Stella's Diner

Stella’s Diner is a delightful spot where I had the pleasure of indulging in a variety of their drinks and dishes. I started with a refreshing apple juice but couldn’t resist the temptation of their chocolatey, delicious milkshake—it was simply divine! For my meal, I enjoyed the Belgian waffles, which were perfectly fluffy, and the Corned Beef Hash Skillet that was packed with flavor. The Avocado, Tomato, and Onion omelette was fresh and vibrant, complemented by a side of crispy bacon. I also tried the Mac & Cheese, which was creamy and satisfying, and the Stuffed French Toast that was a sweet finish to my meal. The standout aspect of my visit was the fantastic service; the staff exuded good vibes and made me feel right at home. Overall, Stella's Diner is a must-visit for anyone looking for a delicious meal in a friendly atmosphere. Highly recommended!

The staff is very friendly and they have some unique menu items. I greatly appreciate their wide range of milkshake flavors. Normally I get banana when I see it, but they offered cherry too, so I had to try it.

Great, old school dinner that is BYOB with a large menu and very friendly staff. This place has been here since the 1960s and I can see why, service was super quick, and our food was so cheap and very fresh. You have to get the French onion soup when you come, we also split the Santa Fe Wrap with fries and it was enough for two people. We also brought a bottle of champagne and there is a $0 corkage fee, so feel free to bring your own drinks! I want to come back and try their burgers and get a shake next time.

Stella’s Diner is a fantastic place for breakfast in the heart of Lakeview. I’ve been coming here for years, and I am never disappointed by the service or the food. I recently brought my out of town parents, and they too loved it. Parking can be tough in the area, but it’s worth it. I will always keep coming back!

Classic American diner. Great food, lots of choice, big portions, friendly staff, food came quickly. All great. Also love the tunes in here!

I got the chicken fried steak. I didn't care for the country gravy. I had to put a lot of pepper on it to have some flavor. The texture was clumpy. The hash browns were a little burnt. My biscuit came out hot like it got heated in a microwave. I ate that last. When It cooled down it became rock hard. To me it wasn't fresh. They do have a large menu. I will definitely try it again. The staff was very friendly.

Super cute diner with great food. Portion sizes are great in relation to price. Milk shakes are excellent. Group of four with a full meal for each and two milk shakes was $90. I would definitely check it out.

High quality ingredients, delicious, good dining experience.

Stella's is your classic American diner in the heart of Chicago. The service was fast, efficient, and attentive. Great bang for your buck! The food was great and large portions were served. The server offered us an iced coffee to go - a rarity these days. Overall, very satisfied with the quality of food and service - we will absolutely be coming back.

I tried Stellas diner for dinner. I ordered a chicken and avocado sandwich. It was pretty messy to eat but very flavorful! The fries were also really good! The service was a little slow but nothing too noticeable. I loved the theme inside I felt like I was in an old time diner.

Solid is the one word to describe this adorable and bright diner on Broadway. First off, order their fries. If you want to just gain the best advice fast - boom you got it. This was my first time stopping into Stella's and I had to get the turkey bacon club; especially when you see three others in the joint order it while you're there. This sandwich was fresh and fast. The meat was flavorful and the bacon was cooked perfectly. The bread held up throughout the meal. My partner had the breakfast sandwich. Get the fried egg and add avocado! Will be coming back when hungover.

Was seated immediately on a chilly Thursday morning! Ordered the west coaster with extra hash browns, with a delicious chocolate shake.

Decent diner experience in Lakeview. Good service, they seat you quickly and food comes out fast.

Stella's Diner truly screams old school diner. I went there this morning for the first time and thought it was a great breakfast experience. The service was incredible and attentive. The food is your typical breakfast skillet- nothing ground breaking but still delicious. Portion sizes were also pretty good. I wish Yelp allowed 0.5 ratings because I'd give them a 3.5/5 because they were good but nothing about it stood out to where I'd go again. Would still recommend checking them out if you're in the lakeview east area!

The rest of the food looks good, however I ordered "mom's meatloaf" and it was a 1/5 stars. It was just three hamburger patties with some sauce and was not like any meatloaf I've ever had. Hadn't had meatloaf in a while and I was looking forward to it but oh well.

