helpful in helping us find wine that was in our budget that was fantastic. The next day we even went into Denver to track down the wine to have at home. The ambiance was nothing like I had expected for Boulder.

The most horrible pretentious wanna be a restaurant atmosphere I've ever experienced. The food is horrible. The service is terrible and the drinks are far too expensive. I would avoid this place like the plague. The only way to improve is hiring new kitchen staff front of the house, staff and new owners

If you're in the Boulder era, make Stella's Cucina your next stop for a special occasion! Located in the heart of Boulder with a nondescript entrance, Stella's understated exterior is contrasted with a beautifully designed interior. The food is Italian, but it is anything but your run of the mill shells and sauce. To start, we enjoyed an espresso martini that was well shaken and not too sweet. For appetizers, the Stella Salad was refreshing with grapefruit segments and a light dressing. The octopus is a must order. The octopus was perfectly tender and complimented with the crunch of nuts and citrusy orange segments. For entrees, I ordered the shrimp pasta. It will be hard not to order this the next time I go because it was the best rendition of a creamy pasta I have ever had! The other star was the scallop risotto. With fresh shaved truffle on top, it was extremely decadent and worth the order. When I return, I will also try the veal milanese. To end, we had the profiteroles which tasted just like my grandmas! Tender dough with slightly sweet filling topped with ganache was the perfect end to an awesome meal.

I, admittedly, found this hidden gem on Instagram and wanted to try it. Making reservations is extremely easy, finding it was a little bit more of a challenge, but that's what makes the restaurant, so amazing. Once we open the magical door, we were greeted by Rose on the fantastic team of hostess and hosts. The decor and ambience is breathtaking, every detail has been curated with precision. Our server, Carl, was on point, and extremely attentive without being overbearing. I do prefer to take the entire meal and course it however we ordered our starter chefs, charcuterie and cocktails first. The amount of smiles on everyone's faces, including guests and servers, truly let's you know what a great place this is. Now let's get to the food, I absolutely recommend ordering with intent to share. The portions are quite large, my friend, and I both ordered risotto and both took half of it home. We shared a steak, and that was a perfect size. I love that they bring out this bone marrow candle, which has a much prettier name in Italian, but it's scented with rosemary and thyme to add ambience and flavor to the steak. We did not have room for dessert, but I can tell you those are also large portions and there is one that looks like a plant which was so intriguing. I wanted to try everything on the menu, so fortunately, I'm going to have to go back! Mangiare

Itty bitty little tables and huge plates! That's my take away from dinner last night at Stella's. We wanted to share some dishes but telling the server that was a bad idea because the share plates made the table very crowded. Best to just keep that plan to yourself or ask them to forego the share plates. The Caesar salad and prosciutto special were both excellent. The ragu pasta special was also delicious. The sea bass dish was just meh. Not a lot of flavor to it. They had a rum soaked cake as a special which was just ok. Drinks were good. The golden Negroni was a little sweet for my tastes but not a bad drink. I didn't notice until the end of the night that the back of the specials menu has some special drinks so make sure to look at both sides. Ambiance was amazing and very surprising. I didn't think this place would be so formal. The band set up behind us around 6pm. Drum, bass cello, and keyboard I believe. The music was good not too loud. But the set up in the middle of dinner was kind of annoying. According to their voicemail, a DJ comes at 10pm. They also announced they were open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays and gave us a couple coupons for brunch. The door was kind of hidden. Look at pictures before you go.

The vibe inside is modern, with a touch of Vegas. The service was great, the food was not. The caesar salad was deconstructed and bland. The idea did not deliver with classic flavor. The carbonara pasta came out room temp and very salty. They tried to heat it up but it was just barely warm. My husband's vegetarian pasta was nice and good flavor. Both portions were very small and overall the brunch menu didn't have much Italian fare. I'm not into big American portions but these were true primi size rather than a lunch portion.

