Stella's Kentucky Deli

Deli · Lexington

Stella's Kentucky Deli

Deli · Lexington

4

143 Jefferson St, Lexington, KY 40508

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Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null
Stella's Kentucky Deli by null

Highlights

Cozy old-house spot serving up locally sourced Kentucky comfort food—think Hot Browns, fluffy pancakes, and legendary pies.  

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143 Jefferson St, Lexington, KY 40508 Get directions

stellaskentuckydeli.com
@stellaskentuckydeli

$10–20 · Menu

Information

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143 Jefferson St, Lexington, KY 40508 Get directions

+1 859 255 3354
stellaskentuckydeli.com
@stellaskentuckydeli

$10–20 · Menu

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outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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@onthegrid

On the Grid : Stella's Kentucky Deli

"Whether it’s a huge burger, fluffy french toast, or a Kentucky Hot Brown you’re after - Stella’s has it. You should probably go for brunch. A generous breakfast plate will run you under $9.00, and if you order right you’re in for all you can eat cheesy egg strata, buttermilk biscuits, or Weisenburger Mill cheese grits alongside your smoked ham. End your meal with a slice of Stella’s signature Mary Porter Pie." - Bullhorn

https://onthegrid.city/lexington/lexington-ky/stellas-kentucky-deli
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@onthegrid

"Stella's Kentucky Deli, Lexington Ky by Bullhorn. Whether it’s a huge burger, fluffy french toast, or a Kentucky Hot Brown you’re after - Stella’s has it. You should probably go for brunch. A generous breakfast plate will run you under $9.00, and if you order right you’re in for all you can eat cheesy egg strata, buttermilk biscuits, or Weisenburger Mill cheese grits alongside your smoked ham. End your meal with a slice of Stella’s signature Mary Porter Pie."

Lexington, Kentucky, USA
View Postcard for Stella's Kentucky Deli
@onthegrid

"Stella's Kentucky Deli, Lexington Ky by Bullhorn. Whether it’s a huge burger, fluffy french toast, or a Kentucky Hot Brown you’re after - Stella’s has it. You should probably go for brunch. A generous breakfast plate will run you under $9.00, and if you order right you’re in for all you can eat cheesy egg strata, buttermilk biscuits, or Weisenburger Mill cheese grits alongside your smoked ham. End your meal with a slice of Stella’s signature Mary Porter Pie."

Lexington, Kentucky, USA
View Postcard for Stella's Kentucky Deli
@onthegrid

"Stella's Kentucky Deli, Lexington Ky by Bullhorn. Whether it’s a huge burger, fluffy french toast, or a Kentucky Hot Brown you’re after - Stella’s has it. You should probably go for brunch. A generous breakfast plate will run you under $9.00, and if you order right you’re in for all you can eat cheesy egg strata, buttermilk biscuits, or Weisenburger Mill cheese grits alongside your smoked ham. End your meal with a slice of Stella’s signature Mary Porter Pie."

Lexington, Kentucky, USA
View Postcard for Stella's Kentucky Deli

Troy Schmidt

Google
I stopped in for the burger week burger and it was delicious. 😋 I am not really a fan of hot browns but the veggie hot brown burger with more of a liquid cheese was just the inspired interpretation I was wanting. I got the side of spicy kale greens and they were almost too much vinegar for me but perfect. The spiciness was kinda addicting. I got a blackberry soda and next time I am gonna ask for double flavoring / syrup. But absolutely I would go back again.

India Greene

Google
GREAT atmosphere here, unfortunately, there’s not much else to love. Me and my partner stopped by while in town for a conference and we were on a bit of a time crunch. We actually came here twice, two days in a row, and were less impressed the second time around. First day we got two sandwiches- a grilled cheese and BLT with tomato soup. To be fair the food the first day was very good, but took a long time to come out- definitively longer than what’s expected for two things that you’re not really having to cook. The food wasn’t the issue this day though- it was the waitress who served us. We were very polite, communicated expectations that we were on a time crunch, and I tipped largely (on top of the mandatory already included gratuity) despite this- the waitress seemed to be in a bad mood. Either way- people have bad days. Unfortunately, when coming back the second day, there was issue after issue. The waitress was there again, still openly glaring at people, being short with customers, etc- the table next to us even mentioned it despite her not being their waitress. Like what is the issue? When we ordered food, we got another BLT and a burger- be aware that they don’t have things like sliced pickles to put onto burgers (lowkey weird but okay,) and you will get a pink in the middle burger (my order was also made wrong). We had wait time issues with the food again and ended up (after sitting for over 40 minutes) needing to leave the restaurant and get our food to go. The, again, weird thing is that they suddenly had all of our food ready to go when my partner went up to tell them we needed to leave, like it had been ready but our waiter didn’t ever come and grab it. The whole staff was a bit off when we communicated that we had the conference and just had run out of time. I will say that there was a guy wearing a hat who was super nice to us the whole time. I think this is such a cute spot and maybe we caught them on a weird week- they have some good items on the menu, but we sadly didn’t have the best experience.

