CUISINE: Italian/Mediterranean
TEL: 772-564-7979
CLOSED (now Bonnie Lee’s)
CUISINE: Italian/Mediterranean
PRICE RANGE: $14.50 - $28
WINE LIST: Small but Good
BAR: No
OUTDOOR SEATING: Yes
RESERVATIONS: Recommended
HOURS: Dinner from 5:30 pm
CREDIT CARDS: MC/VS/DS
ADDRESS: 4166 Atlantic Blvd., Vero Beach, FL (map)
TEL: 772-564-7979
WEBSITE: NA
Stella’s Italian Bistro, awarded VeroBeachRestaurants’s Top Five Award, is one of our favorite fine Italian restaurants in Vero Beach. While there seems to be quite a few Italian restaurants, there are only a hand-full that elevate themselves above the rest and Stella’s does just that. This small 85 seat restaurant is clean, comfortable and serves the best Veal Saltimbocca around. It’s black tablecloth covered tables are nicely appointed and sized to give you a little more elbow room. They have nice tableware and glassware which is worth noting. When restaurants skimp in this department it gets noticed and it is a pet peeve of mine especially when it comes to wine service. OK, so they don’t have a specialty glass for every type of wine but they do have a nice larger bowl wine glass that works well for both red and white. Plenty of room to swirl without covering your guest with wine!
The menu offers a good array of seafood, pasta, poultry, veal and more which are finely prepared and nicely presented. My favorite meal when it comes to Italian cuisine would have to be: fried calamari, tomato mozzerella salad, veal saltimbocca and tiramisu to finish it off. What could be better than that?
Stella’s gets a big thumbs-up for delivering with flying colors on all these dishes. The calamari, lightly-battered tender rings and tentacles served with two sauces, is delicious and as I have mentioned, the Veal Saltimbocca is easily the best around. That could also be said for the tiramisu. In Italian it means “pick me up” and Stella’s tirimisu will indeed! A nice large serving made with real ladyfingers (not the cake version thank God!) soaked in espresso, real mascarpone and shaved chocolate on top. This is the real deal. Very good and actually big enough for two.
The cannelloni is also another dish to try and offered as an appetizer or entree. They are made with delicate crepes instead of pasta and are filled with minced veal and tenderloin on a bed of red sauce then topped with a béchamel and baked… good stuff!
We enjoyed a few bottles (we weren’t fooling around!) of Masi - Campofiorin, a baby Amerone. It was a very tasty (pardon my elaborate wine vocabulary) and reasonably priced at $28. A soft, round style with smooth flavors of ripe fruits and blackberries. Very pleasing on the pallet with a smooth finish that paired well with a variety of dishes (is that better?). The wine list is not large but it has some nice choices and very reasonable priced. If your at a loss try the Masi!
The bill for four was a little over $200 but we didn’t hold back! Stella’s offers early special for $14.50 and the regular menu ranges from $16 to $28 with a complementary house salad. You can dine here with out running-up a big bill but it’s fun to try. During season I would strongly recommend a reservation and in the summer I would suggest taking advantage of the slow time and special offerings and get in there to check it out. You won’t be disappointed. A verobeachrestaurants.com TOP FIVE!
We found the atmosphere to be classy and subdued, the wine quite good, and the food a disappointment. A calamari appetizer for $9 should have more than nine or ten rings on the plate–go to Carrabba’s for calamari–, and the cannelloni, while tasty, was barely lukewarm. There is no status in overpaying, and this food was overpriced.
We loved it. The filet mignon was the best we have ever had. The atmosphere was fabulously romantic, but also suitable for a group. The presentation of the food was wonderful (great attention to detail). And even though we arrived close to closing time, the staff was still very accomodating. The service was very fast and so friendly. We had a great time!
I took my two sisters and brother out to dinner. Waited outside in lovely garden patio for a glass of wine. Wait was only 15 min. The food was outstanding, just enough no over kill, I hate to waste food. Wine selection excellent! Service was great! Going back with my family again. This time will will try the Summer Sunset specials.
Stella’s is one of my favorites - always good food, wine and atmosphere - get there early and enjoy a glass of wine in the garden.
Ate at Stella’s last night (Christmas eve). Service was attentive but waiter tried talking me out of a glass of pinot noir and into a glass of chianti, which he liked better….odd. Ordered the osso buco which was pasty and tasteless with a rissoto which was dry and not so tasty either - very disappointing for a high ticket entree. The tomato, mozarella, basil salad starter was perfect. My mother had the cannelloni which was fantastic. Atmosphere was nice and lively. Owner was friendly and attentive. I’d go back, but try a different entree.