Pizzeria Stella
423 S. Second St, Philadelphia, PA, 19106
Pizzeria Stella Menu
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Antipasti
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Insalate
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Pasta
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Wood Oven Pizzas
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Dessert
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Soft Drinks
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Cocktails
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Draft Beer
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Italian Bottled Beer
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Italian Craft Beer
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Bottled Beer
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House $6
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Old World $9
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New World $10
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Sparkling $9
Diabetics at Pizza Hut
Pizza is neither a great meal nor the worst for diabetes. All you need is some fact check and monitoring while ordering your pizza. Diabetics can opt for thin crust or skinny pizza at Pizza Hut and avoid the cheese topping to cut down on the excess fat and sodium. If you have diabetes, then ensure to check your portion size when you order a pizza. One or max. two slices are enough. You can also avoid meat if possible and go for wings as a meat option.
Foods to Avoid at Pizza Hut for Diabetics:
You must avoid Meat Lovers Pizza with Original Pan Crust as it contains over 1000mg sodium and will add 470 calories in your meal. You should also skip Super Supreme Pizza Large Original Pan Slice which is too high in sodium and fat. Chicken wings are often tempting but you must control and restrict yourself from ordering Traditional Honey BBQ Bone-in Wings as it can add up to your sugar levels if you eat too many. On average, a person orders or consumes six chicken wings pieces in a day.
Sides must be avoided at all costs especially if it's Bacon Cheddar Fries with Ranch Dipping Cup for its high sodium content. You must also avoid New York Style Cheesecake with Applesauce as dessert as one slice of this dessert item contains 86g sugar. Pizza Hut also offers other Italian dishes such as Pasta. However, you must skip Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and Meatballs and Garlic Bread as it is too high in sodium and sugar.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Pizza Hut:
Veggie Lover's - Personal Pan Pizza Slice
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 290mg sodium, 18g carbs, 2g sugar, 2g fiber, 5g Protein
Hawaiian Chicken - Small Thin 'N Crispy Slice
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 3g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 300mg sodium, 14g carbs, 3g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Chicken Bacon Parmesan Small Original Pan Slice
Nutritional Facts: 160 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 310mg sodium, 15g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 7g Protein
Naked - Bone Out Wing (Piece)
Nutritional Facts: 80 calories, 4g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0.5g), 160mg sodium, 6g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 5g Protein
Traditional Bone-In Wings with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 300mg sodium, less than 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Classic Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 270mg sodium, 12g carbs, 2g sugar, 2g fiber, 5g Protein
Cheese Small Hand Tossed Slices
Nutritional Facts: 130 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 250mg sodium, 17g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Cinnamon Stick
Nutritional Facts: 80 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 100mg sodium, 13g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for Pizzeria Stella
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Antipasti
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Insalate
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Pasta
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Wood Oven Pizzas
-
Dessert
-
Soft Drinks
-
Cocktails
-
Draft Beer
-
Italian Bottled Beer
-
Italian Craft Beer
-
Bottled Beer
-
House $6
-
Old World $9
-
New World $10
-
Sparkling $9
High Blood Pressure at Pizza Hut
Fast-food restaurants like Pizza Hut are not recommended to dine-in if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure. Most pizzas at Pizza Hut are high in sodium and hence you must stick to one or max. two slices of any regular size pizza to limit your sodium intake. Try out the salads as they are not only healthy but also keeps you full for a longer period. However, you must ensure that you don't order the salads without any extra dressing.
Foods to Avoid at Pizza Hut for High Blood Pressure
Avoid Meat Lovers Pizza with Original Pan Crust and Supreme Pizza Large Original Pan Slice at all costs when you order at Pizza Hut. Both these pizzas contain a high amount of sodium which can spike your blood pressure levels. Also, skip Bacon Cheddar Fries with Ranch Dipping Cup and Traditional Honey BBQ Bone-in Wings to restrict your sodium intake.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Pizza Hut
Veggie Lover's - Small Thin 'N Crispy Slice
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 3.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 270mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 14g Protein
Hawaiian Chicken Small Thin 'N Crispy Slices
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 3g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 280mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Chicken Bacon Parmesan Small Original Pan Slice
Nutritional Facts: 160 calories, 8g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 310mg sodium, 15g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 7g Protein
Naked - Traditional Bone-In Wing (Piece)
Nutritional Facts: 80 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 160mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Traditional Bone-In Wings with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 300mg sodium, less than 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Cheese Small Hand Tossed Slices
Nutritional Facts: 130 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 250mg sodium, 17g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Classic Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 270mg sodium, 12g carbs, 2g sugar, 2g fiber, 5g Protein
Cinnamon Stick
Nutritional Facts: 80 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 100mg sodium, 13g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
High Cholesterol at Pizza Hut
Whether large, medium or small, a pizza can boost your cholesterol levels instantly. You shouldn't eat more than one slice of any pizza your order at Pizza Hut. If you're concerned with your high cholesterol, then it is wise to take your friends to Pizza Hut and share pizza among them slice by slice. You can also try pasta at Pizza Hut but ensure that you are not adding any dressing or extra cheese as you order pasta.
Foods to Avoid at Pizza Hut for High Cholesterol
Keep your pizza intake to one slice to avoid high cholesterol intake while you dine at Pizza Hut. Skip Supreme Pizza Large Original Pan Slice as it contains a high amount of fat and the sodium levels are also very high. Avoid the desserts section completely to limit the fat and sugar intake. You can also limit yourself from ordering non-veg pizza and skip adding sides or dressing on your orders to ensure that your cholesterol is in check while dining at Pizza Hut.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Pizza Hut:
Veggie Lover's - Small Thin 'N Crispy Slice
Nutritional Facts: 100 calories, 3.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 270mg sodium, 14g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 14g Protein
Buffalo Chicken - Small Original Pan Slice
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2g), 420mg sodium, 18g carbs, 2g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Hawaiian Chicken - Small Thin 'N Crispy Slice
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 3g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 300mg sodium, 14g carbs, 3g sugar, 1g fiber, 6g Protein
Traditional Bone-In Wings with Garlic Parmesan Sauce
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 11g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 300mg sodium, less than 1g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Cavatini Veggie Lover's with Garlic Bread
Nutritional Facts: 630 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 2.5g), 730mg sodium, 113g carbs, 14g sugar, 7g fiber, 21g Protein
Classic Caesar Salad
Nutritional Facts: 110 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1.5g), 270mg sodium, 12g carbs, 2g sugar, 2g fiber, 5g Protein
Breadsticks
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 4.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 1g), 260mg sodium, 19g carbs, 1g sugar, 1g fiber, 4g Protein
Cinnamon Stick
Nutritional Facts: 80 calories, 2.5g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 100mg sodium, 13g carbs, 4g sugar, 0g fiber, 2g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on
How did Pizza Hut start?
Pizza Hut began its operations on 15th June 1958 at Wichita, Kansas, United States.
Will Pizza Hut be open on Easter?
Yes, Pizza Hut stays open on Easter until 10 PM on Thursday and Sunday. Whereas, Pizza Hut operates at normal hours on Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Monday.
Will Pizza Hut be open on Thanksgiving?
Most Pizza Huts stay open on Thanksgiving Day but may have reduced hours since it's a big holiday in the United States.
Will Pizza Hut be open Christmas day?
No. Pizza Hut remains closed on Christmas.
Which Pizza Hut bases are vegan?
Pizza Hut has a rapidly improving and impressive choice of vegan options. Simply opt for vegan cheese on any vegetarian order of pizza at Pizza Hut and you can enjoy your favorite vegan pizza. If you're concerned with vegan options at Pizza Hut, then inquire whether they have Violife vegan cheese in stock before ordering anything.
Which Pizza Hut sides are vegan?
Oven cooked Chips and Onion Rings available at Pizza Hut are vegan.
Which Pizza Hut is closest to me?
There are over 18,431 Pizza Hut restaurants globally. You can find the closest Pizza Hut restaurant using our Restaurant Listings directory.
When Pizza Hut opens and closes?
Pizza Hut opens at 11 AM daily and closes at 11 PM on weekdays and Sundays. The restaurants stay open till 12 midnight.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is a renowned pizzeria globally known for its fusion of Italian and American cuisines. The restaurant serves Italian style Pizzas and Pasta as well as sides and desserts influenced by American cuisine. Pizza Hut began its operations in June 1958 when two brothers Dan and Frank Carney, who were also Wichita University students, opened the first Pizza Hut store in Wichita, Kansas. With 18,431 Pizza Hut restaurants around the globe, Pizza Hut franchise is the largest Pizza chain in terms of locations.
Pizza Hut is currently owned by Yum! Brands, Inc. which is the restaurant division of PepsiCo. You can find a lot of traditional dine-in Pizza Hut locations across the United States. However, Pizza Hut restaurants also operate in storefront delivery and carry-out formats. There are also hybrid versions which offer dine-in options as well as carry-out facility.
Healthy Food Options at Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut is a one-stop destination for pizza lovers, but it can also raise some concerns for people with high blood pressure, cholesterol intake, and diabetes. Generally, pizzas contain a high amount of sodium and it is in your best health interest that you consume one or max. two slices of any pizza you order from Pizza Hut. If you're diabetic or concerned with high blood pressure or cholesterol levels, you must stick to one pizza slice at Pizza Hut.
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Address :
423 S. Second St
Philadelphia, PA, 19106 - Phone (215) 320-8000
- Website https://www.pizzeriastella.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Garage, Street, Validated
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Percy N.
Stopped by around 1:30pm on a Monday and it was packed. 30-40 minute wait for a table. 10 min wait for a take-away order. So I got the Tratufo and Pistachio to go. The Tratufo was permeating sensual aromas of truffles from 5 feet away as I picked it up and even pedestrians I was passing on the sidewalk seemed to notice it. If I could, I would bottle this aroma up as an aftershave. Don't get me wrong, for under $20, I am realistic about the actual amount of true black truffles used, but whether it was truffle mash or oil, the flavors and certainly the aromas were there. Highly recommend it. Next, I tried the pistachio with red onion, which I originally had at Bianco's in Phoenixville (considered the be the best pizza purveyor in the US). This version was pretty good and though it has been a few years, it was pretty close to the one I remembered from Bianco's. Both pizzas had the tell-tale leopard blistering of a wood burning oven, leaving the super thin crust crispy yet tender and chewy. So, if you are in the area, try it - Stella is certainly worth a shot.
(4)Micaela F.
I really want to love you so bad. Cute place, cute location but really not loving the pizza we had. Sorry Stella.
(1)christian C.
I'm tempted to give this 5 stars, but I'm not going to yet, because: 1. I've only been once and want to see how consistent they are, and 2. They only have 2 beers on tap (fortunately, one of them is Victory HopDevil; the other is Stella). I don't think a 5 star place would only provide a choice between two beers. The food, on the first try, was excellent. The octopus salad was fantastic! I will be going back just for this. The octopus was hands down the best octopus I've ever had. Not the slightest bit rubbery. It was served over a salad of fennel, warm potato slices which were perfectly cooked, and parsley and mint leaves. The waitress said the dressing was a salsa verde, but it tasted more like pesto. The whole thing was lightly tossed with a little lemon. This was excellent. The pizza with prosciutto, smoked gouda and arugala was also delicious with a nicely charred and excellently cooked thin crust. The prosciutto was very good. Ate every morsel. The service was also good, perhaps a little too quick, but that's a minor quibble. Can't wait to go back and try it again.
(4)Joshua B.
I would rate Stella's as, "What's your hurry? Here's your hat." Our experience last Friday was made unpleasant because of extreme up-selling and pressure to turn tables. Our server (and her team) made repeated queries if we wanted more wine while we still had wine in our glasses; she interrupted conversation mid-meal (we were half-way through our pizzas) to recite the dessert menu; and then (just bizarre), as I was cutting a slice from the last of three pizzas, with the two empty trays stacked beneath, she reached under my hand to remove the trays, suggesting it would make it easier to cut the pie. As I was still chewing my last bite, she cleared the table, inquired about dessert again, placed the check on the table and offered the requisite, "No rush; any time you're ready."
(1)Anna Marie C.
stella, stella. i wanted to be able to scream it from rooftops... but sadly, i cannot. in the stephen starr vein, this place is grand...grand in the way a pseudo rustic type place can be. to give it even more of a homey feel, there are long tables that you have to share with other folk. in all, it's a-ok. there are some original ingredients on the pizzas. the crusts are decent (and to be honest, i'm a chicago deep dish pizza girl myself)... our server was probably the best part of the place, as she was super friendly and knowledgeable. so if i were around the block, and had a pizza craving, i may stop here. but would i make an extra long trip out here for the pizza again? most prob not.
(3)Leslie M.
Good pizza but maybe still working out some kinks? Went for a late Thursday night dinner. Maybe we came a bit too late but the service was definitely rushed throughout the entire meal. The pizzas were delicious but I've seen better portions. Ambiance: Nice open space and great for groups. The setup and decor is very simple and ties along with an "upscale pizzeria". Service: Not the best. Perhaps we were late coming in but we felt the entire meal was being pushed along. Between being asked if we wanted more drinks when we were barely a few sips into our first glass of beer and having to play tug of war with our plates that had the last few bites of the otherwise delicious pizza, we were all relatively confused with the service and the rush to finish our meal. Probably the worst highlight was having to grab back my plate twice from the waitress so that I could enjoy my last pizza slice. To put the cherry on top of a somewhat anxious finish to my meal.. while the last bite of crust was en route to my awaiting my mouth - my hawk-eyed waitress descended to whisk away my finally finished plate. I was still chewing as she began to describe dessert. Food: Their truffle parmesan pizza (Tartufo) was absolutely delicious. I would definitely come here again to enjoy this delight. It comes topped with a well placed sunny side up egg which is then broken to allow the yolk to spread its rich goodness onto an even more rich landscape of flavor. Their crust is remarkably thin but still chewy. The portion was a bit small but expected as it is a Starr. However aside from the Tartufo, I think Slice would be a better value option. Their olives were a good value and a great way to begin the meal. As for dessert, skip the gelato. We found the texture to be grainy and icy. Drinks: Decent beer & wine offerings. Nice that they offer many types of wine on the glass. We enjoyed the Dogfish Head Brown Ale with our meal. Overall, I'm coming again to eat the Tartufo and maybe a foray into another one of their more unique pizzas (clams?)... I'll also try coming at a different hour too ...
(3)Matt L.
I was reluctant to try this place given the mixed reviews, but I had a great time here. We arrived at 7pm on a Friday and had no more than a 10 minute wait for a party of 3. We ordered three pies: the pistachio, the spinach and the tarufo. The pistachio pizza was remarkably good. The service was friendly and excellent. An in all, it was pretty great.
(4)Kelly W.
So it's probably unfair to review a restaurant on it's soft opening. But here I go: Woohoooo! I was anticipating the opening of Pizzeria Stella and was not disappointed. I like the casual setting with plenty of tables and dog/stroller friendly outdoor tables. We started with the Balsamic Onion starter and shared two pizzas (about 12 inches): Tartufo: black truffle, fontina, egg, parmesan $17. Sausage: sweet fennel sausage, hot pepper, tomato, basil $15 Tartufo should be eaten right away, as the egg is sunny side up and smeared around the pizza for equal coverage. Don't be intimidated by the raw egg, it's divine! If you aren't a truffle fan, steer clear as the truffle oil is quite powerful. The sausage pizza was well balanced and not too spicy or heavy on the meat. All in all, the thin crust held up against the wet ingredients without getting soggy right away. There are other vegetarian options and lower priced pizzas, ranging from $12-17. Finish off with the "secret recipe" homemade gelato. I recommend you try the olive oil flavor. Creamy, sweet and full of flavor. Between my husband and I, we split an appetizer, two pizzas, a gelato, and each had a drink for about $70. Hours: Sun.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight.
(4)Emily M.
This place definitely gets 4 stars from me. I just went back last night for my second time, and I have not been disappointed yet! Usually, I find Steven Starr to be decent, not thrilling, and overpriced. Not so for Stella! This is one of the few places in town I can go for dinner with a date and have a fantastic meal for under $30 total. My first time at Stella, I started with a sheep's milk ricotta appetizer with flatbread. The ricotta was delicious, simple, and with a lovely note of rosemary. The flatbread wasn't remarkable, but it was simple and tasty, and our lovely waitress Natasha immediately brought us more when she saw we were running low. Then I had the spinach pizza. Let me tell you, this is delicious. So flavorful and savory, with different flavors in each bite. Juicy and well seasoned, with a crispy in some places, soft in other places crust (almost like naan). Delicious! Amazing! Simple! Last night, I had the calamari and octopus appetizer and the broccoli rabe appetizer to start. The calamari was like a cross between traditional calamari, and an octopus ceviche, with olives and onion to spice things up. The broccoli rabe was simple and delicious, with garlic and ricotta to accent its strong, earthy flavor. I think the broccoli rabe has been my favorite appetizer so far! And then I had the pizza bianca. This was delicious and simple. I didn't like it as much as the spinach, but it didn't disappoint. It had three cheeses and delicious olive oil, and made a decadent and juicy (well, honestly, oily) taste. So good. And I finished with the hazelnut gelato. Which was okay. The biscotti was the best part of the dessert. This place has simple, good comfort food at affordable prices with friendly staff. Ask for Natasha! (Note: My meal last night was over $30- we got more appetizers and a dessert)
(4)Kevin P.
I live in Jersey and frequent Stella's often. I fancy myself a pizza aficionado, I've stood in line for an hour at Grimaldi's in NYC. I've partaken in Lombardi's pizza in NY (first pizza place in the US) too many more to mention. Stella's in my opinion is the best pizza PERIOD. My fav is the margarita & the sausage pie. So light, crispy, flavor packed. The pizza guys work like a fine tuned machine. I have easily been there 20 times in the last two years. Have never had a bad experience the staff is always nice. My only complaint would be is that the pizzas take only about 5 minutes to hit your table after you order. Your in and out very quick. Sometimes I'd like it to take a little longer to savor the environment and the company.
(5)Tanya T.
Pizzeria Stella was stellar indeed! We went here tonight with another couple and ordered 4 pizzas which was perfect for us. (we came hungry). we ordered the appetizer grilled octopus which was a perfect blend of fennel, salsa verde and the potatoes were very yummy in it. it was a good starter. then we proceeded with the margherita, mushroom, tartufo, san daniele pizzas. the dough is just perfect and just thin enough. the margherita pizza was very good...as my friend said that it comes close to a pizza they had in naples italy. my next favorite would be the mushroom. my fiance loved the tartufo ....a little heavy but amazing assortment of egg, black truffle and parmesan. san daniele was great too with fresh arugula on top. even though we were stuffed, we went with the stratichello (vanilla and chocolate cookies) and pumpkin gelato. wow great house made gelato...great end to the night!
(5)Alessia K.
ya mon. Me and the babe ordered two pies and devoured them as if it were a contest. Actually, I think the restaurant is running some kind of contest for churning out the pizzas as fast as possible. It literally took about 3 minutes for each pie to come out. Regardless feeling rushed, the place has fresh ingredients, awesome dough and Moretti beer. I will return.
(4)Justin C.
Have been three or four times, never disappointed! Authentic old world techniques with exciting new flavors! Best pizza in Philly!
(5)Pasquale A.
See & be seen airy & open atmosphere. Excellent Star decor & great corner location on Head House. The toppings are excellent, creative but the crust lacks the complexity of mature pizza dough. There are ways to make fast dough that is still aged correctly. A young dough is overwhelmed by the direct heat of the wood brick oven. Also, the sauce could use more basil & oregano. Appetizers such as calamari/octopus salad (refreshingly NOT deep fried), asparagus and olive assortment all excellent. Though olives could have used provolone shards. Service was patchy at first, but they strove arduously to correct it and were mostly successful. It WAS a busy night.
(4)Mario N.
I loved it. The wife and I both got apps and shared a pizza. Its got a great atmosphere for families and couples.
(4)Nelson S.
This place probably deserves 4 stars... but they get a penalty star because of all the hype around this place and also because the other Starr restaurants I have been to have been really good. Pizza is good... even really good... just not great. Probably one of the better pizzas in Philly but it wasn't as good as this place we went to often in Denver (Marco's coal fired pizza). Good food, great location, good service. Will probably come again... but I guess I was expecting more.
(3)Kathy D.
Gotta give it to Stephen Starr, this former Cosi has potential. It will be a mix, attracting people from Society Hill towers, and those on South Street who want a nicer place to get pizza. It's not in competition with Osteria restaurant, but Starr isn't trying to go high end here either. Lots of wine selection, and even offers home made lemonade and sasperilla. I split a margarita pizza with my niece and good thing she's small and only had two slices because the pizza is SO thin and not very filling. But it was good. I would probably suggest having one pizza per person if you're hungry and go home with a slice or two. Price was good, had a pizza and a soda for 17 dollars. (Could be an excellent cheaper date location.) Since it's only been open a few weeks, staff is still in training mode. ANd I've worked for Starr, so I know what it's like. Neverless, they were attentive and friendly, and true to Starr form, pushed the dessert heavily. In my opinion, it's a close competitor to Osteria's pizza, but I still prefer Slice over both.
(4)Joy C.
Pizzeria Stella makes for the perfect addition to Philly's food scene. The pizza style is a nice mix of New York wood oven fired (think Grimaldi's in Brooklyn), Napoletana (Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix), and CT style pizza (Pepe's in New Haven). If you're a fan of any of those about mentioned pizza palaces, you'll probably be a fan of Stella. The setting is probably the most casual and kid-friendly of Starr's restaurants, yet has the same attention to detail in a more down to earth way. I had the chance to try four different pizzas that day: Pepperoni, Sausage, Picante, and Pistachio. The Pepperoni and Sausage were the favorites but all were very good. The interesting thing about Stella is that the different between the pizza flavors isn't just a matter of a change in the main topping (pepperoni, sausage, etc). They use different cheeses depending on the combination of flavors being highlighted. The crust is EXCELLENT and consists of the perfect balance of chewy and crispy. The antipasti dishes are also very good especially the balsamic onion and broccoli rabe. My only complaint is that the service was a bit slow - pizza took over 30-45 mins to come out after ordering. So you have to go there for the quality of pizza, not for a quick slice. Final thoughts... A much welcomed addition to Philly especially if you like wood fired oven style pizza. The pizzas are small, so best to go and get a few kinds and share with company.
(4)Mike D.
With an expert pizza connoisseur on hand I finally made the trip to Stella after a night of beer tasting to soak up some of those samples. The size of the place was suggestive of a Starr joint but the atmosphere was definitely more relaxed; a plus for a pizza stop. The starters were small but definitely tasty and the nice compliment to a pizza split between two. The crust was charred perfectly in their brick oven grill and there was just enough cheese on the pizza to allow all the flavors of the sauce and seasoning to come through. Based on the relatively small menu and portion size I would rather just split a few pies between friends then mess around with the starters. My pizza devouring girlfriend thought the same and was pleasantly surprised on the taste and quality of pizza after hearing so many mixed reviews.
(4)Jon D.
Love this place. Starr got it right on just about all points, especially on the point of locating it in my neighborhood (good lookin-out!). Some friends and I split the romaine salad and the pistacio and spinich pies. The two pizzas were out of this world, great flavors, texture, everything really. The salad could have been better though (but maybe i'm just a sucker for salads of Olive Garden variety). The only thing the menu lacks is a decent beer selection. There are a few good ones, but let's see some drafts or a few more bottles on there! Ended up going with the house wine, which sufficed. Things are a little pricey, but that's what you get with Starr, and the pizzas beat anything else we have in the City.
(4)Mike M.
I'm not a fan of thin crust pizza in general... but THIS pizza, I make an exception for. The crust is perfectly blistered out of that wood fired oven, the mozz is salty yet delicately firm, and the pepperoni is petite and flavorful without a pool of floating orange oil. Despite its designer price tag, it's one of my favorite little pizza's in the city, perfectly sized for two to share. The whole experience is only further enriched by a picturesque Headhouse Square location. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Ro M.
It was no coincidence that while I waited for my dining partner, I passed time with the book Eat, Pray, Love. Now Elizabeth Gilbert has yet to describe the scents of Rome but I hope the scent of truffle oil wafts freely through the air like it did at Stella. The fare can be best described as light and subtle. We sampled the San Daniele pizza and were pleasantly surprised by the subtle flavor of the baby arugula. If you order this pie, do not be surprised when your pizza looks more like a salad. Buried underneath is a delicious layer of prosciutto and smoked mozzarella. Having ofcourse saved room for dessert, we also sampled the restaurant gelato. I tried the olive oil gelato and again, it was smooth and subtle. I look forward to returning to try the tartufo - runny egg atop a pizza? I'm game.
(4)Cat C.
As a North Jersey native, I am an unapologetic pizza snob and I don't see anything wrong with that. I've lived in Philly for 4 years and have since been trying, mostly fruitlessly, to find a pizza joint that can live up to NY standards. I have found a few that are decent, but that Holy Grail of Philadelphia pizza has yet to be discovered. When I first heard about Stella, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I read that Stephen Starr had traveled across the country seeking pizza knowledge from the greats. This to me indicated that he was taking pizza seriously, as it should be taken. I allowed myself to get slightly excited, but I kept my cynicism for both Stephen Starr and the Philly black-hole-of-pizza dilemma nearby. I purposely waited several weeks after its opening to try Stella. I wanted to give it time to work out its kinks and problems inevitable during startup. I really wanted to love you, Stella! But alas, I can't make me love you, if I don't. My two comrades and I arrived at 7 pm last night (Friday). We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who took our name and cell number in case we wanted to wander around the neighborhood while we waited. We appreciated this gesture, but it was drizzling so we sat in some chairs by the door and watched the cooks make the pizzas and took in the decor. It was well-thought-out like all Starr restaurants, but certainly cozy and welcoming while still managing to be trendy and hip. We were seated in about 20 minutes at a long table with other groups. The long tables definitely bolster the casual, fun, family-style vibe but if you're there on a first or second date, I would recommend requesting one of the smaller tables. The menu was small and limited which I think is appropriate for a pizzeria. The focus should be on the pizza, and there shouldn't be BBQ chicken or any other crazy toppings. I suppose I am a pizza purist. We ordered fried risotto balls for an appetizer. They arrived in a pool of marinara sauce. I cut one open with my fork and found a dark grayish material in the middle that looked like ground meat. Since we are all either vegetarians or pesco-vegetarians, we inquired about it and were told that it was mushroom. Mushroom was not stated in the menu, and one of my companions abhors them. Aside from this annoyance, they were kind of bland. Then we ordered a margherita pizza and a vongole (clams) pizza. I insisted on ordering the vongole because it is so rare to find it on the menu at pizzerias. My mother makes the best clam pizza I have ever eaten so I wanted to see if there was a place in Philly I could go to get my fix in a pinch. Sadly, this is not so. The pizza was literally soup in the middle. The crust was soggy and limp. In addition, it was way over salted. The margherita was more edible, but still soggy in the middle and not worth its price. We will not be returning to Stella. It is a neat space and the waitstaff was friendly and competent, but if the pizza isn't good at a pizza joint, you might as well hang it up. Clearly Starr didn't ask the right people about how to make a good pizza, or he didn't listen hard enough. Or maybe they deliberately duped him because there is a worldwide conspiracy to keep Philadelphia in the Pizza Dark Ages. All I know is, I'd rather drive an hour and a half to my mother's house for her clam pizza than spend $17 at Stella again.
(2)Claire S.
First of all, I love the decor and vibe of this space. From the tall ceilings to the mint green painted wooden chairs and massive brick oven, I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. The Tartufo pizza (black truffle, fontina, egg, parmesan) was a delightful change of pace from what you normally find on a pizza and was truly delicious. As was the spinach pizza. A glass of house red topped off what was a very nice meal. If I lived in Philly, I'd love to become a regular at Pizzeria Stella.
(4)Rob L.
I know how you people are all Stephen STAR F***ers, but really this is the worst pizza I have ever had. The pies were cold by the time they arrived at our table and the dough was actually wet and stiff! Then the waitstaff were pushing us out the door before we even finished... and the place was not even crowded. It was as if they were embarrassed to have served us such dreck. If you want great pizza go to Brooklyn.
(1)Perry A.
Everything was perfect for al fresco dining on a sunny, cool and breezy Saturday afternoon and Stella had all of their large windows open to wash their industrial space with fresh spring air. With all of the sidewalk tables taken up, we missed little of the pleasures of the day at a window seat. The octopus fennel salad brought a large succulent chunk of the mollusk, enough to slice so that everyone could sample. Tender slivers of fennel accompanied the herby salsa verde. Even the man-cub nodded his approval. Even though i had been pining for the Tartufo and the Pistachio, it was the son's birthday so we played it safe and picked two pies: the sausage and the spinach. The crust on both of these pies had good old world flavor (reminded me of the fresh bialys that came out of the ovens on the Lower East Side), nice smokey notes, nicely charred and thin. Only complaint is that it wasn't crispy enough to hold up the toppings without folding the slice. The fennel flavored sausage was moist and subtly scented without being too salty. The dollops of pesto that accompanied it with fresh mozzarella made it an outstanding pie. Of course, had they made their own earthy mozzarella, like Pizzeria Lo Bianco, it would have taken it to the next level, but as it is, one of the better pies I've had in Philly. The spinach pie, which came with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts was not as pronounced as it should have been, but was satisfying nonetheless. Capping our lunch, we got the chocolate and hazelnut gelati. The chocolate was perfectly fine with good chocolate carrying the flavor load. But it was the intensely nutty hazelnut that grabbed our attention. Purportedly, store-made, these were exemplary. A well planned out and executed menu gives us many reason to return.
(4)Katie H.
I know we have some Starr-haters out there - I'm not one of them. I work across the street from Jones, have had more than a few fun times at Budakkan and I really love the pizza at Pizzeria Stella. What can I say - Starr is to mid-range dining as McDonald's is to fast food - CONSISTENT. I went with my sister and her two kids - we had the polpette pizza, squid salad, arugula salad and the arancini. I really loved the pizza. I mean, I really loved it. So much so I have thought about longingly the past few days. Yes - a little pricey, my credit card took a hit (nice of me to treat the family, eh?) but I can't complain - the food was just plain good.
(4)Karen B.
three stars only because it's overpriced. otherwise, four. this is possibly my favorite of the stephen starr oeuvre (but i guess that doesn't say much?). points for good service that feels genuine and not fake or forced. additional points for currently having victory summer love on tap! the menu features six red pizzas and six white. of the red, get the sausage. of the white, if you like truffles (and i question your palate if you don't), get the tartufo. you can smell it coming from halfway across the restaurant (this is a good thing!). plus, it comes with a sunny-side-up egg on top. all pizzas should, really. i'd say this place is good for groups, but they don't take reservations, which is kinda annoying (note: pietro's down the street also has pretty bangin' pizza and will accommodate you!). but for small parties, stella is worth a visit for sure.
(3)Nicole B.
Stopped here on the way to the airport and was very excited to try another Starr restaureant after having such a great experience at Barclay Prime. Ordered the margarita pizza and the rice balls. Better rice balls in NYC but still good. Also better pizza in Philly. ALOT. Don't get me wrong. It was good. But we shared a pie and the balls and and were still hungry. For a 15.00 pie one should be full. For 22.00 one can get a fantastic pie from Lorenzo's on South St which needs to be put into 2 boxes and is better. good to try Stella's but sorry Mr. Starr. We won't be back again. Too many other places to try.
(3)Victoria F.
As we walked to our last after dinner last night, I said to my boyfriend that I thought this was the best pizza I've ever had. I've since had to reconsider, but not because the pizza wasn't as good as I initially thought. It just doesn't seem quite fair to compare the Tartufo pizza (black truffle, fontina and parmesan with a poached egg cut open over the whole thing) at Pizzeria Stella with, say, a gooey, cheesy slice from a local pizza joint. They just aren't the same thing. Apples and oranges and I love 'em both. This Tartufo pizza... holy cow was it delicious. When I read the menu, I was imagining a fried egg atop a pizza, which sounded interesting. When the pizza arrived, however, balanced on top was a perfectly poached egg (NOT raw, as other reviewers are saying); they split it open and let the yolk run all over. The strong, nutty flavor of the truffles, combined with the slightly sweet, soft cheese and the runny yolk? Perfection. I can already tell that I'll have a hard time exploring the rest of the menu - it'll be too tempting to have this over and over again. My table also tried the grilled octopus (I don't eat seafood, but my companions seemed to enjoy it), the caprese salad (tasty but not standout - although the thick, sweet balsamic vinegar was a treat), the Polpette pizza (with meatballs - this was pretty average, I thought) and the mushroom pizza (which looked delicious, but I was too stuffed from my Tartufo to partake). For dessert, I had the hazelnut gelalto, which was spectacular. The setting is pleasant enough - stylish but casual, with big windows and a fun, funky vibe. A little loud, but not so much that you can't enjoy the conversation at your table. We had no wait on a summer Friday at 7:30, which was a pleasant surprise. Go. Enjoy! Eat some truffles!
(5)beata n.
Appetizers were good, especially the rabe, but when it comes to the pizza, we ordered the margherita and the sauce was pure salt, maybe we just ordered wrong?
(2)Jeff S.
Good food...By far my favorite dishes isn't even pizza, it its the rock shrimp pasta dish and the chopped salad. The chopped salad is huge and fresh....great.
(4)Yasamin M.
I just had dinner at Stella for the first time, and can say with confidence that it will most definitely be the last time. The food was simply awful: the pizza dough was soggy and chewy, the and pasta and appetizers were wrong at every turn - all very ham-fisted and amateurish on the flavours. Just like Parc, this is another sign that Steven Starr needs to stop opening restaurant after restaurant without paying attention to the quality. If you're thinking about trying Stella, do yourself a favour and don't!
(1)Andrea M.
Pizzaria Stella is a young, vibrant dinner spot in Philly. I love the sheep's milk ricotta (save some to have with your pizza crust). Their brick-oven pizza is delicious. My favorite is definitely the mushroom. The Tartufo is good and something a little different with truffle and runny egg yolk, but not a pizza I want to eat over and over again like the mushroom. They also have a cool bar with interesting mixed drinks and sodas.
(4)Lauren H.
Despite the lackluster experience the first time around, I brought the parents here tonight because I figured pizza was a safe choice (my parents aren't very adventurous eaters). The waiter got my dad to eat octopus. That's how good this waiter was. The caprese salad was delightful The spinach pie (my mom's choice) and the mushroom pie (my dad's choice), were quite improved since my last visit. I still think the menu prices are a tad on the expensive side, but as this was a pre-birthday dinner, my parents picked up the tab, so I shouldn't complain - but it will still give me pause when I have to reach for my wallet. All in all a much better experience and well worth an extra star!
(3)C B.
I don't get the good reviews. The pizza quickly went cold. Tasted blah. I rather go around the corner to Peatro's.
(2)Jp S.
Good service, great thin crust pizza. Fresh ingredients obvious. Some unique items on the menu- not an extensive one and wine list needs improvement. Prices are too high. LaFourno near 7th on South makes similar pies as does Pietro's on South St near 2nd street.
(3)Amy F.
Love this place - great to take little kids for a good meal as well. Sitting outside in season is perfect. The pizza is terrific but so are many other dishes, salads, starters, etc. we don't always have their pizza. Service is very good.
(4)Casey H.
We were here for the first time last weekend. The crust is absolutely amazing! It's light, soft, but also crispy! I don't usually like Margheita pizza, but this one was really delicious! We also had the Spinach and I loved that as well! In fact, we loved it so much we came back the next day and had lunch after some shopping at the farmer's market. I think this might become a routine!
(5)Mitch L.
The pizzas here are amazing. There's something about the crust that I really enjoy. It's soft with the right amount of crispiness. I've been here three times and have never been disappointed. Will be back again to try every type of pizza on the menu. Went to Slice after seeing it's four star review on yelp and was highly disappointed, couldn't understand why stella's only got three and a half stars.
(5)Gianmarco C.
This place is great. The pizza margherita is one the best I've ever had outside of Italy. I also loved the Tartufo pizza with the truffles and egg, and the San Daniele prosciutto and arugula pizza. The menu is nice and concise, dedicated to the pizzas and a few excellent anitipasti and salads. Their house gelato is also really good.
(5)Matt S.
So we were in the Society Hill neighborhood again last night and my wife suggested that we give Stella another try. My experience was a little better this time, perhaps because I knew what to expect from the crust: well-above average American style doughy crust (a different creature all-together from true Italian style crust, which I was hoping for on our first visit). This time I had the Piccante (spicy ham) and my wife had the Tartuffo (truffle and egg). I have to say, both were very tasty. The Piccante was indeed delightfully piccante and the egg/truffle pizza brought some serious rich, creamy, earthy deliciousness. The quality of the ingredients and my adjusted expectations, along with the general friendliness of our server, and a cheap yet decent glass of table wine led me to upgrade my rating to 4 stars. As long as there's not much of a wait and you can walk right in, I'd say this place is worth a visit.
(4)Elise K.
I'm going to have to disagree with my old buddy Mikey I. Do I ever crave Stella specifically? EVERY SINGLE DAY. More specifically - TARTUFO pizza. My boyfriend is tired of hearing me say that this pizza is like crack to me (he loves it too but chooses to branch out to specialty pizzas and other stuff, which is always excellent as well). We've been here several times and have always had a great experience. Service is consistently good and pizza ingredients fresh and fabulous. I don't know what's in that pizza dough, but it's really the only pizza crust that I insist on eating every bite of. Also, do yourself a favor and grab a Sgroppino - especially if you're sitting on the sidewalk people watching - it's the perfect summer drink.