The interior organic streamlines decors and the carefulness in the crafting of each dishes alone are enough to give this place an applause. Service was very attentive and gave great descriptions to each dish. As you can imagine the naming conventions isn't exactly english. The foods on the other hand is probably what you came for. The pastry I had was far more hard and dry than it looks. Actually, more hard than crumbly. Drinks had a different taste that preconceived notion of what a mule should taste like. But it was not mind blowing. My egg Benedict, was a normal egg benedict that has more expensive ingredients on it such as caviar and salmon roes. I think its a nice aesthetic touch but it did not help the dish. Imagine eating fishy chicken egg. The steamed spinach that came with it virtually has no taste. I think the seasoning were oil and onion or garlic, it's not exactly seasoning for the taste I would say. Its a nice place to come once. Or impressed a date, but not practical.

I came here for my birthday. We were a bit late because it was a bit hard to find, it's very plain from the outside. It's fabulous on the inside though! This restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. The service is excellent, and the food is worth every cent. It's almost too pretty to eat. I had caprese with a variety of tomatoes and prosciutto, followed by fettuccine with red shrimp, zucchini and almonds. My daughter had octopus with a spicy marina and a ravioli dish that were also superb. I had such a hard time choosing between the dishes because everything looked so good. Definitely try this place. It's wonderful!

This is one of coolest restaurants in Boulder. Great ambiance, menu and friendly service. Check it out!

The food and especially the service was paramount!! As good as it gets in Boulder! Only "issue" was the music. I know you all want a modern vibe but the constant "thump-thump" without any variation was very bothersome. Then over the top loud in the restroom!

Food and drinks were delicious! Ambiance was fabulous. Service started off good and everything was off to a 5 star start and the chef even came to our table which was very nice, but then we just felt like we were forgotten about after our first course. We were given dessert menus and had to remind them that we had actually ordered a second course. I ordered a second drink three times until it finally came, and we waited a long time with our card on the table and had a different staff member finally run our card than our original server. Also, it was my birthday, and they wished me happy birthday at the start but then seemed to forget. I wasn't given a birthday dessert, which I'm typically fine with because I've had so much to eat, except I saw another diner given a birthday dessert with candles so not even being offered it was a little sad. I hate to leave a bad review and everything really did start off so well!! And food was good. I think Stella's has potential but it seems like they have some kinks to work out if they're trying to operate at the tier they're intending to.

My experience is based on sitting at the bar. First off, walking into the place you feel like a VIP. You enter a large, steel door that's simply marked with an S. It feels exclusive, and unless you know it's a restaurant you'd pass right by it. Then, after walking down a long corridor you're greeted by one of the most gorgeous restaurants I've ever seen! The decor is very modern, but classic. The bar is the centerpiece, and if you're there during day light you'll see that it's lit up by the large skylight overhead. It's a very unique juxtaposition in contrast to the rest of the dimly lit restaurant. It feels very upscale. The service was very attentive, and the waitstaff were sure to explain everything. We got to sample the chef's special, which was a polenta thing. It was tasty. We really just came to get a drink and a snack, but I'd love to go back and eat a proper meal here. We shared the mussels, and the sauce was divine. We also ordered a basket of focaccia bread and it was some of the best bread I've ever had in my life. The bubbles inside were out of this world. To drink, we both had a glass of rose Prosecco. It was dry, not sweet (which I like). Their wine options were unique. The only thing that I did not like was that it was served in a coupe glass. It made it difficult to manage and Prosecco, being the bubbly wine that it is, typically is served in a flute.