shelby fox

Google
We both got the Chorizo breakfast burritos with all the sauces on the side and his with the mayo in. It was beautiful and life changing paired with a good coffee.

Mike

Google
Average food. I had the hot brown. It was alright ...... It wasn't bad but I can't say it was memorable. What I was surprised by however was the 20% service charge they added to my bill without mentioning it ahead of time. I won't go back just because of that. I would suggest adjust the cost of your food. Don't hide a surcharge that you throw on after the fact and don't have enough integrity to mention ahead of time so people can make an informed decision whether they want to eat there or not. It felt slimy to me. Don't waste your time going there. There are a lot of places in Lexington that serve a better meal and are up front about what they sell their food for.

Kay L.

Google
I am wandering around Lexington, Kentucky doing the mural challenge and wanted to try the hot brown so this was the closest place to one of the mural I went to. I’m glad I stopped by. I enjoyed the hot brown especially the tomatoes in it. I love tomatoes. I also tried the bourbon ball coffee. Since it was a hot day, I opted for the iced vs hot. Just an FYI, they do charge 20% service fee to every orders.

Alexes Harris

Google
Cute place and quick pick up service but the food let me down. The yogurt with granola had a bland, sour taste. The scrambled eggs with cheese was super salty. If what they served me was grits? Yikes. Pancakes were the best things in my order and even those were okay.

Nancy Turner

Google
With many different needs for gluten free, vegan, dairy free and otherwise picky pallets our group of 7 decided to go to Stella's for breakfast. It was early, 9:30, on Sunday morning. They weren't busy, yet, and were able to sit us in a small room out of the main dining room. Perfect! The food was so good, everyone was able to choose from quite a few dishes that met each dietary need. That little room kept our group together, and we really enjoyed the entire experience. Our server was excellent, answering all questions with patience. I will return, breakfast was so tasty I'd like to try lunch. When we left the line was out of the door. Not surprised by that at all!

jimmy

Google
Just WOW! First time and not the last! I loved everything about my visit. The staff were so friendly and welcoming. The restaurant is so charmin...and the FOOD? Just WOW! I never thought a bowl of soup, burger and chips could be so perfect. If you have not been you must make the time. Actually as I write this sitting at home my mouth is watering. ❤️
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Sydney H.

Yelp
Stella's is a Lexington MUST. They are so intentional with where the source their products from. I so love that they support local farmers and appreciate that they are very reasonably priced. I was looking for a soup and half sandwich sorts of combination and asked if this was possible (no, but a half salad is). It was cold so I definitely was not in the mood for a salad and opted for two soups. The tomato was absolutely my preference, but both were so delicious with great textures and flavors. My company upgraded their side on their sandwich to get soup, I wish I would've known that was an option before ordering first, but was so thrilled with what I ordered nonetheless. The derby pie was the perfect way to finish the meal! I shared it with someone who frowned at the pie hearing pecans were in it, but they sure were quick to gobble up the half I gave them. The building is so quaint and charming, the patio is stunning and absolutely lovely. Stella's is easy to get to, there is street parking nearby, and the service was excellent - so incredibly friendly and made sure they were available if you needed anything. Tip: gratuity is included in the final bill and you are welcome to add more onto what's already been added.

Thomas S.

Yelp
The food and service was great. In a city full of new and "trendier" restaurants, Stella's stays true to the Kentucky spirit. If you're looking for a tasty, casual and authentic meal in Lexington, look no further.
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Jenn K.