There is simply not a bad thing I could say about Stella's for breakfast. You get exactly what you're expecting from this place. The food is satisfying and the entire diner just feels like a warm hug. It's familiar! We've all been to a Stella's in our lifetime even if it wasn't actually Stella's. You can find me here, in a booth in my sweatpants on any weekend. An order of french toast or pancakes never misses. They keep the coffee flowing. And it doesn't break the bank. If you're looking for a trendy spot for an Instagram-worthy brunch with the girls, this isn't the place for you. But if you want a damn good breakfast served by friendly staff in a homey diner, then stop on by!

This place is old and worn, but gives you a real sense of nostalgia. A true Chicago diner. Filled with regulars dressed in well worn Bears attire talking sports and many young adults looking like they're nursing hangovers. lol I listened in on glassy eyed college kids talking about their Bumble hookups while I ate my breakfast. It seemed fitting. Lol The menu is very old school. Skillets, omelettes, hash browns etc.. You're not going to get trendy menu options, but that's not meant as a negative. I enjoy old diners sometimes. You can schlep in in your sweats and not feel the need to impress. I had a chorizo skillet. Didn't love the jarred jalapeños, but the chorizo wasn't overly greasy which was a win by itself. -I've had some really greasy ones in other diners. Service was good. Friendly. I'd never go out of my way to eat here, but if I lived in the neighborhood I might show up if I wanted a very casual sit-down breakfast. Grabbed a Butterfinger shake on my way out. It was the kind you can easily drink (eat?) with a straw. Not my favorite consistency for a shake, but since I ate it on the drive home, it was kinda perfect.

Cute little diner that wasn't too loud. The food was good, but nothing spectacular. I have a feeling breakfast might be the hidden gem. Service was fairly quick and friendly. I'll go back and try the breakfast next time.

It has gotten more expensive (way more) than the quality warrants. Hamburgers are 1/2 pound...I'll get another one when I grow hair on my palms. I asked to have half of the patty cooked and the other half tossed, but of course paid for the whole thing, which is fine. Servers (different than what they used to be) and quality have gone down. For what they charge, you sit on a seat that is falling apart (really?). All the workers speak Spanish to each other now while serving you, making diners feel left out and not important. Been going there since it was "Wheel Around"... I'm done now... I'm sad to see it and the Bagel go down-hill since I have loved both of them in the past and I live right there. What happened?

I've been here several times over the years, and the food is always good and fair priced, the service is quick, and the staff is friendly. 5/5 Diner!

The world used to be full of places like this, where you could get almost any kind of food, well prepared, at any time of day. Stella's is a great homage to the classic diner. Without a lot of overboard decorating, or servers in character, it's simply what it claims to be: an American diner. We had a tuna sandwich and a Reuben sandwich. Both were excellent. The accompanying fries were hot and crisp on the outside, moist in the center, and the cole slaw had just the right tang. There's also an extensive list of shakes and malts. I highly recommend the Butterfinger shake! Service and food prep were quick and friendly. In temperate months the sidewalk almost doubles the seating.

A 'SADWICH.' This place has deteriorated badly over the past year, to the point where it has become a complete joke. I ordered a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and avocado, and fruit salad instead of fries. On their first try, they delivered a scrawny little sandwich with a heaping mess of fries -- no fruit salad, and no avocado on the sandwich. (I'm gonna guess that every sandwich automatically gets heaped with fries because they're cheaper than other ingredients and will fill up diners even when the sandwiches are minuscule.) I asked them to try again, and they subtracted the fries, brought the fruit salad, and added the avocado to the sandwich, but they also added bacon, which I did not ask for. Now take a look at the sandwich they served. You'll see one withered slice of tomato, and virtually no cheese at all -- just a smear of what looks like Cheez-Whiz. Does this look like your ideal of a gooey grilled cheese sandwich? Hardly any bacon either (if I had asked for it in the first place, I might be upset.) Plenty of avocado at least. I wish I had placed my hand in the photo for scale so you could see just how tiny it was. A few bites per half, and that was it. The other half of the sandwich -- more of a "sadwich" -- was the same. I ended up paying $19 for this! (The sandwich was $15 and change, and I gave the waitress a three buck tip.) I do not blame the waitress. She was very pleasant, prompt, and apologetic, and offered me something else to make up for the pathetic sandwich. (I didn't take her up on the offer, but it was appreciated.) I suspect that rising food costs have hit this place hard. Fair enough. I guess I should expect to drop $19 on a grilled cheese sandwich with tomato and avocado. But at that price, it should be a satisfying and substantial sandwich, and not an insulting joke. It's one thing to cut corners here and there, but this place is gambling that people won't notice just how severely those corners are being cut. I noticed. I was a steady customer (I live right down the street) and used to come several times a week, but I won't be back unless and until they get their act together.