I finally experienced Stella last night for a very special occasion: my daughter's 23rd birthday. I made a reservation a few weeks in advance to ensure that our celebratory dinner would be special. They had our reservation accurate; upon going through the inconspicuous entrance (which surprised my daughter), two ladies at the dark hallway welcomed us with a welcoming/cheerful smile. I have to say that my expectations were pretty high for this much-talked-about restaurant. As one of my dear friends (who lives in Boulder) told me about it a few times (and he likes Italian), my (or our) coming here was very much hyped up with so much daydreaming. After that dark hallway, this cave like dining room opens up to you (this restaurant does not have any windows just so you know.) The round bar in the center of it is nicely lit but not too bright. We were sat at two-person table that was a bit small for a nice birthday dinner (I thought). Due to the fact that this restaurant is kind of small (my daughter counted about 11 tables total), this was completely understandable. It's got quite the ambience, however. Its dress code is business casual. I did see some people in their very relaxed attires, but my suggestion is that you dress up until the required code to match the high-end atmosphere. Our waitstaff, Cassidy was extremely attentive. She took our food allergies very seriously and made a notation of it as she took our order. She also had a partner waitstaff (older gentleman); he made a great suggestion as to which red wine I should have. But this restaurant works as a team. Throughout the whole dining experience, several different people came and went to refill our water glasses, dropped off our food etc. We absolutely lacked nothing during the entire time we were dining. Now let's go into the drinks/food, shall we??? -My daughter's zero proof cocktail: Spiced Tonic was amazing. And it's friendly priced at $8. -My wine: Paolo Scavino Nebbiolo. Like I said, Cassidy's partner waitstaff suggested this. Like he said, this can be paired with any type of meal. It's medium-bodied but has got good flavors to your nose. Some spices which I couldn't make of truly entertained my palate. Extremely easy to drink. -Welcome (Benvenuta??) starter: This surprised us as we, of course, didn't order it. It was a little complimentary welcome dish. I believe it's squash based and it's creamy. This was really good. -Insalata Stella: Greens with some grapefruit pieces. This was good but nothing extraordinary to be frank. The greens tasted like they were soaked in some dressing so they were a bit soggy. But like I said, it didn't bad. -Vellutata di Ceci e Scampi: Soup with a large piece of shrimp in the center. This was more for my daughter so she ate the shrimp. She said the shrimp was one of the best ones she has ever eaten. The soup part was nice and hot and it remained hot in the bowl for quite some time. There were some garbanzo beans inside the soup. To me, this was OK. -Spigola la Forno: This is the seabass and this was excellent. And it's a good portion, too. My daughter and I shared this dish and it was just the right amount of food between the two of us. The veggies that accompanied the fish were excellently seasoned and cooked as well. -Desserts: We ended up getting two. And one was complimentary or I should say it was on the house (it was for the birthday girl, of course.) We truly appreciated this kind of considerate/kind gesture by the restaurant. Crema Cotta Alla Lavanda is a panna cotta (the complimentary one) had a little candle on it. I personally enjoyed this one; it's funny that my daughter described it as "delicious lotion" (what??) The one we ordered was pistachio creme brulee (Crema Cotta al Pistacchio). At the price of $16, the portion is extremely small. Whereas its taste wasn't impressive, it was good. Well, overall, we walked away with happy faces. Although we didn't order much, our tab was $132 after tax. This is not something I can do every week but for a special occasion where having the ambience is some good factor to consider, then Stella Cucina might be your place to dine in at.

I went here for my sister's birthday and it was quite the experience! It felt like we were stepping into a swanky upscale big city restaurant. Definitely not Boulder vibes, dare I say in a good way! Presentation was key here. The service was impeccable and everyone was friendly and knowledgeable. Prices were high, but the dishes were delicious and unique! There were a couple of twists on more standard dishes that we loved and some that were not our favorite, but it was fun trying everything anyway. Truly a fun experience that was so aesthetically pleasing we took way too many pictures than necessary. Definitely come here for a special occasion or if you want to pretend you're in the big luxurious city. Enjoy!

3.5 stars rounded up. The ambiance is super cool but it is disappointing that there are no windows. One of the best things about Boulder restaurants are their views. The cocktails and appetizers were great and we loved the visiting DJ. The service was a little weird. Like, they were friendly but there were times when they'd vanish (we had two servers). The main meals were... the venison was pretty underdone, even for my husband who likes his meat pretty red. He liked his lobster risotto but his favorite was the octopus appetizer. Neither of us enjoyed our different purple potato dishes. It was a good evening, but I'm not sure it was worth the cost. We'll probably come back for cocktails and appetizers and go somewhere else for a main meal.