Yelp
My friend and I went to breakfast here this morning . (We were minus one person , who definitely missed our !). We were greeted as we entered the door and told we could pick where we wanted to sit inside or outside . We picked a small table by the window . I had the apple fritter pancakes , hash browns and sausage with sparkling water and coffee. My friend had eggs over easy with hash browns and toast . Everything was really good ! I've been here numerous times and the service is always on point . They do have a 20 percent gratuity that's automatically added on to your bill. Anything you tip extra goes to the back of the house . For the two of us I paid roughly 35.00 (that included the 20 percent gratuity). Plus I did add another tip for the back of the house . Personally I have no problems with that at all. Front or back of the house they all work hard to make a living and should be recognized for that . We'll be back again soon for lunch or dinner this time .

Sam G.

Yelp
We were there a few weeks ago and loved it. Try the Hot Brown. It's amazing. Good coffee too. Great little joint with friendly knowledgeable young staff.
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Joy V.

Yelp
I like Stellas, but the attitude of the employees is a bit off putting. The 3 times I've been there I've felt unwelcome. The food is fine and in some cases better than standard but expensive for what you get. The decor is cute and clean. Not my fav place but will give it another try soon.
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Nicole S.

Yelp
I have been wanting to try this cute place out. So, my friend and I decided to give it a go. We are so glad we did. They have great options for breakfast/lunch. Prices are reasonable for the portions and kentucky farm grown. Which is a plus. However, parking is a bit tricky, and the place itself is a tad tight for the cooler months. They do have patio seating, especially for when the weather is beautiful. Our food was good and the service was wonderful. Would definitely recommend checking it out of this cute little gem.
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Poco P.

Yelp
Eclectic, hippie, gypsy, environmentalist, gender friendly, open-minded type of restaurant in a historic looking mustard colored building. I really like places like this, also off the beaten path type. Not sure how to describe it, but it is FAR from a 'deli,' especially the deli that my friend described from over a decade ago in this same location... except that they kept the same name? The first time we tried Stella's was after covid 2020. Ready to support local businesses & this one was one of the most difficult & rudest. However, understanding what everyone had gone thru, we overlooked it & kept a positive outlook. Parking, service & food were not great, but decided to try it now again in 2022. Parking awful & no sign upon entering the left parking area that you would be towed, until you park & walk up to the front door of the restaurant that reads... 'YOU WILL BE TOWED...' along w/ many other signs! Too many to keep up w/ to read. 'Daily Specials' alone would suffice. Thursday 7/28/22 we were happy to hear that breakfast is served all day. We parked then had to repark after reaching the sign on the door. I went to the back to wash my hands, and the entire back area smelled of sewage. My bf sat away from the smell. It was ice cold in the restaurant & super humid outside! He was starving & ordered the 3 item breakfast - 3 sausage links, 1 ham steak, 3 pancakes, coffee & an Arnold Palmers, along w/ my Lox & a Peppermint Hot Tea. The sides are chips & a pickle. We had a new server who was trying hard to keep up & also to get help. She has nothing to do w/ the one star. Training her should have helped her know what kind of tea they served, if they had gluten free bread as another person asked & multiple other questions she had to ask other employees, whom chatted it up, not paying any attention to her. My bf & I share everything & our pancakes were burnt. On the top they looked absolutely great, but underneath were burnt. The sausage & ham were tasty & cooked well. The Lox, a sliver of Salmon & extra cream cheese & fall-apart awful presentation. Even during Covid, I ordered the same thing & it was slightly better than now. I have eaten Lox for breakfast at many types of restaurants & usually deconstructed. Usually, it comes w/ tomato, lemon wedges as well. I asked for the lemon. Also, as of April this year add 20% onto your bill so that they can afford to pay their employees $15/hr. As printed on the tables. We are all for supporting local businesses & pay 22% tip everytime w/o being asked because of their service, food, & no need to be desperate. Total $33 for nothing much special. Maybe the Vegan menu is most popular.
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Christopher K.

Yelp
Breakfast was great. The food was fresh and the prices are fair. Super cute location and great service. Come here!!
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Justin P.

Yelp
Stella's is a great neighborhood deli with a nice selection of sandwiches, baked goods, and a bar in a nicely decorated old house. Service was fantastic as well as our food. Well worth the short drive off the expressway when passing through.
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Jeff P.

Yelp
Old house turned into quaint, authentic restaurant. The chicken salad was excellent. The Cubano burger was the star . Great brisket flavor. The service was spot on with good vibes.

Brian S.