(5)Shannon O.
I love Stella! First of all, in terms of decor, it is so interesting to see "Stephen Starr does restraint". It's simple and tasteful, but somehow still gorgeous with the dark tiles, slate tables, beautiful brick oven, and semi open kitchen. Totally relaxed, but done so well. The Tartufo pizza is ridiculously good. Perfectly salty with black truffles and egg...why haven't I seen anything like this before?? It's genious. The crusts are wonderful, as well as the portions. I scarfed 2 pizzas between three people, and although we were full, I wasn't uncomfortably so. I can't wait for spring when they bring back outdoor seating--what a beautiful spot on Headhouse Square!!
(4)Amy B.
My favorite is hanging out at the bar and relaxing with a beer. I'm a creature of habit and my latest addiction is the Grilled Octopus Salad. For this type of weather, it's refreshing, light and so tasty that at one point I was there 4 times in a week and one of the sittings, I had two orders...yes two! Oh and now that they've added the pasta dishes, they have my belly's full attention...pardon the pun. The bartender's are great so sitting alone is lonely but if you don't feel like talking, there's a TV.
(5)Ryan A.
I've been this place twice. Once during the opening month and a second time later. The first time was okay. I wasn't too keen on the group seating, it just seemed like a way to cram as many people into a small space as they could. It was cramped and uncomfortable. The calamari and olive antipasta was really good though. The second time we sat outside, which was better and it was a really nice day. The waiter was way to attentive and kept coming over interrupting our conversation, almost to the point where I was going to say something. We tried to order the calamari dish again but I'm not sure if they changed the menu or took that off or what, but when we ordered that again we got grilled octopus on top of a potato (that is currently on the menu now). I guess I should have read the menu better, I wasn't impressed with that small 12 dollar dish. The pizza can be soggy, it definitely wasn't memorable. The only thing I do remember is how expensive it was. Might I recommend pietros? Overall I won't be back.
(2)Frank K.
Just went to Stella's...on a Friday afternoon. No crowds. No pressure. We had the Pistachio pizza...a white pizza with red onion slices and chopped pistachio's. I never had the combination and it was delicious! The crust was superb...thin, crispy, and folded well. The pizza is a bit pricey at $14 for a pie that would be a small or medium at most other pizzeria's. Next time, I plan to try the margerita...so I can sample the tomato sauce. I'd go back anytime. They do have takeout...no delivery. We had no pressure from the server...but then again, there were probably no more than 10 other people in the shop .
(4)Amy R.
Ok, I know. Giving an over-priced Starr pizza joint 5 stars seems ridiculous. But I can't help it. I love this place. I love sitting outside along Headhouse Square to eat. I love the crusts on the pizzas. I love the San Daniele (prosciutto, smoked mozzarella and fresh arugula). I love the pepperoni. I love the arancini (delicious fried balls of risotto). And I really love the olive oil gelato. Seriously -- it sounds crazy, but just try it.
(5)Vicki H.
I really like Stella. It's an awesome place to come when you want to go somewhere nice to eat, but don't want to drop a ton of cash. The service there has always been really friendly and quick, the pizzas are yummy (although you might not agree if you don't like that brick-oven charring on the crust), the fried risotto is taaasty, and the $5.50 house wines are reasonably priced and hit the spot. It's not as over-engineered and over-designed as other Starr places, and I really love that about it. I'm glad I live so close!!
(4)C K.
really good for pizza. They had appetizers non pizza and were yummy. Great classy casual pizza place.
(4)K K.
I think opening Stella was a brilliant idea for Stephen Starr, I think he just missed on a few things, mainly the pizza. But before I write a review on the pizza, I would like to comment on the staff and atmosphere. When walking into the newly renovated Cosi, you instantly feel as if you walked into one of your favorite low-scale restaurants when you were a kid. Not to stay the decor is bad; it's actually the opposite. For someone like myself, walking into an upscale restaurant that attempts to make you feel like you aren't dressed formal enough, can be intimidating. Walking into Stella is a breath of fresh air, nothing special about it, humble and attractive. Each time I have been here, the staff is always ready to greet you, super friendly, but not overbearing. There has been one occasion on which our server, a male server, neglected our table for about 20 minutes, but compared to the other excellent service I have experienced, I guess everyone has their bad days, just like the rest of us. I enjoy sitting at the bar, you get to watch the sous chefs work on each individual pizza as if it was their first day, trying to impress the chef. It's quite amazing how carefully they handle each pizza. I ordered a margarita pizza once without basil, and it came out with basil. I watched as the sous chef caught this before it was brought over to me, and instead of taking off the basil, they prepared a new pizza. The sous chef, not the server came over and apologized and within four minutes, I had my new pizza. If you are lucky to go there without a crowd, your food comes out fast as lightning, as each pizza takes about five minutes, start to finish, due to the wood burning stove. If there is a crowd, you will wait a little longer, but if you make it known to your server that you are sharing everything that you ordered, it will come out one by one as it's done so you're not just sitting there waiting for everything. Ok, the pizza. I have tried the margarita, the four cheese, the pistachio, the picante, the clam, the pepperoni and the tartufo (truffle). The crust is perfect and the amount of olive oil drizzled on the crust and the top of the pizza is perfect. The flavors, need some work. Painter has the four cheese and margarita down to a well executed science. I am a huge fan of clam, however, this pizza was almost inedible. The clams tasted like they came out of a spaghetti clam sauce jar - they were tuff and had a foul flavor. It seems as if the clams were baked, which leaves them pretty tough, especially sitting on the line all day. If Painter was able to figure out a way to steam the clams, maybe drizzle a spicy butter sauce of the pizza, I think it would rock my world. The picante pizza had a great flavor, a little spicy for me, but I can never handle heat. I think one of the most exciting pizzas on the menu is the tartufo, the truffle pizza. This has obviously truffles on top, and what most people find interesting is an over easy egg cooked in the middle. The server comes to break the yolk and smear it over the pizza. I was so excited for this pizza, but I was left only tasting egg - the rest of the flavors were lost. The pepperoni was pleasant, but nothing too special about it. The pistachio had too many onions which lost the pistachio taste. The appetizers were good, I recommend the asparagus. I also recommend the gelato. I'd love to see Painter put out a mushroom or pineapple pizza. I'd also like to try the other 4 pizza's on the menu. Either way, I will make my way back soon! All in all, a great place to take a date or the family for a smaller budget. Hope this helps!
(3)Ali H.
We were seated immediately on a Saturday night, which was nice, as were all of the staff we encountered. The pizza was great, especially the crust, which had the perfect crunch to dough ratio. The toppings were fresh, and the sauce was great. It wasn't too sweet, and it didn't overpower the toppings. I would definitely recommend a visit to Stella any time you're in the area looking for a delicious, relaxing meal--more upscale than a pizza joint, but casual enough to be fun. Good selection of beers, too.
(4)Beth K.
Good pizza, convenient to us in Head House Square - slightly overpriced though.
(3)Vivian T.
I am not a fan of Starr restaurants but I have to say the food exceeded my expectations. I went here the other evening with my husband and one yr old daughter. The place is family friendly and the hostesses and waitress were really nice and friendly to us. We ordered two pies (tartufo (yum!) and magherita (sp?)). The pies were individually sized but priced for a large. I am used to sizes from places like Lombardi's & Ray's in New York. Nevertheless the pizzas had a lot of flavor and the wood fire stove really added a special smoky flavor to the crust. We also had the broccoli rabe. I was surprised since I haven't had rabe prepared this way. They were really soft and lacked the bitter taste I am used to. The house wine is really good and goes will with the food. My husband ordered other wines from the menu and I really think the house wine was better. I would definitely come back here.
(4)Megan D.
I love Pizzeria Stella! Olives are delish. Pistachio is quite good. Margherita is fantastic. Tartufo is where it's at! The combination of the truffle and the cheese and then a freshly cracked egg on top....amazing. They also have homemade gelato (the way to my heart) in all sorts of flavors. The olive oil and basil are the two that come to mind and both were fantastic!
(5)Brooks A.
First time there. Excellent place for lunch. Two of us shared the chopped salad (great salad, lots of veggies and roasted tomato dressing was outstanding!) and sausage/pesto/mozz pizza. Sausage pie was also fantastic. Great service.
(4)Jayma K.
Love the location and atmosphere but the pizza was way too salty. Very hard to enjoy it and should have sent it back after the first piece.
(2)Salvatore B.
Service was great. The food was so so. I ordered Arancini(risotto balls) which had no flavor at all. The only redeeming grace was the tomato sauce. Also ordered broccoli rabe appetizer, which I thought was cooked properly. The pizza was AWFUL!! Although the ingredients were fresh, the dough was very Undercooked. It was burnt in some areas, and raw in others. The bottom of the pizza was raw. I looked around at other patrons, and the pizzas all looked the same. This is Philadelphia. There are better pizza places than this.
(2)Yen V.
LOVE their tartufo pizza.
(5)Andrew S.
I love many of the Starr restaurants with exception of Cuba Libre in Philly, D.C. and Stella. Both are high on price but low on substance. I would recommend 3 other brick oven pizzas within a 1 mile radius over Stellas. It's just too average for the high price. I'll stick with El Vez, continental midtown & Buddakan
(2)Sara L.
When I was little, growing up in CT, on special occasions we'd visit Wooster Street and check out Pepe's or Sally's. It always meant a wait, usually of an hour or so, before we got inside. But it was so worth it--the best pizza I've ever had. Transcendent pizza. The crust is chewy and blistered and beautiful. The sauce is tomato-y and fabulous. And the cheese and toppings are always perfectly proportioned. Thinking of the white clam pie and the pepporoni makes me homesick. All this is to say that the bar is set high. My perfect pizza was programmed long ago, and has never been equaled. So how did Pizzeria Stella stack up? Start with the decor. Its always important, and Starr (typically) has done a great job creating at atmosphere, centered on the pizza oven. Service was friendly and efficient, and we quickly got ourselves settled in. The menu is much more adventurous than your average pizza joint, with some fancy pies plus a bunch of apps and salads. We played it safe and ordered olives, a green salad, a polpette (meatball) and margharita pizza. For drinks we got two of the housemade lemonades. The lemonades were fabulous--tart and icy. Definitely good for a hot day. The olives and salad were also excellent. The olives had an interesting orange flavor from the rind. The salad had mint, which, again nice on a hot day, and was not overdressed. The pizzas were good, but not to my mind, great. The crust was good, but not blistered enough. The sauce was forgettable. The cheese was good and the toppings were tasty and in good proportion (didn't overwhelm the crust and fall all over the place). And for the prices I think I was expecting great. Granted, I didn't try the more non-traditional pies and I'm still curious so you might see me back here to check those out. And the atmosphere was relaxed with a great location. So I wouldn't totally cross it off the list, but for me, not a top performance.
(3)Jakkie K.
I choose Stella for the birthday lunch last year - and now I am obsessed with the tartufo pie. A woman came up to our table told us to order it and that "she dreamed about the tartufo". I didn't try any of the other pies because I couldn't image them being as good as the tartufo, but my friends enjoyed them. They also do takeout which is awesome.
(5)Gary S.
I have been to Stella twice since it opened and have to say both times have found the pizza to be truly excellent. Second time went with a big group so pretty much have been able to sample most of the pizza varieties and the appetizer/sides. As others have noted, the crust fired in the brick oven really is the key to all the pizzas, but I also found the toppings - even the more unusual ones like pistachio with red onions - to be memorable. It's nice and casual, simple menu, friendly servers, reasonable prices - a good Stephen Starr formula that works. Others commented on inconsistency of the pizza - I have now had six pies there and all were done just right - crispy but not burned. Maybe a little bit of char here and there, but that is the way brick oven pizza is supposed to be!
(4)Mike C.
Ok. Very poor draft list. Pizza ok, but nothing special or particularly original compared to other gourmet pizzas in Philly (i.e. decent neighborhood gourmet, but not worth a trip). Some of the apps were good.
(3)ryan p.
Stella gets a lot of unjustified hate. If you don't know what to expect heading into a Starr place then you haven't eaten enough in the city. The prices are a little high, but Starr did his research on pizza. There's no better place in the city. The San Daniele and Tartufo are the standouts for me. There's enough tables to hardly ever have to wait, great outdoor seating on headhouse square and just an overall enjoyable delicious experience. Needless to say I've been back a time or ten.
(5)KC M.
Went here for dinner on the Saturday after NYE and it was glorious. Had the Margherita pizza all to myself and it was soooo goood (no need for parmesan, salt, pepper, etc). Also got the stracciatella gelato and it was delicious. Definitely need to come back here and try other pizzas...would totally recommend!
(5)Justin K.
So as a Starr fan and a Pizza fan, I was pretty excited to check out Stella...its got a rockin location right off South Street thats easy to get too, and a cozy little atmosphere...I also found myself glad I didn't read the Yelp reviews until after I went as I thought it was better than a lot of my fellow yelpers did! We went for a late weekday lunch and it was nearly empty, so the service was quick and really efficient (constant water refills rock!) Anywho my friend and I split the simple yet awesome Asparagus appetizer....I never in a million years would have thought to put a Sunny Side Up Egg on Asparagus, but guess what...it WORKS. Hints of Olive Oil and Lemon just tied it all together beautifully. For our Pizza we chose the San Daniele (Smoked Mozzarella, Prosciutto, and Arugula)....the wood burning stove hit the thin crust with just the right flavor...The crust was thick enough that it was slightly doughy inside the crispy outer layer...The Prosciutto was also great and I would consider getting the Prosciutto meat appetizer alone next time. For dessert we had the slammin' House made Gelatos (Pistachio and Blackberry). The Pistachio came with fresh Pistachio crumbs on top along with one of the BEST pieces of Biscotti I've ever had...hell I would just order Biscotti from there next time without the Gelato if they just had a platter of those! Anyways I'd definitely try another Pie down at Stella, so you should probably go try one too.
(4)Dave B.
Very very unique and fancy pizzas. Very Tasty. Not your normal slice, so don't go there expecting traditional pizza.
(4)Neil S.
It seems that in Philly people are drawn towards rustically crafted, Neapolitan style pies. This works quite well for me, for I'm a cheap lay for live fire pizza as I've mentioned in my review of Zavino. Stephen Starr has apparently cashed in on the trend, so Stella has become a go-to upscale pizza spot in Philly, mainly due to the fantastic topping offerings. Crust is my favorite part about Neapolitan style pizza, and Stella disappointed me a bit. I expected a bubbly, amorphous crust that yielded a different experience with each bite, instead a fairly uniform looking pie appeared before me. There was a bit of ash around the rim of the crust but not the heavy char that I love. While the exterior was pleasantly crisp it yielded to a slightly too soft and fluffy interior. The crust wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it was merely too puffy and not crispy enough to merit perfection. But the toppings? Man, oh man, I'm going to have dreams about these flavor combinations. Greens roasted to absolute perfection, delicately charred vegetables, fresh cheeses and quality meats meld together to create astonishingly complex, layered flavors and textural contrasts. The salty fat of the pancetta beautifully melts onto the mild mozzarella which complimented the earthy, almost creamy roasted kale and tangy-sweet onion on my Pancetta pie. The Pistachio pie's creamy, nutty fontina pairs excellently with crisp, vibrant red onions and crunchy pistachios. The Tartufo defies explanation, it's simple and classy. It's like the classically beautiful girl that went to your high school who got straight A's and was seemingly immune to the boorish jocks, except in pizza form, if that makes sense. It probably doesn't, but the point is whoever crafted Stella's topping combinations knew what they were doing. On a different note, Stella offers plenty of seating and a rather casual ambiance. Stella is an unusually restrained Starr restaurant and thus feels organic and welcoming without beating you over the head with style over substance. It's all about the food here, so go for some great topping experiences and a casual, relaxed vibe.
(5)Richard F.
We have gone to Pizzeria Stella from the day it opened. We are also a couple who have sought out the best pizza restaurants throughout the country and in Europe. From Pizziola in the Bay Area to Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix to so many places in NY. Stella stands up to each of them. I was worried about a year ago that the initial superb quality of Stella's pies was declining. Not so anymore. Last night we were there with two pizza mavens from NY and California and they thought the quattro formaggio was equal to the one they had had in Naples. The Pistachio continues to be an inspired revelation. The Tartufo is second to none. Finally, we had the gelato (Olive Oil and Choc-chip) and, my goodness, did it blow us away, esp the Olive Oil. Utterly unique. Stella continues to be one of the three or four best pizza restaurants in Philadelphia.
(5)Perry H.
Went here for the second time over the weekend and left happy again. On both occasions I found the service very friendly and never felt rushed, so maybe the staff was just having a bad day (in regards to previous reviews). Either way the pizza is fantastic; a perfect portion for sharing with another person. If you're in a group of 3 definitely order multiple pizzas. If you're into thicker crusts you might have an issue here as the crust is thin with a great light and airy crunch around the edge. The ingredients definitely shine here from the appetizers (we had the broccoli rabe with garlic) to the pizzas. We had the special pizza of the night which was mortadella with a pistachio pesto, caramelized cippolini onions, and a various mix of cheeses. It's a shame this pizza isn't on the menu everyday as I would have a hard time turning it down. Lastly, the price is pretty great. As someone else mentioned, this is a no frills (for Starr) pizza spot which does really great pizza well and affordable. Pies average $14 so you can easily leave for $10/person if you're on a budget. The beer prices however are a little steep; $6 for a bottle is a bit pricey. Definitely try this spot; with its sidewalk dining its a great pick for a sunny Spring/Fall afternoon.
(4)Joanne T.
they don't take reservation...it was a sunday early evening (630is) and they were able to accommodate my friend's bday dinner party of about 15. waiters were a bit slow and kinda odd how they took one person's drink order and left and came back a minute later for the next. didn't realize this was a SS resto til the bf mentioned. hence the prices. let's get to the point, best thing i ate here was the grilled octopus (potato, fennel, salsa verde) it was very refreshing with a hint of mint leaves...i would order two of these with a beer and call it a night. 2nd to the best was the sheep's milk ricotta flatbread, though the ricotta was a bit thick and intimidating (but don't be intimidated, it's pretty damn good). ok so the arancini (risotto, parmesan, marinara) could've been better. it was so bland. they could've at least maybe use arrabiata/diablo sauce instead of plain old marinara. we also ordered rock shrimp all'amatriciana (calamarata, tomato, chilies, guanciale), such a small portion even for half order. it was like 5 bites and done. nothing special (translation: pasta, shrimp, sauce). let's get to the pizza. the bf chose the tartufo (black truffle, egg, fontina). we've had our fair share of black truffled pizza. so far the winner hands down is Nomad's in south philly. just had more layers of flavor. sorry stella, just wasn't a fan. i suppose next time i gotta try the pistachio pizza. not my fave place for fancy pizzas. we planned on going to capogiro but this place made their own gelato. so why not try. i had a taste of the olive oil, espresso, and stracciatella. olive oil tasted just like it, espresso was strong in a good way, and stracciatella was a party in my mouth. sidenote: the toilet in this place was oddly placed (i mean seriously!! it's right there as soon as you walk in the door) wtf, who does that?!? all in all group of 15 bill of about 480..kind of pricey for just pizza...mehhh i think i'll pass this place next time. sorry SS you did not impress me this time.
(3)Karen F.
A close female friend and I dined at Stella tonight. The weather was sublime and we sat inside - but right by the LARGE open floor to ceiling windows - so we had the best of both worlds - inside and al fresco. We BOTH ordered a plate of the special app - a gloriously fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato (yellow, orange, red, brown and purple) salad. It was lightly and PERFECTLY dressed with a basil infused oil and a sweet balsamic (decent quality - not the cheap stuff, but not the 17 year old either). It sang on the palate. I am hankeing to try the meatball and risotto app - next time. (And there WILL be a next time.) Next we split a pizza. Let me preface this by saying that I am not (shocking, I know) a pizza lover. I am a pasta lover, but never really "get off" on pizza. Stella's pizza is very, very good. (My friend says it's better than Osteria - but the pie she had as Osteria was burnt.) Thin crust - but not ridiculously thin. (I dislike "pizza on a cracker") Thin in the middle and medium rise (with some puffiness) on the edges. We had #11 - Spinach. It was a white pie with a healthy hit of garlic, toasted pine nuts (Oh, yeah, baby!!), the ideal amount of fresh, bright green, sauteed spinach, and a few heavy handed spinkles (globs?) of a sundried tomato/oil puree. Definitely tasty - and worth a try for those of you who like spinach. One negative? No substitutions on pie. They make 'em how they make 'em. One positive? GREAT service by our your server (can not remember her name - but she was really nice and attentive.) Another thing... only gelatos for dessert. We skipped dessert here and opted to get some home-made cakes at "More than Just Ice Cream". But I bet their gelato is good. (However, Capogiro is not too far, ya know...) Anyhow - Starr strikes again with a good (and not overly decorated - thank goodnees) spot. Note to the hard-working pie men (and gals): Please keep the pies crispy on the bottom - nobody likes a soggy pie. JOB WELL DONE. Oh - another thing - we really wish you'd take reservations. Thankfully at 5:30 on a May Sunday we (2 people) did not need one and were seated quickly. Hooray!
(4)Kimberly S.
I remember when this place first opened. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews and thought frankly, this city does not need another pizza restaurant, nor another restaurant from Stephen Starr, so I wasn't that eager to check it out. Well I finally went last night with some coworkers for a late dinner and was not disappointed. Get the Tartufo pizza! With black truffle oil, fontina cheese and drizzled egg yolk, this pizza is a sure winner. We also had the sausage pizza which was delicious, too. I never order sausage on my pizza, but I really enjoyed the minced texture and bold flavor. I love the brick oven style of the pizza. It gave the crust the PERFECT texture. For an appetizer we had the grilled octopus. This was easily just as good (if not better) than Barbuzzo's or Chifa's. For two pizzas, octopus, 2 beers and 2 sangrias our bill came to $30/person which is not bad.
(4)Michelle R.
Enjoyed the deliciously unique pistachio pizza while here. Lots of outdoor seating in the warmer months. A little pricey, but worth a try.
(4)Jayna B.
I left unimpressed. My parents and I ordered the Marinara pizza, the Zucchini pizza and the Chopped salad to be shared between the three of us. It was enough food, though barely. The Marinara pizza was just burnt crust, flaccid dough and LOADS of marinara sauce. So, I guess at least it's true to its name? Maybe I shouldn't have expected anything else but it just seemed weird. I just reread the menu and it doesn't mention anything but sauce, oil and garlic. However, the garlic was literally 12 thin slices strewn throughout. The Zucchini was good, but that's all. Good. I don't even want to eat it again. I did like how thinly sliced the zucchini was. Again, super burnt crust and soggy dough. The Chopped salad was delicious but small. Yes, I am aware we were splitting a salad for one between three people. But it was small even for one person. Delicious but expensive ($11) and small. And that's the taste that was left in my mouth. Oh, and the taste of burnt crust. Too expensive for what it is and not good enough to return.
(2)Emily M.
Classy and delicious place. When I go to a pizzeria, it's tough for me to get anything but pizza. Thusly, I can only comment on the pie here. And it's great. I've tried about half the menu, and I've enjoyed everything. The most surprising hit was the Tartuffo. It's a white pizza with truffles and an egg broken on top. Creamy creamy creamy - absolutely tasty with the crunch of the crust. The spinach with san marzano tomato and toasted pines was also incredibly good. And of course, the cheeses of the Quattro Formagio and the classic Margherita make you want to ask the server just to bring you out a plate filled with the cheeses used in making them. The last time I dined here, the four of us shared 6 pies - with just 3 leftover slices. It's so delicious that you truely want to just keep them coming. Good beer selection too.
(4)Catherine L.
Still unimpressed with the pizza here. Have given Stella a few more visits to try to convince me that with its custom pizza oven and a fail-safe recipe for its crust that its pies are worth my coinage. Not so. Though they've revamped the pizza menu ever so slightly, getting rid of one or two and adding a couple more to balance out the options, I'm still not going gaga here. Execution gets me too - these pies always seem unevenly cooked, half charred to the point of being burnt, the other barely grilled on the underside with its minimum toppings soggy-ing up the center. Spend the same amount of money for better pizza at Osteria, or even better yet, spend half, and go to Pietro's or Lazaro's.
(2)lori m.
We had an issue (i wont go into detail) with our meal here so i brought it up to our waiter. When our check came, the manager brought it to our table and comped the meal that had the issue. The food was delicious but the issue we had was not something that should happen at any restaurant, let alone a starr restaurant. Go to nomad instead and get their truffle pizza.
(3)Taiyyibah M.
Marinara Pizza: Very thin crusted glazed with Marinara Sauce with the perfect combination of olives infused with lemon and basil ending with a fresh taste of tomatoes and garlic. B+ Olive Gelato: If you like cooking with olive oil... This is the dessert for you. Just the right amount of olive taste and the perfect amount of sweetness to force a smile with every bite. B+
(4)Trang N.
It is a cute little pizza place, however the pizzas aren't anything spectacular, and they are a bit pricy. I would say they are slightly bigger then a personal pizza, I do like the tartufo pie, as well as the polpette pizza. The grilled octopus was a nice size and very flavorful. There isn't an extensive beer or wine selection, but it suffice since we just popped in for a bit. The people watching in the summer time is great. I would think Steven Starr would have pulled out a couple more stops when he puts his name on a restaurant. Like I said, it's not stellar.
(2)YelpHatesMe Y.
Meh, typical Starr place. If you'd pay $20 for a "Bernie Parent" grilled cheese or $15 for a "Pete Rose" hot dog than this might be a good place for you, as I'm sure Starr's Lamborghini insurance cant be cheap. Personally I'm not a Starr fan as I like to support local business as I think its better for the local economy and quite frankly the food is much better. Not even going to get into the pizzas I had here because at the end of the day, its pizza and you wont taste anything here that you probably already haven't had somewhere else. I will say I remember nothing of the night I was there and thats not a place I usually return to since it wasn't very memorable.
(2)Toshi T.
Off the bat, I do like this restaurant. The inside is simple and clean. The pizza offerings are among the most unique I've come across. You won't find your typical Meat Lover's pizza here. This is a place to experiment a bit with your palate. If you want a 16" pizza with Canadian bacon and pineapple and a side of cinnamon breadsticks, this is NOT the place for you. Outside of the basic Margherita and Marinara pizzas, how about the Tartufo with black truffle oil and a server that cracks a raw egg on top and spreads it around using the back of a spoon. Not feeling that adventurous? How about the San Danielle with prosciutto and smoked mozzarella, assuming you can locate those ingredients under an immense mound of arugula. And why not try the Asparagus antipasti and gelato? My one main complaint with the pizzas here is that they are too salty. Nevertheless, I look forward to my next visit.
(4)Emily M.
O.M.G. My first trip to Stella was last night and it will certainly not be my last. The crust was to die for, not too thick and speckled with char from the giant wood fire oven in the center of the restaurant. The tartufo with truffles, fontina cheese and rosemary is one of the best combinations I've ever had on a pizza. Their other vegetarian options looked tasty and though I didn't partake, the sausage pizza my boyfriend ordered smelled delicious too. Ambiance was very nice, soft/low light made it a cozy date spot, but a few big groups were a little rowdy (one of which I was part of) but the spaciousness between tables meant both situations were welcomed. I thought it was a little pricey, but I'm new to Philly and so everything still seems a little pricey to me. It was definitely worth it though, and a nice special occasion place to go.
(4)Karen T.
One of the best pizza places in the area. Prices are pretty reasonable, pizzas are too big for one but not quite enough for too. Not a huge beer selection, but a good variety, and one that they update seasonally. Nice outdoor seating options, both facing the Headhouse Market as well as the fountain (although it is now turned off for the winter). Even still, with the weather being so nice in the fall, it is a nice option to eat outside, as when it is crowded inside, it can be a little noisy. Also, they've opened the new addition for the bar to add additional seating, which will be welcome in the winter. As far as the food, the rosemary flatbread appetizer is probably the best I have ever had. Very basic and straightforward, but excellent. In terms of the pizzas, we've tried a couple different ones, and my personal favorite is the pistachio one (although maybe without the onions next time). Crust is done perfectly. I preferred Stella much more than Osteria, and it was cheaper.
(4)Daniel H.
OKAY -- this is really tough for me to write. I don't know what to do because I know pizza... you might even say I'm a pizza purist. This pizza doesn't compare to the deliciousness that I grew up with, BUT the experience I had Tuesday night was incredible. Standouts: service - amazing server; Italian craft beer (we drank our server's favorite; great recommendation). Also really good: the food =) started with broccoli rabe, then the pancetta pizza, and finished with the stracciatella gelato. Broccoli rabe - best I've had; not usually a fan Pancetta pizza - oh so yummy! the pancetta was crispy and salty; the kale was a pleasant addition. Thin crust, done just right. This pizza is more in line with that from Italy (and not my home of NY, where my love for pizza blossomed) Stracciatella gelato - enough said. Whole experience was very nice. Our server was vibrant and helped us with choices. Water glasses were always full. Price was right. Need I say more?
(4)Stephen S.
A really good pizza place, a combination of high quality and creative ingredients with attention to making a well constructed pie. The pizza is a thin crust, Neapolitan style, it turns out soft and slightly charred. I personally loved the tartufo, with black truffle, fontina, egg, and parmesan. The waiter breaks the egg adorning the pizza at the table and spreads the yolk around to cover the whole pizza. The black truffle does not overpower the other flavors but instead stands as a nice comparison to accentuate all the ingredients. The first hot slice I ate was amazing, but this pizza was no where near as good when it cooled down a little bit.
(4)Rich G.
Eye T....I doubt you drove anywhere as it is obvious that you take the special bus everywhere you go. This place is pretty good IMO. Its not legit Pizza as far as I am concerned, well being from this area anyway. It is fancy pizza. I have had quite a few different pizzas here and they were all pretty good. They have a decent price on the house wines, and a decent selection apart from the cheap stuff. OK beer selection too. The service I have experienced here ranged from OK to excellent. Will not blow your socks off, but it definitely wont disappoint.
(4)Patrizia C.
This is by far my favorite pizza in the city. I love the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food. The pizza is incredible and I get the ricotta appetizer every single time I go. They also have a drink that is not very common in the States, and they make it just the way I like it.
(5)Alicia J.
We went to Stella specifically to try out the olive oil gelato, but we had a wonderful meal in addition! We had a special soft-cheese ravioli with fava beans and the grilled octopus for appetizers, the tartufo pizza, and the olive oil and honey mascarpone gelatos for dessert. The ravioli was my favorite dish of the night. The seasoning and light broth was really delicious, and the fava beans accented it really well. I'd go as far to wonder why this isn't on their regular menu. The grilled octopus was likewise tasty. It had a nice crispy texture on the outside that contrasted well with the soft octopus meat. Actually, I'd say that both appetizers were better than the pizza itself, which could be a problem. The tartufo pizza is a black truffle and yolky egg pizza. Its a really delicious thin crust pizza, but it just wasn't that /perfect/ pizza I would search for. The gelato desserts were really lovely together. Alternating between the somber olive oil and the sweet honey-mascarpone was quite nice, and rounded out the evening well. What else is there to say? The service was better than average in Philadelphia, and the ambiance was quite nice. At 7:30 we had a secluded booth to ourselves, perfect for date night.
(4)Ashley A.
The service was great as was the peach sangria.
(3)Brad P.
Stella pizza is pretty darn good. I struggled with choosing 3 or 4 stars for this restaurant, but their pizza topping creativity(pistachio, specifically) earned them the 4. The pizza crust is thin, with a relatively soft texture. The margherita pie was above average(but still doesn't hold a candle to Tacconelli's). It was light on the cheese and topped with whole basil leaves, just how I like it. The pistachio pie was surprisingly good, as the pistachio and sweet onions complimented each other very well. It was a unique pizza and I would get it again. The vongole pie is very good. Their service was attentive and friendly. On a negative note, the pizzas are small. My group was 3 people and 3 pies was just a tiiiiiny bit under what would've been satisfactory portions for all involved(and we're not exceptionally gluttonous).
(4)Kemi A.
Not sure if I should give this place a 3 or 4. Either way I enjoyed my spinach pizza, the sauce of whatever the spinach was sauteed in was delicious. My friends got the special of the day which a potato, goat cheese topped pizza. It was okay but the spinach was def better. It was a weeknight so being seated was no biggie. They can use more options in terms of drinks. I just didn't feel compelled to get anything on the drink menu so everyone kept to water. Also, they only had one dessert. I like options so i didn't get the gelato actually. I was kinda stuffed. I get filled pretty quickly. It was 3 of us and we each ordered a pizza each and just shared it. It was more than enough. We didn't do appetizers also. I would def come by if I'm in the area or maybe in the mood for a low key chill meal...esp in the summer
(3)Eric C.
Tartufo is amazing. black truffle, egg, fontina. Everything else is good too. Also love to order. My favorite fancy pizza place in Philly.
(5)Rafa C.
The pizza at Stella's is wet and soggy, extremely chewy, and the crusts were burned. The cheese was also below average, nothing quality about it, and it slipped off the pizza as it was so wet! Part of the problem was also too much sauce. I went last night with a friend and we had been expected something much closer to authentic Italian brick oven pizza. Stella's didn't come anywhere close! Seriously, don't waste your time or money here!
(1)Sara L.
If you want to pay a hefty mark-up for small, but decent semi-fancy pizzas in an "uber-authentic " Stephen Starr/ Epcot Italy environment, you can't go wrong with Stella. Things to know before you go: 1) It's popular - so expect a wait at any remotely busy time. 2) The portions are larger than a tapas joint, but not by much. Each person will need a least $15 of food (whether that's a whole pizza or a 1/2 pizza + salad/appetizer) to satisfy even average girl-sized hunger. 3) It's very family friendly. Decide for yourself if this is a good or bad thing. 4) The wine and especially the beer selections are very limited, but the "house" red wine is decent quality for a decent price.
(3)Mary S.
Pizzeria Stella turned a year old in Septemeber. How I only just finally got myself there seems ludicrous! It's was lovely, it really was! and I live in walking distance, and yet... somehow I've missed this place for a whole year. Well, after our most recent visit, let me tell you I will definitely be returning soon, and telling others. It was one of those unseasonably still warm nights in late October and the bf and I decided a stroll was in order given the weather. We were actually headed for Xochitl, but we didn't make it because we bumped into PS and remembered how we kept meaning to stop in. We were offered seating outside on the sidewalk and it was simply lovely. The inside looks pretty nice also, what with the brick oven aflame, and the low lighting (next time). Our server was overly courteous and attentive, and helps us in our quest to try a few different things without spending a lot of money. We ended up with this ridiculously awesome pizza- simply named the Mushroom (i think) but it was mushrooms, and proscuitto, and basically what ever pizza i've ever wanted in my life to taste like. Seriously. I cannot wait to return. We drank some house red wine since it was very affordable and we weren't really out for a huge splurge. We also had a great little salad and overall I was a huge fan. To end the night we had the pumpkin gelato, and it was the best damn gelato I think i've ever had- and it had the benefit of being eaten the week before Halloween, just as I was beginning to feel all "in the season of Halloween". It was a great meal, and I intend for there to be many repeats of it in the future, now that I realize this is so close to my apt.
(4)D S.
Good place for a casual bite. Pizza is tasty.
(4)Tom R.
Visited Stella on Saturday night with my wife and two other couples. It was still early (about 6pm) so it wasn't crowded. They seated us right away. The pizza was great -- especially the pistachio and fontina pizza. We also ordered a piccante (capicola) and a polpette (meatball). I think Earth Bread up in Mt. Airy is still a bit better but this place was pretty solid. I'd go back. The beer options were limited with only two on tap -- Stella and Mad Elf. I was expecting a bit more by way of adult beverages, but hey. Overall a good experience. Great neighborhood too, especially at Christmastime.
(4)Connie S.
I came here for dinner with a friend on a weekday night, not crowded at all so there was no wait. Charming ambiance, and the food came pretty quickly. The crust is certainly what makes Pizzeria Stella unique- it's thinner, crispier, more airy that in your typical pizza. I was quite pleased with this texture, but it seems like the crust is a very polarizing factor among other Yelp reviewers... not for everyone, I guess. We ordered the Tartufo and the Mushroom. I had heard great things about the Tartufo (black truffle, fontina, & parmesan - and the server will crack an egg over the top when it arrives at the table), but I was disappointed. The egg made the crust so soggy that the pizza fell apart- everything was muddled and not that tasty. I liked the Mushroom pizza (which comes with ham, mozerella, and garlic creme) better. As for how much to order, I'd say 2/3 of a pizza is perfect for a moderately hungry individual. I just think that for the same price, you could get a tastier pizza for less money at plenty of other places around Philly. Pizzeria Stella is worth a try, but I'm not dying to come back.
(3)Alexander M.
Finally got the chance to try Stella last week, and thankfully it was worth the 8-block walk to get there. I'm not much of a Starr groupie, or a hater for that matter - I firmly fall into the "El Vez, yay! Jones.. meh" spectrum. First off, I've read some reviews (here and elsewhere) that have a problem with their crust. These people are not to be trusted. For me, crust is 50% of what i judge a pizza on; if the crust itself isn't satisfying, the rest of the pizza isn't. That said, Stella met my absurdly high crust standards. We had the mushroom, which was very gratifying and the perfect size for my date and I. I'm particularly looking forwards to trying the Margherita and Tartufo in the future. The Arugula salad was an excellent starter, and I say this someone who normally skips his salad. I'm with Felicia, however, in that the house red seemed to be the most manageable drink option. (This may have to do more with my own financial situation than with Starr's pricing, admittedly)
(4)John T.