We drove about 40 miles to have date night at this restaurant since it was is Michelin Guide. It was a bit hard to find the front door but the mystery gave it the feel of a speakeasy. We were greeted by an Italian hostess who was lovely and welcoming. Our server, Florin, was top notch being knowledgeable, made great recommendations, perfect wine pairings, and did not rush our experience. We shared all of our dishes and ended up taking food home. We started with the deconstructed Caesar with anchovies. Neither of us have been a fan of anchovies but we loved them on this salad. They added flavor without being overpowering. He suggested the beef tartar. It was a perfect blend of flavors and used Colorado Angus beef. It comes with 3 crostini's which was not the proper ratio to the tartar. However, Florin, appeared with a few more right when we were needing them. We followed with the Funghi Risotto which was cooked perfectly and arrived hot and creamy. There was a foam that took the dish to the next level. The next dish we chose was the sea bass. The fish was cooked perfectly as were the potatoes and vegetables. Although we enjoyed every bite for our taste we would have preferred a bit more seasoning and less chive oil. We ended with pistachio crème brûlée that was out of this world. We love crème brûlée and this was the best and most unique we have ever had. They spared no expense when it came to the design, dinnerware, fresh ingredients, and staff training. Overall a great experience and on the drive home we were planning our next trip back.

Stella's Cucina was a delightfully memorable experience -- exceptionally prepared and presented food, immaculate service, beautiful decor and sophisticated ambiance. The food was amazing. Fresh, delicious and a sight for the eyes. The Octopus was poached perfectly, tender, bursting with flavor, accompanied by some roasted fingerling potatoes, Italian olives and fennel. Just divine. The sea bass was perfectly grilled with lemon and fresh herbs. With the sight and smell of my entree, for a moment I thought I was back in Tuscany. The spinach ricotta pasta was perfectly cooked, and also tantalizing delicious. The wine list is impressive and extensive. Stella has spared no expense on the interior decoration. Modern, chic, with indirect lighting. Even though nearly every table was full, the place is still quiet enough to enjoy private conversation with your table companions. A man on the keyboard played soft music which added to the mood. Service was spot-on. The team of servers, runners and assistants made sure we were never lacking for anything. When my wife mentioned to another server, who just stop by to pick up something, that I was skipping dessert, because there were no dairy free options. she said, let me check with the chef. In a few minutes, she returned and said we have some fresh peach sorbet -- would you like some. Yes. What came out was the creamiest, freshest peach sorbet imaginable. IT was served with poached peaches (in wine, I suspect.) Wow. Delicious finish to my meal.

Loved our experience at Stella's Cucina. We were a large group, so we sampled most of the menu and while the food was good, the dessert was the standout. Truly transformational pastry. All the hats off to Pastry Chef Zhuban. I seriously googled to see if they have a cookbook. The pastry was really extraordinary. I would come back and have an appetizer and four desserts.

I went here for my 24th birthday with my boyfriend and we had a very pleasant experience! We went as early as possible (only bc we booked last minute & that was the only time available). I think it was 4:30pm when we got there & it was awesome bc we were the only people there at first, and then slowly the place became packed with people and music and it was a great time! Also the server we had was super lovely. And amazing food. 10/10 would go again!

Perfect place for Italian food. The ambiance is so pleasant and cool, the decor was really amazing. We started with the Caesar salad and assorted meats and cheese plates - both super filling and tasty. The ravioli was another dish I recommend - it was so rich and comforting. My partner and I weren't huge fans of the ragu special of the night - it tasted a little under seasoned to us but the tiramisu made up for it! Overall amazing food and unbeatable service. Definitely check this place out when you're in Boulder!

I went with my bf to celebrate his bday, and so far this is my favorite restaurant in Boulder. The place outside it's hidden behind a metal door, as soon as you come in it's very elegant and nice. Food was amazing. appetizers, entry and dessert 10/10, our server recommended the vecchia Modena wine bottle, the flavor was smooth yet fruity/sweet. Everything was an experience of flavors and price wise it was180$ for everything that we ordered which is great for an elite Restaurant with this type of atmosphere.