Yelp
So I had done a little googling to find a cool place to have lunch when I was in Lexington. Stella's Kentucky Deli looked good and it happened to be near the Mary Todd Lincoln home where I was heading afterward. Boy, did I luck out--this place is fabulous! I was only gonna have two things but wound up having four--it's THAT good! Started with a bowl of Classic Kentucky Burgoo, which is somewhere between a stew and a soup, filled with meat & veggies, perfectly seasoned, and utterly delicious! I got it with the Apple & Walnut (no bleu cheese for me) salad with a balsamic berry vinaigrette--yum! Next came the Fried Green Tomato BLT with basil mayo--best BLT I've ever had! Finished with the Mary Porter Pie--Chocolate pie with layers of toffee & almonds, topped with whipped cheesecake & chocolate ganache--perfect way to end the meal! If you're ever in Lexington, make sure you go here. Just wish they were open for dinner as well (since while the food at Dudley's on Short and Lockbox (in the 21c Hotel) is fine enough, all the dishes I had at both these fine dinging places lacked the seasoning that gave Stella's cuisine its extra flair)!!
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John T.

Yelp
Everything is great here. Food , service , quality , price , coffee ...... literally everything !!!
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Meredith M.

Yelp
Friendly staff and tasty food in the heart of downtown Lexington! Can't wait to visit again!
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Matthew S.

Yelp
I've eaten at Stella's hundreds of times. Love the local feel, how they take care of their staff, and of course the food! I love the breakfast burritos, Burgoo, fried green tomato BLT, candy bar sandwich, and their frequent specials. Also some of the best pies in town!
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Jackie B.

Yelp
Ordered some box lunches to go. Didn't like the 20% service charge to pay staff. Increase your food prices... Sandwiches were ok. Not worth the price, for bread, lunch meat and chips.
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Kate F.

Yelp
I feel this could be one of my all time favorite places to eat and I've only been there twice while visiting my brother and his family. I have an affinity for the name Stella (I once taught a little girl violin lessons and her name was Stella.... My FAVORITE name because she was an amazing kiddo... needless to say we had a boy and the only Stella in my life is the beer and this cute restaurant) Back on track... We came in for lunch and ordered: 2 Ginger Toddy's - ginger, mint, honey & burbon Turkey sandwich- delicious Lentil soup- fabulous A fancy turkey sandwich- wonderful My son wanted one of their fresh made strawberry sodas. We asked for a sample before committing to a glass of it. The sample was huge, and I came to find out they pour their sodas in big 20oz (I think) glasses. Just a heads up that their sodas a very generous. Both sandwiches were served w chips. The atmosphere was cozy, the staff was super.
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Amanda S.

Yelp
My mom and I headed over to Stella's over Fall Break for lunch & I'm ashamed to say it was my first visit! Stella's has been on my list to try for a while, but I hardly ever eat out for breakfast or lunch. Parking was a little bit of an issue, but we were able to find street parking on Jefferson about a block up. It was a gorgeous October day and we didn't mind the walk! We stopped inside and we're seated at a table on the patio. I loved that the menu had so many veggie options, and went with the lentil burger with seasonal veggies on top, per the waitresses recommendation. It was delicious! My mom got the reuben sandwich which was stuffed with roast beef. Both sandwiches came with chips and a pickle. I would definitely go back to Stella's to try their breakfast!
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Jeanette C.

Yelp
This restaurant was located the the Historic District of Lexington. I was excited to see they had their own parking lot and free street parking. I was driving a huge Ford truck (husband's vehicle) and would've kept driving, if parking was a hassle for me. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch all day. I ordered lunch. The food was delicious and the Burgoo soup was new to me, so I had to order it. It reminded me of Brunswick stew. I also ordered the Kentucky pie to-go. I definitely suggest getting a slice of that...it's basically a pecan pie with lots of chocolate.
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Scott C.

Yelp
Atmosphere was really good. We had breakfast which was really good. I would like to go back and try dinner. One thing to note odds that you can get anything on the menu anytime. Also to note they automatically charge 20% tip on all meals!
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Dee H.

Yelp
Adorable little mom n pop. Excellent service, great vibes, cool space. Menu has all you need for a casual breakfast, lunch, or brunch plus a few specials to keep it interesting. I was a little disappointed in the biscuits but perhaps just an off day. My companion had the tomato soup (yum!) and reported the sandwich was good too. Will be back to try the sandwich side of life for myself!
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Diala A.