Consistently good breakfast omelettes and service. The atmosphere is clean and bright and ambiance like an old school diner with plenty of options. The coffee could be better.

Don't order the country style eggs Benedict. Unless you want explosive diarrhea. Other than that, hard workers, and good service.

Our experience here was especially poor because of one specific incident. My partner, who has a very serious aversion to vinegar, asked if the garlic bread we got had any vinegar in it to which the waitress replied no. We were then served said garlic bread which was DRENCHED in vinegar. I don't mind vinegar and it was too much for even me to eat. We then asked another waiter to ask the chef if it has vinegar (though it was so obvious that it did) and he confirmed it does. It was very disappointing. The garlic bread would have been so tasty had it not been soaked in balsamic vinegar. Also, it was a shame the waitress didn't know the ingredients of the food she was serving. And, if she did not know, she should have asked somebody who would. I cannot speak for the rest of the food we had as I do not even remember it. I think I got a Rueben, which was pretty standard.

Red cabbage soup is excellent! The quesadillas are excellent too. The atmosphere is very welcoming. The staff very friendly and they look like they all get along with each other. They all make their difficult job look easy to do. You need to pay with a credit card. The transaction takes seconds to process. If you don't live near the restaurant you can always take the number 36 bus which llstops across thpe street from the restaurant. If you drive you can always use the parking facilities near by. If you want to find a parking space in the neighborhood you might find yourself going around circles for a long time.

Great service, great food, laid-back ambiance. I have been here twice now & both times have been a hit! I got the gypsy skillet and the vegetarian skillet add ham. I will have to try something other than a skillet next time. The skillets are just so good though!! The portions are huge and the food is fairly priced.

Great diner on Broadway! Strawberry pancakes, Turkey sausage, iced coffees, and eggs salsa was all great. Everything hit the spot. Service was very friendly, and ambiance is casual diner.

What a great find and only 1760 miles away from Las Vegas. A real diner with booths and a counter. An excellent Feta Cheese, Tomato and Onion Omelette with fresh, not frozen, edible hash browns. I don't care for hash browns but this was good. 5 Stars to the wait staff as well.

This place always looked pretty homey whenever I walked by, eventually I tried it out with some friends. I got the veggie skillet, and it was amazing! I loved how fresh the food tasted and it wasn't overly salty/dense. I also appreciated how hospitable the waiters were. Free refills on coffee was nice (the coffee was also really good). Would recommend in a heartbeat!

Stella is a classic fun diner. Cool decor exterior and interior. Kinda kitschy. Good diner food. Generous portions. I'm just here for breakfast whenever or a burger which they're pretty nice sized compared to the chains. Kinda reminds me of a dinner I used to go to as a kid. Turning me into a regular. Maybe you too?

Three stars for food ....I mean it's a diner. But twenty stars for customer service. I have been a waitress for 17 years and fine dining, bars, pubs etc... and the teamwork, and the customer service was honestly mind blown. I wanted to recruit everybody. Maria was my server but everyone was such a cheerful team I truly can't believe I walk past here 5x a week the last two years and it's my 1st visit!

I've always went here to when I lived in Chicago, and they've never disappointed me. Stella's Diner is a family owned restaurant and still runs at the same place. They give you a lot of food and take care of you, just like a typical diner would. They always made sure my cup of coffee was filled, and brought my food out as quick as possible. They also have a variety of shakes, but unfortunately I didn't get any since it was in the morning!! Don't miss out by not coming here, especially for breakfast!!

Loved! Such a well oiled machine. Was able to be sat right away. Everything was clean and spaced out. Service was incredible. Our waitress was on the ball. She even gave use to go cups of soda. Food was incredible and very reasonably priced. The selection is insanely large there is literally something for everyone. They did have an outdoor area but it was closed due to weather. Highly recommend!

Consistent food quality, excellent service and comfortable environment. Staple in the neighborhood.