A must try in all of Colorado! Amazing food, great and attentive service, ambiance was incredible. Drinks were also divine. We recommend taking advantage of the specials of the night as they are limited to that day and so delicious. Very cool if you go on Fridays night to hear the live DJ. Would 100% recommend and will return.

An unmarked door on Walnut street is tricky to find setting the ambience for this new eatery in the heart of Boulder. The space is lively, with a large bar in the round, and the energy is reminiscent of power lunch meets Boulder townie kinda vibe. We ordered our drinks and soaked up the vibe as our pleasing waiter outlined the menu in what I perceived to be an Eastern European accent. We started with the house charcuterie and the raw shaved artichoke. For a charcuterie I would say that the value was not there for what was served (see picture) and they could not accommodate my GF wife with any GF bread substitutes. The artichoke seemed like a good culinary idea but lacked seasoning in our estimation. The secondi plates were very nice: the mushroom risotto was silky and intensely flavorful and the Colorado lamb ragout was appropriately gamey but perhaps a bit out-done by the pomegranate kernels that gave the sweet rather than savory the front billing. My wife loved the lavender strawberry panna cotta. We ordered several wines by the glass so we could try a few different offerings and I would say that for a 25.00 pour I expected more from this Barolo. All in all a decent experience and maybe I would return when the staff and the pans become more seasoned, but for now that will have to wait a while! Robbo, from Colorado

I think this place would be a 5 if not for a few missteps. First the service was excellent. Very attentive, helpful, friendly and pleasant. Nothing was wrong about the service at all. Next the design of the restaurant (the ambiance) was perfect. One of the nicest interior designs I've seen in a restaurant. A lot of attention to detail to the lighting was obviously made here and it was worth the time invested. The appetizers were mostly a hit. The Insalata a la Mano (a deconstructed ceasar salad) was delicious. It was very beautifully plated, the flavor combinations were well balanced, definitely recommend this. The Bruschette Miste was also extremely tasty. The mains were overall pretty good, but for some reason most of us were slightly underwhelmed and none of us could put our finger on why. I got the Gnocchi Senesi. It had a real home cooked feel to it, but I didn't feel like it was something that stood out enough fro it to be worth the whopping $35. The crunchy texture added was a potato skin deep fried, which is *interesting* but not enough. For the most part it was mushy. The dish did not really taste "elevated" to the level of the decor, appetizers, and the other dishes at the table. My wife got the Mare e Bosco Risotto, which was the star dish in my opinion at our table. If you are a nice restaurant and you put Risotto on the menu, it better be perfect. However, the truffle might be a bit excessive and be unnecessarily driving the price up. Just putting truffle or any other expensive ingredient on doesn't necessarily elevate a dish. My brother in law got the Spigola al Forno, the sea bass, and it was also excellent. It was so tender, perfectly seasoned, perfectly cooked, etc... Nothing bad to say about it. My mother in law got the Arista al Finocchio, it was pretty good. It's a pork chop, so I'm a bit biased against them since I don't ever enjoy that cut, but she said it was great, so I'll take her word for it. The vegetables were prepared excellently. My father in law got the venison special (forgot the specific name of this dish). It was flavorful but the portions were incredibly chincy even for venison. Personally it seemed a bit tough, but the flavors were on point, so I'd still consider it great. The worst part were the cocktails. For such a beautiful fancy bar with such creative recipes the execution of the drinks was very disappointing. Every single drink we got was overly sweet, the balance was off in the sweetness completely. My mother in law ordered their Manhattan with low sweetness as the request, and it was sweeter than any Manhattan I would ever prefer. Then my brother in law ordered it even less sweet than hers, it was still sweeter than I think anyone would expect. I think the combination of the two amaros is overpowering the drink and should be reconsidered. I ordered the punch al latte. and while it was very creative with the golden cereal milk, i feel like the allspice dram should have been subbed out in the recipe for something less sweet as it was overpowering. I also ordered their old fashioned. Again, far too sweet which was very confusing since it's an old fashioned, it really shouldn't be this sweet (just like the Manhattan). A few of them got the L'allodola, yet again, too sweet. It's such a bummer because this is a take on the jungle bird which is one of my favorite all time drinks, and they actually used Campari (a lot of places sub in Aperol and it's not the right flavor). The only twists on this over a jungle bird was they used Meyers dark rum (which has quite a bit of sweetness) and added a falernum liqueur (which should be sweet too). It's unfortunate because this one said "balanced" in the menu, yet it was another too sweet drink. The desserts were all very creative and tasty. Reminds me of the deserts at the former restaurant Arcana in Boulder. Definitely try them out if you go there. I had the Terra Misu and it was filled with flavor and perfect texture. My wife had the chocolate thingy (forgot the name) and it was really well executed. What's funny is the sweetness balance was better in the desserts than it was in the cocktails! None of the desserts were overly sweet! If they fixed up the drinks this would be an easy 5 stars, but at this price I can't give it 5 stars when the drinks aren't up to par with so many other good places in Boulder.