Unlike Starr's other restaurants (think Buddakan & Morimoto), this one is less fancy and more down to earth. Don't get me wrong-- the pizza was superb (we had the sausage and added ricotta from our appetizer) and anything but average, but the atmosphere is more laid back and relaxed. As a connoisseur of pizza crust, I found theirs to be exceptional. The wait staff is attentive and soft spokenly nice. Stella is a great place to grab a bite and enjoy the outdoors in a charming neighborhood. Would definitely recommend outdoor seating if available. One small problem we had were aggressive drivers constantly honking their horns at the intersection next to the restaurant. It was somewhat obnoxious but can't be helped, I suppose.
(4)Mike S.
Went here on a nice warm day after work with some friends. Good layout of the floor. The tables surrounded a large woodfire pizza oven in the center and there was a lot of natural light. The service was great. Our server was helpful in deciding which pizzas to order. The pizzas were beyond everyone's expectations. The piccante (capicola, crushed red pepper and aged provolone) was my favorite. If you like some spice, I suggest you try this. The other pizza that was outstanding was the sausage pie (sausage, pesto, basil and mozzarella). Any pizza lover should give it a try. Price point was appropriate for what you get (10-15 per individual sized pie). The pies are a good size for one person but would probably not be enough if you were sharing with another person. Check it out! I'll be going again.
(4)Yuri R.
A nice stroke from Starr, and a well received replacement for the previous location tenant, the nonetheless to-be-missed coffee spot, Cosi. Of course I couldn't resist going somewhere named after mom! Welcoming our Canadian friend to Philly, we took in a couple tasty local brews from the competently assembled list, to wash down the fresh and crispy highlight, pizza. There are several country Italian satellite dishes to whet the appetite, but needless to say, the menu hub's and the establishment's raison d'etre are the dozen imaginatively topped thin crust pies. I couldn't resist insisting on my favorite desert's namesake, the egg and truffle topped tartufo, and though a bit apprehensive at first, my dinner pals agreed it was a really yummy combination. A good wine selection fills out the needs of the palates of most diners who'd pick Stella for a meal. Pretty darn good for what it is.
(3)Elizabeth B.
I realize I'm bordering on excessive by updating my previous review twice. I would like to point out the new-ish meatball Tuesdays -- For $15 you get one of three meatball themed dishes plus a romaine salad or minestrone. Since I don't eat beef or pork it's rare that I can seize an opportunity to dine on meatballs, so I selected the mini shrimp meatballs with spaghetti. The portion was pretty small and thus nicely complimented by the salad. (which was delicious) I'm not sure I would order shrimp meatballs again -- I like shrimp and I like the idea of a meatball but there was just something a little strange about the combination. I'm glad I tried it though. Future visits I'll stick to pizza.
(4)Erin G.
Wood fired pizza? I'm in. I thought that maybe Philadelphia was finally breaking it's bad pizza curse. Almost, but not quite. Pizzaria Stella is easy to get to, and a nice addition to the neighborhood that already includes the Artful Dodge and Xochitl, among others. I arrive with a date on a Friday night, and the place was hopping. Really, really full. Luckily we didn't have to wait on our table, but the restaurant was so loud (between the music and all the animated folks just inches away from us), we had to lean-in to hear each other. We order the Tatufo, deciding to split it, and got the immediate "Just one pizza?" from our waitress. Luckily, I'm not easily intimidated. Our wine came out promptly, and the food was fairly rapid, too. The Tartufo is a great pizza with black truffles and a raw egg that the server breaks over the pizza at the table. We were quite pleased with it, but as it cooled the egg became a little less appetizing. The pizza rack that sits on the table is actually really annoying - it takes up far too much space in already tight quarters. Perhaps a rack that clips on to the table, instead of sitting on it? I don't have real complaints about the food, location, or atmosphere, but I think they are straddling a hard line between casual and formal. The servers were very attentive - too attentive. We were continually asked if we wanted more wine before we had even finished our glasses, and three different bus boys tried to take our plates away (when we paused from eating) while were still covered in food. In many ways, it just felt like they were trying to rush us out the door. Perhaps we weren't spending enough money? This is a nice space to stop by with friends if you're in the neighborhood, but it's too loud for a date and too expensive to be an everyday joint.
(3)Cora B.
every time someone is visiting philly, i bring them here and they are always amazed at how delicious the salami/prosciutto appetizer platter, spicy shrimp pasta & pizza's are. i'd have to say that this is one of my favorite restaurants.... LOVE! mmm
(5)Jessica N.
I went here the opening weekend and got a table with virtually no wait. The atmosphere is very relaxed, except during the day when it is bombarded with society hill people with their kids. The menu is very simple, but well prepared with good quality ingredients. We tried the starter with asparagus and the risotto balls (oh man so amazing). Over a few trips have tried quite a few of the pizzas, they are a very thin crust, somewhat blistered and crunchy. The favorites are the standard margerita and the one with crushed pepper flakes and prosciutto. It's solid good food, but portions are on the small side for the price. Also I kinda miss the s'mores at the former Cosi's.
(4)Anthony Z.
Came here just last night for the first time. The atmosphere was great, and it is a great addition to the corner at 2nd & Lombard. The service was decent. The waiter was capable enough, and attentive enough without being overbearing. It was just me and one other. We started off with the Rosemary Flatbread. It was great! I was pleased enough with this appetizer that I considered ordering another one! Then came the pizza. We ordered 2 pies, the Sausage, and the Picante. Both were good. But just good, nothing more. I felt the pizza was a little TOO thin on the bottom, and the crust was a little too burnt in places. The toppings were fantastic, however. I'm not one to eat pizza with a fork and knife. I think it's a little ridiculous, but the pizza was so thin that I had no choice but use a fork and knife just to get it to my mouth. The real shock came with the bill. 2 people, 2 pies, 1 app, 2 sodas.... $42!!! After tipping the server, I left $50 poorer. $50 for some mediocre pizza! I have to say that while I may at some point be here again, it isn't a place that I will be including on my list of places to eat. The pizza was mediocre at best, and the cost was just outrageous. It's a good place to go, but just not worth the expense when I can find much more enjoyable pizza for much less money at other places.
(3)lisa g.
Good area and nice looking restaurant - food ok but pizza has so much salt that you'll be drinking water for days!
(3)Trauts N.
This is our default "go to" restaurant. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Jeremy B.
When I saw this place get 3 bells in the Inquirer, I knew it was time to go there. A positive experience from the door. We did not have to wait, but kinda got a jerk table by the front door, no biggie. At least there is another door blocking Old Man Winter and it was in front of the ovens. Or server was helpful and didn't let me over order, like I normally do. We got the octopus and squid ceviche appetizer which was tasty and fresh. We got a suggested special of meatballs, polpette, with sauce over creamy polenta. This dish was tasty as well but could of been primo if the meatballs were made properly. The flavor was there but the texture was all wrong. We got the Vongole pizza-clams, broccoli rabe and pancetta. Again the flavor was correct, clams were not overdone and everything melded well. My only complaint, a tiny one, is that they cooked the pizza in an unclean oven. There was burnt flour, etc. on the bottom of the pie, pretty displeasing. Oh, you should have something more than gelato for dessert, it being 20 degrees and all I was not in the mood for anything frozen. I will return, it definitely was a nice spot.
(3)miss f.
We had no idea this was a Starr restaurant until we saw "STARR" postcards by the door as we left. Stella had no "Starr" quality. We thought it was a slightly better looking than average, decent quality, grossly overpriced "New York Style (wink wink)" pizza place that would thrive in it's location due to outdoor seating. First there is nothing on the menu about the size of the pizza. This is important. The extremely thin crust, sparsely topped, brittle pies came in one size, one usually considered "small." Neither the menu nor our server mentioned this. Our server came over 3 times to take our order and never offered any info or assistance as we wrangled with the menu. Prices ranged from $10 to $17 per pizza. We assumed splitting one would be a meal. Many of the pizza combinations seemed more creative than complementary. The "special pizza" with ramps sounded delicious but tender, delicate, seasonal ramps were paired with asparagus which upon roasting would overwhelm the ramps. We ordered thru a similar process of elimination. We have adventurous palettes but respect ingredients and don't eat as a "dare" preferring harmony. We got a meatball pie with ricotta, mozzarella and fresh basil and a romaine salad to split. The service was "hovery" but not good. A server should stand still when they ask "is everything ok." When we did have a question -if goat cheese was in the "Romaine salad" we were served, our server said "No, it's Ricotta (garbled)" haughtily turned on her heel and left. We both loathe goat cheese but picked around whatever the hell it was and enjoyed the salad. The red onions and hints of mint worked well together. The romaine and tomatoes were fresh. The casual food and decor clashes with the constant clearing, of dishes, especially those still in use. Philadelphia kitchens have come to rely more and more on fewer and fewer Philadelphians and Stella is no exception. Sad to see a South Street "open kitchen" wood fired, brick oven pizza being completely staffed by people who chattered loudly in Spanish. That brought the "authentic wood fired pizza experience" down several notches. The interior was stylish but not outstanding. The personalized wood burning oven screamed look at me. The bathrooms were clean but rather pedestrian. The newly renovated Melrose Diner's ladies room with glass tile is more stylishly appointed. The muzak was ironic, mixing the Jam with Fleetwood Mac. We had just finished our salad when the pizza came. We both laughed. It was tiny. The crust was highly visible. At the first bite we could tell this pizza was a New York joke on South Street patrons. It was literally a "meatball pizza" it perhaps had ONE thinly shaved meatball on the whole thing. The crust was floury, tortilla thin, crackly and artfully appointed with toppings. It was tasty, tiny, extremely expensive and unsatisfying. While swatting away staff who kept trying to take our plates while we swiftly ate the pizza we announced our verdict on Stella, SUCKS and is for SUCKERS. There was mounting tension and disappointment as we realized we both were still hungry, but didn't want to order another precious pizza. We considered our portions equivalent to a "light lunch." Our server, or a size on the menu could have guided us better. Really easy fixes. We were STUNNED to find out it was a Starr place as we left. Only 2 clues it was a Starr place, the choice of bottled or ice water and ramps as a feature ingredient. The cost per portion should have been a clue. After we settled up, we took our starving selves to Phileo.
(1)matt h.
Let me start by saying that I am a big Starr supporter and i frequent most of his establishments as often as I can. That being said, I was very excited for Pizzeria Stella to open. Two of us went to Stella on Saturday night at approx. 9:30 - the place was about half full. Atmosphere wasn't typical over-the-top Starr, which was kind of refreshing actually. After chatting it up with a close-by table we settled on the Sausage pizza and one beer and one wine. I won't make this story any longer than it has to be so here goes. Our waiter, Brandon, took about 7 minutes to come to the table after we sat down, is this being picky - maybe, but, c'mon 7 minutes with a half full place?? Pizza arrives at table by a manager, drinks still not there. We casually mention to the manger that we hadn't received our beverages. Call me critical, but from 4 years of being a waiter in college, if food would happen to get to a table before drinks I would have gone crazy and made sure the drinks got there asap - not Brandon. Even after I watched the manager tell him about us not getting the drinks it took another 4-5 minutes for them to arrive...wow. One bright note - the pizza was amazing, hence the one star, if the pizza was bad I would implement a new zero star system on yelp specifically for this review. So at this point, Stella has about a 3 star rating - then the check comes - and we were charged for double the drinks. Yes, you read right. After bringing this to Brandon's attention, he said that those were the 2nd round of drinks we ordered through the manager....aaaand we had to inform them that those drinks "ordered" through the manager were the first round we never got. Of course there was no apology, just some unfunny joke trying to brush it off. So in conclusion, if you want to try Stella, get it to-go - I know I will.
(1)E. J.
Just off of Headhouse Square and away from the touristy part of South Street lies Stephen Starrs newest addition -- Pizzeria Stella. I met up with friends here on a Friday night, thinking we would have to wait more than 30 minutes for a table since we arrived at the prime dining hour. Much to my surprise, my friends were already seated. Tables on the perimeter of the restaurant are good for parties of up to four whereas the tables in the center of the restaurant are long like in a family dining room. As such, our party of three sat at the end of one of these long tables where we could rub shoulders with another party and take surreptitious glances of what they ordered. Depending on where you are seated, you can also get a nice view of the open kitchen. Pizzas are delivered to the table as soon as they come out of the oven, as such, it goes well for staggering a shared meal. Service was fine: I didnt even notice that my water glass was full every time I took a sip. As soon as I finished my beer, our waitress was quick to ask if I desired another. Our eyes made a bee line to the pizzas, skipping over the appetizers. We each ordered a pie: pistachio, spinach, and tartufo (black truffles and a cracked runny egg on top). The pistachio was the best of the three we ordered. While we decided to change venue for dessert, the gelato flavors that evening rivaled that of Capogiro: olive oil gelato? Wow. Oh did I mention that its apparently a very baby-friendly place? Patrons that evening were not reluctant to bring in their infants and toddlers. Service was top-notch that evening.... I wonder if it had anything to do with the proprietor himself -- Mr. Starr -- being there schmoozing at the bar.
(4)rococo c.
Pretty environment and a good idea--just poorly executed--and this from a Steven Starr fan. The pizza was so-so--I've had better nearly everywhere. The crust is so thin it gets burnt and full of bubbles. It tasted more charry than anything. The salads were quite yummy, but toddler sized. The service is to die from. The aggressive move-it-along attitude (on a night when there were PLENTY of open tables) was obscene. I was not even seated before I was asked what I wanted to drink. We were just settling in when an inquiry was made about our order. Our pizzas were a quarter eaten when a crazy-eyed busboy asked if he could remove them for us. Our waitress was like a parody of herself--grinning and maniacally perky and interrupting us constantly--visibly impatient to turn our table. Ick. When I've paid ninety dollars for pizza for two, I do NOT want the check dropped before I've requested it. Especially by a moron who says "Not to hurry you, but here's the check." And then repeatedly checks for the money. You can't charge upscale prices and provide low-rent service. Chaotic and unrelaxing--the opposite of a warm Italian experience. Disappointing.
(3)Courtney L.
Skip this place. Went here last early last Saturday evening; definitely not worth the $16 for a 12" pie. The crust was burnt, leaving black marks all over your teeth and a bad taste in your mouth. When the pizza arrived I asked the food runner if he had something to serve it with and replied with "no" and walked away. The pepperoni had an odd taste to it. Service was slow and we were one of about 5 tables. Would not go back. There is WAY better pizza to be had in Philadelphia.
(2)amber r.
amazing. pistachio, red onion, and fontina pizza = one of the best dishes i've had in philadelphia. easy going, helpful staff. clean, relaxed, european style atmosphere. beautiful bar and brick oven. i can't say enough about this place. bring a couple friends, try a couple different pizzas to share, a glass of house wine or an italian beer. so good.
(5)Kaitlin H.
Had a great time here! Came on a Friday night was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away. Everything I had was great. For pizza my friend and I shared the tartufo because I was told it was what I had to try. While I thoroughly enjoyed it I think I had such high expectations I was slightly disappointed, although it still had great flavor. I am dying to go back and try some of the other pies because they all sound amazing. Service was awesome!
(4)Joe D.
Awesome - I have no complaints at all about this place - we had the deep fried risotto balls which were incredible. And then, we got the picante and sausage pizzas - so good! I normally don't even like brick oven pizza but it's to die for here....the crust is chewy rather than being thin and crispy - which is the main thing I dislike about other brick oven pizza. We will definitely be back many many times. Plus we went on a Friday night and only had to wait 20 minutes to get a table. It doesn't get much better than this!
(5)Antonio A.
january 4, walking down 2 street tuesday afternoon. stella! sign on sidewalk says meatball night. meatball night! 6:30pm. not many customers. we sit at the counter in front of the hot oven, feels good. ilana wants to give us the schuylkill in tall glasses. she is very nice. pellegrino, please, in short glasses. glass of cantele chardonnay, apulia, for her. glass of monsanto 'monroso' chianti, tuscany, for me, i had two. romaine salad to split: ricotta salata, cucumber, onion, cherry tomato, mint. polpette pizza for my partner: meatballs, san marzano tomato, ricotta, basil, sicilian oregano. she loves meatballs. margherita for me yum: san marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, basil. i added garlic. good salad. good pizza. crust is holding its own. we leave happy and stuffed with a doggie pizza box and a half bottle of pellegrino, i brought my own cork. january 5, lunch at home, the pizza was still great.
(4)Rissa V.
brought the sis and bro-inlaw here because they are super pizza fans, and Stephen Starr has yet to disappoint me. We were given a pager so we headed on over to a pub across the street for some beer and darts while we waited. Nice. My bro-inlaw has super picky food preferences (ie no meat other than turkey or chicken, and nothing (deep)fried. The asparagus, poached egg and hollandaise and the risotto balls swimming in a puddle of marinara were equally awesome. I didn't think i'd like a ball of risotto. While the more interesting pizzas were vetoed because of various pork or beef topped products, we got the 4 cheese and the margarita pizza. Amazzzzing. In fact, so amazing that when my bro-inlaw breezed through town again 2 weeks later, he shot down all my restaurant choices and instead wanted to eat here again. 2 weeks later the menu had already changed to other various interesting pizza creations, but he was so hard-pressed for an exact reenactment of his previous experience, he sweet-talked his way into the chef rummaging in his cheese pantry to recreate his quatro-formaggio he so loved. I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to try a delicious poached egg over top my pizza drizzled with meat flavors, or some other interesting variation, or any other appetizer, but i will have my chance someday. P.S. The olive oil is so delicious and a great dipping for your crust!
(5)M M.
I'm not even going to get into all of the details...just going to say that this is the best "real" pizza I've had in Philly. One of the best anywhere. Everything we have experienced at Stella has been stellar! The apps, wines by the glass, basil gelato, service...all consistently outstanding after several visits!
(5)Ivy L.
This is another Starr! This is a great place for lunch or if you're in an exotic pizza mood. You can get a great salad and split a pie... sounds like a date! Definitely give it a try.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Went here last night just for some gelato (which was delicious!). I have been here a few times before and have enjoyed the pizza each time. The spinach pizza is my absolute favorite! Last night, we sat at the counter which was a unique and fun experience. After seeing all the pizzas made right in front of me, I definitely want to try a few different pizzas next time I go.
(4)Josh S.
amazing place! great, beautiful decor. asaparagus with egg and parm on top....for an app. amazing. we ordered some forgettable onion pizza and the tartufo. GET THE TARTUFO! trust and believe. amazing.........although the server fibbed and said "you can't taste the truffle" we adored the pizza. incredible.
(5)doctor j.
If this is Starr's best attempt at a pizzeria he should consider getting out of the business. Not one thing about this place is good. If you think spending $15 on some rinky-dink ass pizza is worth your money. Then good for you. What people don't realize is that pizza isn't supposed to be some high end affair. It's pizza. And if its going to be high end, then make it good. Stella isn't good. At all. BTW. Good work on the "Finnocchio" pie. Made me laugh. And then die a little inside.
(1)Ti L.
Steven Starr has finally done me right. While I admit I haven't been a fan of the fare at many of his restaurants, Pizzeria Stella has tasty brick-oven pizzas that are sure to please anyone in the family. The dough is crispy, yet chewy and the flavor combinations pop in your mouth. I give special props to this place for being able to accommodate my oh-so-picky cousins (all 10 of them) and having everyone leave a happy camper. Will definitely be back.
(4)Marcela P.
My boyfriend and I decided to go for lunch. We ordered a salad and 2 pizzas because we read that they were small. For taste wise the one was very greasy and alittle soggy. Sorta a disappoint for lunch not sure if we will be going back. I would recommended going to "Slice".
(2)Ronald S.
I hate to say it but best pizza I've had in Philly. Waitress was nice and attentive. Place is packed on a Tuesday!
(4)Andy S.
A better deal is a $5 bottle of wine from the state store and a Gianfranco's pizza delivered to your house. Much better meal too! But, one does not go to Starr restaurants for the 'food' but I guess for the ambiance. The service was good and prompt. We had the Radicchio salad and the Sausage pizza. It was good, but not the best ever. The house red wine tasted like battery acid and is overpriced at $5.50 a glass.
(2)Shoshana S.
Stella is really a great no-frills pizza place, surprisingly from Starr. While the pizza oven dominates the space, this is no Buddakan or El Vez -- the decor is nothing to see here. But, there's definitely something to eat. The Tartufo pizza is probably the best pizza I've ever had, and the broccoli rabe appetizer is great.
(4)Stephanie H.
Starr has done it again... a little less dazzling this time. I've been to Pizzeria Stella a few times and always leave with a full belly and a mouth full of garlic breath!!! This place has limited options in my personal opinion but I haven't been disappointed. This restaurant features mostly pizza with a few salads, sides and pasta dishes. I have gotten some awesome pizza with meaty mushrooms, pine nuts, veggies and lots of melty cheese! However, I do not eat anything from a pig so my pizza choices were limited. Even the meatballs are a veal/pork/beef mix (I don't MIX meat either... ew!). I also don't eat sunny side up egg so the tartufo pizza that tempts me every time is not a choice for me. Yes I am picky but yes if you are picky about meat products you might want to try another gourmet pizzeria. Although pork and runny eggs are prevalent, I have been able to find pizza and enjoy it immensely. The spinach with pine nuts is amazing. YUM! I also REALLY enjoyed the rosemary bread, and broccoli rabe! If you're in the area it's definitely a place to try, but I wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)Alex W.
The Tartufo, Sausage, and Mushroom pies are our favorites. We have tried about 2/3 of their pies and all have been good. They keep the menu simple and we like that they strive for consistency. Noise level can be high. When the weather is nice, the outdoor seating can be nice. We've gotten to know a few of the staff members and they often stopped by our table even if they're not waiting on us.
(4)Laura M.
In all, just ok. Got the polpettes to start. Sauce was good but the meatballs themselves were dry and not seasoned well. Got the sausage and tartufo pizzas. Both, again, just alright. No seasoning whatsoever in the crust and under seasoned toppings. Have had better pizza in Philly for sure. Service was just fine and the atmosphere is what I believe people crowd this place for. It can't be the pizza. Didn't sit outside, but I imagine that would improve the experience as well.
(2)Nina C.
We had one of the best pizzas in Philly here---the Piccante. Spicy, salty and cheesy with a delicious perfectly done brick oven crust. Really yummy. The meatballs were good, but nothing to get too excited about. I'll be back to try some of the other pizzas. A good Stephen Starr---hope it lasts because we were one of the few parties lunching that day.
(3)Herbie H.
Stopped by Pizzeria Stella before seeing a movie at the Ritz 5 on a friday night and enjoyed my first visit! Two of us split calamari and then the San Daniele pizza (prosciutto / arugula / mozzarella.) The calamari was decent, and made slightly better by the garlic aioli that came with. The pizza was great - light and crispy crust with flavorful and plentiful toppings. Service was very good - attentive without being overwhelming. It seemed to be a place that is frequented by young families and their strollers and accompanying stroller-aged children.
(4)Amanda F.
I am waffling between giving this three and four stars, I can't quite decide. We went for lunch today and it was pretty empty in the restaurant, so we were seated right away and the service was prompt, and our waitress was friendly. The actual restaurant space is very pretty, with roughed-up seafoam blue chairs and chalkboard-colored table tops, and the pizza oven in the center of everything: it was neat to watch the flames rushing across the top of its bricks. Unfortunately, I don't know if it was because we were seated near a window or what, but it was REALLY COLD in the restaurant--I was wearing a sweater and I wanted to put on my coat. It made it a little hard to get comfortable and really enjoy the food. We ordered the sheep's milk ricotta and flatbread to start off. The flavors were spot on--it was salty, a little sweet, and you could even see the olive oil and little spices threaded throughout. The flatbread was also delicious. The only problem was that the amount of cheese that they gave us was way too much for the four small pieces of bread that came with it. Still, I really enjoyed the freshness of the cheese, though it would have been nice if the bread was a little warmer to contrast its coolness. We split the margherita pizza and the taste was spot on, as was the crispy thinness of the crust. The bits that tasted the best were the charred crust: I found myself wishing for a higher char ratio! The sauce of San Marzano tomatoes (a smart choice) was simple but flavorful, though a little thin. Still, it was tasty enough that we wolfed down the smallish pizza in a few minutes. I could see Stella getting a little expensive if you were really trying to leave stuffed, since the pizzas ranged from $13 - $17 and I could easily have eaten one on my own. Probably not a place I will frequent often, but a mostly enjoyable experience this time.
(3)Alison P.
Went to Pizzeria Stella tonight after seeing a movie nearby and it was definitely good, but I wouldn't trek back anytime soon. The restaurant is pretty big but we were originally seated in the bar section which is very noisy and had a funky smell. The hostess gladly moved us into the main space, which was much nicer. The food was a bit overpriced, but everything was tasty. The Caesar salad was really nice, with real anchovies in the creamy dressing. We shared the Pancetta pizza, topped with crisp Italian bacon, oven roasted onions, and tuscan kale. It was delish on a crispy thin crust, which we dipped into the leftovers of the asparagus topped with an egg over easy and parmesan sauce. The highlight of the night, and definite must-order at Stella, is the gelato. The honey marscapone gelato was unique, creamy, light, and so perfectly sweet, topped with a small walnut biscotti (perfect to split for 2). The service was only ok-- our water glasses were never refilled and the server continually tried to up-sell everything, which can be kind of irritating. If I'm in the neighborhood I would stop in to try the Tartufo pizza, but otherwise would rather try many of the other great restaurants in Philly.
(3)Tiffany E.
This is probably the best pizza I've had in Philly. I went there not long after it had opened and the service was great and the food was even better! It's a really cozy space, great for casual dates. I love sitting at the pizza bar and watching them make all the yummy pizzas. I've only ever gotten the margherita pizza but it is consistently good each time I get it. The basil is fresh as well as the mozzerella. I have gone back multiple times and highly recommend it.
(5)Asa T.
My experience at Pizzeria Stella was most definitely an interesting one. To start, the place is very nice simply because it's in a top-notch location. Starr is right on the money in putting the restaurant right off the busy end of South Street, and there's no doubt that the place would not have stood a chance in an area such as Rittenhouse Square. As for the decor and service, they were both relatively good. There were no big surprises, although the seating was rather cramped. And as for the food...well it definitely was not mediocre...not even close. Service - (3/3) Decor - (3/3) Food - Romaine Salad (3/5) The salad definitely had a good deal of dressing to it, making it tastier than expected. As for the size and consistency of ingredients, it fared out pretty well. Not too big, not too small, and there was no true lack of tomatoes or onions or anything essential to making the salad stay interesting. Tartufo Pizza (4.5/5) This pizza blew me out of the water, to say the least. Upon seeing the amount it cost ($17), I laughed. I thought Starr was trying to get the idea across to the people of Philly that the restaurant is supposed to be a laid back, inexpensive place to grab a slice from time to time. This would have to be the reason why I left it at a 4.5, and not a 5. But, of course, there was some reason to the high price. It contained truffle, egg, parmesan, and lots of olive oil, and for that, it was delicious. You will not go wrong with ordering this pizza. Go for it, you will not be let down.
(3)Jessica B.
I just moved to Queen Village and my roommates and some friends decided to get to know the neighborhood and ended up here for lunch. It will not be the last time for sure! They have lots of outdoor seating, and Headhouse Square is the perfect place to sit outside on a nice day! Service was good, quick and friendly. They also have a pretty good beer and wine list, not huge but definitely something for everyone! Huge plus - it was pretty hot outside and our waters were refilled regularly (thanks!!!). The waiter suggested one pizza per person, we had 8 people and ended up getting 6 pizzas between us. Most of us thought it was enough, the guys said they could eat more, so if you're hungry don't be afraid to order a lot. It is not easy to choose between all of the enticing and unique pizzas! You can smell them cooking the wood fire oven even from outside, and its killer! All of the pizzas were wonderful, thin and flavorful crust, and not too heavy. We argued over which one was the best! The clear winners were the Piccante which is has just the right amount of spice, the spinach extremely flavorful and my personal favorite, and the San Daniel a little unique and completely delicious. All of them were great though down to the standard Margarita.
(5)A R.
Walked in with moderate expectations -- Starr's restaurants can sometimes be too much theater and don't always deliver on the food. But Stella delivered! We started with the beet salad -- (delicious!) and shared the pistachio pizza (crispy crust, delicate flavors!). Nice atmosphere, attentive service and great pizza. We'll be back!
(4)Meghan W.
My husband is Italian (not the Jersey shore variety - he is from Milano) and he thinks this is the best pizza he's had in the US by far. I have to agree - if you're looking for a more authentic Italian pizza. We usually order 2 pizzas and we end up finishing them both, but that's not to say that there's a whole lot of room for dessert! I really like the pepperoni and the one topped with arugula is my favorite. I've also tried the mushroom, which was really good as well. The pizza comes out quickly, I imagine due to the fact that the super thin crust takes no time to bake. Service can be a little spotty. The last time we were in, the waiter slammed a beer on the table - we actually jumped. He then ran away without saying anything. You sometimes have to ask for water refills, things of that nature. I'm not a major fan of Steven Starr's places in general as form over substance doesn't really do it for me. However, I must admit this is really one of our favorite spots in Philly. One additional observation - the acoustics in the place are awful. It tends to be really noisy and you find yourself shouting to be heard over the din.
(4)chris h.
i went for the second time this weekend and i liked it better the first time. i am not a pizza snob, but i think the crust was too spongy this time around. but i loved the toppings, the spicy sausage is delish. the lentil appetizer was top notch. i think the space is great, and there are not a ton of really nice spaces to eat pizza in philly, so that is a major upside for stella. and the service was really solid, so all in all a fine place to eat. i'll go again, but it won't be top of my list.
(3)Dave W.
Salad servicable; pasta, okay; pizza, the real standout, excellent; tartufo pie- with truffles, fontina, and a runny egg yolk was good and a break from the ordinary. margharita-- tasty; 5.50 for house red, not a great pour, but for the price not complaining.. like the location right off south street.. would return
(3)Kimberly C.
I had been looking forward to going to Stella for quite sometime however I am not sure if I will go back. I think if I had a large group I would think about it. The appetizer of grilled octopus was really good but the pizza was soggy on the bottom. It was not horrible but soggy wood fired pizza I just don't really understand how that is possible. The service was indifferent. Overall I would give it a 2.5.
(3)Leah G.
I have eaten at Stella twice for lunch. I have been very happy with the food..both the salads and pizzas, and I have tried several. They change up the menu frequently it seems. I think the prices are pretty high. Expect to spend about $15 minimum for lunch. I have actually spent 30, but I had salad, wine and a pizza. The pizzas are Italian style...the same size you would get in Italy. You can share, but one is not enough for two people unless you order something else. They are baked in a wood-fired oven, so sometimes the crust bottoms can be a little too well done, but otherwise, delicious. I have to agree with some other reviewers that at least once the servers were in a rush to clear the table. They took my co-worker's plate away while she was still eating, which is pretty ridiculous. I think it just depends on which server you get. Despite some of the drawbacks, I still enjoyed my meals and will likely go again.
(4)Di P.
A girl needs a half here. 3 and a HALF stars for this place. I love brick oven style pizza, but after Pizzeria Vetri and Nomad's and Zavino... so hard to discern which is better! We had their special pizza which was a lamb prosciutto and it was very good. The ambiance is very casual. Lots of long tables so good for groups. Lots of families and kids there. Wouldn't necessarily go on a date there.
(3)John K.
Philly is home to quite a few artisanal pizza joints. You know I'm all about Pizzeria Vetri and their delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas. Fairmount has it on lock down with Bufad, Osteria (another Vetri joint), and of course, the aforementioned Pizzeria Vetri. Midtown Village provides great pizza in the form of Barbuzzo and Zavino. And for those lucky enough to live in Society Hill, Stephen Starr's Pizzeria Stella has got you covered. How so? Their 800 degree oven whips out 12 inch artisanal pies like nobody's business. If there are any doubts above the wood-fired oven, just take a gander at the stacks of timber ready to provide the leoparding on your crust. So this past fall, the GF and I stopped by Pizzeria Stella to try their pies. We grabbed one of the best seats in the house - the doors were completely open to Headhouse Square so we were essentially dining al fresco, inside. Melohattan [$9] Bourbon, pomegranate liqueur, sweet vermouth I was in the mood for a drink, so went with the Melohattan - a clear nod to the oft-enjoyed whiskey-based cocktail. The bourbon base provided some smoky sweetness, with the pomegranate coming through on top of the sweet vermouth. Easy drinking and delicious. Sheep's Milk Ricotta [$11] Rosemary, flatbread I first tried sheep's milk ricotta at Andrew Carmellini / Robert DeNiro's Laconda Verde in TriBeCa and since then, if it's on the menu anywhere, I will order it. Pizzeria Stella's version was a bit grainy, but the flavors were still there - salty, creamy, delicious. The chewy rosemary flatbread was especially nice, just begging to be slathered with the ricotta. Arancini [$8] Risotto, parmesan, marinara This was the GF's first time trying aranchini and since this visit, she's ordered aranchini everywhere she goes. These were perfectly executed - crispy on the outside, with creamy risotto with just enough bite within. The tangy marinara and the salty Parmesan helped to add flavor to each bite. But really, it's all about the outer crunch for me. Yum. Margherita ($15) San Marzano tomato, basil, buffalo mozzarella But on to the Neapolitan-style pies. We started with the margherita - easily a standard by which all artisanal pies should be measured. Pizzeria Stella has it in spades. These 12 inch pies had a pliant, soft chew, with just enough crust from the oven to provide texture. The sweet, tangy San Marzano tomatoes meld beautifully with the buffalo mozz and the fresh basil. The leoparding was "spot" on as well. Tartufo ($19) Black truffle, egg, fontina We had to try the truffle-egg pie as well. Sure, every pizza joint has one of these. But that doesn't make it any less delicious - especially when a farm fresh egg is broken in front of you - tableside. The salty fontina was a great foil for the heft of the egg and the earthiness of the truffle. Fresh shaved black truffles would have been nice, but hey, we'll make do with the truffle oil - despite all the critics. Honey Mascarpone Gelato ($4) Pistachio biscotti And for a sweet note, we had to try some of the homemade gelato. Mascarpone imparted exceptional creaminess to the rich, french vanilla, with additional sweetness coming through from the honey. Decadent. The GF and I aren't big fans of biscotti, but this pistachio iteration was pretty good - great crunch and flavor. So if you're looking for a casual and relaxing night out or are simply craving great food in the form of an artisanal pie and more - Stephen Starr's Pizzeria Stella has got you covered. Say what you will about this restaurateur, but there's a reason why all of his places (in Philly at least - sorry Questlove!) are a hit.
(5)Rachel S.
Ohhh Stella. You rock. I've been here so many times since they first opened, and every visit has been a pleasure. Family and friends are always happy here. First reason might be because the pizza crust here might be the best: so insanely flavorful, with a perfect leopard-spotted undercarriage indicating expertly tended char, plus the right amount of cornicicione. Secondly, the menu offers diners both the complex AND simple pizza options, and there is no 'bad' choice. The balance of flavors--in the simple Margarita or the epically delicious Tartufo--is always on point. It seemed appropriate, then, to celebrate true love over a love of pizza. For our rehearsal dinner, Starr Catering (the BEST!) helped us come up with a delightful menu that made all our guests happy in this fun event space. The antipasti course was loaded with so many options, and served family style, that everyone nearly forgot to save room for the main attraction-the pizza, obviously! We went with the margarita for those who like to keep is simple, the spinach because it's amazing, and the tartufo for those willing to be adventurous. Lastly, our servers began bringing out all the flavors of gelato for everyone to sample. In short, nobody left hungry or thirsty and plenty of pizza was packed up to go back with the boys to enjoy later!
(5)Sara N.
Although the classic staple margherita pie was satisfying, I probably won't order it again--it seemed almost boring. Especially since I'm more tempted to try the marinara and the sinfully decadent tartufo upon return to this brightly open and spacious pizzeria.
(4)Juan M.
Awesome! Sorry for not forwarding pic's but the food looked so good we prayed and jumped right in. Had the meatballs as an app.... they were really good. Great service and the pizza's are so good I'm willing to claim them as amongst the best I've had (and I had quite a few). Don't skip dessert you will not be disappointed. Cudos to Jared our server.
(5)Vern H.
I ate here with my 7 yr. old son, we ordered octopus for an app. and 2 pizzas one Quattro Formaggi and one Pancetta, everything was great as to be expected coming from Stephen Starr, my son told me this was his favorite pizza place.
(5)Rachel A.
We had a great dinner at Stella. For the two of us, we ordered one tartufo pizza, one order of broccoli raab, and 4 cocktails. A perfect amount of food, even though the total bill was a little high at $70ish. (It's the cocktails, which were good but not necessarily worth $11 each). The food was just. So. Good. How can you not love an egg, cream and truffle pizza??? The broccoli raab was covered with a snow of grated cheese, which perfectly complemented the garlicky greens. So great. Stella is definitely in my Philly-visit rotation for next time. Also, I just discovered the cozy bar area below the main room. Might be a good place if you want to get further away from the families with kids.