A great diner in a busy part of Lakeview, Stella's is the bomb. This diner has the corniness and flare of an American diner with its hospitality from its employees. The plus side is that this place serves until 8p. The menu is also massive with both breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. I came here when it was close to 2 pm, so I am not sure if there it is crowded at more popular times. However, I thoroughly enjoyed my service! Coffee is standard meaning it is not weak AF. I drink mine black, and it was good. Before I got my main entrees, I ordered the spinach spin wheels for $6, which was a great deal because you get about 8 pieces. Basically, it's spun creamy spinach in a pastry with some sort of sauce at the bottom with some hot sauce. The creamy sauce had a little spice, but it reminded me of some sort of caesar dressing. These things were pretty damn good, so good that I want to recreate these for a super bowl party or something! After that, I got the Mexican jolt skillet. It was fairly priced for $15 with hashbrowns, cheese, 2 eggs, ground beef, and jalapenos. It was fairly priced! The bacon cheeseburger was also great. It simply tasted like good diner food for it being 1/2 a pound patty. The fries were standard, so good thing we got some chili and cheese to dip it in! Lastly, I hear they are known for their milkshakes. With the got their earthquake milkshake, which was something with Oreos. We asked to replace the vanilla ice cream for chocolate, and it happened to be a clutch move. Next time, we would have probably paid 50 cents more to make it a malt because the milkshake melted rather quickly. Unlike the spinach spin wheels, the milkshake was not very creamy. Overall, I was super pleased and full leaving here. I do not her name, but an older employee was helpful when I asked to place an order. She told us what was popular. 9/10

I have been to Stella's several times. It has always been an amazing experience. The menu has a wide variety of dishes to suit any taste. Also they have some delicious pies for dessert. The service is great as well.

We were starving and found this spot for brunch. It was perfect. We were seated in about 10 mins on a Sunday morning. Great service, and everyone enjoyed their meals. Parking is a pain.

Service wasn't super busy today, but we didn't really get good service to begin with. This was my first meal for the day and so I walked around the area wanting food and this came to mind. I ordered firehouse breakfast special and the intern I work with ordered the Mexican Jolt skillet. My dish had eggs, onions, pepper, mushrooms, hash browns and toast. I thought they were gonna be seasoned, but it wasn't unfortunately. Not much taste and service was bad for me. Her dish was decent, I'd give it a 3.5/5. Hers had some meat in it with some decent taste. Prices aren't expensive, but I wish my food was seasoned. I'd give my dish a 2.5/5. I would like to try this again, but we didn't really have good service. I don't think diners have the best service, but I do love diner food for its prices! :)

Stopped by on a Saturday for Breakfast. Had the Mexican Jolt Skillet. It was delicious and the service was great

Delighted to see on the menu that the soups are Stella's recipes. So I ordered the navy bean soup and the server confirmed that it is homemade. It arrived and I was disappointed to taste soup that obviously came from a can. Then my egg salsa arrived. Aside from being somewhat warm, the strange cheese atop the overcooked eggs was completely rubbery and cold. Pork sausage didn't pair well with the cold salsa (I was expecting chorizo). The cold hash browns also seemed out of place; refried beans would have been better. Corn tortillas were dry, and had obviously been microwaved. Very disappointing and a move in the wrong direction compared to a few years ago.

It was pretty good. Service was good, but we also saw a mouse run across the floor sooo, we probably won't be back...

We came here for breakfast and it didn't seem busy at first, but spending over an hour here. Service was way too slow, as they only had one server and the manager was just standing around not helping. I felt bad for our server. She was a nice older lady that kept a positive attitude through out our meal, even though she was obviously overwhelmed. My wife ordered their country fried steak. It came with hash browns, a biscuit and hash browns. The steak was ok but I wouldn't order it again. I ordered their country eggs Benedict but was told after 15 minutes that they had no ham, so unsettled for sausage, which was basically an expensive gravy and biscuits. After waiting for over 45 minutes they brought us out the wrong dishes and we had to wait even longer to get are correct one. Overall, I left disappointed, it was too overpriced for the food we we actually got and for mediocre service. Don't think I'll be returning.

Cozy - affordable - delicious - convenient- quick My boyfriend and I like to get breakfast here when we don't want to pay a ton and want a filling breakfast

The French toast is perfectly done. Crispy yet soft, thick and full of flavor. It's what you wish you got from iHop

The tuna sandwich with fries is very tasty, crispy outside and moist at the center. The Butterfinger Shake is superb. The service is very nice since the staff is friendly. The prices are good and affordable. Outdoor area is for people who want fresh air and relaxation. There are pancakes too, but it is good for breakfast. I will be recommending this to all of my friends and relatives. Let's give it a try!