I recommend this restaurant- the whole vibe is a unique experience and the 2 hours we were there passed quickly! Food and Drink- 4/5. The best was the whole fish- I highly recommend. I also really loved the non-alcoholic tonic with clove, cinnamon and sage. The olive oil with the break was weirdly good. The filet came with a tallow candle which was unique. I wasn't a fan of the sauce (overall I dislike any sauce on steak) and the funghi were kind of bland. Steak was cooked perfectly though. The soups were just ok, the chickpea one was missing some flavor. The side of potatoes were not great- really dry and lacked flavor. Service - 5/5. Our server was so sweet and kind. She helped us with wine and checked on us appropriately. Ambiance- 5/5. Has an upscale speakeasy vibe. I liked the rendition of the Sistine chapel virtual art and the DJ was awesome. It was slow vibes and awesome mixing (nothing too aggressive). Value- 4/5. Definitely the whole fish was worth the cost. I did get full from the food and our bill for two people was $200 with tip. It's a good, special night out kind of price tag and you can try a lot of the menu. If the soups and sides were better this would feel more worth the $$.

BEST ITALIAN BOULDER This is what we all have been waiting a REALLY LONG time for!! FRESH homemade Pasta in a sexy, swanky atmosphere with the BEST customer service in Boulder. The Ravioli Burro e Salvia is an aphrodisiac on a plate. SERIOUSLY. Take your "other" here- it won't disappoint and they will surely be screaming "STELLAAAA"!!!!!Before the night is over. Thank you Stella and Jason for bringing sexy back to Boulder

Being a New York transplant I've long lamented the sorry state of the Boulder Culinary Scene. Stella's is like a badly needed beacon of light, finally bringing NY-style fine dining to Boulder. The style, service, menu, and food quality sets a new standard for our town. Try to get a rez while you still can, and while it is still reasonably priced enough to eat at multiple times a week (I've already been twice). Thanks Stella for bringing the best in NYC to the Boulder bubble! Oh and I'm not sure if you can reserve in yelp, as I got my rez at Open table.

Cool space but incredibly uncomfortable chairs. If you manage to sit in one of the booths, they look better but for a 6'3" 250lb guy, it was silly. Excellent service and our server was great (Chris)! Food was very "OK". Except the pork chop I ordered for something like $35 (!) was extremely tough. As-in, I had to really work at it with the steak knife they provided to cut it. It was a special occasion so I wasn't about to deal with sending it back and all of the fun that goes with that. Mushroom side was excellent! Everything else was just OK and when you factor the prices, well, I won't do it again. I'll come back but only to sit at the bar perhaps.

Beautiful atmosphere and wonderful live music when we went on a Sunday evening. Sat at the bar and had excellent and attentive service. The food was delicious. We tried multiple appetizers and then each got a pasta for dinner and shared. Would love to return and try more!