(5)H. I.
Wondering what took me so long to come here, but it looks like this will be a new go to favorite! I saw the ad for Pizza Week here which is a killer deal: choice of 2 antipasti or salad, 1 pizza, 2 gelati for $35! We ordered 2 sets of the deal (4 antipasti, 2 pizzas, 4 gelati), and an extra pizza. For appetizers we got the shrimp arrabbiata, polpette, grilled octopus and calamari. Everything was super delicious. I'm a stickler about grilled octopus and this was some of the best I've tasted in the city. The arrabbiata sauce was not as spicy as I expected, but was still really good with the flatbread served with it. For pizzas we ordered the margherita (I added mushrooms), brussels sprouts, and the pizza on special that night with andouille sausage. The pizza is Neapolitan style, thin crust and wood fired. They were all delicious. I think they are a little pricey though for the size. There are 6 slices per pie and it's recommended 1 pizza per person. The service was great. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drink list. He was very attentive and checked up several times to see how everything was as did one of the hostesses. The atmosphere is also warm and inviting, open floor and view of the oven and pizza line, but not too noisy. I will be back for pizza week round 2!
(5)Debra T.
We love PIzzeria Stella is our stop every Saturday for lunch. The food is great, the beer is good and the staff is wonderful. Especially Jarod....but they all are very warm and make you feel like your the best! The calamari is our favorite in the city. We live in S. Jersey and go over the bridge to enjoy our special lunch...every Saturday that is where you can find us!
(5)Bob R.
Nice atmosphere, great service and good menu. One star off for price/value. We had the broccoli raab and a margherita pizza. Both were excellent. I would return.
(4)Leo F.
Best pizza in town, hands down. I'm from Italy and this is the kind of pizza you find in Naples.
(5)Melissa C.
Food was delicious. Service was ehhh. We ordered 3 rounds of beers/drinks and waited each time with empty glasses. Other members of the waitstaff were more attentive to us. We received a round from another server. Our actual server never checked in with us once our food arrived, which came out fast and hot. We were just a thirsty group. Even though we could have had a better server, I won't hold that against Stella. The pizza was amazing and we saw potential in others working there.
(3)Ashley M.
This place is awesome. I definitely recommend starting your meal with the marinaded olives and a pitcher of their sangria, which changes depending on the season. All of the pizzas are delicious - a standout being the Brussels Sprout. I've never had a bad experience with the service here either. The staff is friendly and obviously well trained.
(5)Paul M.
There should be two ratings one for service and one for food. The service in this place gets a 2 at best. Once we were sat 4 employees came over to our table to tell us our server would be with us shortly. 10 minutes later we were greeted by our waiter, he was nice and described the specials and took our order. After that we didn't see him again. No one ever came to refill our drinks or even ask how the food was. The check was just randomly placed on the table by another waiter and I had to wait another 10 minutes before my waiter appeared to pay it. Now on to the food.... One word.... Delicious! We started with an heirloom tomato, burrata, and pesto salad. It had the perfect amount of salt to enhance the whole dish. We then had the Quattro Formaggi and Tartufo pizzas, both were amazing. For dessert we ended with Olive Oil gelato and a Honey Mascarpone gelato just because they were different. We were more then pleased. Had the waitstaff been attentive and treated us better, giving this place 5 stars would be a no brainer.
(4)Maria E.
Good pizza, not amazing though. I will say that the grilled octopus starter was INCREDIBLE. I was hesitant because grilled octopus can be hit or miss. This was fantastic - just the right level of char, nice and salty, I'd go back there just for the octopus, no lie. The pizza was decent. Tried the margherita which was pretty good. Also had the Pistachio -- the pizza itself was good - loved the cheese and red onions, but I just didn't love the idea of Pistachios on a pizza, too heavy. Not their fault. It was a good slice, just not my thing. I'd like to try some of the other menu options. I thought the bottom was a tiny bit too burnt but I am very sensitive to that sort of thing. Good service. Metered parking spots nearby.
(4)Cara T.
It's no secret that I'm a Stephen Starr fan and I had not yet visited his pizza joint so I was happy to stop here this week. Despite being a Saturday night, my party of 3 walked right in. The menu is filled with pizza options and several pasta and salad options as well. I highly suggest the rosemary flatbread as an appetizer.... it's drizzled with olive oil and it's delicious. I ordered the margherita pizza and it reminded me of pizza that I had eaten while visiting Italy. For dessert I got the stracciatella gelato, which was simply fantastic. I moaned with my first bite and made sure my dinner companions tried it as well. My friend ordered the espresso crunch gelato and she said that it was too intense of a flavor. If you're in the area and looking for a solid specialty pizzeria, stop by. Save room for the gelato!
(4)Tess I.
Went here with a few friends on a Saturday evening. Ordered the margarita pizza, basic but classic, and the goat's milk ricotta. The ricotta was fluffy and light, heavily flavored with rosemary. The giant pot was served with only 4, tiny pieces of flatbread, which was a little irritating. The margarita was perfect. It was honestly nothing special per se, but the ingredients were bursting with freshness and the crust was a magnificent texture. My only complaint is that an examination of the crust suggested that the flatbread may have been the exact dough. Excuse my nitpicking, though. Overall, the food was great, but a little pricy. The service was attentive, especially considering that we were sitting outside. Nothing is exceptionally creative, but the food is fresh and flavorful.
(4)Ainsley A.
As a former restaurant employee, I absolutely HATED when people would walk in about a half hour until closing. So you could understand how nervous I was when we walked into Pizzeria Stella at 9:40 on Wednesday night to grab a quick bite. The staff was more than happy to seat us which alleviated my nervousness and set the dinner off on the right foot. We split the spinach pizza- the crust reminded me of what I ate in Rome- light and airy with a bit of crisp, but sturdy enough to hold our toppings. The melding of flavors between the spinach, tomato puree and pine nuts was exactly what we felt like. We couldn't decide between a white or red pizza and the puree satisfied both cravings at once. WIN. It is reasonably priced- mirroring the pricing of other great pizza places like Nomad and Zavino. I would put PS in my top three gourmet pizza places in the city. The outdoor seating adds a nice touch with a great view of Headhouse Square.
(5)Shannon M.
We chose Pizzeria Stella when looking for a place to bring our young children and meet up with a friend visiting the city for one night. It was a great choice. The food was really really good and the service was great. It was the perfect atmosphere for what we were looking for. We don't live in center city but if we did we would absolutely visit more often.
(5)Kim L.
Stella is still one of my favorite places to get pizza in Philly, but now that I've been to Barbuzzo, it is now knocked out of the top spot. There are still so many things to love, though. I'll admit, it stresses me out that they don't take reservations here. I usually come here with a party of at least four on a weekend night, so the fact that our dinner plans are up in the air until we arrive to find out how long the wait is, can be a little worrisome. This visit, we decided to sit at the bar since the Final Four games were on and we were more than happy with the service we received while we were originally waiting for a table. Both bartenders were extremely knowledgeable about the food and were able to make great recommendations. They were attentive, friendly, and kept our beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) full! I'm ADDICTED to the Tartufo pizza but I decided I'd try a different pizza this time around, so my beau and I split the San Daniele, topped with prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, and arugula. It was delicious (damn, the crust is good!) but still only ranks second to the decadence of the Tartufo. We also had the arancini as the appetizer but it paled in comparison to Little Nonna's version, so it was a bit of a disappointment. The honey marscapone gelato is to die for. The olive oil version was creative, but not tasty enough to warrant an entire serving, in my opinion. I'd give the food three stars, but for overall experience it's a solid four. I've always loved the relaxed atmosphere and enjoyed the more laid back bar area even more. See you again soon, Stella!
(4)Stacey M.
What a great pizzeria! I have to say I love a good wood fired pizza and a unique offering of different flavors and toppings. We ordered the Pistachio pizza-pistachios, red onion, rosemary and fontina-and the calzone-eggplant, ricotta, crushed tomato, smoked mozzarella, Parmesan and basil. The Pistachio pizza was absolutely amazing! beautifully cooked crust with the perfect amount of toppings. The calzone though was pretty salty. It was almost too salty to even finish and I probably wouldn't have but my husband decided he had to! Probably wouldn't order the calzone again but I am sure you couldn't go wrong with any of their pizzas. The service was good. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We sat at the pizza bar in front of the brick oven/cook area. It was pretty cool to watch them make everything but also sort of awkward. I definitely enjoyed this place and will head back soon.
(4)Amanda M.
My best friend was in from out town Sunday night, and we headed down to 2nd st without any place for dinner in mind - Pizzeria Stella was emitting this sort of warm glow on a chilly night, and promised wood fired pizza, so we were sold as soon as we walked by. How lucky that we stumbled upon this gem! So many places promise true wood fired pizza and then disappoint; Stella's was the opposite - far better than expected. The crust was amazing - you could taste all the baked-in woody flavors! I had the four cheese, which was just slightly wilder than my friends' margherita - I will definitely have to venture back for some of their more creative offerings. My only complaint was that they seated us in the back room, by the bar, next to the window, by ourselves. It was a very strange choice, and we should've asked to move - the main dining room looked so inviting. Though there was an interesting collection of bottle openers decorating the walls, I would have preferred to be seating in the main room.
(4)Kristen M.
I visited Pizzeria Stella for the second time* on a Sunday at 6:15 with a party of 7. The restaurant has a relaxed open air vibe, perfect for summer. Myself, dining partner and our dining budding split off the rest of the group to develop our own ordering strategy. We each picked a pizza and agreed to split them three ways. We ordered the pepperoni pizza, the Tarutfo (black truffle & egg) pizza, and the mushroom pizza. I really enjoyed my pepperoni pizza, the truffle pizza was a bit too strong for my enjoyment, and mushrooms aren't really my cup of tea. I ended up eating most of the pepperoni pizza by myself. The remainder of the table ordered the calzone, pomodoro pasta, and Margherita pizza. The crust was the best part with the perfect balance of crispy and doughy, and the toppings were very fresh. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. It was a bit expensive to be a regular go-to pizza place, but it was a nice treat. Great for large groups. *The first time I went to Pizzeria Stella was with a party of 25 last summer, before I started yelping.
(4)Kelly P.
Delicious food! The ricotta spread was to die for. Our bartender, Canyon (spelling?) was friendly and created a st germain cocktail just for me. I really liked the bottle openers displayed on the walls. I only experienced this spot during a low key weekday around 6pm.
(4)D S.
I have to start by saying I have celiacs disease and can't eat gluten without getting violently ill. Some people react to that by saying "then you shouldn't eat out idiot!" If so,I'm sorry I can't eat gluten, believe me, very sorry. And I don't think that every restaurant needs to have a Gluten-free menu. My problem with a place like Stella is that its so simple to have a gluten free option. Buy some gluten free crusts and make your pizzas on that whenever someone wants one. I don't really understand why this is not an option when going to a place like Stella. I would have asked this question to the people at Stello directly but there isn't anyway to contact them direct.
(2)Joe W.
Quite possibly the best pizza in the South Street area. I had the olive oil gelato and it was one of the best desserts I have ever eaten. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere.
(4)Peter C.
The pizza here is good, everything else however, is mediocre. I've had the San Daniele, pistachio, and piccante pizzas, all if which I would recommend. The meatball and rigatoni entree/apps I ordered were slightly overdone and overpriced. Not surprisingly, the focus at Stella's is on the pizza.
(3)Michael H.
Another great meal. Had the octopus and broccoli rabe as appetizers and the tartufo pizza for dinner. Everything was outstanding!! Such a gem of a restaurant. Low-key, good food and reasonably priced. Go! And order the tartufo, you will not regret it.
(5)Michele W.
Went for an event which a friend had an open bar and it was incredible!!! Loved the service and the pizza wasn't exactly my style (I prefer greasy floppy pizza) but it was still absolutely delicious. I loved the decor with the collection of bottle openers on the wall!
(5)Patricia W.
Giving it 3 stars probably because I ordered the wrong pizza. I had the piccante, taste was a bit too strong for me but the crust was really good. Also had the calamari since I read some of the reviews saying it was the best they ever had but it honestly wasn't that great. It was soggy and pretty bland. I'll probably go again to try a different pizza.
(3)JSquared J.
The atmosphere was very nice, a little loud and a little too dim, but nice views especially since we sat by the window looking out towards Head House Square. The pizzas were just ok. We had a white pizza with mushrooms and Gorgonzola and it was tasty, but the edges were very burnt. Then we had a margarita pizza which none of us cared for. Too soggy, sauce was too sweet and the big globs of mozzarella were chewy overkill. The meatballs were delicious. The octopus was cooked well but the portion was too small. The best things we had were the calamari which was just the right level of salt, crisp and tenderness; and then finally the hazelnut sorbet and olive oil sorbet. Can't really go too wrong with dessert though! I would go here again to try other menu items. 4 adults, all the food above, 2 glasses of wine, 8 beers, 3 espressos and 1 coffee later we walked out paying $200 including tip.
(3)N W.
I ordered the brussel sprout pizza to be adventurous and found it to be phenomenal. Generally don't even like brussel sprouts but the pizza was a fantastic balance of sharp flavors and chewy crust. The pizzas also came out really fast (less than a ten min wait for six pizzas). Stella also has quite a spacious place, with decent seating for large groups. Though they officially do not take reservations, I would recommend calling a day or two in advance to give them a heads up of any large groups you plan on bringing.
(4)Kathleen K.
After beers across the street left our tummies a rumbling, we stopped in here for a late night snack. Between the 4 girls, we split two pizzas and a salad. everything was really good! The waiter heard us talking about a birthday so he brought some delicious honey marscapone gelato for the birthday girl. Oh. My. God. I will dream of that gelato for years to come... like frozen cheese cake.... or honey and rich cream mixed together... I cannot describe how amazing that gelato was. I'm suprised the 4 of us could split that without breaking out in a fight over the last spoonful
(4)Patricia B.
A++ for customer service, Pizzeria Stella! I recently came here with some friends for a quick bite. We ordered sangria, an app, and two pizzas. Our sangria came out, quickly followed by the app. Our first pizza arrived shortly after that. We waited and waited for our second pizza. Never came. We finally asked the server about it...she had forgotten to put it in. It came out IN A FLASH...free of charge, accompanied by a carafe of sangria on the house. That's how customer services is done. The app of olives and almonds is to die for. The Tartufo pizza is great-just be prepared for strong truffle flavor. The only reason they get 4 stars is the inability to make the brussels sprout pizza veg. Evidently, they cook the pancetta and the onions together, so the pizza would have been just sprouts and cheese. I LOVE a good sprout pizza, so a vegetarian option would be nice.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Stick with the pizza. Craig Laban's review said that their pastas and calzone were extraordinary. They weren't. But the pizza was very, very good and we would definitely come back for that. Otherwise, great location, clean and spacious, and friendly staff.
(4)Daniel C.
I've lowered my rating. Went back here this week. While the pizza is good, the price value is decidedly not. Two personal pies, a salad and a gelato are not worth $50.00 (tip included). Service was as good as ever by the way.
(3)Alex G.
Stopped in for a quick bite on a Sunday afternoon and sat outside facing 2nd St. We had the margherita pizza. Didn't know what to expect because of the mixed yelp reviews but it was actually really great. The crust was thin and on the softer side. Would definitely come back here.
(4)Margo v.
A very friendly and comfortable place. Get there early to avoid the noise. Best place is in the bar area. Delicious pizza. Delicious grilled octopus. Great drinks. Good service. A great neighborhood place.
(4)Marie W.
They serve some of the best fried calamari I've ever eaten. Crisp, salty perfection served with fried strips of pepper. Yum!
(4)K. B.
Great date place. Society Hill impresses me yet again. Both appetizers and the pizza were very good. Only negative is it doesn't take reservations. Kind of annoying.
(5)Wally O.
Amazing flavor from the mushroom pie with rosemary ham, garlic. Fantastic! Calamari was wonderful! Would be 5 stars if the beer was colder
(4)Elaine M.
Since I live close by; I have been to Stella about 4 or 5 times now. I was pleasantly surprised that Stella is not like most overstated Steven Starr restaurants. The atmosphere is casual, they have a generous amount of outdoor seating and several seats at a bar that faces the brick oven (perfect seat for a cold winter night.) I wouldn't waste your time on salads or any other odd appetizers at Stella, the wood fired brick oven pizza is the main attraction (and should be the only attraction.) If you can grab a seat at the bar, you will be entertained by the chefs assembling the pies and tossing them around in the oven. Hopefully the arrogant executive? chef won't be garnishing the pies when you sit at the bar; he really turned me off with his attitude. Everyone else that worked there was friendly. I am not big on meat pizzas, so most of the items I have tried are veggie pizzas, and the rosemary bread (really tasty.) The pies aren't that large... too much for 1 person, but not big enough for 2 people... We usually get 2 pies and have leftovers. 3 pies for 4 people would probably be perfect. Drinks are typical Steven Starr overpriced so don't plan on hanging around much after you feast.
(4)Adam H.
Went here for the first time with 4 other people around 9PM on a Saturday. The pizza menu was extensive and the crust was fantastic. Our party as a whole preferred the white pizzas to the pizzas with red sauce. The special happened to be our favorite, which was a pizza with ground sausage and roasted eggplant and mozzarella. Top that off with a couple of $12 carafes of house wine and it makes for a great evening. The only negative of the night was the slow service, despite the restaurant being only half full.
(4)Kristin S.
After eating here I wish I had looked through the reviews before seeing the 4 stars and assuming a good choice was made... The food was good, though nothing special for the price and the service was atrocious. Once our pizza was served we didn't see out server again. I'm glad I had the foresight to ration my one drink because another was not in the future. It wasn't even packed, no reason for the lack of attention. Won't be back.
(2)Rob V.
On a chilly Valentines Day (for being someone who so strongly rails against dining out on V-day, here I was, being a hypocrite) we stepped into another Steven Starr concept, my umpteenth and my girlfriend's third. An open wood burning hearth calls out to you from the street, from large dining room windows of this Society Hill restaurant. The menu is Neopolitan inspired, offering six red and six white pies, a selection of appetizers and desserts, along with a full bar. The staff is on-point, as is usual with Starr Restaurants. Jared, was exceptional though. Well informed, prompt, knowledgable, and an expert salesman, Jared was everything I look for in my staffs. We started off with cocktails in the bar, since there was a brief wait. My lady had an exceptionally strong Negroni, with Beefeater, Campari, and contratto americano rosso and I had an excellent take on a Moscow Mule, called the Meletti Mule, which had Smirnoff, Ginger, fresh lime, and Meletti amaro, a favorite of mine. Once seated and spieled by Jared, we started off with Polpette, which was an order of 3 wood roasted meatballs, peppers, onions, and aged provolone. It was rich, delicious, had a bit of heat from some red pepper and a smokiness, a woody flavor, from the wood burning hearth. Excellent. My girlfriend ordered the Chopped Salad which came with a blend of ten different vegetables, and she subbed the white wine vinaigrette for the roasted tomato vinaigrette on the side, although Jared also brought the roasted tomato for us to try as we'll. I ordered something different, wandering out of my comfort zone (as we all should aim to do, once in a while) and getting the Mushroom pie with rosemary scented ham, garlic crema, and smoked mozzarella. As of 9:00, the dining room was probably half empty, but it was surprising it was that empty that early on a Valentines Day. There was no prix fixe menu or reservations being taken, that's why I chose it. I did notice it was a bit more family friendly than I expected, with no less than five families with kids dining nearby. Cute date spot, but there were a fair amount of kids. The food arrived, the salad with the specified dressing, and the pizza fresh out of the oven. The pizza was meaty, garlicky, crusty, and perfectly cooked. Girlfriend enjoyed her salad and even tried the pizza, minus the mushrooms. I ordered an Allagash White to wash down the mushroom pie, and we ordered and lingered over the Stracciatella Gelato, which was Vanilla with Chocolate Chips and a little Chocolate Biscotti. Keeping in mind we closed out our 23.00 bar tab for the Meletti Mule and Negroni previously, some might feel a 60.00 bill for the Polpette, Veggie Salad, Mushroom pie, Allagash, and Stracciatella was a little high. Let's be real here.. at Starr Restaurants you are paying for that extensive training and thorough service. The Atmosphere/theming. The location. And all that jazz. It is all rolled into the prices. I have found its love or hate with Starr Restaurants, and for me it's love. I will definitely be back to try the "best in the city" Octopus and Tartufo Pie.. I was almost talked into them!
(4)Aaliyah P.
Starr has the ability to make any space seem pretentious but relaxed at the same time ( its a weird gift) Sunday I was craving pizza ( not the standard delivery) so a friend and i wandered over to Stella to have a bite and chat it up . We decided to sit at the high top "bar" where you could see the pizza magic happening around you. I will say that i like the wine list ALOT. All options come from the boot and are fairly priced for the area and hell ill say it for a Starr joint. We both did glasses of the house red which was a smooth montepulciano it was perfect and rang in at only 5.50 per glass. I will say that i was annoyed they dont offer it by the bottle but its still a great buy. We decided on the tartufo since most of the options have some sort of meat product on them. Tartufo has been one of the main pizzas ive ordered and the best in the city so far is Zavinos rendition when they have it on the menu. The crust was legit and the truffle oil was milder than i would have liked. But all of the components (cheese, runny egg )worked well. The pies here are all 12' so we each had about 3 good size slices. We added an order of broccoli rabe and were both left satisfied. Im going with the 3 because of the price. The pizza was almost 20.00 and not really worth more than 15 in my opinion. Im not opposed to spending money on a quality meal ever, i just felt like there could have been more; more done to the pizza and slightly larger maybe 14''. Id probably return to try the traditional pie, it seemed to be the house favorite oh and of course that house montepulciano.
(3)Thao T.
This place is OK. I don't hate it but I definitely cannot bring myself to say I like it. For a Starr restaurant, I think it's really disappointing. The service was fine. The menu was OK. The food wasn't bad but it's nothing special. Can't even remember what I ordered. The whole place is easily forgettable. Only remember the name because I live in the neighborhood. Will always prefer Nomad Pizza over this place. Won't come back.
(3)Nick G.
Might be the best pizza place in town. Minus a star for no wifi.
(4)Alishia W.
Best artisan pizza in Philly! There is nothing like the tartufo pizza I have to order it every time! The appetizer specials are creative and delicious and the olive oil gelato is a must-have dessert. The perfect spot for a date or to bring friends/family.
(5)Mary M.
We love this Neapolitan-style pizza spot in Headhouse Square. Our go-to pizza is the Tartufo, you can't go wrong with black truffle, fontina cheese AND A FLIPPIN' FRIED EGG on top! Seriously so decadent. For pasta as an app, my choice is always the insanely simple Pomodoro. Some of the best spaghetti I've ever had. This week is Restaurant Week but Stella does "Pizza Week." For $25 you get an antipasti, a pie and gelato. You can do it per person or share, as my fiance and myself did. We tried the sheep's milk ricotta for the 1st time tonight and it was awesome! Great for dipping your crusts after the pizza. The gelato was heavenly. One of our favorite spots in the city.
(4)Randi E.
There's pizza, and then there's fancy pizza. Pizzeria Stella is fancy pizza. The mixtures and combinations of toppings and sauces are all fancy, but in the end Stella's is a quick and dirty. It takes mere minutes for a hot, thin crust pizza to come out of the extremely hot oven and launched into your mouth. It seems almost unnatural. And there is no way to take your time with the delicious pizzas, because they are addictive, not too heavy, and also, once they cool down, some of the allure vanishes. Also, what I failed to notice (or was not told the first two times, but clearly explained the third) was that the pizzas are divided into red sauce based or white sauce based. Without even realizing, I had dabbled in both sides. This last time was my third occasion visiting the fine pizzeria. The first time, my family of four shared three individual sized pizzas, though I ate the lion share. I remember indulging in the ingredients, ranging from run of the mill pepperoni (though special tasting) to the more rare, arugula and prosciutto. The second time, three fourths of my family went, and we each ordered a pie (more to taste); salty kale and pancetta, thick ham and mushrooms, and endless pepperoni. This last time though, I was with my favorite dining partner, who is willing to try different things. I have always wanted to try the Tartufo pizza, featuring an over easy egg, fontina cheese and black truffle. No one before dared to try it with me, and this time I got to, and it was beyond delicious. It appears to be a favorite of many of the patrons and even some of the staff. The truffle was not over powering as it some times could be. They mastered the luxurious flavor with ease. And the yolk of the egg made everything more decadent and delicious, emphasizing the richness of the truffle. The thin, airy and almost crunchy crust tops it off as a masterpiece. It is deffo a place worth checking out. The pizzas are so delicious, fancy but familiar at the same time.
(4)Brandon W.
Amazing. I wanted to try everything on the menu and the ambiance was comfortable. Attentive bartender even though I came during the awkward pre dinner timeslot. I met their general manager Tracey and she was super sweet and genuinely cared about my experience. This was my first time here, and I will definitely be back!
(5)Lindsay H.
Stella is the home to one of my favorite pizzas in town. The Tartufo. If they ever took it off the menu, I'd likely cry and boycott the restaurant...it is that good. From the second this pizza comes out of the massive brick oven, I swear I can smell it. It's smothered with blue truffle, fontina cheese and an over easy egg that they smear all over the second it's in front of you. It's heaven. Obviously, I generally stick to my favorite but I have tried some of their other pizzas and they are pretty top notch. Stella definitely is up there with best pizzas in Philly in my book. Pizzas aside, the rest of the menu is pretty impressive, the service is good and they make some tasty drinks. Check it out!
(4)Melanie B.
Amazing fresh food. Had the heirloom tomato salad and the Piccante pizza. Flavorful, deliciousness
(5)Marg H.
This is one of my favorite date night places, this is one of my favorite places to take my family when they visit, and this is hands down my favorite place to go for Pizza Week- their version of restaurant week. For $30 per person, during pizza week, each person gets a glass of house wine, an appetizer, a pizza, and gelato. WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. I've done it twice, both times chosen the olive oil gelato, the stuff that dreams are made of. I also love their house-made ceasar dressing, with real lemon and anchovies. The tartufo is, obviously, something we order every time, but I also love the capricola pizza. And if you have enough for leftovers, I swear the tartufo is even better the second day, if you can imagine that. My family is relatively normal and midwestern- this is a great place to take them thats not overwhelmingly spendy or trendy, but feels like a nice night out in the city. For what its worth, they also love La Calaca and Zorba's in Fairmount, and Devil's Alley- we're big fans of good food, big portions, reasonable prices, and friendly servers. Stella fits all of those.
(4)Gretchen E.
Stella, not so stellar. Ideal location in Headhouse Square, less than ideal dining experience. The ambiance is legit. Big booths and big windows makes for spacious comfort and pleasant people watching. Alas, the food is a bit lackluster and Starr-style overpriced. The salads are limp and sparing. Pizza dough is stale and sauce is barely present. Toppings are skimped. And the wine tasted like it had been sitting out with its top off for a week (i.e. not good). A good place for parents to bring kids - there were many! I suppose this is Society Hill's Chuck E. Cheese.
(2)Melanie S.
First let me say we try to avoid Stephen Starr restaurants but Stella doesn't disappoint. It's not the best pizza but it is very good and very consistent. The Polpette (meatballs) are also very good. It's not fancy and no real privacy if you are on a date, but if you are with your kids or a big group - it's perfect.
(4)Adam N.
A great spot for a casual but delicious meal. We stopped in last night with our dog and got a table outside. The wait staff was on point and knew the menu inside and out. The truffle pizza was amazing, though a bit pricey for what they consider a personal pizza.
(5)Michelle C.
How have I neglected to write a Yelp review for Pizzeria Stella? It's the home to my favorite brick-oven style pizza in the city, after all. There's the margherita, with a healthy amount of sauce and about one small circle of mozzarella and one leaf of basil per slice; the piccante, with salty capicola and provolone, plus crushed red pepper; the wood grilled sausage, with long hot pesto; the tartufo, with earthy truffle and egg yolk running along the salty cheese. I've now had all of the pizzas with the exception of one or two and they each hold their own place in my pizza-loving heart. If pasta is what you're craving, the few options on the menu will satisfy. Most recently, circular tubes tossed in spicy arrabiata sauce with rock shrimp was heavy on taste but light enough to be healthy. Pro tip: Start with the olives and marcona almonds, tossed in olive oil and orange zest, along with a glass of house wine.
(5)Chelsea B.
My boyfriend and I decided last minute to choose someplace for dinner, and Pizzeria Stella is two blocks from my apartment. This was my first Steven Starr restaurant and I have to say that despite the reputation I enjoyed myself and didn't feel robbed for small portions. There was a 10 minute wait for a table so we got a few drinks at the bar. The peach sangria was delicious with fresh sliced peaches and none of that overpowering peach schnapps taste. The bartender sold my boyfriend on some bourbon they had just gotten in, so I think she knew her stuff. The waitress took time to explain the pizza menu and we went with the grilled octopus (potatoes, fennel, salsa verde) and the sausage pizza (red sauce, fresh mozzarella, pesto). The grilled octopus was delicious, if piled with a high fennel-to-octopus ratio. The pizza was good, but it could have been better: the crust of the pizza was light and browned on the outside but it was almost soggy in the middle. The ingredients were obviously fresh, but next time I think I'd try a different meat (the sausage was tasty with the pesto but nothing spectacular). These 12" pizzas are 6 large slices each, but since it's thin we finished feeling slightly less than full. That being said, three hours later I wasn't hungry so it was probably the ideal amount for a meal for two. I can see myself coming back here to take advantage of the outdoor tables facing Headhouse Square.
(4)Zareen S.
Ok, I need to do this before i go to bed. This was so random. I heard they had the best bread in town and had been pining away to come here for a while! Sitting in the living room, 9:30pm, we decided to cab it here, it closes at 10pm. Seriously. Ordered the Grilled octopus Salad and Tarfotu Pizza, since we both happen to be Pescetarian. Pizza with black truffle mushrooms and a poached egg that your server pops and spreads around the pizza after they bring it around and then u wait a minute or two for it to settle in? I'm telling you, my tongue never tasted all these flavors together before, and the rosemary went soooooooo well with everything.It was Rosemary without acting like rosemary, the smokey flavor taking it to new heights. The grilled Octopus Salad with Fennel? I don't think I can put it into words. For a newb food explorer like me, not that I don't know my food, but only recently have been getting into new levels of it, this was heaven packed in tentacles! We also got Yards to go with it, surprisingly complimented both the salad and the Pizza incredibly! What a wonderful night! Our server was superb, weather was crisp and the food numbed my mind and tummy. ugh! P.S: I don't care who you are, eat that crust !
(5)Gautam T.
Really??? I was expecting some amazing pizza considering this is a Starr restaurant. Don't get me wrong, the pizza was good but fell way short of the high expectations one holds when dining at Steven Starr restaurants. The ingredients on the pizza were super fresh and delicious. The crust and dough were sub-par they even came out a little bit burned. This is a short review, but nothing really made me happy here.
(3)Colleen S.
LOVED this place. The only thing keeping me from a full 5 star rating is that the pizzas are quite small for their expensive price. We ordered two appetizers, three pizzas and drinks.. It was about $140 for 4 of us. I know that doesn't seem like a lot to spend on dinner for 4 people, but I must emphasize that the pizzas are quite small! We originally ordered appetizers and two pizzas, but had to order a third because we were still hungry. (We do REALLY like to eat, so maybe the average group of 4 could be satisfied with a little less!) We all split the Romaine salad and Arancini. Delicious, I would definitely recommend them. The salad had a hint of mint which I really enjoyed. Our pizzas included a Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzerella, basil), Piccante (capicola, provolone, red pepper, tomato sauce) and a Tarfuto- THE MOST AMAZING PIZZA I'VE EVER HAD (Black truffle, fotina cheese, egg and Parmesan cheese). All of the pizza was great, but the Tarfuto was so unique! I love egg and have never seen it on a pizza like this! It was nothing like breakfast pizza with scrambled egg. There were sunny side up eggs baked onto the pizza. The server cracked the yoke and spread it over the pizza when he brought it out. I hope everyone who reads this will order this pizza!!!!!!!!!!! Will definitely go back here. Not your typical lazy Friday night pizza joint, but perfect for a date night!
(4)Stefanie A.
I'm fighting the urge to give Stella 5 stars. Why? Last night's pasts special--pumpkin ravioli with sweet breads in a truffled chicken jus--was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The salad was good, too, and the pizza, great. The service was also friendly and quick. Not that 4 is bad, but the past few times I've been, I wasn't as blown away as I was last night. So 4 it is. Generally Stella offers good service, great food, reasonable prices, an appealing menu, nice space (though with strangely loud 80s music), good outdoor space, and a solid drink list/menu. Especially the sorbet vodka proscecco drink. As far as pizza goes, it's up there in the ranks of Philly pizzerias IMO, and I'm a tough critic, being a recovering NYer. Sometimes it's a bit too kiddy city in there, but given that there are two rooms, plus a bar, you certainly have options if seated next to a brood of bawling babes. Good food, good times.
(4)Yingbo W.
The pizza here is the brick oven style. Honestly, I can't compare different brick oven style pizzas and say which is the best. They are all about the same, thin and crispy crust with the pie being around 12 inches. Well I will say the toppings here are very good. They use many Italian deli meats paired with leafy veggies and the the flavors just blend together perfectly. The cheese is very good, too. If you want pizza, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Jacqueline L.
The restaurant's getting 4 stars for the Tartufo pizza alone. Truffles, fontina cheese and an egg?! Hurt me it's delicious. I've never had a bad pizza there though. After a recent trip to Italy, I think again Mr. Starr did his research and these pizzas are done right.
(4)Noelle A.
Stella is FABULOUS!! My absolute favorite pizza place in the city. I cannot give enough stars. The tartufo is out of this world, closely matched by the pepperoni pizza and the marinara. Meatballs and calamari are also dream worthy. You will never be less than thrilled with any of these items!!! The house wine are nice compliment for just about all of the dishes and the environment is lovely; lively and relaxed. Not to mention the cozy big pizza oven. I love Stella. I can't wait to go back and go back and go back.
(5)Candice G.
Had a fantastic lunch today at Stella. Was highly recommended so we finally decided to venture to Society Hill for some fire oven pizza. The dough is fantastic--I love thin crust pizza but sometimes the crust isn't flavorful or is too crunchy. Not this though! We had a Stromboli as well which was bursting flavorful pepperoni and served with a side of drinkable marinara. Service was great; Canyon was friendly and warm without being overbearing. Ambiance is open and simple. Great view from the window side table. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Tyler R.
I would suggest against Pizzeria Stella as a first, second, third, or fourth date option IF you're getting pizza. The crust will leave your teeth filled with crunchy black bits from the wood fired oven. BUT, if you're going to get something from here, you want to get the gelato. $4 for enough for two-three people. The olive oil or honey mascarpone are freakishly delicious and light. The pizza is fine, though a little too wet and mushy. The beers are priced typically for this part of the city, but the cocktails can be pretty nice (read: have a pompelmo). I won't be back anytime soon for pizza, but I might have to go back for the gelato.
(3)Andrew H.
The chopped salad, sausage pizza, olive oil and cherry gelatos, glass of house red and glass of Lambrusco with espresso. Perfect meal.
(5)Ed P.
1st time here and ordered: thin crust pizza with sausage, chefs salad, spaghetti with meatballs. Each dish looked and tasted freshly made. Delicious and excellent deal!
(4)Ric P.
Very nice, old world charm with a massive, tile covered, wood oven kiln behind a bar seating area. Staff was friendly and the pizza was done in two minutes. Excellent flavor on the pizza! Overall a 5-star establishment.
(5)Steve S.
2nd time here - still as good as the first. Exceptional pizza, octopus and drinks. I keep trying to get a bad meal at one of Starr's restaurants, but they're all so well run it's impossible to get anything but excellence.
(5)Nate E.
Excellent food- I would order blind. And it's relatively inexpensive and casual for a great meal!! The grilled octopus with fennel salad is one of the best in the city, and the wood-oven pizzas are the best in Philly- I go with the kale or brussel sprout pizzas. The house wine is also quite good for the price.
(5)Monica L.
Pizzeria Stella is a simple yet great Stephen Starr restaurant located in Headhouse Square. I love the pizzas here because they have an ultra-thin crust, so you aren't left feeling stuffed and bloated after eating a few slices. Stella offers a very cozy atmosphere inside with a brick oven and is a great place to go on a winter's night, or if the weather is nice you can sit outside along the sidewalk and people watch. I have tried several of their pizzas, and my favorites are: the Pistachio, the Sausage, and the San Daniele. The Pistachio is definitely my number one. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I also highly recommend the Sheep's Milk Ricotta appetizer and the Arancini. Top it all off with a cold Peroni, and you're good to go!
(4)Paige C.