Yelp
Came here for burger week! I got the blue cheese and apple burger. It tasted nice but could've definitely done with more seasoning/flavor. Also the burger was quite small for what it cost. The strawberry aronia in house soda was very refreshing and nice though! The service was standard, it did take them a while to get to our table to place the order but they were nice. We sat outside which was a lot more quiet and relaxed versus inside which was quite packed and very loud. Overall a nice experience but I want to come back maybe to try from their standard menu instead.
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Megan T.

Yelp
I wish we had this place in NC! At any rate, we were visiting the area and wanted to try some Kentucky favorite foods. I noticed Stellas had some of those items so we came here for lunch. It was busy, but we were able to be seated immediately. I got the Kentucky hot brown and my husband got a burger with the Kentucky Burgoo. The hot brown was excellent, I could not stop eating it! Such great comfort food on a cold day. The burgoo was amazing as well. When my husband looked up what a typical burgoo had in it, I was a little concerned that it had too much going on, but it was a flavorful stew! Looking back at the menu, I'm disappointed we didn't notice you could get a quart to go - missed out on that opportunity to bring some back home to NC! Highly recommend this place if you are in the area. Cute setting with wonderful food. Service was great too.
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michelle y.

Yelp
Super cute little mom and pop type shop right in the heart of downtown Lexington. We went for breakfast and were there before they opened but they were happy to let us sit out on the patio. We got our coffees pretty quick and it's no-frills but I have to say the coffee was pretty tasty for decaf it had some punch. We ordered a hot brown, a breakfast burrito, and a pick three which was bacon, eggs, and pancakes. I had the hot brown. It came with chips and a pickle. The plate was a little small so my chips were kind of on top of my sandwich which was annoying for me because I don't like my food to touch but overall didn't hurt. I thought the Morey sauce was tasty but the bacon was a little too well done and I do like crispy bacon but this tasted a little burnt. Also the turkey was dry. Definitely not the best hot run I've ever had but it wasn't terrible though if I went there again I would probably eat something else. That being said I did eat my whole plate. My co- eater got the breakfast burrito. As you can see it comes nicely wrapped with lots of goodies on the inside. He thought it was delicious and ordered extra salsa to dip into. The third member of our party got you you pick three. I also thought the bacon looked a little crispy there but he said it was good he liked it that way. I think it's because it was very lean so there wasn't a lot of fat on it. The eggs looked like they were well cooked. The most different thing about this place are the pancakes. As you can see there a little on the small side which is how I do them at home for my kids. But when you taste them they are almost like a corn bread. So they must have some kind of cornmeal in them. I didn't notice that described on the menu but I also wasn't ordering pancakes so maybe I just missed it but when I took a bite I was surprised. Overall though with butter and syrup it really lent a lovely touch and next time I will probably order a plate of these!

Mary Claire G.

Yelp
The Burgoo changed my life. I came here with my wife who is constantly nagging me. As she was going off on one of her usual tangents, I took a bite of the burgoo and was instantly hit with visions of a better life. I spent the rest of the day in a lucid daydream about what my life could be. The next day I contacted my divorce lawyer and the rest was history. Thank you Stella's Burgoo! You saved me!
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K T.

Yelp
Hustling staff and fun atmosphere. The NA beverages are refreshing and so sparkling. Food was fantastic and served quickly. Most importantly the staff earn a fair wage. A+++ highly recommend!

E. Rosie D.

Yelp
Good food and locally made! Salad could have used a bit more dressing but I was pretty happy. Limited gluten free options, lots of vegetarian and some good vegan options. Service was quick and friendly. Ambiance was warm and comfortable, think a friendly cafe. Homemade sodas were very refreshing.
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Terri H.

Yelp
It took us a bit of walking to find this place and it was worth it. This adorable house like diner was the perfect breakfast spot. It was very busy when we arrived. We were seated at a two top table by the pie case. Those pies looked delicious but we were too full after brunch. The staff was friendly and the food came out quickly. I ordered pick 4 from the brunch menu. The Mill Cheese grits were very good. The hash browns tasted freshly shredded from real potatoes and were delicious. The bacon was crispy and cooked exactly like I love it. The biscuits were homemade and different than others. The chipotle gravy that came with the biscuits had a bit of a kick and it was delicious on the hash browns and the biscuits. We will have to come back and try their pie another time.

Rae M.