My new favorite restaurant in Boulder! Best food, such a fun vibe with the DJ. Really well designed. 10/10

Unfortunately the food was caked in salt and that's all I could taste! The bread was teeth breaking and the "Terra Misu" topping was so hard it felt like eating pop rocks. The waitress didn't seem to care about us much. Overall just was expecting a better experience.

Definitely has a cool factor being hidden away with the discreet entrance. Driving by, I didn't even spot it. Interior is very classy and you might feel under-dressed if you're just wearing a T-shirt. The service was impeccable and staff was very attentive. Menu is smaller than I expected but the food was very rich with flavor. I was surprised though that they don't have soup or salad before the meal with the entree. They might offer those things if explicitly ordered but was surprised they didn't come along with the meal. The portion sizes are smaller but they are still quite filling. Perfect location for a date night away from the kids.

Let's talk about the VIP treatment by the handsome doorman and management. Immediately welcomed at the bar and excellent late night drink special and tasty food menu. First visit is later on a Saturday night when most other places closed the kitchen... not here and it smells divine. Everyone is so happy to be here S I'm looking forward to a quiet dinner revisit during the well soon.

We drove 40 miles from south of Denver to Boulder for a return visit to a restaurant we enjoyed last spring. When we arrived we noticed a lot of people eating with their coats on in a way too overcrowded dining room. We asked to be seated in the heated section but they seemed to be having problems with the heating system. There was a small space heater by the bar. We were seated at a small rickety table that was nearly impossible to get into since the backs of the chairs of nearby tables were touching ours. It was noisy and frankly the place needs more than a little spit and polish. We decided not to stay and went back to the car to check yelp for something nearby. We found Stella and checked OpenTable which said there was no availability for 90 minutes. I called and they cheerfully said they could accommodate us. It was about 2 blocks from the car and we had a great parking spot so we decided to brave the cold wind and walk. The entrance is so obscure we went into a busy bar to ask for directions. The bartender said let me show you, I get this all the time and walked us right next door about 10 feet away to a strange looking door with a small letter S on it. He even opened the door for us. There is a long hallway, about 20 feet, leading to the hostess stand where we were welcomed like royalty. Then they take you around the corner and we felt like we were in Wizard of OZ when it switched from black and white to glorious color. Our shivering bones, aggravation and frustration instantly melted away. My first impression was like I was in a George Jetson cartoon. The predominant color is white with a black ceiling with a large skylight. The room is small but seems much larger with the mirrored back wall with a constantly evolving art display made up of 9 large screen displays that is mesmerizing, but don't try to figure out what you are looking at. The seating is comfortable with ample room between other diners. The lighting is subdued but adequate so you don't need a flashlight to read the menu and can actually see what you are eating. Everything is spotlessly clean. There was a talented trio of guitar, Jason Greenlaw, bass and keyboard playing music perfect for the setting at just the right volume. I knew we were going to like this place. Service was impeccable. It has been years since we were served so professionally. I had the oxtail ragu stuffed pasta. The filling had the texture of a very light mousse and the pasta was bicolored with thin brown pinstripes. I have rolled many a sheet of fresh pasta and was fascinated trying to figure out how that was done. I had to look it up and found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxn-UDHzbiQ. Can't wait to try it myself. It made a beautiful plate lightly sauced on top with the tomato and a swirl of the fonduta garnished with crispy fried sage leaves. I often wish I was that creative. My wife had the venison medallions, three thick slices from the center cut of the tenderloin beautifully cooked medium rare and artfully plated. Unfortunately I never got to taste any of it since it disappeared so quickly. Even the focaccia was exceptional. The predominantly Italian wine list is amazing. I will have to do some homework before we return since I never heard of so many of the offerings. I don't often take this much time to do a review and rarely give 5 stars. We almost never walk out of a restaurant without commenting on having endured some, and sometimes intolerable shortcomings. But this was the rare exception.