Ugh I hate to downgrade my review after a few really pleasantly delicious meals here, but things have definitely gone downhill... Stopped by last night around 8:30 and the place was DEAD..maybe 4 other parties? I was shocked because every other time I had been there the place was packed and there was a wait. I was excited that we could be seated so soon and figured it was a fluke, but after the meal I think the slow night was probably because other people have noticed the evident decline. I will say the Caesar salad that I ordered was sublime. The romaine was crisp and fresh and the dressing was delicious. Garlicky and creamy and honestly one of the best renditions of the classic salad I have had in the city. We also went with the ricotta and flat bread starter. Yuck! Gross! Blarg! (It was so gross it deserves the invention of a new word to explain how I feel about it.) The ricotta was grainy and gloopy. Maybe I am spoiled bc I live on 13th with easy access to the heavenly ricotta available at Zavino and Barbuzzo. This is a travesty to the cheese world. I don't even know how they made it so badly, but it was. We went with the sausage pizza, ordered well done. When it came out I had high hopes seeing the bubbly black charred bits on the crust, but one bite in I realized it was false advertising. I can only guess that the temperature of wood fire oven was WAY off...the dough cooked too quickly on the outside giving the appearance of a well cooked pizza, but in reality the interior was still chewy and doughy--not even close to done! The other big offense was the greasiness of the pie. At first I thought it was just very fatty (albeit flavorful sausage) but I started watching the chef actually making the pizzas (we were sitting at the bar overlooking the oven.) When every single pizza came out of the oven he proceeded to pour more olive oil on it...why?! It isn't adding flavor to the pizza, just additional fat and moisture. Maybe on a crispy pizza it wouldn't have been so offensive but on my barely cooked dough it was a mess. We also ordered a carafe of sangria to split. While the flavor was a little too sweet for me, it was drinkable. My only question is why are they serving apple/cinnamon sangria in the Spring? Shouldn't sangria have a seasonal fresh profile...very confusing drinking this on a warm April night. I am sad to say I probably will not be back to Stella after last night. And based on the dearth of customers, I can assume that I am not the only one that's not making a return trip. Sad Face.
(2)Olga M.
Nothing is better than a well-executed Napoletana style pizza. Starr's empire delivers as always. The only reason I'm rating Stella at 4 stars is the bang for a buck - the pies are a tad small for their price, in my humble opinion. The dough, the sauce, the charr! Very nice for a family outing (feel comfortable bringing our wild 2 year old toddler over) or for a casual date. A true neighborhood gem in the neighborhood where Philly comes from al over the corners to dine out. PS. It always cracks me up when people complain about 'burnt' pizza crust in Napoletana style pizza....man, it's like complaining that meat is too raw in tartar!
(4)Abby I.
Pizzeria Stella is located right across the charming Headhouse Square. This is the perfect al fresco dining spot! I came here on a Saturday night with friends and we ordered 4 of the 13 pies on the menu- Quattro Formaggi, Spinach, Sausage, and Pistachio (my pick!). Each topping combination is well thought out creating a happiness of flavors in my mouth. Whoever thought of putting pistachios on a pizza in genius! The only negative about Pizzeria Stella is that all of our pizza pies had burned crusts. All of our crusts looked like it had a pattern of burnt polka dots! Our waitress was very attentive making sure that our beverage glasses were always refilled. Plates were cleared immediately upon finishing. I will be returning but next time, no more burnt crusts please!
(4)Emma T.
Really great location and awesome brick-oven pizzas. The waiter told us they usually suggest one pizza per person, but they are easily sharable. My mom had the rock shrimp pasta, which came in a creamy tomato sauce and was sublime. Their beer is good value, but as is the case with any Philly restaurant, the wine is expensive. The great thing about Pizzeria Stella is that they have (actually tasty) house wine that is significantly cheaper.
(4)Thijs B.
We had a great dinner at Stella's! The pizza's were really good and tasteful. The crust was thin and crispy. We had the Pepperoni and Spinach pizza and they were both very good. The people were very nice and the food came real quick.
(4)Brian C.
Pizzeria Stella has that nice polished Stephen Starr feel to it, which I really appreciate. The dining room has long tables, and a beautiful wood fire oven with white tile on the wall. A pretty lovely setting. The pizzas there are good, really not much to complain about. They're slightly on the smaller side, but that's okay (we Americans seriously eat too much). At the same time though, the pizzas didn't blow me away, which is okay too. The Tartufo is a really nice pizza, but the flavor profile is so similar to the Uovo pizza at Barbuzzo (it's the egg and black truffle) that I almost feel like I'm eating a knock-off. We also had the Margherita, which was fine too. I don't get cravings for pizza that often, I think perhaps it's memories of school lunches and dorm pizzas that draw me away from it, and Pizzeria Stella does offer a good selection of quality pizzas, but for some reason I'm not chomping at the bit to come back right away.
(3)Isabelle K.
I want to not love it because I have a weird love-hate with Starr restaurants. But do love it. This is my go-to for brick oven pizza in Philly. I've had every one of their pizzas and they're all chargrilled joy. My all-time faves are their margherita (can't go wrong with a classic), lamb (serious comfort food!), and pancetta (bacon in Italian is still delicious). My favorite thing on the menu is definitely their grilled octopus salad. It's salty and refreshing at the same time. That lime and herb in the salsa verde dressing really kicks up the dish and the octopus is cooked perfectly every time (not an easy feat!) Their cocktails are pretty decent too but honestly, all I need is the octopus salad and some brick oven deliciousness.
(4)Jay K.
VEGETARIAN REVIEW: Appetizer: We ordered some kind of bread too, it was just really crispy with a lot of oil on it. No flavor besides bread & oil. Pizza: Pizza was undercooked & sauce had too much basil in it. Cheese had no flavor. It didn't taste like that stringy or delicious mozzarella cheese I'm used to getting. Beer: Beer selection included a few craft beers, which was nice. Service: Good service! It's probably why I gave it a two instead of a one. Decor: Cute... it would be a good first date place. Also, it's more of an upscale place so don't expect any traditional pizzeria appetizers like fries or mozzarella sticks! NOTE: I came here for pizza, it wasn't good. I'm unsure about the pasta, so please don't let me deter you away from that. I want to try to remain unbiased. But, as far as coming back: I wouldn't come here again nor would I recommend it (for pizza).
(2)Adam S.
Good wood fired pizza. They use quality ingredients but for a 15 dollar margarita pizza, I expect larger portions. Over all, I would have to say as far as taste and quality, one of the better pizza spots in the city.
(3)Sara G.
Just a quick update to let you all know that I am still loving Pizzeria Stella. And last time we were there, we finally tried some apps and were so delighted! The shrimp arrabiata, broccoli rabe, and grilled octopus were all SO GOOD. In fact, the grilled octopus was some of the yummiest, meatiest octopus I've had in a while. I am hungry just thinking about it. Oh, and the pizza and service are still fantastic too.
(5)Aruna A.
So I've been thinking about going to Stella for a VERY long time. This plan never came to fruition at any point in time - until it was a backup plan tonite. I was supposed to hit up Federal Donuts, but b/c they were already sold out of both donuts and chicken, we decided this would be a delicious alternative. When we arrive, we were seated promptly The space is really nice, I like the ambiance and decor. The outside seating also had heaters, which seems like it could be a great idea for a crisp fall evening. The menu is easy to understand and pretty simple, and from what I tasted, delicious. I had the margherita pie, and it was AMAZING. I loved it. Beyond loved it. I would have gladly taken it home and had it's babies. Though that is really biologically impossible, you must catch my drift. It's great. I cant' wait to go back and eat my way through the rest of this menu. Damn you Stella, I now have to go to the gym.
(5)Michael M.
So Sunday afternoon at 1pm we wandered in to a table at the ready. There were folks here, probably 2/3rds of the place was full, but we were surprise to find a seat so quickly based on what we had read. We ordered the octopus and calamari appetizer, and I considered the marinated olives but we opted for a fourth pizza instead. The octopus and calamari was very good. Not a chewy bit in it, with olives, tomatoes, olive oil, onion, and, surprisingly, potatoes. It was very good and I'd order it again if I had someone to share it with. It's a hefty portion. We ordered the margherita, pepperoni, piccante, and tartufo pizzas. For three very hungry people, these were almost completely eaten, with three slices left to bring home. The margherita was my favorite. The papery thin yet crispy crust, tart tomatoes, and rich cheese simple yet delicious. The pepperoni was very good, reminding me of old school handmade neighborhood pie. The tiny slices adorned the pizza plentifully and had cooked into little dish like retainers of flavor. Yum. The piccante was also very good, and my son's favorite. With just enough heat to give it kick without overwhelming the generous portion of capicola. Finally, the tartufo. Very good, with the egg yolks broken tableside and smeared over the pie. There's no missing the black truffle either. Overall, very good but apparently mine alone, as everyone else with me was too squeamish to eat the raw egg! Service was perfect and precise, and we were in and full and out in under thirty minutes. Some of the tables are a bit close together, and beware the common tables. Why you ask? Small humans eating pizza aren't too careful where they place their hands. I watch one young'un place a saucey paw onto an older ladies fur coat while we were there. If it's fake, it will wash out. If not, she deserved it for wearing fur. If it were a young couple on a date, that could have been a problem. Four pies, an appetizer, three drinks and a bottle of water were ~$80, so it's not cheap. If we had ordered liquor - wowzers. But everything looks good. I think Starr has another winner hear and as long as the quality doesn't tank, as so often it does a few months after opening here in Philly, I'll make Stella one of my routine stops.
(4)Paul B.
Pretty cool place. The pizza was great. Nothing really made this place stand out! I'd go again for the pizza! It's A-OK!
(3)Lynda Z.
First off, I'd like to give them 3 1/2 Stars! Anyway, I think their pizza is awesome, with one exception. The black char bubbles that happens to the crust. It's a 900 degree brick oven, I get it. But, I don't get that from other places with the same type of ovens. Why?!? We recently had dinner at Krescendo up in Brooklyn which has the same oven and they didn't burn their crust so why does Stella ALWAYS do it. It makes me not want to go back. I've had the Mragherita which is very good. I love the Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese. The Marinara is not bad, but on the bland side and the Four cheese is tasty. The Arancini isn't too bad either. The servers are always friendly, so no worries there. Parking is usually available (during the day anyway). Stop burning my crust and I'll boot you up to 4 stars and eat there more often. Damn you Stephen Starr lol.
(3)Maximiliano S.
Cool place, people are great and so is the pizza! Im saying it is a 4 stars because they don't have wifi. Mushroom pizza, yay!
(4)Walter K.
Pizzeria Stella has been calling to me since it opened. I love a good pie, and my freind Quinn lives around the block. I was (an still am) thrown off by Starr's comments that good pizza isn't available in Philly. Tacconelli's has always been a special treat for me, and it's widely considered some of the best pizza in the country, not just Philadelphia. Is Starr just pimping up his new place? Or does he really believe that if it's not under his watch, it's not that good? I may never know. For an appetizer, Quinn and I split arancini. It's a creamy, buttery, mushroom risotto rolled into a ball, lightly breaded and deep fried. The outside has the texture of hushpuppy. The contrast of the fried outside and the delicious pasta inside truly makes a great dish. I don't remember having arancini before, so I don't have anything else to compare it to, but this was a great way to start our meal. Stella is likely the fanciest pizza you will find in Philadelphia, and truth be told, it is some of the best. My mouth is watering a bit just thinking about it. They are small, at 12 inches in diameter. Much has been made of the pistachio pizza, and I was quite happy with our decision to split it. It is a white pizza topped with chopped pistachios, red onion, fontina, and olive oil. The combination and ratio of these toppings was great, and having nuts on a pizza tasted completely natural. Our second pie was the Piccante: capicola (prosciutto-like spied and cured ham), provolone, crushed red pepper, and tomato sauce. The sauce is great; sweet and tangy, but still only a compliment to the other toppings. This pie was good, but the capicola was much too salty, and seemed to dominate the whole pie. Quinn disagreed with me though. The Piccante was her favorite, while I preferred the pistachio. Sadly, the beer list here is weak. The beers are either not very good, overpriced, and in some cases, both. I'm interested in how Starr's beer garden shapes up. The rest of the menu is rounded out with twelve pies in total, and there should be one that would please any palate. Menu can be seen here. The service and atmosphere are right in line with Starr's other locations. The open kitchen where the pies are made and the prominent oven are gimmicky. But they're cool gimmicks nonetheless. Bottom Line: Pizzas are small and expensive, but delicious. The outdoor seating here makes this a great summer or spring dinner. You'll drop around $50 for two without drinks, but it is worth it. The pies are really great, and the medley of toppings is a real treat.
(4)Jay Y.
There's nothing like walking in to a warm restaurant on a cold night with the place dimly light, the room filled with the smell of pizza with a large brick oven in the middle of the place. This place came highly recommended by a friend and we came on a fairly quiet Sunday night. We ordered a five pizzas and I had a slick of each and their pizzas did not disappoint. My favorite was one of the specials that I did not catch the name for, it has nice spicy kick to it, which really hit the spot. The tartufo was also very good along with the sausage. The brussels sprouts one was probably the least tasty in my opinion. Remember when you hated brussels sprouts as a kid? well, apparently putting them on pizza didn't make them any better, and you would think putting anything on pizza would make it better ! Overall a nice place to have dinner and on a better night, probably a nice area to grab some beers afterwards...
(4)Victoria L.
Went here for Pizza Week: their version of restaurant week. $25 for an appetizer, pizza, and dessert. It was surprisingly empty. My friend and I decided it was a good deal, but there was no way we could each finish all that food. So we got 1 Pizza Week menu and added an extra pizza so we could try a different kind. We started with a caesar salad because we wanted something lighter before eating 2 pizzas. The dressing is fine, but the croutons were atrociously hard. If there are less than 5 ingredients, you should make sure all of them are good. The waitress recommended one of the large bottles of beers to share. We ordered the Bruton Bianca ... delicious! We both loved it. I'm going to have to hunt it down. Next we received our pizzas: a margherita and the San Daniele with prosciutto on it. The pizzas are decent, nice chewy texture to the crust. Not really what I expect from brick oven pizza. The real game changer of the meal is the gelato. We got coffee and it was delicious. It's not that creamy, which was okay after trying to eat 2 pizzas. My favorite part of the meal was the biscotti it came with! Overall, it was a disappointing for a Stephen Starr experience. But the spot is nice and casual, so I might come back?
(3)Jonny S.
Came here for pizza, which is indeed great. Choices are pretty good but I don't recall it ever changing. My gripe tonight was with the service - and it's not an over the top complaint, just a suggestion - maybe it was a slow night but I don't like being hovered over & interrupted with every single thing that is brought out (soup, wine, pizza salad). I don't think it's necessary. Maybe Starr's rule?
(4)Diane S.
This is a favorite of mine. The food is very fresh and tastes excellent. The wood fired pizza is great and comes out in minutes. I also love the tomato basil pasta. Just great! I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Bruce B.
I went to Pizzeria Stella the other day for a afternoon meet with a couple of friends. We were discussion their flower selections for their upcoming wedding. Right away there was a problem, our server seems to be a little miffed that we were concentrating on flower photos and not the menu. We ordered 3 glasses of wine and 2 different pizzas. We continued to discuss the flowers and when our server returned to our table with our pizzas, she stood there holding the pizzas until we moved our photos out of the way before she put them on the rack. What an unbelievable attitude! It was mid afternoon and besides us I think they were 3 more people having a late lunch, which is why I didn't understand her poor attitude. We ordered our pizzas, one was a traditional pepperoni, and the other 1 was piled high with salad greens. The pizza dough was similar to Nomad pizza, without the flavor, and it was a little too chewy for me. All in all I think that the meal was a little too expensive for what we received and the service was horrendous- on purpose it seemed. I think I need to try it again, But I am NOT going to break my ne.ck getting back there.
(3)Christina O.
Delicious! Had the calamari and margarita pie, would definitely recommend giving Stella's a try!
(5)Naz O.
You could rate Stella in very different ways depending on what you were looking for in your dining experience. If you're looking for a high-end restaurant, then Stella isn't your first choice. However, if you are looking for a more casual (but still refined) experience with great food, then Stella is as good as it gets. I've tried pretty much everything on the menu and there hasn't been anything I didn't like. I had my 21st birthday dinner here with a large group of friends, and they were extremely helpful with organizing it even though they don't normally take reservations. Service is great, the atmosphere is very cozy and welcoming, and the food is one of the best I've had in Philly.
(5)Schuyler L.
Who trained Stephen Starr's servers? It upsets me when the server takes my plate while other people at the table are clearly still eating. This is rude. Just a note: the inside of this restaurant is extremely loud. It was uncomfortable. Although slightly formulaic, the restaurant was well laid out and beautifully decorated. As for the pizza, the dough was just right, the toppings were fresh, and the pizza was delicious. Expect to pay $15-$20 per 14" pizza. The hostess couldn't put our name in until everyone in our party was AT the restaurant. I understand this is relatively standard, but they were not busy at all. We would have drank dranks at the table while we waited... but you don't want our money? Lastly, if you yelpers attend with six or more people, ask to have check reprinted without the automatic 20% gratuity added. Then tip 20%.
(3)Matt G.
Low key but creative and high-quality. I wouldn't take a first date here (or anyone you are trying to impress) but great for established couples. Great pizza, good atmosphere, and outdoor seating. You may have to deal with screaming kids.
(4)Allie H.
So many phenomenal creations here, leaving me dreaming of pizza in Italy. Puffy and tender crusts circle a thin-bottomed pie, mottled with just-right black charring. All the pies I've eaten here -- from the simple tomato mozzarella and basil option to the indulgent Tartufo with runny egg yolk -- were oh so surprising and pleasant . Most are topped with mozzarella that tastes fresh and young. The sausage pizza is spiced with long hot pesto that adds a welcome kick. A spinach pizza feels nearly healthy (though not quite, with all that olive oil) with garlicky sauteed spinach, pine nuts and mozzarella. A mushroom pie is overwhelmed with paper thin slices of rosemary ham, a garlic cream sauce and smoked moz. My roommate once had a creative special with sauteed pears and a soft cheese, which was a strikingly adventurous choice for a typically conservative eater. No matter, the few leftovers were boxed up and eaten cold the next day. Despite all the combinations of toppings, the classic Margherita will always be my favorite. Drinks are expensive and pours are light, but a glass of decent house red for $6 isn't a terrible drain on the wallet. There are plenty of other options on the menu -- deep bowls of salad, pasta, antipasta -- but why bother ordering them? Stick with the restaurant's focus and you won't go wrong.
(4)Melissa A.
We went to Stella's on a Friday night about 7pm and were pleasantly surprised by no wait. Everyone was really friendly and our waitress was great. We started with a caesar salad which was fine, and the rosemary flatbread that was great. but, oh, the pizza is wonderful! WONDERFUL! I am a vegetarian, and pizza is one of my most important food groups. We tried the Picante (half without meat so I could try it) and the Spinach pizza. BOTH FANTASTIC. The crust is usually my least favorite part of pizza, but Stella's crust is DELICIOUS. I really loved everything about their pizza. Pizzeria Stella fantastic and by mid-meal I was already planning our next visit. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Noheli T.
I've been to Stella's a handful of times and have never had a a bad experience! I can honestly say that it is my favorite pizza place in the city! I went yesterday afternoon with a friend and ordered the San Daniele and Pepperoni pizza. Both of them were delicious. The Pepperoni was a bit greasy (as expected) but it wasn't overwhelming like at other restaurants.We also ordered a pitcher of Sangria and it was some of the best that I have ever had! I can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Melissa V.
This place is a perfect pizza place. The pizza and salads are delish. Great service and atmosphere. Try it!
(5)Amy B.
My husband and I are obsessed with this place. Not kidding -- obsessed. Stella might even be considering getting a restraining order. We've tried each and every pizza at least once...and within a 10 day span (if it took that long). So, here's the pizzas in order of my favorites: 1. Sausage - the best pizza ever 2. Margherita - might sound boring, but it's pretty amazing 3. Mushroom - yummy creamy garlic sauce, yummy shrooms, yummy ham 4.Tartufo - you won't believe how good this smells, let alone tastes 5. Marinara - delicious cheeseless pizza, whodda thunk? 6. Pepperoni - can't go wrong with this one 7. Piccante - the favorite of most of the employees 8. Spinach - the pine nuts are a great addition 9. Zucchini - a much better topping than you'd think! 10. San Daniele - love the arugula 11. Quattro Formaggi - the tomato sauce is freaking gooood 12. Pistachio - a buttery sauce and thinly sliced red onions 13. Panchetta - very bold and delicious flavors By the way, just because one has to rank last by no means should that indicate that I didn't like it. I love each and every one as if they were my babies (and if I ate babies, which I do not).
(5)R F.
I had the grilled octopus salad first, then the special pasta for the night - a rabbit ragu (with onion and olives) over chocolate pasta - an excellent dish (not sweet, but spicey and savory) - finished it with a generous scoop of gelato - service was knowledgeable and helpful and quick - great casual place with great food!
(4)Kaitlin L.
I wanted to like this place. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised with how low-key it seemed. I was honestly kind of mad at myself for never visiting Stella before that moment. The pizza was tasty. It reminded me of pizza in Italy, just a bit smaller. The ingredients were fresh but not exactly memorable. We ordered the margherita and san daniele pizzas and split them among 3 of us. I ended up not hungry, but not exactly full. We also ordered one beer each. The shock came with the bill. Two pizzas and three beers ended up costing us $50. Fifty dollars for 2 relatively small and somewhat forgettable pizzas and 3 beers. Not worth my money, sorry.
(3)Jessica B.
This place has great, real Italian pizza. Anyone who tells you otherwise has never actually been to Italy and had pizza there. Italian pizza is not the thick crust Pizza Hut-esque junk one gets here in the US. In Italy the pizza is crispy (and, yes, occasionally a little burnt) at the edge and moist in the middle. You have to eat it with a fork and knife (because that's what civilized people do) and having your pizza with a tasty glass of wine is normal (because what's better with a garlicky tomato sauce than a rich red), not pretentious (says the girl talking about pizza in Italy. Moving on). We had the arancini, caesar salad (REAL ANCHOVIES IN THE DRESSING!! Hallelujah.) and the sausage pizza. Service was GREAT. Many of Stephen Starr's restaurants leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, but not this place. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mikey I.
I remember coming here shortly after their opening and being completely underwhelmed. I've gotta admit, I'm kind of a Starr-hater. I'm just never impressed by any of the restaurants in neither decor, ambiance and most especially food. I've given this place a few more chances but I'm still not wild about it. I will give Stella props though for being a good neighborhood establishment. This is the place to come in a group of 3-4 or more and share several pizzas. How is it? It's good, but for some reason, I'm just not crazy about it. The pancetta is probably my favorite. Will I pop in here occasionally? Sure, if I'm in the neighborhood, looking for a nice sit-down place and it's pizza that I'm craving or settling for. Do I ever crave Stella specifically? Eh, not really.
(3)Max W.
Came here for lunch with the sister and father and the place was packed to the gills. Waited about 20 min and we were seated. Stella has a busy but satisfying atmosphere however it fits into its quiet Society Hill neighborhood very nicely. We had the margherita, sausage, and spinach pizzas. They are on the small side yet are extremely tasty. The spinach was my favorite. In addition the staff were all friendly and helpful and the pizzas came out quite fast which was a pleasant surprise. My dad talked to the guy working the dough and the guy said they usually make 600 pizzas a day.
(4)Josie D.
I have yet to have a bad meal at any Stephen Starr restaurant and can't find a reason to give one less then 4 stars really. This is no different. Really cute pizza place. In true Stephen Starr style the whole place is really themed in sort of an Italy/pizza bar style. We always enjoy our pizza. It's a little pricey but way better then most anything on South Street so we always go for it.
(4)John F.
Six slices of self-satisfaction? 1200 calories of self-depricating pretension? Yuppies coming to be at a Starr restaurant, eating pizza with FORK AND KNIFE and sipping on a glass of wine. WTF. The only reason I'm giving this spot a 3 instead of a 2 is that it adds a nice crowd to the corner of 2nd and Lombard (way better than Cosi used to). Just as I expect from a Starr restaurant, it's made to seem better than it really is. I've been a couple of times when I was at Head House and in the mood for pizza and each time the experience was okay. The first time I went, the waitress actually said "The chef recommends...", you've got to be f'ing kidding me, the "pizza chef?" I worked at pizza hut as a teenager and made the pizzas, was I a chef? Oh, I wasn't because Steven Starr wasn't paying me to be awesome. All kidding aside, if you're in the area, it's not a bad spot to stop but don't expect the best.
(3)Lawlie P.
The pizza is really promising. But as other have mentioned the crust is the weakest part. I really like food that is tastefully charred. However the Stella style of crust is just inedibly charred in my opinion. Still very good, but you will likely opt out of eating the crust. I will add that I really love how the pepperoni puckers and is very crunchy (just like in the pizza of my dreams). The tartufu is good, although very rich. I did not want more than a slice or two. Would not recommend as a solo pizza unless you know what you're getting into.
(3)Sarah R.
A few coworkers and I visited the restaurant last Friday for a going-away lunch and we all walked away happy and full! We didn't call ahead but they weren't busy when we got there so they were fully able to accommodate our large party of 14. We ordered a full variety of the pizzas and they were all delicious. Its difficult to pick just one favorite but I think the Margarete was spot on. They also were quick to come out which was awesome because we were hungry and ready to eat. The service was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and had a lot of great suggestions. Don't think they only have pizza here either! A couple folks had salads and were very please with them. Their gelato is to die for! They are homemade and change frequently. I would definitely recommend this place for a cute date night or obviously for a large hungry crowd for lunch on a Friday.
(5)Saloni M.
The restaurant turned out to be a good choice to avoid the crazy Valentine's crowds at most places. My friend and I were traveling on business and wanted to find a place to get in and get out. We were pleasantly surprised two receive 2 freshly baked cookies with our to go order - probably just a special V Day inclusion. This restaurant is casual - a good place to go with the fam or some friends. However, I feel like the prices are pretty high here for what you get. I think our bill was $40 for 2 people for pizza... We ordered the tartufo - a pizza with black and white truffles topped with an egg. This pizza was as we expected very flavorful though it knocked us back $18 for a 12-inch. The other pizza we ordered was several steps down. The spinach pizza ($14) ended up being topped with soggy, cooked spinach. Not much flavor happening here. We nibbled at it but ended up leaving most of it. The menu is entirely pizza, a few appetizers, and salad. I'm seeing photos, as I write this review, suggested of pasta - but there is definitely no pasta on the menu. The salads are fairly generic - which doesn't really go well with the attempt at a gourmet concept.. and the gourmet prices. We both were in the mood to order salad but all the options were so blah. The main thing that bothered me was that there is only one dessert option. Gelato. That's it. What? This is a restaurant. Where is my cake? Or Tiramisu? Or Anything sweet. It was Valentine's Day and we needed chocolate, but ice cream is not feasible for take outs. It seemed like taking out is pretty popular here so the restaurant is losing business by not having a sweet option for take outs. In fact when I was picking up, a father and son came for what appeared to be after dinner dessert and pretty much just walked out when they found out all that ice cream was the only option. All in all - I don't really see myself personally coming back because there just was nothing special happening here. I'm giving 3 stars for decent food, cleanliness, and good service.
(3)Matt B.
they have the best broccoli rabe (starter) in the city, perhaps the world. It sounds simple to make broccoli rabe. Most people think you just saute it. like spinach. What a mistake that would be. I don't know exactly how they do it but it's probably a multi-step process involving boiling at some point. so yeah it's that good... so good i had to update this review for the 2nd time. Stella might be my favorite restaurant in Philly, they always do it right.
(5)Jamie G.
Stopped here for lunch while working nearby. Would not classify this as a quick lunch but that was fine for me (maybe on another day I'd look for faster options). Ordered the minestrone soup and split the spinach pizza with my coworker. Both were delish! I wish the soup came in a smaller portion - it was a large bowl and almost more of a meal then an app (I did severely burn mouth but that was prob my own fault?). Pizza was perfection - incredible crust and toppings. Overall a little pricier then my usual lunch spot but you get what you pay for? I would absolutely come back here if I was in the neighborhood.
(4)Matt H.
Great location and even better food. Located on the corner of Lombard St in Headhouse Square I'm happy to say I've tried almost every pizza on the menu (depending on what my craving of the day is) and they are all delicious. My favorite being a tie between the Sausage and the Spinach pie. It is also safe to say that the Lamb Bolognese pasta here would suffice as my last meal.
(5)Erica M.
We stopped by Pizzeria Stella for lunch after some shopping at the Headhouse Farmer's Market. They have plenty of outdoor seating, which was great on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was a REALLY funky smell outside and we actually asked to move from the first table they sat us at (the side street was worse than the front). She moved us right around the corner and the smell was still unpleasant, but I wasn't going to ask to move again. There were plenty of open tables outside, but oh well. The smell wasn't coming from the restaurant (obviously out of their control) but still made it unpleasant. We ordered the sausage pizza to share. The pizza was ok...the flavor was good (a bit on the salty side, especially the bites that had visible sprinkled sea salt). The sausage was flavorful, which we enjoyed. The crust was only ok. It was flimsy enough that we couldn't pick it up to eat. The tomato sauce was flavorless, so I'm glad the sausage that plenty of seasoning. Our server was friendly and accessible. Overall, I don't think we'd return because it's not nearly as good as our other favorite wood fired pizza places. But it certainly wasn't BAD, and the prices are very fair.
(3)Jim C.
This pizza sucks. It tries to be uber authentic and its not even close. I've been to Italy Stephen Starr and your pizza has about as much taste as the toilet paper in the worst pizza place in Italy. The bar prices are outrageous. The wine is pathetic for the prices they think to charge. The wine we ordered was spoiled, as was the second bottle. I'd definitely call myself a fan of Starr's establishments but he completely got pizza wrong. All-in-all, a massive disappointment.
(1)A G.
With all the brick oven pizza places popping up in the city, you really have to have your A game on. The pizza here is OK. I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Toppings are generous and fresh. The crust just doesn't have enough bite for a brick oven pie. They are listed as "personal sized" but can feed two not really starving people. Service was a delight and I enjoyed staring into the fiery pit. Dinner and a show!
(4)Jason C.
Amazing... Stella's dough is freaking amazing and their oven does it justice (maybe it's the oven, maybe it's the dough - either way - it's a winning combo)...chewy and delicious on the inside...crisp and hot on the outside with the perfect amount of char/blisters. Gotta stay with the classics - pepperoni, pancetta, and margherita - but sometimes I'll stray, but I always regret it...sorry (but the shrimp don't cut it, and some of your other toppings put out too much liquid and ruin the pie)... Meatballs are great starters, as are the arancini, and the octopus...I've learned to order lightly on the apps, otherwise, I'm bummed b/c I'm too full to eat all the pizza. Place is great - just wish parking were better and PPA weren't out in full force in that lot.
(4)Jennifer T.
Be ready to spend a lot of money! I must say, Stephen Starr did a great job renovating the old Cosi location..the large red doors outside really gave it a European-London Phone Booth kind of feel and it was rather nice. The decor was simple but much attention to detail was made...from the Leaning Tower of Pizza mural in the back wall to newspaper wrapped light fixtures, the place was totally cool. But, then, all Stephen Starr places are kind of cool, right? Right, so about the food....*sigh* well, I just didn't expect to shell out $20 for a 10 inch pizza that was just slightly better than OK. Here's a breakdown of the food: Octopus & Calamari Appetizer - this was OK. The seafood was lightly seasoned and mixed with a few tomatoes and herbs to create a salad like app. Arancini - I was really excited to try these fried risotto balls, but they were kind of bland. It came with a marinara sauce but it didn't help much. Margherita Pizza - not bad. The flavors were simple but very delicious... Tartufo - by far the favorite of the night, but of course my group and I are a little biased when it comes to anything with truffles. The raw egg that was broken on the pizza once delivered to your table is a nice touch and I would absolutely recommend everyone try this pizza. (Just to clarify, they don't crack an egg on the pizza once it comes out...an egg is baked sunny side up into the pizza and the yolk is broken and then smeared once it comes out to the table). My only complaint was the strong rosemary scent on the pizza which I'm not a huge fan of...but, nonetheless, it was good pizza. (For nearly $20 bucks it should be!) San Daniele - I was hoping this pizza would be good. Smoked mozzarella, prosciutto, baby arugula....sounds good right? Eh...it was just OK. It was actually the least favorite at the table that night. The salt from the prosciutto was too prominent and overwhelming. The arugula was also too much...we felt like we were eating a salad and not a pizza. The place is cute and in all Stephen Starr fashion, be ready to put few extra dollars for his name on some OK food. I'm not sure if I would go back any time soon.
(3)Joe M.
Excellent service. Our server handled a few minor issues including a kitchen mistake on our order with grace and ease. Her pleasant manner made us feel comfortable. Arancini/ fried risotto balls was very good and served with marinara. The pizza was good but not as crispy as I expected and both pies were slightly watery in the middle. All the toppings were very good and fresh..... The dough was very light and crispy around the edges and had that wonderful burnt wood flavor. I still like Tacconelli's pizza better, but Stella's was very good.
(3)Jessica M.
I kind of felt like I was cheating on Zavino last night. But my Midtown Village fave need not worry, while I love it at Stella their location doesn't lend itself to nearly as frequent visits. HA! But back to Stella - - I had another great dinner here and it is surely a place I will return. After being seated by an open window on a lovely warm evening, we started off with some glasses of house wine, grilled asparagus topped with a fried egg and a crunchy, fresh salad with romaine, cucumbers, mint and more. The crispness of the asparagus with the smooth creaminess of the fried egg was perfect. And although I am never a fan of mint in my meals, it really worked in this salad. Pizzas were both meat-free this time - spinach and tartufo. The spinach on the spinach pizza was sauteed perfectly and that combined with the little snap of the pine nuts made for a great combo. I had to talk one of my fellow diners into trying the tartufo. I am still not sure if the others enjoyed it, but I know i did! Seriously, how can you not pick something with (yet another) fried egg? The server does a nice job with presentation of this one...they crack the yolk table-side and swirl it over the top of the pizza. It begs to be devoured. Important to note, if you don't love the flavor of truffle, don't choose this one! The flavor is strong and not for all. Dessert was house made gelato - stracciatella for me (vanilla w/chocolate shavings), hazelnut and lemon for my companions. The perfect amount and sweetness to top off our dinner. The restaurant is open and breezy and the staff is friendly and helpful. Definitely a place to return again and again and bring friends who like to try and share. On my next visit, I am planning to sit outside and try one of the Italian "sodas" - cocktails inspired by classic Italian soda flavors.
(4)Jean E.
I've tried almost all their pizza's, but my favorite is the Margherita. The buffalo mozzerella and marinara sauce is SO good and fresh. I get one to-go almost every week when I don't feel like cooking.
(5)Eric H.
Mushroom margarita!!! THIS PLACE IS GREAT!! We sat outside during the Sunday farmers market. Probably a little too cold now, but great people watching. Pizza was amazing as well. Thin crust, brick oven, with the taste of the seasoned dough. Stop by.
(4)Jessica E.
I am no pizza connoisseur...in fact I rarely eat it since I cannot have dairy and cheese is prevalent ingredient. But I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza that I had at Stella. After hearing positive reviews, I decided that I would call and see if they could accommodate my dairy-free request and the woman on the phone was very reassuring and suggested the marinara, which is just tomato sauce, oregano, and garlic. I took her advice and was not disappointed. The oregano and garlic were fresh and flavorful. Service was excellent. Stella's wine list consists of all Spanish wines. I decided to start with a glass of Cabernet, which was decent, but I was just as happy with my second glass of wine, a Montepulciano, which was their house red and $4 cheaper. My only gripe for the evening is that they charged me $3 for a fountain soda, which seems quite excessive. The food prices seemed reasonable though. Just be aware that Stella does not take reservations and you may have to wait for a table. On a Saturday night at 7:30 we had a 40 minute wait.
(4)Robert T.
A pizza fantasy, particularly the pepperoni and sausage pizzas. It's casual, but very nice, extremely comfortable. Don't be put off by the ownership, the food is so good it doesn't matter who owns it. First rate.
(5)Rows F.
Stella = Stellar! San Daniele pizza is to die for; the arugala on top is a nice, fresh addition. Also watching the pizza boys in action is pretty fun ;)
(5)Eric N.
Stopped in yesterday, after finding out that Lorenzo's was closed. Some pics showed a pic of slices. This is a sit down establishment, and not a by the slice joint. I got the Margarita (sp?) and two salads(romaine). The ingredients were top notch. Very fresh ingredients, very tasty, albeit slightly procy. Pie made in front of us from scratch in the wood fired oven. Salad was a generous size for the 7 buck price. Pizza made to feed to adults. Definitely a keeper!
(5)Sruthi S.
Stephen Starr finally got it right. In a city where he's been known for overdone, overpriced, and over talked, with Stella Pizzeria, he scored on the unpretentious atmosphere, the unpretentious price, and the unpretentious but amazing pizza. You get a perfect pizza - satisfyingly salty, thin, delicious. The tomato sauce on the margherita is downright delightful. Defintely go!
(5)Jen L.
Good Lord, another Steven Starr joint. I liked my food a lot. It's hard for me to find fault in ANY pizza, I even really sort of like the pizza you get at Chuck E. Cheese's. So, yes - I liked the pizza at Stella. We had the Polpette, which had meatballs on top. Yummmmmm. I also liked the arancini - fried rice balls? Yes, please. I've read reviews that the prices are too high but I didn't think so - it seemed pretty reasonable to me. The only thing I didn't love was how Stella is trying just a little too hard to be all rustic. I like my wine (especially if I am paying $11 a glass) to be served in stemware. Those squat little juice glasses? Save it for Villa di Roma. I'll be back. I hear they have Meatball Fiestas on Tuesdays.
(4)Joe S.
Very tasty, went with my daughters and we all loved our pizzas, ate everything and left full. Staff was very attentive and we loved the relaxed atmosphere. It's nice to mix up the whole pizza experience with a place like this. We'll be back for sure.