Yelp
This is our favorite breakfast place. They has these biscuits with chipotle gravy that are amazing-such a fun twist on traditional biscuits and gravy. The servic is excellent and the ambiance is quaint and relaxing. Everything we've had there has been top notch. My husband is a milk drinker, he ordered milk with breakfast but they didn't have any. Instead of just letting that be, our server actually went to the store and got some milk for him! You don't see that kind of customer service anymore and we thought that was so kind and above and beyond. My husband and I are avid cooks ourselves and oftentimes we are dissapointed when we dine out, but never have been at Stella's. The food is very consistent and good everytime.
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Mary T.

Yelp
As a pescatarian, I've found some of my go to dishes a bit complicated on this trip. I was excited to come across Stella's because it was not only walking distance from us, but vegetarian and vegan friendly. I had so many choices, I was a bit torn on what to order. We arrived at Stella's just past peak lunchtime. The outside was still full, but there was plenty of room inside for us. I'd planned to get the vegetarian Kentucky Brown, but the pull of the pimento cheese sandwich was strong. Our server's enthusiastic support of the pimento cheese sandwich sold me. Husband went with the Kentucky Brown. Here's my advice if you're going to get the pimento sandwich, don't gobble up your chips first or put all of the cheese that falls off the sandwich back on, use those chips to scoop it up. Rookie mistake on my part. The pimento cheese was better than anything I've had back home. We passed on something sweet the night before and took home a piece of Kentucky pie home for later. It was the perfect sweet nibble to help pass the afternoon workday. All in all, solid lunch choice!
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MaryLinda W.

Yelp
A former coworker worked here on the weekends, and we decided to check out the brunch menu after early church. We chose a table on the patio. After bringing our coffee, the server described the Cheesy Egg Strata, and both Hubby and I ordered it. Hubby added a fruit cup and Potato Hash casserole to his plate, while I added the Weisenberger Mill cheese grits and hickory smoked ham. The egg strata was like a breakfast bread pudding or a breakfast casserole. The flavors were good, and the portions were generous, but it had too much bread for our taste. The hickory smoked ham was thickly sliced, and was delicious! The Weisenberger Mill cheese grits were also delicious. We definitely enjoyed our meal. A few weeks after our first visit, we returned for brunch and we sat at the counter as all the tables were full. The coffee is good and they are generous with the cream. This time Hubby ordered the hickory smoked ham with over easy eggs and a fruit and granola cup, while I ordered scrambled eggs, hickory smoked ham, and the Weisenberger Mill cheese grits. The place was crowded and we watched the bustle of the servers behind the counter! However the service was good, and the food was delicious. Next time we should try the lunch menu...

Gary C.

Yelp
Quaint little old house on the edge of downtown. Cozy with friendly service, this part bakery, part cafe is a refreshing break from chains.
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Leslie S.

Yelp
Sweet little cafe deli with outdoor seating. We rode the Legacy Trail from the Kentucky Horse Park and we're looking for a place with outdoor seating. I had the tomato bisque soup with artichokes and the Greek salad and my husband had the chicken salad salad. Both were tasty. Friendly staff, nice outdoor seating.

De A.

Yelp
Food One diner liked her sandwich Mine was a gamey plain burger on an oversized wicker platter with a small pile of ordinary chips from a bag Service One hour to get our food after 1 p Our server stopped waiting on our table and I had to pay at the counter Ambiance fine but ruined by being treated like we were bothering the server when our food did not arrive after one hour .. she said they were working on a catering order. Ok .. hope it was worth it .. We won't go back or recommend
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Constance W.