I always have amazing service and amazing food when I visit. I live very close to Stella's so I frequent it a lot and I have never had a bad time. My favorite is the BLT with avocado. It is always perfection.

Great breakfast and brunch spot in LP. This place is usually full but the wait is never too long.

Love this diner and their menu. You can order breakfast or lunch and the food is good. It's always packed for weekend brunch but the staff is friendly and quick. If you want a good home style breakfast this is the place.

It's a Dinner - of course it's going to have comfort food. Each meal comes with either a salad or a soup. The salad was standard fare but the cream of rice soup is really creamy, tasty and came in a large bowl. We got the smothered burger, blackened catfish and Reuben. I told my Son, if this place look nicer I would have come sooner because they have pretty good food. He then pointed the obvious,as it looks they're pack this Sunday 051621. Our food took time cause that's how busy they were. Obviously Im late to the party knowing this is a great place for comfort food. This host/owner? Greek fellow - made us feel welcome as soon as he saw us. He also managed to get my ethnicity right. Kudos to him

Decent diner with good service and breakfast all day. Solid, good, but it won't knock your socks off. Atmosphere/Ambience: casual diner withfamioy friendly regulars coming in. More of a cream color blast from the past of a soda hop. Everything seems a tad old and grimey but that's part of the appeal--nothing was frankly dirty. Service: friendly, fairly available, and helpful with the menu. Has a very chill but generally attentive vibe. Pay at the front. No rush to leave. Water almost always filled. Food: I got the pork chop breakfast and had a decent sized pork chop, hash browns, and two over easy eggs cooked just right. Bland tasting food but guess that could also be valued as not having over salted food. Pretty standard diner fare and average quality. Prices: Okay to somewhat expensive compared to other diners. There's good deals to be had but not everything is a great deal. I'd return if I was in the area again. Not sure I'd go out of my way.

Utterly meh food. Diner standards with most unremarkable meatloaf. The shakes are tasty but overpriced.

A true American classic. The great thing about this place is that you never know what you're gonna get. One moment you find yourself engorged in a fried avocado burger, the next you're devouring Santa Fe Chicken Wrap. If there's anything you should know when you come to Stella's, it's to start your meal with a crock of their French onion to get the taste buds percolating. Ciao.

Stella's is cool. The food is solid, the service is good, the menu is vast and ranges from breakfast wraps to Fettuccini Alfredo. If you are looking for a place with jaw dropping ambience, top of the line dishes with house whipped crème and divine charcuterie spreads plus amazing ceviche, go elsewhere. This is not a bottomless mimosa 'brunch' spot that will shoot champagne into your mouth, its an old school diner with classic service, good food, and a laid back attitude. I look forward to visiting here again soon, trying more of their food, and hopefully upgrading this rating to a 5-star. If you are looking for a breakfast/brunch spot on yelp right now after a night out on the town with friends, I'd say go here! There is NO 1 hour wait times or $29 Eggs benedict. You'll save time and money without sacrificing any quality (just don't expect any frills).

Maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but I just wasn't impressed with Stella's. I ordered the turkey bacon club and the turkey was super dry and there was way too much lettuce on the sandwich. I got the 'Cajun rice' as my side and it was also pretty bland, really not much flavor at all. If I go back I would definitely order something more breakfast-y because the lunch food I had wasn't that great but the breakfast looked decent!

Bland and nasty. The turkey was absolutely unseasoned and the gravy was solid. It's caked on. The french toast tasted like cardboard. The pancakes tasted like a motel six breakfast and weren't even cooked all the way. The chocolate shake had a red streak inside for some reason. Do they clean the equipment when changing flavors?????

I tried this place because it's in the area, and I generally like diners. Stella's is an exception. The service was really slow. It's took way too long to get my food even though business was slow. The servers just chill out and talk at the counter while you watch your food get cold right next to them. The food was okay, but its not worth the hassle, especially because better diners like Yolk and Eggsperience are only a few blocks away. But by far the worst thing was the customer service. After going, I had a billing dispute with the restaurant. "No problem; mistakes happen. I'll just call them and get it sorted out," I thought. I called them 3 times and each time they took my info and said they'd handle it and call me back. And each time they didn't handle it, and they didn't call me back. TL;DR: Skip Stella's and go to one of the better diners nearby.