(4)Bertram B.
Sometimes I wish steven Starr would be content with the little concept restaurants he has. Was Stella good? It was ok. Have I had better pizza? Yes! $95 plus tip for four pies, and sodas/espresso? My back right pocket is aching steven. You are a wallet rapist. How you convinced everyone that what you touch is worth it...brilliant. But this is a shot at all of your restaurants and you. You lack love. And you lack heart. And because of this, yeah you will make money, but you will NEVER have a great restaurant. sorry to be personal. PS stop wearing ripped up "gym" clothes to go check up on your money-traps. dress up and have some respect for your restaurants, their employees, their patrons and most importantly yourself. it makes you that much worse.
(2)Whoy G.
Been here 8 or 9 times...never disappointed...service excellent, decor nice, pizza excellent...
(4)Caroline D.
WOW! A friend brought me here recently. My bank is next door and I have driven by a thousand times. I was really impressed. You have to be doing something pretty special to stand out in the pizza department. I think I had the pizza w bacon and ?? It was so so good. This may not be a plus for some people, but it was bustling and kind of loud, which makes it easier to take kids, not that my child is loud - it's just more comfortable then a quiet stuffy restaurant. Just the kind of atmosphere where people don't give you dirty looks for taking your kid out for dinner! Anyway, the only downside was the tiny amount served in my $9 prosecco. Served in a regular glass a little over half full. Hmmm. Well, to bring back the highlights, the dessert of chocolate shaved gelato was probably the best gelato I have ever had.
(4)Elizabeth D.
My husband and I took out kids there a month ago and really were not impressed at all. The Tartufo was good but undercooked...they did remedy that which we appreciated but the rest of the pizzas just did not thrill... Since I am definately in the minority here, I think we need to go back and give it another chance.
(3)Christina G.
As I find in most Stephen Star restaurants, the service was very good. But I was not impressed with the food. Quality of food was very average and just nothing special. There is much tastier pizza options in the area for much less. They have 13 pizza options and the pizzas mostly range from $13 to $16 but they are a bit small. 1 pizza is not enough for two hungry adults. We ordered two appetizers and a pizza and it was just the right amount of food for 2 people. I am also not a big fan of meat on my pizza and most of the pizza options had meat. I am not a vegetarian but I prefer more veggie options for my pizza. I won't be back. I rather pick up an enormous slice at Lorenzos for $3. Or you can get a large delicious Sicilian pizza at Santuccis for the same price as a tiny pizza at Stella. The atmosphere is nice and there is outdoor seating but I care too much about the quality of the food to come back.
(2)Brian K.
The grilled octopus was out of this world. Great place.
(5)Monica T.
Pizza was excellent and so was the service.
(5)Krystal B.
It's okay pizza for me. When it comes to pizza, I have high expectations. I managed a pizza restaurant for over a year so it made me picky. This pizza place is really nice & friendly inside. The workers on the line seem like good people that are happy with their jobs. They are a hoot to watch when someone weird walks in, btw. The manager (&/or owner?) though, reminds me of one of those clueless, fashion saavy owners that walks around the restaurant with a rag pretending to do stuff, but really hasn't a clue. LOL! I was sitting there watching the guy waiting for Gordon Ramsay to come out from around the corner to ask him wtf he was doing!? LOL! The pizza left an after taste of being burnt. 3pm on a Saturday & there was almost no one in there. This is the issue I have with wood burning ovens, they heat unevely. I much prefer convention line pizza ovens only because they heat evenly. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE my pizza crust well done! I DO NOT love it burnt! There is a HUGE difference. Unfortunately, because Stella burned my pizza b/c of their inattention to hot spots in their oven, I won't be back. Usually, I give a restaurant three chances. Pizza, on the other hand, is a one shot deal with me. Also, for what I got...I found it to be overpriced. The pizzas are small & thin. Not my preference. Go to Pietro's a block and a half over instead. Pizza is waaaay better & waiters are fun to look at! Ha!
(2)Denise C.
I live around the corner and eat at Stella at least twice per month. I love their pizza's. There Pistachio pizza, while an odd combination is delicious. My kids also love it, so it is one of our go-to restaurants. I wish their were more appetizer/salad choices. While the gelato is delicious, they have taken some of their best flavors off the menu (milk chocolate, blackberry).
(4)Scott H.
Stella follows the tradition of all Starr restaurants (in my opinion) mediocre. Starr is not a creator. He just takes whats already "cool" and makes it into a mirror restaurant. I cant however complain about the service. The host and the server were very friendly. The marinade they use for the olives tasted gross too. if its gourmet pizza you seek, try Barbuzzo or Osteria.
(3)Cesar H.
Pizza is absolutely delicious. granted, we just came in for a pizza and a drink and it was just perfect. The place smells great, its clean, you see the pizza being made in front of you, couldn't ask for anything better. if you're just looking for a great pizza and a drink, this is your place.
(5)Iris M.
If you live anywhere near Philly and love dining out, you've heard the name Stephen Starr. The iconic restaurateur reportedly searched high and low for the perfect pizza crust recipe while holing himself up in NYC and sampling different pies from the city's best pizza joints. Sadly, Stephen's efforts don't translate into anything spectacular. He may have found the Valhalla of pizza crust recipes but his giant custom-built brick oven always manages to char the pizza almost beyond the point of recognition. Honestly, I've had better pizza at hole-in-the-wall spots around the city. I've given this place plenty of chances to redeem itself and it always comes up short. If you're dying to eat at a Starr restaurant, you'd be better off going to The Continenal.
(2)Abigail L.
I am not a fancy girl. I mean, sometimes I like to pretend to be, but deep down I always feel like the out of place peasant who accidentally got invited to some gala and everyone is whispering behind her back. Stella may be a Stephen Starr joint, but it won't make you feel like you need to go study up on etiquette and buy expensive clothes. It has a nice down homey, even family feel to it. I really appreciated the atmosphere, loud, warm, a little dark. Nice. My husband and I have been wanting to try this oddly located fancy pizza place for some time now. We're both truffle whores and had heard the tartufo is excellent. It is. I get really skeeved by sunny side up eggs so we asked them not to crack the yolk table side and they were nice enough to place it on his side of the pizza, leaving mine pristine and gross, egg bit free, but still drenched in truffley goodness. We also split the margherita pizza and some broccoli rabe, both delicious. You know the prison cooking scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta talks about how it's sliced so thin Paulie used a razor blade? I think Paulie was in the back slicing garlic. It melted in my mouth. The house red and white wines are nice, not gross and vinegary like most places. Four glasses of wine, one app, and two pizzas equalled $64 plus tip. Not too shabby at all for a date night. It was busy and the service was fine, I feel like it could've been a tad friendlier, though the hostess was all smiles and seemed very sweet.
(4)Carolyn H.
Finally got over to Stella for an early dinner before dropping off the boyfriend and his mom at Sir Paul's Wacho.. er.. Wells Fargo Center show. (Stella McCartney connection discovered just now, this very second, I swear.) Things I loved: --The SIZE of the place -- no waiting, no smooshedness, music not too loud for easy conversation. --The server. I don't know her name, but our sweet, tattooed waitress was super friendly and lovable without ever being overbearing or chatchy (even though she could probably get away with it, given this is a Starr jam) --The house wine! A nice glass of white wine for under $6 is surprisingly hard to find 'round here. --The back bar, which looks like a fun place to spend a happy hour Our party of four split: --The marinated olives (big huge fan of the greens; some blacks were a little squishy/over-ripe, but still tasty) --The salumi mixto app, which comes with rosemary bread (GET IT) --The San Daniele (prosciutto and smoked mozz with basically an arugula salad on top) --The Polpette (meatballs on a pizza! zomgz!) I wanted dessert but could not handle dessert -- even though their homemade-gelato offerings of the day included fresh basil. Oh well. Next time I want to go the Pistachio/Tartufo/Gelato route. Who's with me?
(4)James G.
Very good pie, probably the best in the south street area. Friendly attentive staff, and a very solid value.
(4)Laura M.
Awesome pizza! The restaurant is located in the lovely historic district of Philly (Queen's Village?). It's a beautiful neighborhood and stopping by for some pizza and beer was perfect. The server was friendly and pleasant and we pretty much devoured our two pizzas. Nothing...maybe a crumb was left behind!
(5)Michele C.
Pizzeria Stella is now quite possibly my favorite Starr restaurant. We went on a Saturday night not expecting to get a table without a wait, since they don't take reservations. To our surprise - and despite $20 for parking in a nearby garage - we were seated immediately and the service was brisk and friendly. Drinks are reasonable and the menu is affordable. The restaurant is cozy and it's fun to watch in full view of the cooks manning the large pizza oven. The highlight of the meal was the unbelievably delicious appetizer - the sheep's milk ricotta with rosemary and flatbread. I'm a huge ricotta cheese fan but I've never experienced a dish like this. The ricotta was smooth and rich and light and delicious. It was a large portion that could have fed more than two people. It was accompanied by the most delicious, hot, garlicky foccacia flatbread you'd ever want to eat. This appetizer is now on the list of the top five or ten best things I've ever eaten in Philadelphia. There wasn't enough bread for all the cheese (or maybe we are just gluttons), but when we asked the server for more, she brought an entire order free of charge. Nice touch. The table next to us was so envious of our appetizer that they decided to add it on to their meal as well. The pizzas are 12 inches and thin crust. The menu offers 12 different pies. I would have liked more to choose from, but I was satisfied with the one we chose: The Picante - capicola, aged provolone, crushed red pepper and tomato. Despite being a bit salty from the capicola, it was delightful. Most tables ordered two pizzas to share, but after the ricotta appetizer, one pie was enough for us. It's hard to find a flaw, but if I was being picky, the toppings (and some of the cheese) fell right off the pizza after grabbing each slice. That's not much of a drawback when you're consuming slice after slice of hot, gooey, delicious pizza. For dessert, they served housemade gelato. I was surprised there weren't other options, but the gelato was good. It comes in several different flavors (we got the stracciella - forgive my spelling - which is vanilla with hard chocolate pieces in it) and is accompanied by a tiny homemade biscotti. Delicious, light and a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Only $60-some dollars for a pizza, appetizer, dessert and several drinks? Not bad at all.
(5)Caroline P.
pizza week - stella's answer to philly restaurant week is actually a solid deal. you get to choose a starter (an app or a salad or a soup), a pizza, and a happy ending (gelato) - all for $25. my sister and i took my mom out for lunch, and between the three of us, we chose the arancini and the marinated olives for our starters - both were delightful. we had a difficult time narrowing down our choices for pizza - they all sounded great. we decided on the quattro formaggi (sauce/4 cheeses), the pepperoni (abbruzze pepperoni/mozz/sauce) and the san daniele (proscuitto/smoked mozz/arugula) - they were delicious. (i think the arugula might have benefitted from a post-bake drizzle of olive oil, but that might just be me) i would love to try the pistachio, the mushroom, the zucchini, the pancetta, the tartufo, and the piccante pizzas...damn you, stella - STELLLLLAAAAAAAAAHHHH - you make me sound like a glutton! the crust is a tender and delicate version of chewy - nice and thin and tasty, it was beautifully spotted with char (this is a good thing). the toppings were delicious, and generous...we ended up eating only half of all three pies, so home the rest went the honey-mascarpone gelato was delicate and delicious, and the stracciatella was generously veined with chocolate - nice for 3 to share. they make a good espresso here - italian-mamma-approved.
(4)Stacy M.
When I looked up this place on Yelp to post my review, I actually thought I had the wrong name. Wait, Stella, right? The Stella whose slices got top honors in Philadelphia magazine? You Philly folks are a tough crawwd to please. Either that, or we here in the Beantown don't know our pizza. Nope. That's not it. I came with a few folks and shared a sausage pie. (That means "a pizza" for all you non- Mid Atlantic folks). ;) I thought it was delicious. The dough was a bit burnt on the edges, but otherwise thin and nicely doughy at the crust. The sausage seemed low- fat yet full in flavor, and was crumbled perfectly over a nice, fresh tomato tasting sauce with cheese. Service was quick and knowledgeable. The brick oven was the center of the attention atmosphere-wise, and I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. We were there for pizza, after all. Highly recommend for a higher-end slice.
(4)Nancy L.
My husband and I get take out from this place at least once a week, and it never disappoints. Our favorites are the San Daniele, Mushroom, Margherita, and Sausage pizzas.
(5)Ritu K.
Oh Stella how I dearly wanted to love you, but alas it cannot be. Your crust was too salty, a bit too thin and burned in all the wrong places, and your toppings lacked flavor. Such a disappointment and nowhere near the Neapolitan pizza I obsessed over in Naples..Beyond crushed with disappointment..
(3)Jonathan R.
Walked in on a busy Saturday night and was told there was a 25 minute wait - so we decided to sit at the "pizza bar" instead. The decor was great. The service was attentive. Wait times for food were normal (reasonable). Everything was DELICIOUS. I can't count the times that I said "wow" throughout the meal. No complaints - I can't wait to go back!
(4)Luigi C.
Pizza is so so...too oily and fatty to be a pizza. Wine bottles are kept by the oven and when served wine is warm like a soup.......this place has a long way to go!
(2)Taylor L.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! I'm pretty surprised that there aren't more 5-star reviews on here. I have trouble finding negative things to say about Stella. I stopped in here with my family on our way over to the She and Him show. I wanted to find a place that had good food, but in a casual setting. Well, Stella was basically perfect for that. Every single thing that we ate was positively delicious: - Broccoli Rabe (appetizer): We almost ordered a second one after polishing off this delicious dish in a matter of minutes. Need I say more? - Arugula Salad: Fresh, simple, crisp, perfectly dressed. - Grilled Octopus: You'll notice that none of my reviews ever include seafood. That's because all seafood is icky. My dad seemed to like this dish, though. - Caprese Salad: Fresh heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzerella, olive oil and balsamic. Yum. - Spinach Pizza: Perfection. Just the right amount of all the ingredients and the pine nuts were a nice touch. **Disclaimer: we are all from the west coast, and, therefore, while we do enjoy a good slice now and again, we are not pizza aficionados like all you east coasters. And we don't call them "pies"** Not to mention the ambiance. Starr restaurants always have undeniable emphasis on awesome ambiance, so it was nice to see that Starr was able to pull out a beautiful, but more casual and subtle environment.
(5)Felicia D.
Where are you tonight, my dream pizza? This is the pizza I have been searching for, lonesome as Fievel and twice as hungry: thin, flavorful, tenderly blistered crust, sexy black leoparding on the bottom, and only the best ingredients scattered in expert proportions. The best pizza at Stella -- the must-get Pistachio with its namesake nuts, red onion and fontina cheese -- fulfills my fantasy. Not so the red-sauced pizzas, which always seem soggy, 'cause the crust is so thin and delicate. But anything minus red sauce is supremely satisfying. A re-occurring beef I've had with Starr restaurants for many years now are the small -- nay, stingy -- alcoholic beverages. The teeny pours of wine are served in tumblers, and cheap brews like Birra Moretti are way spendy at $6. My grumpy wallet forces me to stick with the plonkish house red for a only moderately rapacious $6.
(4)Brendan O.
Once again, Starr's proclivity for going "Full Epcot" when it comes to designing an "ethnic" experience has been fulfilled yet again at Pizzeria Stella. And, once again, the prices are simply too high. AND, once again, he has chosen to ignore the city's love for the BYO (this would have been a great candidate). BUT... The food here is simple and excellent. The pizza is tasty and inventive but with a true "old world" sense, my personal fave being the prosciutto/fresh arugula mix which is utter perfection. And not to be missed are the arancini, deep fried risotto balls served in a red sauce, a traditional Italian appetizer that will disappear within seconds of hitting the table. If there are more than two of you, make sure you order at least two servings. I would happily bite my tongue when it comes to the prices and the overly buttoned-down suburbanite clientele and grant 5 stars to Stella if our Mr. Starr would simply make the switch to BYO. The in-house wine selection at Stella is over-priced and surprisingly crappy.
(4)Manuela A.
Great casual place! Perfect for a weekday , catch up with your friend, kind of night. Pizzas were yummy. Beer was cold. Aranciata balls were ok. Asparagus so so. Need to give it another whirl!
(4)michael p.
5 stars- meat plate with rosemary bread 5 stars- picatti pizza 4 stars- homemade ice cream and gelato Great neighborhood atmosphere from a Starr restaurant. All around great service and friendly staff.
(5)Rachel S.
We love it here. Great for kids in the earlier hours and fun causal atmosphere for a grown up dinner. Their specials are always delicious.
(4)Rita C.
I've been to Pizzeria Stella a handful of times and it definitely does not disappoint! The pizzas seems simple, but you can tell a lot of thought was put into each one to come up with not-so-typical combinations of ingredients. That being said, the Tartufo is hands down the best pizza on the menu. The pie comes out of the oven with an egg cooked on it, then the server uses a spoon to smear the yolk over the entire pizza. It's fantastic! I definitely recommend checking this place out! It's worth it! Tip: Pizzeria Stella does not accept reservations. Though, if you're planning to go with a large group you can call ahead to give them a heads up (oh hey, kind of like a reservation).
(4)Nicole L.
Stella is my go-to place for a good pizza in the city. It's an upscale casual restaurant with clean tables and good service -- definitely not the place for your typical frat boy meat lover's x-large pizza. Best seats are in front of the assembly line counter, where you can watch the pizzas coming in and out of the wood-burning oven (unless you're averse to the scent of smoke in your clothes). In any case, you're sure to be seated relatively quickly. Though pizzas might be a little smaller than you expected, they're quirky mixes that you won't find elsewhere -- offerings such as Tartufo (egg and truffle), Pistachio (red onion and pistachio), and Pancetta (with kale and onion). They also have more traditionals like margherita, sausage (a fave), and spinach pizzas in the house. Don't forget to ask your server if they have a pizza special for the month; we ended up with a fantastic brussels sprouts and bacon pizza. For apps, the caesar salad was passable, but the beet and gorgonzola salad is a great contrast of flavours. Drink it all down with a selection from the beer and wine menu, or if you're a non-alchy like me, a Kutztown sarsparilla pop on crushed ice. Yum!
(4)Michael N.
I hadn't gone to Stella in a while, but I think they have remained consistent. The staff was very polite and helpful, while not being pushy. The pizza is really the important part, though. The pizza is very good. The crust is thin and crispy. The toppings are fresh. The sauces vary, but none are too sweet. I recommend the pistachio or the tartufo. The other important thing is that it does not feel greasy or heavy, even the pizzas that have a tomato based sauce. It is also nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the weirdness of Headhouse Square. At times it is bustling and others is deader than roadkill and smells just as bad. The weird thing is, though, because the sidewalk is so steeply sloped, it sometimes can take some effort keeping you drink of your lap.
(4)Chris A.
The pizza is awesome, and they have some interesting toppings.
(5)Jay B.
No better pizza than a brick oven pizza and this was top notch. Not sure why people are complaining about the little bit of burn on the crust? Brick oven pizza is supposed to be a little charred, that's why you get it from a brick oven as opposed to a conventional pizza oven. I've been here five times and would go back weekly if I could find somebody to go with. The pizza is incredible. Everything is so fresh and cooked to perfection. Order the "bianca." It's not on the menu but it's a four cheese white pizza and it'll be included in my last meal, one day. The rotating craft beer selection is always fun and I always reach for something new. Their salads are super fresh and the presentation is top notch. Go for the Arancini for your appetizer, they're excellent. My favorite pizza place in the city - I come from Manayunk to get it. If you like a "little burn" on your pizza, go to Stella...it's charred and it's wonderful.
(5)Brian S.
Stella has the best limp-crusted pizza in town. And no, it's not a good thing.
(2)Josh V.
Pizzeria Stella is absolutely wonderful! The spinach pizza is amazing and every app that I have had there has been great. We generally sit at the pizza counter and really enjoy watching the skilled chefs making all the wonderful pizzas. The Arancini is one of the top ten foods that I have ever eaten, and their tomato sauce is crazy good! The servers are outstanding, and I have never had a bad meal there!
(5)Karen K.
I had high, high hopes for Pizzeria Stella after visiting two of Stephen Starr's restaurants in Philadelphia and Le Diplomate in Washington, DC. All three were excellent. Also, pizza is my favorite food. We ordered the margherita pizza. It looked good but unfortunately the majority of the crust in the middle of the pizza was very soggy. The fresh tomato sauce on the pizza was delicious but it could not compensate for the soggy crust. The chopped salad was also excellent. I am often in Philadelphia for family functions but will be looking for the best pizza in the city elsewhere.
(3)Aisha L.
My boyfriend and I came here to break our Yom Kippur fast. We were STARVED! This cute little pizza place is right next the the headhouse farmers marker terminal and has out door seating looking over the fountain and beautiful architecture that society hill offers. We ordered a pizza margh and substituted the Buffalo Mozz. for regular mozz. The waiter was obliging and nice. I also got the peach sangria for $5 and it was delicious. The pizza was also very good. The red sauce had an amazing burst of tomato flavor which I love. We wrapped up pretty quickly and were on our way. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Don M.
We started with the Salumi Mixto antipasti it came with hot coppa, prosciutto, felino and flatbread. This was a good choice. The pizza here is razor thin so you can eat a ton without feeling stuffed. And it is pretty good, we had a variety of pies, Margherita nice flavor tasty, Sausage, Zucchini, Spinach all very good. I also tried the Broccoli rabe different twist good texture and good tasting. It helped having a local here with us as he knew the menu well. Good choice, good food, good service. Worth stopping by if your in the area.
(4)David A.
Really enjoyed this place. Best pizza I have had in two years in Philly. The tartufo pizza, heavily hyped by fellow yelpers, is awesome. The margherita pie takes a big backseat after the heavy taste of truffles. Oh..the other stuff: We also tried the meatballs (polpette) and they were very tender and tasty. The side of broccoli rabe was also very good. Also tried two pasta dishes; the spaghetti pomodoro was light and fresh and really enjoyed the pasta with lamb bolognese. Really about pizza here but happy we tried other dishes. They have a full bar. We had the "Italian Soda" listed on the menu called Stellamaro. It's a carbonated drink that has the Italin bitter called Amaro as on of the ingredients. A nice summer drink. Tried the Stracciatella Gelato for dessert. A bit icy but refreshing (we ate outside with our dog) and it was very hot. Looked much nicer inside. Next visit. Service, provided by Emily, was friendly and efficient. Look forward to trying different pies.
(4)Francesco B.
I really enjoyed the pizza here. One of the best that I had in United States. Service is a good and the location is nice. I tried the pepperoni pizza and the buffalo mozzarella pizza. Both very good. Gelato is also good!
(4)Louis B.
This is not your average pizzeria. It is a Steven Starr restaurant, which means it caters to an upscale, hard to please customer base and it has to work for its laurels. Then the location in Headhouse Square in the middle of one of the most historic residential areas in North America. And just a block and a half to the South Street compilation of punk rockers and partying students... Which means a cacophony of personalities... Then there was the food... Outstanding. We entered to celebrate a couple's anniversary along with two other couples, and left both happy and satiated. Their pizzas are the thin-dough kind, easier on the nutrition-conscious. We tried the superb Quattro Fromaggi, a succulent Prosciutto and Arugula pie, their Pistachio, and finally a Spinach pizza. The appetizers included a superb flat bread with a ricotta dip and a mouth-watering octopus salad. Travis, our waiter, was a tornado of activity and provided outstanding service, making the evening even better. Their gelatos are superb, and my only recommendation is to have a dessert like sorbet or something akin for the growing number of lactose allergic or lactose intolerant customers. Their espresso was awesome. And of course, al fresco dining in Headhouse Square so you can bring your furry friend. Excellent restaurant....
(4)Superfly T.
We came in on a sunny afternoon to have drinks outdoors; good service, reasonable prices, and great selection of beer, wine and sangria. We should have stayed for a pizza or two, the pie here is a perfect thin crust in a home made brick oven style. I'll be back soon.
(4)Paris L.
Love love love the thin crust Neapolitan style pizza
(5)Hugh J.
found myself there for a business group activity . . . all of the pizzas were creative & very tasty . . . . brick oven thin crust with great ingredients . . . also of note was the fried calamari which was obviously fresh made . . . . and the gelato was a welcome surprise.
(5)Kristen H.
A fun place that is kid friendly. Good pizzas (the piccante was a favorite at my table) and fair prices and also a good beer selection for those of you who like to have a beer with their pizza. Nice service and nice ambiance.
(4)Alexis S.
I live close by, so I'm at Stella weekly. The food is great and consistent. More importantly, it's quick. I often come here with my two kids and the food is out in less than 15 minutes, sometimes 10. Though there is not a kid's menu, it is very kid-friendly. What kid doesn't like pasta and pizza? In summer, they offer outdoor seating, which is great when little ones get noisy or need to walk around. I'm never disappointed and it has become a "go-to" for our family.
(5)Terry V.
Charred pizza. Brussels sprouts flavor=charred. Wine in a rocks glass? If servers used tray, they could serve more drinks in less steps. If the person who told specials (ten minutes after seating) took a drink order, server checks would up. Would not go back.
(1)Michael C.
One of our favorite spots ! fried calamari with the hot peppers is the best don't forget to get the brussels sprout pizza or the pistachio pizza with the shaved onions to die for love sitting outside at the foot of head house square
(5)John L.
Impromptu Sunday night dinner in Old City on a cold spring evening. We were both in the mood for pizza and my wife suggested this place. The bar was closed for a private event and the pizza bar was really busy. But, the hostess easily solved the problem for us and suggested a call back to my cell when two spots opened up. So we walked to work up even more of an appetite. We settled into the inviting bar near the oven. Pretty much immediately, we realized we were in for a good meal. Pizza after pizza came out of the wood fire oven perfectly cooked and with just the right amount of "burn" on the crust; each one was then finished with sea salt and a little oil on top. With all fresh ingredients and in the hands of an extremely efficient army of pizza makers, we felt like we were in good hands. The wine list is small but adequate. There were some beers that we will have to go back to. We started with some wine, which was generously poured. We ordered the meatballs and the ricotta, along with some olives to start. The ricotta was excellent, and it was served with fantastic rosemary bruschetta. The olives did not disappoint and were extremely flavorful. The meatballs were served with a delicious red tomato sauce. They were light and flavorful. We scarfed them down quickly. We shared the margarita pizza. The crust was just perfect. And too often, pizza in the states drowns in its own goodness; there is such as thing as too much of a good thing. But not at Pizzeria Stella. The pie had just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The star, the perfect crust, was showcased perfectly. It was the closest (along with the pie at Bar Lucca) to an authentic pizza Napoletana in the US. Great job. The service was efficient but friendly and we appreciated the call when the seats became available. We will be back here. Many times.
(4)Fran G.
Disappointing Salad swimming in dressing Meatballs a bit on the tough side Pizza just ok Service very attentive
(3)Gina M.
The staff were very friendly and very informative. We had The broccoli rabe and it was a close second to my father in laws. We had the margarita and Quattro Formaggi. They were amazing and I loved the crust. We will def come back and try their other pizza's.
(5)Lily W.
This review is long overdue. Stella has the most creative and scrumptious pizzas! But in addition to great, thin-crusted, wood oven-baked pizzas, they have terrific salads and pastas! Though their menu isn't huge, what they do they do amazingly well! Our consistent favorites are the following: Antipasti: - shrimp arrabbiata (get extra flatbread to soak up that flavorful sauce) - Grilled octopus - Rosemary flatbread Insalate: - kale salad Pasta (we love that they offer two sizes so you can order a small enjoy other things on the menu): - Pomodoro - Crab gemelli Pizza - Brussels sprouts (our all time favorite!) - Mushroom - Nduja - Tartufo - Spinach Buon appetito!
(5)Cynthia U.
First time here!! It was great! It filled my craving for brick oven pizza. Had the margherita pizza... Yummo! Will def be coming back. Our waiter Jarrod was very nice. Had the lamb Bolognese was awesome too!! Made lunch time with my mom a happy time!! Thanks!
(4)Robert S.
The brick-oven style pizza at Pizzeria Stella is my favorite in the city, if not my favorite pizza overall! It's located in the hip Old City/Society Hill area and is just a short walk to/from South Street. The pizzas come out just the way I like it, thin and crispy. I've only tried a couple of their pies, but I would imagine them all to be equally as savory. The margherita is super tasty with a nice amount of sauce, mozzarella and basil. We also just recently tried their calzone and I must say it was a good choice. The calzone comes stuffed with eggplant, crushed tomato, ricotta, smoked mozzarella, parmesan cheese and basil. Really tasty and filling. Pizzeria Stella is just a cool place to get some really, really good pizza, among other menu options. They have also expanded into the space next door and have their "Bar Stella" open 7 days a week. Another great Stephen Starr restaurant.
(5)Marley H.
Great little pizza / pasta restaurant with nice outside seating options. I have been here twice now and the pizza and pastas have both been great. The service has been amazing, though it can get crowded on the weekends. This is not an "upscale" Italian venue, but is not a little hole-in-the-wall either. Overall, the pizza is not as great as Nomad but it very good. Great weekend spot.
(4)Nikki H.
Came here today for lunch. The space is great for large groups. Very open with a visible brick oven. I have the pomodora pasta - I think that's what it's called- and it was delish. Just a simple pasta dish. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I'll be back to try their pizza and wine.
(3)Dave S.
I am in town on business and needed a pizza. I am glad I found Stella's. The wood fired pizza is simple but everything you want in a pizza. Great crust and great toppings. Rivals some of the best pizza I have had. They also have nice beer selection that compliments the pizza well. Do not forget to leave room for the Gelato. You will not be disappointed. Last but not least, the staff were super nice and welcoming.
(5)Jean-Bernard L.
Very delicious, inventive pizzas. Wood stove, thin crust, perfect amount of grease. Friendly atmosphere, and beer prices are reasonable, 6 dollar range for a craft draft. The pizzas are on the small side though, and you will almost need a pizza per person if everyone you are with has a big appetite. And at the $11-19 range per pizza, it makes it most most expensive pizzeria I've ever been to.
(4)Jessica S.
Casual yet very nice atmosphere. We really enjoyed the special tomato salad, the crab pasta dish, and the pizza. Service was excellent. Drinks were very tasty too! The bar area is very cool too with a vintage feel. I recommend for a casual night out!
(5)Susanne F.
Love the atmosphere in this place! Octopus was incredible but small. Pizza had great toppings and thin crust, but I think it needs to be cooked slightly longer as the bottom is soggy and not crispy.
(4)Alexander R.
The food is consistently delectable. The service was good but lacking on the personality front. They serve decent wine and a couple Italian beers. I would definitely give this place a shot for the brick oven thin crust alone. They were also very sensitive about my silly dairy allergy.
(4)Pachandra O.
I liked this place quite a bit. Tasty pizza, nice outdoor atmosphere, reasonable prices, and amazing homemade gelato. What else could you ask for? The service was friendly and attentive, too! We will definitely be back.
(4)Courtney J.
If you like European style pizza, Stella is the pizza place for you. I'm kicking myself for not having tried Stella sooner! So far this is my favorite pizza in the Philadelphia area. Of course what makes a good pizza varies greatly depending on personal taste. Here's what I like about the pizza at Stella that makes it #1 for me: 1. It's cooked in a wood burning brick oven which creates a smokey flavor. 2. The toppings are fresh and high quality such as buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. 3. The crust is very thin on the main area of the pie, but the crust on the outside is fluffy and chewy. --Basically, it's simple, but it's simple done well. My husband had the mushroom and ham pizza and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed my margarita pizza. Not only is the pizza good, but the calamari with peppers appetizer my husband and I shared, was a stand out as well! The calamari was well seasoned, hot, crispy, with not spicy, but bitter fried green peppers. It came with an aioli and marinara, so you have the best of both worlds. The sangria was good, but nothing to write home about. The Sgroppino, on the other hand, was one of the better cocktails I've had in a while. It contained lemon sorbet, vodka, and prosecco. It's tart with bits of lemon rind, a little slushy from the sorbet, and only slightly sweet. Two sprigs of mint were placed in the center which gave it not only color but a hint of mint flavor. I would go back just for the drink! I was stuffed after the food, and even had to get a to-go box for my last slice of pizza. However, when I heard there was olive oil gelato, I just couldn't pass that one up. My husband got the espresso crunch gelato. We really should have shared because it was a generous scoop. The olive oil gelato was creamy and buttery from the olive oil. I'm so glad I gave in and ordered it. The espresso gelato had a rich coffee bean flavor. Service was excellent, and my water glass was never empty. I can't wait to go back and try other pies and the honey marscapone gelato.
(5)Micaela M.
Hmm... ok. Dinner as a group of four was pretty fun at this open and spacious restaurant, but mostly due to the fabulously priced wine list - $12 for a carafe of house red, which yielded 3/4 glasses each time we ordered. We left happy and buzzed without breaking the bank, which is always a win. As for the food, we weren't blown away, but perhaps had high expectations due to the "Best Meatballs in America" accolade that Pizzeria Stella received in the fall. The meatballs were good - not dry in the least (dry meatballs are the WORST) and flavorful. The one my friend cut into seemed to have a huge chunk of potato in the center, which was a bit puzzling, but we enjoyed it anyway. Our second appetizer, the calamari, was just OK. And the star of the show, the pizza, was just OK wood-fired pizza.. We had the Margherita, Pepperoni, and Tartufo (in order of most-enjoyed to least-enjoyed). I wish the egg on our Tartufo was set a little more because raw egg white can be a pretty off-putting taste/ texture and it was hard to eat with all the egg bits slipping around. The service was just OK as well - our waitress was overly attentive at first and then hard to find later in our meal, but it was still a nice dining experience.
(3)Joseph D.
The best pizza outside of Italy and it does rival some of the iconic Pizzerias in Italy. I always know what to expect from Stella. Also, to not the non-pizza items are excellent as well. A very nice selection of beer and wine to round things out.
(5)Rachel U.
The best thing about this place is the staff. They're friendly, helpful, and don't get flustered or rush you on a busy rainy night. But the food isn't quite good enough for the price tag. It's good, but not amazing. I'd describe the pizza as dainty; decent flavors and well made dough. I liked the simple margherita better than the spinach sundried tomato pizza; when I complained about the lack of sundried tomatoes halfway thru they did make me a new pizza. The chicken soup was very flavorful, but maybe a bit salty, and the arancini were yummy. I dig the casual vibe, even down to the stemless wine... cups. I think it'd be cool if they had a 'build your own' option.
(3)Mike G.
Returned 4 months later and found my meal really enjoyable. The service was better the pizza was great. I convinced my friends that at least one of our pizza's HAD to be The Tartoufo, with black truffle and an egg on top, and it didnt let us down. I could live on this one alone. The others were really good but it's the tartoufo that has me hooked.
(4)Courtney C.
The pizza toppings are AMAZING. The crust was bland - but I think it is intentional in order to focus on the flavor of the toppings. The salad we had was interesting and delicious. I liked the wine selection as well. All in all, worth a visit for sure.
(5)Steve L.
Outstanding meal. Started with a terrific Caesar salad and then went to thin crust, brick oven pizza heaven with tartufo (truffle), margherita (buffalo mozarella), spinach, quattro formaggi (4 cheese). Finished strong with espresso gelato and a vanilla gelato with chocolate crumbled throughout. Already looking forward to a next visit. Good work Stephen Starr.
(5)Jennifer N.
First and foremost, if you like pizza you will enjoy pizzeria stella. I am not a pizza snob; i rarely make distinctions regarding thin crust, Neapolitan, chicago-, new york - or new haven- style. i just tend to like cheese, dough and tomatoes, so i am not hard to please when it comes to this type of cuisine. Having said that, pizzeria stella suffers from exceedingly high expectations. the pizza just does not live up to the hype, but that doesn't mean it is bad. actually, you will probably like it if you go there just expecting "good" pizza and not "change your life" good pizza. this reasoning probably explains why i enjoyed pizzeria stella much more the first time i went. I visited pizzeria stella not long after it first opened. the service was friendly, prompt, and the pizza was great. just what i expected. But once the food writers started churning out reviews, words like "revolutionary" and "fiercely artisanal" were being used to describe the food. after dining at pizzeria stella last night, I respectfully disagree. it's decent pizza with interesting toppings in a lively, well-designed environment. nothing more, nothing less. (for most people, such a description is more than enough to make them happy). I started off with the house red (the wine glasses are no longer piping hot when brought to the table, which is great. it would be nice if the red was chilled a bit , though). I was with a group, so we started off with the lentil ragu and the romaine salad. I love lentils, so was really happy with this dish. there is something mildly sweet about it. i couldn't figure out whether there was cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice in it. the romaine salad was small, but pleasing. just a hint of mint; very refreshing. after reading so many positive reviews on yelp, i ordered the pistachio pizza for my main. i love white pie and red onion, so i was happy with my selection. the pistachios provided an interesting twist -- they worked. i thought the crust, however, was a bit too present. meaning, do i need two inches of crust? it would be nice if they brought the ingredients a little closer to the edge. i ended up leaving a lot of crust on the plate, so that's a calorie saver right there, if you are into that sort of thing. the rest of my party ordered the sausage, pepperoni, and margherita pizzas. the sausage definitely has some kick; it also is a bit soggy towards the middle. the pepperoni and margherita are both solid. our server was helpful, perky, and attentive. we had to wait about thirty minutes for a table on a saturday night, which we expected. overall, i had a fun evening with friends and would go back if someone asked or if i felt like a bit more ambiance than mama palma's has to offer. if i could, i would give pizzeria stella 3.5 stars.