Yelp
This is sadly a One And Done kind of place. I always REALLY want to love a place like this: not a chain, quaint building, nice outdoor area... But. Very disappointing. We went for lunch thinking nice late breakfast on a nice Spring day on a nice outdoor porch. How pleasant would that be??? One outta three ain't bad, right? It was a nice Spring day. Turns out this place is right across the street from an elementary school playground. Scores of screeching children were also out for lunch. Also turns this place is very near two Lexington Fire Department Stations and the sirens never stop for long. So don't go with an expectation of quiet conversation or a peaceful meal. Now... Let's turn to the meal itself. Staff was great. Friendly, professional & prompt. When we asked for a "lot of butter" for the grits, that's what we got, not just one extra pat, but several. The food, however, another matter. We both ordered the Breakfast Pick 4. Mine was eggs over medium, sausage links, hash browns & rye toast. His was eggs over medium, ham, bacon & grits. The eggs were really very good! It's hard to get eggs over medium. Usually they are over easy or overdone. These were right on. Oozy but not flat out runny. Plus, not only were they cook right, but the eggs themselves were actually tasty. Dark yellow yolks with real egg taste. Delish! The grits were good as well. Nicely tender but not mush. With that extra butter (which let's just admit, good grits just do need! ) they were very good! The amount of bacon and ham on Hub's plate was enough for two people! The ham slice was over1/2" thick! And 4 or 5 slices of bacon. Then we begin to circle the drain. The ham was flavorful & smoky, but intensely dry. Almost powdery in your mouth. And the bacon deserves extra attention. Although it was vastly overcooked, it was not burned. But it seemed to be... almost... freeze dried??? I know it wasn't actually freeze dried, but it was that dry and unusually brittle. Like biting into a sheet of ice the same size & thickness. It shattered on contact. Some shattered when picked up from the plate. Not sure how that texture was achieved, but it ain't right. Now on to my plate. Eggs were just as good as his! Yolks perfectly over medium & delicious! The rest was a different story. My sausage links numbered 3, and were about 2" long, a small portion had they been good. Too much considering. The casings on them were more in evidence than the sausage itself. It took a good bit of sawing with a knife to cut those casings & once in your mouth the sausage broke down long before the casing, leaving you in the unpleasant situation of having something in your mouth that you can't chew up and which you can't quite bring yourself to swallow. Now what? Let's leave that nasty conundrum behind and move on. The hash browns were cold & grey. Cold enough to feel cold in my mouth. Not just cooler than the eggs. Cold. And did I mention grey? And not quite soggy, but a long, long way from any semblance of crisp. Anywhere. Edges. Bottom. Anywhere. The rye bread was nice, but just that. Bread. Warm but not toasted. Warm enough to melt room temp soft butter in the sun on a 78° day, but not even toasted enough to have that "toast" feel on the surface of the bread. And then, just to complete this epic breakfast fail, there are bright yellow notices everywhere announcing the good news that: "Beginning April 13, 2022 a 20% Service Charge Will Be Added To Every Order. This fee ensures we can pay all of our employees at least $15 per hour. Any additional tips received will be split among the entire staff according to hours worked. Thank You" Read carefully. This is not the ubiquitous note letting you know they are adding a 20% tip to parties of six or more that we are becoming used to seeing. This is a service charge going to the restaurant to aid them in making their payroll. And anything you tip on top of that will not go to the hardworking person providing the table-side service for which you are tipping. When I waited tables in my youth the waitstaff were intentionally paid less because a good deal of their compensation came from tips. It incentivized us to provide good service. Looks like what this restaurant is saying is 'we underpay everybody and are putting that cost on the customer, but they should tip anyway'. Pretty irritating when the meal sucks, if you'll excuse my vernacular.

Ashley S.

Yelp
We always make sure to stop by Stella's any time we are passing through the area. The service is always fantastic. The vegan TNT Sandwich, Candy Bar Sandwich & PB&J Sandwich are our favorite go-to items. Very yummy! Just be sure to plan a little extra time for street parking and potentially a little wait for the delicious food ;) It's worth it!!
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Samuel S.

Yelp
Nice little spot for breakfast, lunch and has been around since Jefferson street flipped
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Alli C.

Yelp
I love Stella's, especially for a hangover brunch! Incredible menu with great sandwiches, salads and brunch food. My favorites are the pimento cheese, grits, and the burger! Also save room for pie!
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Rachel R.

Yelp
We love going to Stella's for brunch! It's a small, local business and the food and service reflects that. This is a place to go with a small group - the seating is limited and I wouldn't try to go with a group bigger than six. The sandwiches are unique and I've honestly liked every one that I've tried. The specials change every day and are different enough from their normal menu that it truly feels like a special. I would highly recommend saving room for dessert, especially the Mary Porter pie. The flavors are spot-on and the serving size is enough to share.
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Walter S.

Yelp
Great place for a Lexington breakfast. Range of options for all diets. Set in an older house with pressed ceilings and looks original floors. It was a warm spring morning so we sat inside but the outdoor area looked very inviting. Had the Reuben and the partner had eggs which were delicious
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KyVonne L.

Yelp
I visited Stellas for Lexington Burger Week & had the divine swine burger. It was great!!! Along with my burger, I enjoyed a drink called the bourbon peach tea. It was also great!!!! My experience was wonderful & would recommend!

Tina M.

Yelp
Came here because they supposedly have one of the top 10 Hot Browns in KY. Unfortunately this was not the case when my husband and I both ordered one. The Hot Browns arrived at room temperature. The bread was hard as a rock and difficult to cut. My turkey was dry and actually burned (black) on the edges. There was not enough mornay sauce to cover the open faced sandwich, and when I asked for more, they charged me an additional fee and made me wait TEN MINUTES to receive it. Luckily the mornay sauce arrived hot so it warmed my cold sandwich back up. The sandwich was supposed to have sprouts on it but ours didn't for some reason. So dissatisfied with our meals! Our daughter ordered the Rueben. She said the bread was hard, the pastrami was dry and there wasn't much sour kraut.
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Edward S.

Yelp
This Hot Brown is delicious and comforting. It is open faced with thinly sliced turkey, bacon with tomatoes and cheesy Mornay sauce.

Trevor F.

Yelp
Farm fresh. Fire flames. Friendly staff. Not pictured: carrot cake pancakes with cream cheese drizzle. So good
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Kelly J.

Yelp
I really wanted to love Stella's Kentucky Deli. I had heard good things about it, but my visit left a lot to be desired. I went for breakfast with my cousin while visiting Lexington, and we were both excited, but neither of us loved our meal. The menu looks great. They have a ton of options. And the prices are super reasonable! I chose the Pick 3 option for $9.95. I opted for Buttermilk Biscuits with Chipotle Gravy, Weisenburger Mill Cheese Grits, and Potato Hash Casserole. The problem is that none of the food is very good. I honestly couldn't, and didn't, finish anything on my plate. The biscuits were dry, and the gravy did not taste like chorizo gravy at all, there was no spice; the grits were not flavorful, I expected cheesiness, but they really didn't have much flavor at all; and the hashbrown casserole just was not good. You can tell from my photos it doesn't appear very appetizing, but I still gave it a shot; unfortunately it just wasn't good. I hate that I couldn't enjoy this Kentucky staple, but it wasn't a good meal. I talked to my cousin's husband about it afterward, because he had told me this spot was good, and he said he's had good lunches and dinners here. So, maybe I just need to give it a shot for one of those meals, or try something different for breakfast. I may return one of these days to give it another shot, but after this visit it definitely isn't on the top of my list.
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A D.

Yelp
Little old house turned cafe. Stopped in for breakfast. Only choices were a burrito or pick 3 / pick 4. Was hoping for some omelette choices. But I had a good breakfast of eggs, ham, bacon, and cheese grits. Very filling. Good service. Will come back.
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Debbie G.

Yelp
Excellent service, love the atmosphere. I was in town on business and a few locals suggested Stella's. From the moment we walked in it felt like you were in someone's home. Patsy Cline was playing (I LOVE Her!) and it was warm and cozy. We arrived for breakfast in our last day before we headed to the airport, I ordered eggs and ham with a nice hot cup of coffee. It was good, tasted just like a home cooked meal. My egg order got mixed up with my coworker who wanted hers fried while I asked for mine to be over easy, no biggie we just swapped our eggs. My ham was a bit dry and hard to cut, hash brows were ok I prefer mine extra crispy. Overall a good ole southern breakfast with great service, I plan on going back more towards lunch time as that's what was also shared, you gotta try their lunch. So we shall see.. I'm from Southern California so our breakfast (even simple eggs and ham) are made a bit differently. I did taste my partners biscuits with chipotle gravy and it was yummy!
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Jeff A.

Yelp
Good local sourced food. Excellent southern and Kentucky favorites. We stopped here during a cross country trip and will definitely stop again when in Lexington again.
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Barbara F.

Yelp
A nice comfortable place to eat. I ordered the pick 3 plate. They let me get the chorizo in place of one of my items. The eggs and hash browns were good. However, the local sourced chorizo was excellent. It is definitely a place I would recommend.
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Kenny C.

Yelp
Stella's is like being invited into someone's home. And not only because it literally looks like a home from the outside! Sat down at the counter and was greeted by no fewer than three friendly faces. Asked for a recommendation and ended up ordering the lamb burger. And boy, it did NOT disappoint! Perfectly charred, with all your veggie toppings and a side of chips. And all for just $9!! I wish I had a bigger appetite because the giant glass cooler of different pies was calling my name, but alas, it was not to be. I did have a nice iced coffee to wash it all down though.