(3)Alex C.
Stella's slick overhaul of the Cosi space belies its underwhelming pizza. We stacked up a marghertia, spinach and meat pie for sampling. Each one was the same: satisfying crust, soggy center and unremarkable flavor. For as much fuss as they give the oven, I couldn't taste the benefit. A note on price: I'm not one to equate quantity with quality. But when the inversely as small and flavorless as the price is bloated (without the offset of BYOB), I can't see the draw. Skip Stella and wait for Starr's next pizza joint opening near Parc soon.
(2)Kate M.
Pros: - Everyone loved their pizza. I was expecting a totally adequate pizza and instead got a damn fine pizza. - They ask for your phone number so you can wander around and buy boots while waiting for a table. - Our server was nice and took pretty good care of us. Cons: - A Friday night table for 5 took well over an hour (which i guess might not be THAT long in the restaurant world, but I was hungry!). - You have to share giant tables with other people, which was fine when we were seated next to a group of nice people, but annoying when a bunch of screaming college kids sat down right before we left. At least we didn't have to deal with them for long. - What the hell is with their 11 oz cups? The wait staff is busy enough without having to refill my water 4 times. I don't think it's worth dealing with the prime dinner time crowd. I mean it's really good, but, ultimately, it's just pizza. If you happen to be in the area when they're not filled to the brim, stop in for a pie. If there's a ridiculous wait and you have a back up plan where there won't be (like, say, Lorenzo's), feel free to pass.
(4)Dan L.
I had been wanting to to try this place for a while, since I like most of what Stephen Starr offers. This ended up being an exception. The first problem - only two beers on tap. Really, come on. One was Stella (ha ha) and the other was something seasonal, that didn't even interest me. Then came the meal. The choices were interesting and I thought that after having the first one I ordered, I would probably be ordering a second. That wasn't going to happen. The pizza we received looked nice, but was not memorable at all. The crust did not have much flavor and was slightly burnt. And the toppings were interesting, but just did not work well together. I should have gone to Bertucci's. Sorry, but if am looking for a place to grab a bite (or a beer) in the future, I will not be headed here.
(2)Jake V.
Oh my goodness. I have to say that not only was the salad (grilled radicchio) delicious with a beautiful mixture of umami and sour tartness but the pizza was delicious in its own right. The crust being this amazing dance between pillowy softness and crustiness that was just a pleasure to bite into. Not only that the service was very accommodating and delightful. Then the check came. $42 (including tax and 20% tip) for a smallish pizza, salad and two beers. Seriously. I then wish I had just gone to Lorenzos and put the rest of the money towards a case of beer.
(2)Lea K.
My roommate and I went there last week for their "we aren't doing restaurant week but we are having a deal" night. We both got the octopus anti-pasta, tartuffo pizza, and hazelnut gelato! SO FREAKING GOOD. I'm kinda always expecting to leave Stella being like yeah its good but I they surprise me every time with amazing pizza. Even now thinking back about the tartuffo pizza my mouth starts to salivate. I am blown away by there quality. I love it. Nom Nom Nom.... I want more.
(5)Marian R.
I hate when places get a lot of press early since I like going when they have just opened to scope it out and lay the foundations for an opinion. Starr joints are tricky because of this, but I wanted to go to Stella before they 'nailed it' so I could get a good feel for the place. I think Stella will nail it, but it isn't quite there yet. I went with six friends last week and we were all there for the pizza, so the 7 of us spitting 6 pies (and one order of octopus/squid salad) was perfect (though bigger eaters might disagree). The margherita received the most first place votes but the prosciutto and arugula pizza was favored as well. I didn't try the sausage pizza but everyone said it was a bit bland. The clam pizza was good, but Slice's is better. My favorite was either the eggplant or the margherita; both were simple and tasty. Now, the crust. People have been raving about the crust so naturally there were some expectations. While it was well cooked (a bit undercooked in some instances I thought. I like a lightly blackened crust), it was not particularly tasty. It was bland and kindof dull in my opinion. I much prefer Osteria's pizza dough (and Osteria's pizza to be honest). And yes, it is a bit spensivo, but not ridiculously so. But if you are going to a Starr restaurant and expecting an inexpensive bill, then you ain't from around here....Also, as my very pregnant sister very accurately noted, 'this place is like a Pizza Hut for yuppies'. I could not believe the number of children in there, it was insane. Thankfully the place is loud enough so none stood out for the wrong reasons, so if you have kids: Stella is very kid friendly. Service was excellent for those who like dealing with professionals.
(3)C T.
The tartufo pizza is THE BEST. The margherita is just ok. Sheeps milk ricotta app is pretty good. I don't think I'd order anything here that wasn't pizza or the ricotta though.
(4)M G.
We have just had dinner at Stella just tonight and we had one of the most pleasant dining experiences. The manager Mark and our server Christopher were extremely courteous and attentive. We felt very welcome and appreciated. As for the food - we loved everything we had! The wood oven pizza is one of the best in town. The crust is truly delicious and the Margarita, the prosciutto, the pistachio pizzas are all very tasty with quality ingredients. From the appetizers: meatballs are wonderful, much better than any meatballs I have had in Italian restaurants. The octopus salad also awesome - very tender, served with an amazing fennel salad. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the salad. They suggested they could prepare an order of a larger portion of just the salad when we return, which was the nicest gesture. The homemade gelato is a very nice ending to a very nice dinner. One other highlight of the evening was our second pizza spontaneously sliding off the rack on the table and being replaced by a freshly made one for free. This is not something every restaurant would do, and it was a very considerate and professional way to address the accident. We are definitely going back for the delicious food and the wonderful service. Stella is highly recommended. We really enjoyed the place.
(5)Anthony F.
I loved the sausage and pesto pizza. Pricing was ok. Ate outside on a nice august afternoon. The trees offered just enough shade.
(5)Jes L.
WE LOVED IT! I have to be honest, they had a $25 special the night we went, and we probably wont go back until they have another special...but because of the special that night we got to try 4 different pizzas & 2 different apps! Kristen our server, was fantastically pleasant, casual and helpful. By far one of the best servers we've had in this town. We had the sheep's milk ricotta and the beet salad. Both were good. We love beet, the temperature difference between the ricotta and the bread was great, could have used a bit of salt or some kind of seasoning. We had the Mushroom, Pancetta, Tartuffo, and San Daniele pizzas. The Mushroom was good, lots of oregano, ham was slightly smokey, not salty at all. The Pancetta was everyones #1 favorite, a lil' salty, a lil' bitter, it was well rounded goodness. The Tartuffo, while providing table side entertainment (they break the yolk table side), was super rich, salty and basically overwhelming. The San Daniele was basically a ham sandwich. It was crazy. While cool that it was pizza that tasted like a sandwich, there really wasn't anything else cool about it. All that followed by gelato! 5 flavors to choose from...all were good! ;) Great location, nice ambiance, we weren't sitting on top of the next table. It was a great all around dinner.
(5)Caitlin C.
Without meaning to, I ended up eating here with a date on a Tuesday at about 5:15pm. When we walked in it was empty except for the small army of servers in black. The first thing I noticed was that they had given Cosi's old space a more modern makeover, but somehow had made it seem cold and a bit cramped in the process. Our waitress came right over to greet us and was super friendly and helpful throughout our meal. . We ordered the margherita and the pistachio pizzas. The crust was thin and tender and nor overly doughy and the cheese was just right, melty but not stringy. The nutty pistachio flavor on pizza was something I never expected and the experience made the trip worthwhile. The food ratio was just about right. My date ate his whole pizza (and was stuffed) and I took two pieces home. We decided to splurge on the "secret recipe" gelato. It wasn't worth the $4 a scoop price tag. Buy a pint of Ben Jerry's at Wawa on your way out. I found it on the icy side and lacking that characteristic punch of flavor. Fine, but over-priced. The atmosphere was loud and too cramped for my taste. Other diners wore a strange mix of casual, trendy, and business attire. Over all, the dining experience was fine. The food ranged from adequate to tasty, but at $45 for two sodas, two pizzas, and two scoops of gelato, I don't know that I plan on going back.
(3)Lori R.
Overall the experience as Stella was good. Very nice decor and they did a nice renovation of the old Cosi. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable. Let me start with the appetizers, the balsamic onion was delicious, as were the beet salad and broccoli rabe. I had an Arnold Palmer and my friend had the house wine which he complimented. We had a special pizza with figs, gorgonzola and walnuts. Great flavors but dry were there were not figs. I only gave the place 3 stars as it was pricey, $48 for a single drink and 12" pizza and 3 sides is a bit much. But we definitely ate enough. Overall I would go again but in no hurry to return.
(3)Adam D.
They left the R off of Stellar for a reason. Well, as usual , the place looks nice. Steven Starr has a knack for making a restaurant look nice and have a vibe/scene. I cant argue with that. The thing is , he also has the same knack for providing decent at best food to go along with that. Pizzeria Stella is another example. Nice looking place, not so amazing food. We went and chose the Pizza Vongole and the Calamari.Both were sub par , Both ended up making us a feel a bit "off" I should have known better than to get a pizza with clams. Stick to the basics knucklehead. I will review my own decision to get a pizza with clams on it. That review would be F- . But lets get back to the restaurant. The prices are too high for whats being offered. Another major minus. If a place in Rome can charge 7 bucks for the worlds best tasting pizza. Mr. Starr , please follow suit. Go straight to Dar Poeta in the Trestevere section of Rome and report for your punishment. Mediocre food, fancy shmancy (ish) surroundings and a very basic level of service = snore. thank you.
(2)Meg B.
I happen to be a fan of Steven Starr's restaurants so I couldn't wait to check out what he was able to do with on of my favorite foods, pizza. The first time I attempted to go, there was a line out the door so we opted to check it out before a phillies game during the week, right when they opened. The atmosphere : is very different from his other restaurants, very quaint and I enjoyed it on a late sunny afternoon. Definitely not a place to go and grab a drink like his other restaurants. Starter: We shared the sheeps milk ricotta cheese and flatbread app to start off. I looooove ricotta cheese and this was very yummy. It was so good that I asked if we could hold onto it and dip our pizza crust into it. The Pizza- We shared the sausage. I am a huge fan of thin crust and this was a nice thickness for me- thought the bottom was alittle too black- I understand it's the result of a wood oven but I thought it was too much. I thought the flavor over all of the pizza was good- nothing to make me think it's the best pizza I've ever eaten though. Wine: it was ok- had two glasses of pino grigio- It might have been just a mental thing but I don't like how they serve the wine in stemless square glasses- I guess that goes with the motif though Over all- I 'd go back again- but don't think this restaurant compares to his other restaurants
(3)Tyree A.
This is really the only place now that my wife and I truly enjoy pizza. We are over the inconsistent and one note Lorenzo's, the quality of Soho on Market has gotten worse each year and our own Rustica's cardboard crust is always a disappointment, (no matter how late or how many pints). Stella's pizza has that crispy and doughy crust, a good flavor to their sauce (not amazing, but really good) and their toppings are fresh. The service is always pleasant. I wish this place was in our hood because the pizza in N. libs is horrible!
(4)John H.
I don't remember where I read it, but this was on one of those Top 10 lists for 2009, so we decided to check it out. We got there at 5:10 pm and were told that there was a 45 minute wait. There isn't really a bar area or waiting area, but they did take down our cell phone number and offered to call us when a table was free. We walked the 1 block to South Street and we found a bar - Bridget Foys at 200 South Street - in which to have beers. Had the restaurant had a bar, that is money we would have spent there. We went to check in and found that our "seats" were at a bar-like area, where all three of us basically faced the kitchen and pizza oven. Not the best way for people to have a conversation. We waited 45 minutes for this? We were told it would be another 20 minutes for a table. So we took the counter. We ordered a Sausage and a San Daniele pizza to split between the three of us. It was more than enough, even though we were told that each pizza was a "personal" pizza. We still had a few slices to take back. The pizzas were very tasty...just the right spice of the sauce...and the Sausage had just the right kick. The crust was fabulous, nicely thin and chewy outer crust. The smokey flavor from the wood oven made these pizzas among the better pizzas I have ever had. One great thing about our table, was the vantage point and watching the "conveyor belt" in which the pizza crew made the pizzas. They were terribly efficient, each with their own task and passing it down to the next station to make each individual pie. There was a lot of attention to detail and it appeared clear that they worked as a well oiled machine. Definitely this place has a great system in place and a good pizza to share. Definitely, this was worth checking out.
(3)Jim R.
The 4 of us needed to beat the dinner crowd, so we arrived at 5:15 Friday night and had no trouble getting a table. It was a different story as we left a little after 6:30 when there was a 25 minute wait. The space itself is very nice as is the staff. As can be seen on other reviews on this site, there seems to be a pattern - push large quantities of food! We had ordered the octopus and calamari antipasti (which was the best thing we had all night - it truly being excellent), along with the asparagus, sunny side up egg with parmesan vinaigrette (no big deal) and were told that the "Arancini", rolled risotto with parmesan and marinara was not to be missed - it could have been. We then ordered two (12 inch) pizzas - the "Finocchio" with black olives, caramelized fennel, mozzarella and tomato and the "Vongole" with clams, broccoli rabe, pancetta and mozzarella. Our very nice and non-pushy server said she thought we hadn't ordered enough, suggesting that we each really needed our own pizza. The two that we ordered were more than enough and although good, were really not all that special - and at approximately $45 a couple before tip, including beers/soda, certainly not worth a 25 minute wait. We were glad to experience another Stephen Starr restaurant but won't be in any real rush to return to this one.
(3)Chris W.
As soon as I stepped into Stella I had a smile on my face. 'Last train to London' by Electric light Orchestra was playing on the speakers. In fact, it seemed as if the theme was 'Best of the 70s and 80s' all night. After the song was over I came back to reality and got down to business. I was hungry for pizza and Steven Starr's take on a pizzeria was on the menu. I chose Stella because I was actually avoiding Super Bowl fever and I noticed from walking by that they do not have any televisions. It was perfect, there were only 3 other tables in the whole restaurant. Dining for two at Stella was satisfying. We ordered the sheep's milk ricotta as an appetizer. I asked for extra flat bread because the large bowl of cheese was only served with four pieces. We also ordered the Piccante pizza because as soon as I saw cappicola as a topping I was sold. The waitress asked us if it was our first time at Stella. She went on to explain how the pizza is small and they recommend one pizza per person. I considered ordering another pizza, but I just ate half of an enormous bowl of ricotta....so we passed on the second pizza. The Piccante is delicious and I highly recommend it. Thankfully both of us were full from the appetizer and one pizza. It was a very satisfying meal along side of the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale that I couldn't resist. The waitress (of course) highly recommended the gelato for dessert. We were both full from the cheese and pizza and declined. I was actually expecting the bill to be more than it was. $35 for people isn't too pricey, especially for dinner. If you're in the mood for pizza that is a little more complex than the normal pizzeria I'd recommend Stella. At least for the music they play!
(4)Kevin V.
Went to dinner here for my girlfriend's birthday. I have mixed feelings about Steven Starr restaurants but this one was definitely one of the better ones. We kept it very simple - we split the Romaine salad ordered a Margherita and a Pepperoni pizza. She drank 2 glasses of Prosecco and I had 2 house reds, which is a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. She finished the meal with blackberry gelato. Our meal was simple but delightful. The salad was perfectly dressed, the ingredients of the pizza were fresh and the crusts were light, fluffy and perfectly baked. I'm not a huge wine fan but Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is my favorite and being that it was the house red was awesome. I would go back just for the wine! The service was great and when our server heard that it was my gf's birthday she surprised us and put a candle in the gelato when bringing it out. If you want a simple, no frills, laid back meal I would suggest going here. My one "complaint" was that the music was just awful...thankfully it wasn't that loud but techno/rave music was doing no favors for the atmosphere...I have no problems with Zombie Nation type music at a sporting event but at dinner? I'll pass...that being said it wasn't enough to detract me from going again.
(4)Jayna B.
I left unimpressed. My parents and I ordered the Marinara pizza, the Zucchini pizza and the Chopped salad to be shared between the three of us. It was enough food, though barely. The Marinara pizza was just burnt crust, flaccid dough and LOADS of marinara sauce. So, I guess at least it's true to its name? Maybe I shouldn't have expected anything else but it just seemed weird. I just reread the menu and it doesn't mention anything but sauce, oil and garlic. However, the garlic was literally 12 thin slices strewn throughout. The Zucchini was good, but that's all. Good. I don't even want to eat it again. I did like how thinly sliced the zucchini was. Again, super burnt crust and soggy dough. The Chopped salad was delicious but small. Yes, I am aware we were splitting a salad for one between three people. But it was small even for one person. Delicious but expensive ($11) and small. And that's the taste that was left in my mouth. Oh, and the taste of burnt crust. Too expensive for what it is and not good enough to return.
(2)Emily M.
Classy and delicious place. When I go to a pizzeria, it's tough for me to get anything but pizza. Thusly, I can only comment on the pie here. And it's great. I've tried about half the menu, and I've enjoyed everything. The most surprising hit was the Tartuffo. It's a white pizza with truffles and an egg broken on top. Creamy creamy creamy - absolutely tasty with the crunch of the crust. The spinach with san marzano tomato and toasted pines was also incredibly good. And of course, the cheeses of the Quattro Formagio and the classic Margherita make you want to ask the server just to bring you out a plate filled with the cheeses used in making them. The last time I dined here, the four of us shared 6 pies - with just 3 leftover slices. It's so delicious that you truely want to just keep them coming. Good beer selection too.
(4)Catherine L.
Still unimpressed with the pizza here. Have given Stella a few more visits to try to convince me that with its custom pizza oven and a fail-safe recipe for its crust that its pies are worth my coinage. Not so. Though they've revamped the pizza menu ever so slightly, getting rid of one or two and adding a couple more to balance out the options, I'm still not going gaga here. Execution gets me too - these pies always seem unevenly cooked, half charred to the point of being burnt, the other barely grilled on the underside with its minimum toppings soggy-ing up the center. Spend the same amount of money for better pizza at Osteria, or even better yet, spend half, and go to Pietro's or Lazaro's.
(2)lori m.
We had an issue (i wont go into detail) with our meal here so i brought it up to our waiter. When our check came, the manager brought it to our table and comped the meal that had the issue. The food was delicious but the issue we had was not something that should happen at any restaurant, let alone a starr restaurant. Go to nomad instead and get their truffle pizza.
(3)Taiyyibah M.
Marinara Pizza: Very thin crusted glazed with Marinara Sauce with the perfect combination of olives infused with lemon and basil ending with a fresh taste of tomatoes and garlic. B+ Olive Gelato: If you like cooking with olive oil... This is the dessert for you. Just the right amount of olive taste and the perfect amount of sweetness to force a smile with every bite. B+
(4)YelpHatesMe Y.
Meh, typical Starr place. If you'd pay $20 for a "Bernie Parent" grilled cheese or $15 for a "Pete Rose" hot dog than this might be a good place for you, as I'm sure Starr's Lamborghini insurance cant be cheap. Personally I'm not a Starr fan as I like to support local business as I think its better for the local economy and quite frankly the food is much better. Not even going to get into the pizzas I had here because at the end of the day, its pizza and you wont taste anything here that you probably already haven't had somewhere else. I will say I remember nothing of the night I was there and thats not a place I usually return to since it wasn't very memorable.
(2)Toshi T.
Off the bat, I do like this restaurant. The inside is simple and clean. The pizza offerings are among the most unique I've come across. You won't find your typical Meat Lover's pizza here. This is a place to experiment a bit with your palate. If you want a 16" pizza with Canadian bacon and pineapple and a side of cinnamon breadsticks, this is NOT the place for you. Outside of the basic Margherita and Marinara pizzas, how about the Tartufo with black truffle oil and a server that cracks a raw egg on top and spreads it around using the back of a spoon. Not feeling that adventurous? How about the San Danielle with prosciutto and smoked mozzarella, assuming you can locate those ingredients under an immense mound of arugula. And why not try the Asparagus antipasti and gelato? My one main complaint with the pizzas here is that they are too salty. Nevertheless, I look forward to my next visit.
(4)Emily M.
O.M.G. My first trip to Stella was last night and it will certainly not be my last. The crust was to die for, not too thick and speckled with char from the giant wood fire oven in the center of the restaurant. The tartufo with truffles, fontina cheese and rosemary is one of the best combinations I've ever had on a pizza. Their other vegetarian options looked tasty and though I didn't partake, the sausage pizza my boyfriend ordered smelled delicious too. Ambiance was very nice, soft/low light made it a cozy date spot, but a few big groups were a little rowdy (one of which I was part of) but the spaciousness between tables meant both situations were welcomed. I thought it was a little pricey, but I'm new to Philly and so everything still seems a little pricey to me. It was definitely worth it though, and a nice special occasion place to go.
(4)Karen T.
One of the best pizza places in the area. Prices are pretty reasonable, pizzas are too big for one but not quite enough for too. Not a huge beer selection, but a good variety, and one that they update seasonally. Nice outdoor seating options, both facing the Headhouse Market as well as the fountain (although it is now turned off for the winter). Even still, with the weather being so nice in the fall, it is a nice option to eat outside, as when it is crowded inside, it can be a little noisy. Also, they've opened the new addition for the bar to add additional seating, which will be welcome in the winter. As far as the food, the rosemary flatbread appetizer is probably the best I have ever had. Very basic and straightforward, but excellent. In terms of the pizzas, we've tried a couple different ones, and my personal favorite is the pistachio one (although maybe without the onions next time). Crust is done perfectly. I preferred Stella much more than Osteria, and it was cheaper.
(4)Daniel H.
OKAY -- this is really tough for me to write. I don't know what to do because I know pizza... you might even say I'm a pizza purist. This pizza doesn't compare to the deliciousness that I grew up with, BUT the experience I had Tuesday night was incredible. Standouts: service - amazing server; Italian craft beer (we drank our server's favorite; great recommendation). Also really good: the food =) started with broccoli rabe, then the pancetta pizza, and finished with the stracciatella gelato. Broccoli rabe - best I've had; not usually a fan Pancetta pizza - oh so yummy! the pancetta was crispy and salty; the kale was a pleasant addition. Thin crust, done just right. This pizza is more in line with that from Italy (and not my home of NY, where my love for pizza blossomed) Stracciatella gelato - enough said. Whole experience was very nice. Our server was vibrant and helped us with choices. Water glasses were always full. Price was right. Need I say more?
(4)Jonny S.
Came here for pizza, which is indeed great. Choices are pretty good but I don't recall it ever changing. My gripe tonight was with the service - and it's not an over the top complaint, just a suggestion - maybe it was a slow night but I don't like being hovered over & interrupted with every single thing that is brought out (soup, wine, pizza salad). I don't think it's necessary. Maybe Starr's rule?
(4)Diane S.
This is a favorite of mine. The food is very fresh and tastes excellent. The wood fired pizza is great and comes out in minutes. I also love the tomato basil pasta. Just great! I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Bruce B.
I went to Pizzeria Stella the other day for a afternoon meet with a couple of friends. We were discussion their flower selections for their upcoming wedding. Right away there was a problem, our server seems to be a little miffed that we were concentrating on flower photos and not the menu. We ordered 3 glasses of wine and 2 different pizzas. We continued to discuss the flowers and when our server returned to our table with our pizzas, she stood there holding the pizzas until we moved our photos out of the way before she put them on the rack. What an unbelievable attitude! It was mid afternoon and besides us I think they were 3 more people having a late lunch, which is why I didn't understand her poor attitude. We ordered our pizzas, one was a traditional pepperoni, and the other 1 was piled high with salad greens. The pizza dough was similar to Nomad pizza, without the flavor, and it was a little too chewy for me. All in all I think that the meal was a little too expensive for what we received and the service was horrendous- on purpose it seemed. I think I need to try it again, But I am NOT going to break my ne.ck getting back there.
(3)Christina O.
Delicious! Had the calamari and margarita pie, would definitely recommend giving Stella's a try!
(5)Paul B.
Pretty cool place. The pizza was great. Nothing really made this place stand out! I'd go again for the pizza! It's A-OK!
(3)Lynda Z.
First off, I'd like to give them 3 1/2 Stars! Anyway, I think their pizza is awesome, with one exception. The black char bubbles that happens to the crust. It's a 900 degree brick oven, I get it. But, I don't get that from other places with the same type of ovens. Why?!? We recently had dinner at Krescendo up in Brooklyn which has the same oven and they didn't burn their crust so why does Stella ALWAYS do it. It makes me not want to go back. I've had the Mragherita which is very good. I love the Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese. The Marinara is not bad, but on the bland side and the Four cheese is tasty. The Arancini isn't too bad either. The servers are always friendly, so no worries there. Parking is usually available (during the day anyway). Stop burning my crust and I'll boot you up to 4 stars and eat there more often. Damn you Stephen Starr lol.
(3)Maximiliano S.
Cool place, people are great and so is the pizza! Im saying it is a 4 stars because they don't have wifi. Mushroom pizza, yay!
(4)Naz O.
You could rate Stella in very different ways depending on what you were looking for in your dining experience. If you're looking for a high-end restaurant, then Stella isn't your first choice. However, if you are looking for a more casual (but still refined) experience with great food, then Stella is as good as it gets. I've tried pretty much everything on the menu and there hasn't been anything I didn't like. I had my 21st birthday dinner here with a large group of friends, and they were extremely helpful with organizing it even though they don't normally take reservations. Service is great, the atmosphere is very cozy and welcoming, and the food is one of the best I've had in Philly.
(5)Stephen S.
A really good pizza place, a combination of high quality and creative ingredients with attention to making a well constructed pie. The pizza is a thin crust, Neapolitan style, it turns out soft and slightly charred. I personally loved the tartufo, with black truffle, fontina, egg, and parmesan. The waiter breaks the egg adorning the pizza at the table and spreads the yolk around to cover the whole pizza. The black truffle does not overpower the other flavors but instead stands as a nice comparison to accentuate all the ingredients. The first hot slice I ate was amazing, but this pizza was no where near as good when it cooled down a little bit.
(4)Rich G.
Eye T....I doubt you drove anywhere as it is obvious that you take the special bus everywhere you go. This place is pretty good IMO. Its not legit Pizza as far as I am concerned, well being from this area anyway. It is fancy pizza. I have had quite a few different pizzas here and they were all pretty good. They have a decent price on the house wines, and a decent selection apart from the cheap stuff. OK beer selection too. The service I have experienced here ranged from OK to excellent. Will not blow your socks off, but it definitely wont disappoint.
(4)Patrizia C.
This is by far my favorite pizza in the city. I love the ambiance, the service and most importantly the food. The pizza is incredible and I get the ricotta appetizer every single time I go. They also have a drink that is not very common in the States, and they make it just the way I like it.
(5)Alicia J.
We went to Stella specifically to try out the olive oil gelato, but we had a wonderful meal in addition! We had a special soft-cheese ravioli with fava beans and the grilled octopus for appetizers, the tartufo pizza, and the olive oil and honey mascarpone gelatos for dessert. The ravioli was my favorite dish of the night. The seasoning and light broth was really delicious, and the fava beans accented it really well. I'd go as far to wonder why this isn't on their regular menu. The grilled octopus was likewise tasty. It had a nice crispy texture on the outside that contrasted well with the soft octopus meat. Actually, I'd say that both appetizers were better than the pizza itself, which could be a problem. The tartufo pizza is a black truffle and yolky egg pizza. Its a really delicious thin crust pizza, but it just wasn't that /perfect/ pizza I would search for. The gelato desserts were really lovely together. Alternating between the somber olive oil and the sweet honey-mascarpone was quite nice, and rounded out the evening well. What else is there to say? The service was better than average in Philadelphia, and the ambiance was quite nice. At 7:30 we had a secluded booth to ourselves, perfect for date night.
(4)Ashley A.
The service was great as was the peach sangria.
(3)Brad P.
Stella pizza is pretty darn good. I struggled with choosing 3 or 4 stars for this restaurant, but their pizza topping creativity(pistachio, specifically) earned them the 4. The pizza crust is thin, with a relatively soft texture. The margherita pie was above average(but still doesn't hold a candle to Tacconelli's). It was light on the cheese and topped with whole basil leaves, just how I like it. The pistachio pie was surprisingly good, as the pistachio and sweet onions complimented each other very well. It was a unique pizza and I would get it again. The vongole pie is very good. Their service was attentive and friendly. On a negative note, the pizzas are small. My group was 3 people and 3 pies was just a tiiiiiny bit under what would've been satisfactory portions for all involved(and we're not exceptionally gluttonous).
(4)Kemi A.
Not sure if I should give this place a 3 or 4. Either way I enjoyed my spinach pizza, the sauce of whatever the spinach was sauteed in was delicious. My friends got the special of the day which a potato, goat cheese topped pizza. It was okay but the spinach was def better. It was a weeknight so being seated was no biggie. They can use more options in terms of drinks. I just didn't feel compelled to get anything on the drink menu so everyone kept to water. Also, they only had one dessert. I like options so i didn't get the gelato actually. I was kinda stuffed. I get filled pretty quickly. It was 3 of us and we each ordered a pizza each and just shared it. It was more than enough. We didn't do appetizers also. I would def come by if I'm in the area or maybe in the mood for a low key chill meal...esp in the summer
(3)Eric C.
Tartufo is amazing. black truffle, egg, fontina. Everything else is good too. Also love to order. My favorite fancy pizza place in Philly.
(5)Melissa A.
We went to Stella's on a Friday night about 7pm and were pleasantly surprised by no wait. Everyone was really friendly and our waitress was great. We started with a caesar salad which was fine, and the rosemary flatbread that was great. but, oh, the pizza is wonderful! WONDERFUL! I am a vegetarian, and pizza is one of my most important food groups. We tried the Picante (half without meat so I could try it) and the Spinach pizza. BOTH FANTASTIC. The crust is usually my least favorite part of pizza, but Stella's crust is DELICIOUS. I really loved everything about their pizza. Pizzeria Stella fantastic and by mid-meal I was already planning our next visit. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Noheli T.
I've been to Stella's a handful of times and have never had a a bad experience! I can honestly say that it is my favorite pizza place in the city! I went yesterday afternoon with a friend and ordered the San Daniele and Pepperoni pizza. Both of them were delicious. The Pepperoni was a bit greasy (as expected) but it wasn't overwhelming like at other restaurants.We also ordered a pitcher of Sangria and it was some of the best that I have ever had! I can't wait for my next visit!
(5)Melissa V.
This place is a perfect pizza place. The pizza and salads are delish. Great service and atmosphere. Try it!
(5)Amy B.
My husband and I are obsessed with this place. Not kidding -- obsessed. Stella might even be considering getting a restraining order. We've tried each and every pizza at least once...and within a 10 day span (if it took that long). So, here's the pizzas in order of my favorites: 1. Sausage - the best pizza ever 2. Margherita - might sound boring, but it's pretty amazing 3. Mushroom - yummy creamy garlic sauce, yummy shrooms, yummy ham 4.Tartufo - you won't believe how good this smells, let alone tastes 5. Marinara - delicious cheeseless pizza, whodda thunk? 6. Pepperoni - can't go wrong with this one 7. Piccante - the favorite of most of the employees 8. Spinach - the pine nuts are a great addition 9. Zucchini - a much better topping than you'd think! 10. San Daniele - love the arugula 11. Quattro Formaggi - the tomato sauce is freaking gooood 12. Pistachio - a buttery sauce and thinly sliced red onions 13. Panchetta - very bold and delicious flavors By the way, just because one has to rank last by no means should that indicate that I didn't like it. I love each and every one as if they were my babies (and if I ate babies, which I do not).
(5)R F.
I had the grilled octopus salad first, then the special pasta for the night - a rabbit ragu (with onion and olives) over chocolate pasta - an excellent dish (not sweet, but spicey and savory) - finished it with a generous scoop of gelato - service was knowledgeable and helpful and quick - great casual place with great food!
(4)Kaitlin L.
I wanted to like this place. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised with how low-key it seemed. I was honestly kind of mad at myself for never visiting Stella before that moment. The pizza was tasty. It reminded me of pizza in Italy, just a bit smaller. The ingredients were fresh but not exactly memorable. We ordered the margherita and san daniele pizzas and split them among 3 of us. I ended up not hungry, but not exactly full. We also ordered one beer each. The shock came with the bill. Two pizzas and three beers ended up costing us $50. Fifty dollars for 2 relatively small and somewhat forgettable pizzas and 3 beers. Not worth my money, sorry.
(3)Jessica B.
This place has great, real Italian pizza. Anyone who tells you otherwise has never actually been to Italy and had pizza there. Italian pizza is not the thick crust Pizza Hut-esque junk one gets here in the US. In Italy the pizza is crispy (and, yes, occasionally a little burnt) at the edge and moist in the middle. You have to eat it with a fork and knife (because that's what civilized people do) and having your pizza with a tasty glass of wine is normal (because what's better with a garlicky tomato sauce than a rich red), not pretentious (says the girl talking about pizza in Italy. Moving on). We had the arancini, caesar salad (REAL ANCHOVIES IN THE DRESSING!! Hallelujah.) and the sausage pizza. Service was GREAT. Many of Stephen Starr's restaurants leave me with a bad taste in my mouth, but not this place. We will definitely be back.
(5)Mikey I.
I remember coming here shortly after their opening and being completely underwhelmed. I've gotta admit, I'm kind of a Starr-hater. I'm just never impressed by any of the restaurants in neither decor, ambiance and most especially food. I've given this place a few more chances but I'm still not wild about it. I will give Stella props though for being a good neighborhood establishment. This is the place to come in a group of 3-4 or more and share several pizzas. How is it? It's good, but for some reason, I'm just not crazy about it. The pancetta is probably my favorite. Will I pop in here occasionally? Sure, if I'm in the neighborhood, looking for a nice sit-down place and it's pizza that I'm craving or settling for. Do I ever crave Stella specifically? Eh, not really.
(3)Max W.
Came here for lunch with the sister and father and the place was packed to the gills. Waited about 20 min and we were seated. Stella has a busy but satisfying atmosphere however it fits into its quiet Society Hill neighborhood very nicely. We had the margherita, sausage, and spinach pizzas. They are on the small side yet are extremely tasty. The spinach was my favorite. In addition the staff were all friendly and helpful and the pizzas came out quite fast which was a pleasant surprise. My dad talked to the guy working the dough and the guy said they usually make 600 pizzas a day.
(4)Josie D.
I have yet to have a bad meal at any Stephen Starr restaurant and can't find a reason to give one less then 4 stars really. This is no different. Really cute pizza place. In true Stephen Starr style the whole place is really themed in sort of an Italy/pizza bar style. We always enjoy our pizza. It's a little pricey but way better then most anything on South Street so we always go for it.
(4)John F.
Six slices of self-satisfaction? 1200 calories of self-depricating pretension? Yuppies coming to be at a Starr restaurant, eating pizza with FORK AND KNIFE and sipping on a glass of wine. WTF. The only reason I'm giving this spot a 3 instead of a 2 is that it adds a nice crowd to the corner of 2nd and Lombard (way better than Cosi used to). Just as I expect from a Starr restaurant, it's made to seem better than it really is. I've been a couple of times when I was at Head House and in the mood for pizza and each time the experience was okay. The first time I went, the waitress actually said "The chef recommends...", you've got to be f'ing kidding me, the "pizza chef?" I worked at pizza hut as a teenager and made the pizzas, was I a chef? Oh, I wasn't because Steven Starr wasn't paying me to be awesome. All kidding aside, if you're in the area, it's not a bad spot to stop but don't expect the best.
(3)Sarah R.
A few coworkers and I visited the restaurant last Friday for a going-away lunch and we all walked away happy and full! We didn't call ahead but they weren't busy when we got there so they were fully able to accommodate our large party of 14. We ordered a full variety of the pizzas and they were all delicious. Its difficult to pick just one favorite but I think the Margarete was spot on. They also were quick to come out which was awesome because we were hungry and ready to eat. The service was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and had a lot of great suggestions. Don't think they only have pizza here either! A couple folks had salads and were very please with them. Their gelato is to die for! They are homemade and change frequently. I would definitely recommend this place for a cute date night or obviously for a large hungry crowd for lunch on a Friday.
(5)Jamie G.
Stopped here for lunch while working nearby. Would not classify this as a quick lunch but that was fine for me (maybe on another day I'd look for faster options). Ordered the minestrone soup and split the spinach pizza with my coworker. Both were delish! I wish the soup came in a smaller portion - it was a large bowl and almost more of a meal then an app (I did severely burn mouth but that was prob my own fault?). Pizza was perfection - incredible crust and toppings. Overall a little pricier then my usual lunch spot but you get what you pay for? I would absolutely come back here if I was in the neighborhood.
(4)Matt H.
Great location and even better food. Located on the corner of Lombard St in Headhouse Square I'm happy to say I've tried almost every pizza on the menu (depending on what my craving of the day is) and they are all delicious. My favorite being a tie between the Sausage and the Spinach pie. It is also safe to say that the Lamb Bolognese pasta here would suffice as my last meal.
(5)Saloni M.
The restaurant turned out to be a good choice to avoid the crazy Valentine's crowds at most places. My friend and I were traveling on business and wanted to find a place to get in and get out. We were pleasantly surprised two receive 2 freshly baked cookies with our to go order - probably just a special V Day inclusion. This restaurant is casual - a good place to go with the fam or some friends. However, I feel like the prices are pretty high here for what you get. I think our bill was $40 for 2 people for pizza... We ordered the tartufo - a pizza with black and white truffles topped with an egg. This pizza was as we expected very flavorful though it knocked us back $18 for a 12-inch. The other pizza we ordered was several steps down. The spinach pizza ($14) ended up being topped with soggy, cooked spinach. Not much flavor happening here. We nibbled at it but ended up leaving most of it. The menu is entirely pizza, a few appetizers, and salad. I'm seeing photos, as I write this review, suggested of pasta - but there is definitely no pasta on the menu. The salads are fairly generic - which doesn't really go well with the attempt at a gourmet concept.. and the gourmet prices. We both were in the mood to order salad but all the options were so blah. The main thing that bothered me was that there is only one dessert option. Gelato. That's it. What? This is a restaurant. Where is my cake? Or Tiramisu? Or Anything sweet. It was Valentine's Day and we needed chocolate, but ice cream is not feasible for take outs. It seemed like taking out is pretty popular here so the restaurant is losing business by not having a sweet option for take outs. In fact when I was picking up, a father and son came for what appeared to be after dinner dessert and pretty much just walked out when they found out all that ice cream was the only option. All in all - I don't really see myself personally coming back because there just was nothing special happening here. I'm giving 3 stars for decent food, cleanliness, and good service.
(3)Matt B.
they have the best broccoli rabe (starter) in the city, perhaps the world. It sounds simple to make broccoli rabe. Most people think you just saute it. like spinach. What a mistake that would be. I don't know exactly how they do it but it's probably a multi-step process involving boiling at some point. so yeah it's that good... so good i had to update this review for the 2nd time. Stella might be my favorite restaurant in Philly, they always do it right.
(5)Lawlie P.
The pizza is really promising. But as other have mentioned the crust is the weakest part. I really like food that is tastefully charred. However the Stella style of crust is just inedibly charred in my opinion. Still very good, but you will likely opt out of eating the crust. I will add that I really love how the pepperoni puckers and is very crunchy (just like in the pizza of my dreams). The tartufu is good, although very rich. I did not want more than a slice or two. Would not recommend as a solo pizza unless you know what you're getting into.
(3)Erica M.
We stopped by Pizzeria Stella for lunch after some shopping at the Headhouse Farmer's Market. They have plenty of outdoor seating, which was great on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. There was a REALLY funky smell outside and we actually asked to move from the first table they sat us at (the side street was worse than the front). She moved us right around the corner and the smell was still unpleasant, but I wasn't going to ask to move again. There were plenty of open tables outside, but oh well. The smell wasn't coming from the restaurant (obviously out of their control) but still made it unpleasant. We ordered the sausage pizza to share. The pizza was ok...the flavor was good (a bit on the salty side, especially the bites that had visible sprinkled sea salt). The sausage was flavorful, which we enjoyed. The crust was only ok. It was flimsy enough that we couldn't pick it up to eat. The tomato sauce was flavorless, so I'm glad the sausage that plenty of seasoning. Our server was friendly and accessible. Overall, I don't think we'd return because it's not nearly as good as our other favorite wood fired pizza places. But it certainly wasn't BAD, and the prices are very fair.
(3)Jim C.
This pizza sucks. It tries to be uber authentic and its not even close. I've been to Italy Stephen Starr and your pizza has about as much taste as the toilet paper in the worst pizza place in Italy. The bar prices are outrageous. The wine is pathetic for the prices they think to charge. The wine we ordered was spoiled, as was the second bottle. I'd definitely call myself a fan of Starr's establishments but he completely got pizza wrong. All-in-all, a massive disappointment.
(1)Jason C.
Amazing... Stella's dough is freaking amazing and their oven does it justice (maybe it's the oven, maybe it's the dough - either way - it's a winning combo)...chewy and delicious on the inside...crisp and hot on the outside with the perfect amount of char/blisters. Gotta stay with the classics - pepperoni, pancetta, and margherita - but sometimes I'll stray, but I always regret it...sorry (but the shrimp don't cut it, and some of your other toppings put out too much liquid and ruin the pie)... Meatballs are great starters, as are the arancini, and the octopus...I've learned to order lightly on the apps, otherwise, I'm bummed b/c I'm too full to eat all the pizza. Place is great - just wish parking were better and PPA weren't out in full force in that lot.
(4)Robert T.
A pizza fantasy, particularly the pepperoni and sausage pizzas. It's casual, but very nice, extremely comfortable. Don't be put off by the ownership, the food is so good it doesn't matter who owns it. First rate.
(5)Rows F.
Stella = Stellar! San Daniele pizza is to die for; the arugala on top is a nice, fresh addition. Also watching the pizza boys in action is pretty fun ;)
(5)Jennifer T.
Be ready to spend a lot of money! I must say, Stephen Starr did a great job renovating the old Cosi location..the large red doors outside really gave it a European-London Phone Booth kind of feel and it was rather nice. The decor was simple but much attention to detail was made...from the Leaning Tower of Pizza mural in the back wall to newspaper wrapped light fixtures, the place was totally cool. But, then, all Stephen Starr places are kind of cool, right? Right, so about the food....*sigh* well, I just didn't expect to shell out $20 for a 10 inch pizza that was just slightly better than OK. Here's a breakdown of the food: Octopus & Calamari Appetizer - this was OK. The seafood was lightly seasoned and mixed with a few tomatoes and herbs to create a salad like app. Arancini - I was really excited to try these fried risotto balls, but they were kind of bland. It came with a marinara sauce but it didn't help much. Margherita Pizza - not bad. The flavors were simple but very delicious... Tartufo - by far the favorite of the night, but of course my group and I are a little biased when it comes to anything with truffles. The raw egg that was broken on the pizza once delivered to your table is a nice touch and I would absolutely recommend everyone try this pizza. (Just to clarify, they don't crack an egg on the pizza once it comes out...an egg is baked sunny side up into the pizza and the yolk is broken and then smeared once it comes out to the table). My only complaint was the strong rosemary scent on the pizza which I'm not a huge fan of...but, nonetheless, it was good pizza. (For nearly $20 bucks it should be!) San Daniele - I was hoping this pizza would be good. Smoked mozzarella, prosciutto, baby arugula....sounds good right? Eh...it was just OK. It was actually the least favorite at the table that night. The salt from the prosciutto was too prominent and overwhelming. The arugula was also too much...we felt like we were eating a salad and not a pizza. The place is cute and in all Stephen Starr fashion, be ready to put few extra dollars for his name on some OK food. I'm not sure if I would go back any time soon.
(3)Joe M.
Excellent service. Our server handled a few minor issues including a kitchen mistake on our order with grace and ease. Her pleasant manner made us feel comfortable. Arancini/ fried risotto balls was very good and served with marinara. The pizza was good but not as crispy as I expected and both pies were slightly watery in the middle. All the toppings were very good and fresh..... The dough was very light and crispy around the edges and had that wonderful burnt wood flavor. I still like Tacconelli's pizza better, but Stella's was very good.
(3)A G.
With all the brick oven pizza places popping up in the city, you really have to have your A game on. The pizza here is OK. I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Toppings are generous and fresh. The crust just doesn't have enough bite for a brick oven pie. They are listed as "personal sized" but can feed two not really starving people. Service was a delight and I enjoyed staring into the fiery pit. Dinner and a show!
(4)Jessica M.
I kind of felt like I was cheating on Zavino last night. But my Midtown Village fave need not worry, while I love it at Stella their location doesn't lend itself to nearly as frequent visits. HA! But back to Stella - - I had another great dinner here and it is surely a place I will return. After being seated by an open window on a lovely warm evening, we started off with some glasses of house wine, grilled asparagus topped with a fried egg and a crunchy, fresh salad with romaine, cucumbers, mint and more. The crispness of the asparagus with the smooth creaminess of the fried egg was perfect. And although I am never a fan of mint in my meals, it really worked in this salad. Pizzas were both meat-free this time - spinach and tartufo. The spinach on the spinach pizza was sauteed perfectly and that combined with the little snap of the pine nuts made for a great combo. I had to talk one of my fellow diners into trying the tartufo. I am still not sure if the others enjoyed it, but I know i did! Seriously, how can you not pick something with (yet another) fried egg? The server does a nice job with presentation of this one...they crack the yolk table-side and swirl it over the top of the pizza. It begs to be devoured. Important to note, if you don't love the flavor of truffle, don't choose this one! The flavor is strong and not for all. Dessert was house made gelato - stracciatella for me (vanilla w/chocolate shavings), hazelnut and lemon for my companions. The perfect amount and sweetness to top off our dinner. The restaurant is open and breezy and the staff is friendly and helpful. Definitely a place to return again and again and bring friends who like to try and share. On my next visit, I am planning to sit outside and try one of the Italian "sodas" - cocktails inspired by classic Italian soda flavors.
(4)Jean E.
I've tried almost all their pizza's, but my favorite is the Margherita. The buffalo mozzerella and marinara sauce is SO good and fresh. I get one to-go almost every week when I don't feel like cooking.
(5)Eric H.
Mushroom margarita!!! THIS PLACE IS GREAT!! We sat outside during the Sunday farmers market. Probably a little too cold now, but great people watching. Pizza was amazing as well. Thin crust, brick oven, with the taste of the seasoned dough. Stop by.
(4)Jessica E.
I am no pizza connoisseur...in fact I rarely eat it since I cannot have dairy and cheese is prevalent ingredient. But I do know that I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza that I had at Stella. After hearing positive reviews, I decided that I would call and see if they could accommodate my dairy-free request and the woman on the phone was very reassuring and suggested the marinara, which is just tomato sauce, oregano, and garlic. I took her advice and was not disappointed. The oregano and garlic were fresh and flavorful. Service was excellent. Stella's wine list consists of all Spanish wines. I decided to start with a glass of Cabernet, which was decent, but I was just as happy with my second glass of wine, a Montepulciano, which was their house red and $4 cheaper. My only gripe for the evening is that they charged me $3 for a fountain soda, which seems quite excessive. The food prices seemed reasonable though. Just be aware that Stella does not take reservations and you may have to wait for a table. On a Saturday night at 7:30 we had a 40 minute wait.
(4)Eric N.
Stopped in yesterday, after finding out that Lorenzo's was closed. Some pics showed a pic of slices. This is a sit down establishment, and not a by the slice joint. I got the Margarita (sp?) and two salads(romaine). The ingredients were top notch. Very fresh ingredients, very tasty, albeit slightly procy. Pie made in front of us from scratch in the wood fired oven. Salad was a generous size for the 7 buck price. Pizza made to feed to adults. Definitely a keeper!
(5)Joe S.
Very tasty, went with my daughters and we all loved our pizzas, ate everything and left full. Staff was very attentive and we loved the relaxed atmosphere. It's nice to mix up the whole pizza experience with a place like this. We'll be back for sure.
(4)Bertram B.
Sometimes I wish steven Starr would be content with the little concept restaurants he has. Was Stella good? It was ok. Have I had better pizza? Yes! $95 plus tip for four pies, and sodas/espresso? My back right pocket is aching steven. You are a wallet rapist. How you convinced everyone that what you touch is worth it...brilliant. But this is a shot at all of your restaurants and you. You lack love. And you lack heart. And because of this, yeah you will make money, but you will NEVER have a great restaurant. sorry to be personal. PS stop wearing ripped up "gym" clothes to go check up on your money-traps. dress up and have some respect for your restaurants, their employees, their patrons and most importantly yourself. it makes you that much worse.
(2)Whoy G.
Been here 8 or 9 times...never disappointed...service excellent, decor nice, pizza excellent...
(4)Caroline D.
WOW! A friend brought me here recently. My bank is next door and I have driven by a thousand times. I was really impressed. You have to be doing something pretty special to stand out in the pizza department. I think I had the pizza w bacon and ?? It was so so good. This may not be a plus for some people, but it was bustling and kind of loud, which makes it easier to take kids, not that my child is loud - it's just more comfortable then a quiet stuffy restaurant. Just the kind of atmosphere where people don't give you dirty looks for taking your kid out for dinner! Anyway, the only downside was the tiny amount served in my $9 prosecco. Served in a regular glass a little over half full. Hmmm. Well, to bring back the highlights, the dessert of chocolate shaved gelato was probably the best gelato I have ever had.
(4)Elizabeth D.
My husband and I took out kids there a month ago and really were not impressed at all. The Tartufo was good but undercooked...they did remedy that which we appreciated but the rest of the pizzas just did not thrill... Since I am definately in the minority here, I think we need to go back and give it another chance.
(3)Christina G.
As I find in most Stephen Star restaurants, the service was very good. But I was not impressed with the food. Quality of food was very average and just nothing special. There is much tastier pizza options in the area for much less. They have 13 pizza options and the pizzas mostly range from $13 to $16 but they are a bit small. 1 pizza is not enough for two hungry adults. We ordered two appetizers and a pizza and it was just the right amount of food for 2 people. I am also not a big fan of meat on my pizza and most of the pizza options had meat. I am not a vegetarian but I prefer more veggie options for my pizza. I won't be back. I rather pick up an enormous slice at Lorenzos for $3. Or you can get a large delicious Sicilian pizza at Santuccis for the same price as a tiny pizza at Stella. The atmosphere is nice and there is outdoor seating but I care too much about the quality of the food to come back.
(2)Brian K.
The grilled octopus was out of this world. Great place.
(5)Monica T.
Pizza was excellent and so was the service.
(5)Krystal B.
It's okay pizza for me. When it comes to pizza, I have high expectations. I managed a pizza restaurant for over a year so it made me picky. This pizza place is really nice & friendly inside. The workers on the line seem like good people that are happy with their jobs. They are a hoot to watch when someone weird walks in, btw. The manager (&/or owner?) though, reminds me of one of those clueless, fashion saavy owners that walks around the restaurant with a rag pretending to do stuff, but really hasn't a clue. LOL! I was sitting there watching the guy waiting for Gordon Ramsay to come out from around the corner to ask him wtf he was doing!? LOL! The pizza left an after taste of being burnt. 3pm on a Saturday & there was almost no one in there. This is the issue I have with wood burning ovens, they heat unevely. I much prefer convention line pizza ovens only because they heat evenly. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE my pizza crust well done! I DO NOT love it burnt! There is a HUGE difference. Unfortunately, because Stella burned my pizza b/c of their inattention to hot spots in their oven, I won't be back. Usually, I give a restaurant three chances. Pizza, on the other hand, is a one shot deal with me. Also, for what I got...I found it to be overpriced. The pizzas are small & thin. Not my preference. Go to Pietro's a block and a half over instead. Pizza is waaaay better & waiters are fun to look at! Ha!
(2)Denise C.
I live around the corner and eat at Stella at least twice per month. I love their pizza's. There Pistachio pizza, while an odd combination is delicious. My kids also love it, so it is one of our go-to restaurants. I wish their were more appetizer/salad choices. While the gelato is delicious, they have taken some of their best flavors off the menu (milk chocolate, blackberry).
(4)Kate M.
Pros: - Everyone loved their pizza. I was expecting a totally adequate pizza and instead got a damn fine pizza. - They ask for your phone number so you can wander around and buy boots while waiting for a table. - Our server was nice and took pretty good care of us. Cons: - A Friday night table for 5 took well over an hour (which i guess might not be THAT long in the restaurant world, but I was hungry!). - You have to share giant tables with other people, which was fine when we were seated next to a group of nice people, but annoying when a bunch of screaming college kids sat down right before we left. At least we didn't have to deal with them for long. - What the hell is with their 11 oz cups? The wait staff is busy enough without having to refill my water 4 times. I don't think it's worth dealing with the prime dinner time crowd. I mean it's really good, but, ultimately, it's just pizza. If you happen to be in the area when they're not filled to the brim, stop in for a pie. If there's a ridiculous wait and you have a back up plan where there won't be (like, say, Lorenzo's), feel free to pass.
(4)Dan L.
I had been wanting to to try this place for a while, since I like most of what Stephen Starr offers. This ended up being an exception. The first problem - only two beers on tap. Really, come on. One was Stella (ha ha) and the other was something seasonal, that didn't even interest me. Then came the meal. The choices were interesting and I thought that after having the first one I ordered, I would probably be ordering a second. That wasn't going to happen. The pizza we received looked nice, but was not memorable at all. The crust did not have much flavor and was slightly burnt. And the toppings were interesting, but just did not work well together. I should have gone to Bertucci's. Sorry, but if am looking for a place to grab a bite (or a beer) in the future, I will not be headed here.
(2)Jake V.
Oh my goodness. I have to say that not only was the salad (grilled radicchio) delicious with a beautiful mixture of umami and sour tartness but the pizza was delicious in its own right. The crust being this amazing dance between pillowy softness and crustiness that was just a pleasure to bite into. Not only that the service was very accommodating and delightful. Then the check came. $42 (including tax and 20% tip) for a smallish pizza, salad and two beers. Seriously. I then wish I had just gone to Lorenzos and put the rest of the money towards a case of beer.
(2)Pasquale A.
See & be seen airy & open atmosphere. Excellent Star decor & great corner location on Head House. The toppings are excellent, creative but the crust lacks the complexity of mature pizza dough. There are ways to make fast dough that is still aged correctly. A young dough is overwhelmed by the direct heat of the wood brick oven. Also, the sauce could use more basil & oregano. Appetizers such as calamari/octopus salad (refreshingly NOT deep fried), asparagus and olive assortment all excellent. Though olives could have used provolone shards. Service was patchy at first, but they strove arduously to correct it and were mostly successful. It WAS a busy night.
(4)Mario N.
I loved it. The wife and I both got apps and shared a pizza. Its got a great atmosphere for families and couples.
(4)Marian R.
I hate when places get a lot of press early since I like going when they have just opened to scope it out and lay the foundations for an opinion. Starr joints are tricky because of this, but I wanted to go to Stella before they 'nailed it' so I could get a good feel for the place. I think Stella will nail it, but it isn't quite there yet. I went with six friends last week and we were all there for the pizza, so the 7 of us spitting 6 pies (and one order of octopus/squid salad) was perfect (though bigger eaters might disagree). The margherita received the most first place votes but the prosciutto and arugula pizza was favored as well. I didn't try the sausage pizza but everyone said it was a bit bland. The clam pizza was good, but Slice's is better. My favorite was either the eggplant or the margherita; both were simple and tasty. Now, the crust. People have been raving about the crust so naturally there were some expectations. While it was well cooked (a bit undercooked in some instances I thought. I like a lightly blackened crust), it was not particularly tasty. It was bland and kindof dull in my opinion. I much prefer Osteria's pizza dough (and Osteria's pizza to be honest). And yes, it is a bit spensivo, but not ridiculously so. But if you are going to a Starr restaurant and expecting an inexpensive bill, then you ain't from around here....Also, as my very pregnant sister very accurately noted, 'this place is like a Pizza Hut for yuppies'. I could not believe the number of children in there, it was insane. Thankfully the place is loud enough so none stood out for the wrong reasons, so if you have kids: Stella is very kid friendly. Service was excellent for those who like dealing with professionals.
(3)C T.
The tartufo pizza is THE BEST. The margherita is just ok. Sheeps milk ricotta app is pretty good. I don't think I'd order anything here that wasn't pizza or the ricotta though.
(4)M G.
We have just had dinner at Stella just tonight and we had one of the most pleasant dining experiences. The manager Mark and our server Christopher were extremely courteous and attentive. We felt very welcome and appreciated. As for the food - we loved everything we had! The wood oven pizza is one of the best in town. The crust is truly delicious and the Margarita, the prosciutto, the pistachio pizzas are all very tasty with quality ingredients. From the appetizers: meatballs are wonderful, much better than any meatballs I have had in Italian restaurants. The octopus salad also awesome - very tender, served with an amazing fennel salad. We were surprised by how much we enjoyed the salad. They suggested they could prepare an order of a larger portion of just the salad when we return, which was the nicest gesture. The homemade gelato is a very nice ending to a very nice dinner. One other highlight of the evening was our second pizza spontaneously sliding off the rack on the table and being replaced by a freshly made one for free. This is not something every restaurant would do, and it was a very considerate and professional way to address the accident. We are definitely going back for the delicious food and the wonderful service. Stella is highly recommended. We really enjoyed the place.
(5)Kevin V.
Went to dinner here for my girlfriend's birthday. I have mixed feelings about Steven Starr restaurants but this one was definitely one of the better ones. We kept it very simple - we split the Romaine salad ordered a Margherita and a Pepperoni pizza. She drank 2 glasses of Prosecco and I had 2 house reds, which is a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo. She finished the meal with blackberry gelato. Our meal was simple but delightful. The salad was perfectly dressed, the ingredients of the pizza were fresh and the crusts were light, fluffy and perfectly baked. I'm not a huge wine fan but Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is my favorite and being that it was the house red was awesome. I would go back just for the wine! The service was great and when our server heard that it was my gf's birthday she surprised us and put a candle in the gelato when bringing it out. If you want a simple, no frills, laid back meal I would suggest going here. My one "complaint" was that the music was just awful...thankfully it wasn't that loud but techno/rave music was doing no favors for the atmosphere...I have no problems with Zombie Nation type music at a sporting event but at dinner? I'll pass...that being said it wasn't enough to detract me from going again.
(4)Percy N.
Stopped by around 1:30pm on a Monday and it was packed. 30-40 minute wait for a table. 10 min wait for a take-away order. So I got the Tratufo and Pistachio to go. The Tratufo was permeating sensual aromas of truffles from 5 feet away as I picked it up and even pedestrians I was passing on the sidewalk seemed to notice it. If I could, I would bottle this aroma up as an aftershave. Don't get me wrong, for under $20, I am realistic about the actual amount of true black truffles used, but whether it was truffle mash or oil, the flavors and certainly the aromas were there. Highly recommend it. Next, I tried the pistachio with red onion, which I originally had at Bianco's in Phoenixville (considered the be the best pizza purveyor in the US). This version was pretty good and though it has been a few years, it was pretty close to the one I remembered from Bianco's. Both pizzas had the tell-tale leopard blistering of a wood burning oven, leaving the super thin crust crispy yet tender and chewy. So, if you are in the area, try it - Stella is certainly worth a shot.
(4)Micaela F.
I really want to love you so bad. Cute place, cute location but really not loving the pizza we had. Sorry Stella.
(1)Alessia K.
ya mon. Me and the babe ordered two pies and devoured them as if it were a contest. Actually, I think the restaurant is running some kind of contest for churning out the pizzas as fast as possible. It literally took about 3 minutes for each pie to come out. Regardless feeling rushed, the place has fresh ingredients, awesome dough and Moretti beer. I will return.
(4)Justin C.
Have been three or four times, never disappointed! Authentic old world techniques with exciting new flavors! Best pizza in Philly!
(5)christian C.
I'm tempted to give this 5 stars, but I'm not going to yet, because: 1. I've only been once and want to see how consistent they are, and 2. They only have 2 beers on tap (fortunately, one of them is Victory HopDevil; the other is Stella). I don't think a 5 star place would only provide a choice between two beers. The food, on the first try, was excellent. The octopus salad was fantastic! I will be going back just for this. The octopus was hands down the best octopus I've ever had. Not the slightest bit rubbery. It was served over a salad of fennel, warm potato slices which were perfectly cooked, and parsley and mint leaves. The waitress said the dressing was a salsa verde, but it tasted more like pesto. The whole thing was lightly tossed with a little lemon. This was excellent. The pizza with prosciutto, smoked gouda and arugala was also delicious with a nicely charred and excellently cooked thin crust. The prosciutto was very good. Ate every morsel. The service was also good, perhaps a little too quick, but that's a minor quibble. Can't wait to go back and try it again.
(4)Joshua B.
I would rate Stella's as, "What's your hurry? Here's your hat." Our experience last Friday was made unpleasant because of extreme up-selling and pressure to turn tables. Our server (and her team) made repeated queries if we wanted more wine while we still had wine in our glasses; she interrupted conversation mid-meal (we were half-way through our pizzas) to recite the dessert menu; and then (just bizarre), as I was cutting a slice from the last of three pizzas, with the two empty trays stacked beneath, she reached under my hand to remove the trays, suggesting it would make it easier to cut the pie. As I was still chewing my last bite, she cleared the table, inquired about dessert again, placed the check on the table and offered the requisite, "No rush; any time you're ready."
(1)Lori R.
Overall the experience as Stella was good. Very nice decor and they did a nice renovation of the old Cosi. The waitstaff was friendly and knowledgeable. Let me start with the appetizers, the balsamic onion was delicious, as were the beet salad and broccoli rabe. I had an Arnold Palmer and my friend had the house wine which he complimented. We had a special pizza with figs, gorgonzola and walnuts. Great flavors but dry were there were not figs. I only gave the place 3 stars as it was pricey, $48 for a single drink and 12" pizza and 3 sides is a bit much. But we definitely ate enough. Overall I would go again but in no hurry to return.
(3)Anna Marie C.
stella, stella. i wanted to be able to scream it from rooftops... but sadly, i cannot. in the stephen starr vein, this place is grand...grand in the way a pseudo rustic type place can be. to give it even more of a homey feel, there are long tables that you have to share with other folk. in all, it's a-ok. there are some original ingredients on the pizzas. the crusts are decent (and to be honest, i'm a chicago deep dish pizza girl myself)... our server was probably the best part of the place, as she was super friendly and knowledgeable. so if i were around the block, and had a pizza craving, i may stop here. but would i make an extra long trip out here for the pizza again? most prob not.
(3)Leslie M.
Good pizza but maybe still working out some kinks? Went for a late Thursday night dinner. Maybe we came a bit too late but the service was definitely rushed throughout the entire meal. The pizzas were delicious but I've seen better portions. Ambiance: Nice open space and great for groups. The setup and decor is very simple and ties along with an "upscale pizzeria". Service: Not the best. Perhaps we were late coming in but we felt the entire meal was being pushed along. Between being asked if we wanted more drinks when we were barely a few sips into our first glass of beer and having to play tug of war with our plates that had the last few bites of the otherwise delicious pizza, we were all relatively confused with the service and the rush to finish our meal. Probably the worst highlight was having to grab back my plate twice from the waitress so that I could enjoy my last pizza slice. To put the cherry on top of a somewhat anxious finish to my meal.. while the last bite of crust was en route to my awaiting my mouth - my hawk-eyed waitress descended to whisk away my finally finished plate. I was still chewing as she began to describe dessert. Food: Their truffle parmesan pizza (Tartufo) was absolutely delicious. I would definitely come here again to enjoy this delight. It comes topped with a well placed sunny side up egg which is then broken to allow the yolk to spread its rich goodness onto an even more rich landscape of flavor. Their crust is remarkably thin but still chewy. The portion was a bit small but expected as it is a Starr. However aside from the Tartufo, I think Slice would be a better value option. Their olives were a good value and a great way to begin the meal. As for dessert, skip the gelato. We found the texture to be grainy and icy. Drinks: Decent beer & wine offerings. Nice that they offer many types of wine on the glass. We enjoyed the Dogfish Head Brown Ale with our meal. Overall, I'm coming again to eat the Tartufo and maybe a foray into another one of their more unique pizzas (clams?)... I'll also try coming at a different hour too ...
(3)Kelly W.
So it's probably unfair to review a restaurant on it's soft opening. But here I go: Woohoooo! I was anticipating the opening of Pizzeria Stella and was not disappointed. I like the casual setting with plenty of tables and dog/stroller friendly outdoor tables. We started with the Balsamic Onion starter and shared two pizzas (about 12 inches): Tartufo: black truffle, fontina, egg, parmesan $17. Sausage: sweet fennel sausage, hot pepper, tomato, basil $15 Tartufo should be eaten right away, as the egg is sunny side up and smeared around the pizza for equal coverage. Don't be intimidated by the raw egg, it's divine! If you aren't a truffle fan, steer clear as the truffle oil is quite powerful. The sausage pizza was well balanced and not too spicy or heavy on the meat. All in all, the thin crust held up against the wet ingredients without getting soggy right away. There are other vegetarian options and lower priced pizzas, ranging from $12-17. Finish off with the "secret recipe" homemade gelato. I recommend you try the olive oil flavor. Creamy, sweet and full of flavor. Between my husband and I, we split an appetizer, two pizzas, a gelato, and each had a drink for about $70. Hours: Sun.-Thu., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight.
(4)Emily M.
This place definitely gets 4 stars from me. I just went back last night for my second time, and I have not been disappointed yet! Usually, I find Steven Starr to be decent, not thrilling, and overpriced. Not so for Stella! This is one of the few places in town I can go for dinner with a date and have a fantastic meal for under $30 total. My first time at Stella, I started with a sheep's milk ricotta appetizer with flatbread. The ricotta was delicious, simple, and with a lovely note of rosemary. The flatbread wasn't remarkable, but it was simple and tasty, and our lovely waitress Natasha immediately brought us more when she saw we were running low. Then I had the spinach pizza. Let me tell you, this is delicious. So flavorful and savory, with different flavors in each bite. Juicy and well seasoned, with a crispy in some places, soft in other places crust (almost like naan). Delicious! Amazing! Simple! Last night, I had the calamari and octopus appetizer and the broccoli rabe appetizer to start. The calamari was like a cross between traditional calamari, and an octopus ceviche, with olives and onion to spice things up. The broccoli rabe was simple and delicious, with garlic and ricotta to accent its strong, earthy flavor. I think the broccoli rabe has been my favorite appetizer so far! And then I had the pizza bianca. This was delicious and simple. I didn't like it as much as the spinach, but it didn't disappoint. It had three cheeses and delicious olive oil, and made a decadent and juicy (well, honestly, oily) taste. So good. And I finished with the hazelnut gelato. Which was okay. The biscotti was the best part of the dessert. This place has simple, good comfort food at affordable prices with friendly staff. Ask for Natasha! (Note: My meal last night was over $30- we got more appetizers and a dessert)
(4)Kevin P.
I live in Jersey and frequent Stella's often. I fancy myself a pizza aficionado, I've stood in line for an hour at Grimaldi's in NYC. I've partaken in Lombardi's pizza in NY (first pizza place in the US) too many more to mention. Stella's in my opinion is the best pizza PERIOD. My fav is the margarita & the sausage pie. So light, crispy, flavor packed. The pizza guys work like a fine tuned machine. I have easily been there 20 times in the last two years. Have never had a bad experience the staff is always nice. My only complaint would be is that the pizzas take only about 5 minutes to hit your table after you order. Your in and out very quick. Sometimes I'd like it to take a little longer to savor the environment and the company.
(5)Tanya T.
Pizzeria Stella was stellar indeed! We went here tonight with another couple and ordered 4 pizzas which was perfect for us. (we came hungry). we ordered the appetizer grilled octopus which was a perfect blend of fennel, salsa verde and the potatoes were very yummy in it. it was a good starter. then we proceeded with the margherita, mushroom, tartufo, san daniele pizzas. the dough is just perfect and just thin enough. the margherita pizza was very good...as my friend said that it comes close to a pizza they had in naples italy. my next favorite would be the mushroom. my fiance loved the tartufo ....a little heavy but amazing assortment of egg, black truffle and parmesan. san daniele was great too with fresh arugula on top. even though we were stuffed, we went with the stratichello (vanilla and chocolate cookies) and pumpkin gelato. wow great house made gelato...great end to the night!
(5)Matt L.
I was reluctant to try this place given the mixed reviews, but I had a great time here. We arrived at 7pm on a Friday and had no more than a 10 minute wait for a party of 3. We ordered three pies: the pistachio, the spinach and the tarufo. The pistachio pizza was remarkably good. The service was friendly and excellent. An in all, it was pretty great.
(4)Nelson S.
This place probably deserves 4 stars... but they get a penalty star because of all the hype around this place and also because the other Starr restaurants I have been to have been really good. Pizza is good... even really good... just not great. Probably one of the better pizzas in Philly but it wasn't as good as this place we went to often in Denver (Marco's coal fired pizza). Good food, great location, good service. Will probably come again... but I guess I was expecting more.
(3)Kathy D.
Gotta give it to Stephen Starr, this former Cosi has potential. It will be a mix, attracting people from Society Hill towers, and those on South Street who want a nicer place to get pizza. It's not in competition with Osteria restaurant, but Starr isn't trying to go high end here either. Lots of wine selection, and even offers home made lemonade and sasperilla. I split a margarita pizza with my niece and good thing she's small and only had two slices because the pizza is SO thin and not very filling. But it was good. I would probably suggest having one pizza per person if you're hungry and go home with a slice or two. Price was good, had a pizza and a soda for 17 dollars. (Could be an excellent cheaper date location.) Since it's only been open a few weeks, staff is still in training mode. ANd I've worked for Starr, so I know what it's like. Neverless, they were attentive and friendly, and true to Starr form, pushed the dessert heavily. In my opinion, it's a close competitor to Osteria's pizza, but I still prefer Slice over both.
(4)Joy C.
Pizzeria Stella makes for the perfect addition to Philly's food scene. The pizza style is a nice mix of New York wood oven fired (think Grimaldi's in Brooklyn), Napoletana (Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix), and CT style pizza (Pepe's in New Haven). If you're a fan of any of those about mentioned pizza palaces, you'll probably be a fan of Stella. The setting is probably the most casual and kid-friendly of Starr's restaurants, yet has the same attention to detail in a more down to earth way. I had the chance to try four different pizzas that day: Pepperoni, Sausage, Picante, and Pistachio. The Pepperoni and Sausage were the favorites but all were very good. The interesting thing about Stella is that the different between the pizza flavors isn't just a matter of a change in the main topping (pepperoni, sausage, etc). They use different cheeses depending on the combination of flavors being highlighted. The crust is EXCELLENT and consists of the perfect balance of chewy and crispy. The antipasti dishes are also very good especially the balsamic onion and broccoli rabe. My only complaint is that the service was a bit slow - pizza took over 30-45 mins to come out after ordering. So you have to go there for the quality of pizza, not for a quick slice. Final thoughts... A much welcomed addition to Philly especially if you like wood fired oven style pizza. The pizzas are small, so best to go and get a few kinds and share with company.
(4)Mike D.
With an expert pizza connoisseur on hand I finally made the trip to Stella after a night of beer tasting to soak up some of those samples. The size of the place was suggestive of a Starr joint but the atmosphere was definitely more relaxed; a plus for a pizza stop. The starters were small but definitely tasty and the nice compliment to a pizza split between two. The crust was charred perfectly in their brick oven grill and there was just enough cheese on the pizza to allow all the flavors of the sauce and seasoning to come through. Based on the relatively small menu and portion size I would rather just split a few pies between friends then mess around with the starters. My pizza devouring girlfriend thought the same and was pleasantly surprised on the taste and quality of pizza after hearing so many mixed reviews.
(4)Jon D.
Love this place. Starr got it right on just about all points, especially on the point of locating it in my neighborhood (good lookin-out!). Some friends and I split the romaine salad and the pistacio and spinich pies. The two pizzas were out of this world, great flavors, texture, everything really. The salad could have been better though (but maybe i'm just a sucker for salads of Olive Garden variety). The only thing the menu lacks is a decent beer selection. There are a few good ones, but let's see some drafts or a few more bottles on there! Ended up going with the house wine, which sufficed. Things are a little pricey, but that's what you get with Starr, and the pizzas beat anything else we have in the City.
(4)Mike M.
I'm not a fan of thin crust pizza in general... but THIS pizza, I make an exception for. The crust is perfectly blistered out of that wood fired oven, the mozz is salty yet delicately firm, and the pepperoni is petite and flavorful without a pool of floating orange oil. Despite its designer price tag, it's one of my favorite little pizza's in the city, perfectly sized for two to share. The whole experience is only further enriched by a picturesque Headhouse Square location. Can't wait to go back.
(4)Ro M.
It was no coincidence that while I waited for my dining partner, I passed time with the book Eat, Pray, Love. Now Elizabeth Gilbert has yet to describe the scents of Rome but I hope the scent of truffle oil wafts freely through the air like it did at Stella. The fare can be best described as light and subtle. We sampled the San Daniele pizza and were pleasantly surprised by the subtle flavor of the baby arugula. If you order this pie, do not be surprised when your pizza looks more like a salad. Buried underneath is a delicious layer of prosciutto and smoked mozzarella. Having ofcourse saved room for dessert, we also sampled the restaurant gelato. I tried the olive oil gelato and again, it was smooth and subtle. I look forward to returning to try the tartufo - runny egg atop a pizza? I'm game.
(4)Cat C.
As a North Jersey native, I am an unapologetic pizza snob and I don't see anything wrong with that. I've lived in Philly for 4 years and have since been trying, mostly fruitlessly, to find a pizza joint that can live up to NY standards. I have found a few that are decent, but that Holy Grail of Philadelphia pizza has yet to be discovered. When I first heard about Stella, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I read that Stephen Starr had traveled across the country seeking pizza knowledge from the greats. This to me indicated that he was taking pizza seriously, as it should be taken. I allowed myself to get slightly excited, but I kept my cynicism for both Stephen Starr and the Philly black-hole-of-pizza dilemma nearby. I purposely waited several weeks after its opening to try Stella. I wanted to give it time to work out its kinks and problems inevitable during startup. I really wanted to love you, Stella! But alas, I can't make me love you, if I don't. My two comrades and I arrived at 7 pm last night (Friday). We were greeted by a very friendly hostess who took our name and cell number in case we wanted to wander around the neighborhood while we waited. We appreciated this gesture, but it was drizzling so we sat in some chairs by the door and watched the cooks make the pizzas and took in the decor. It was well-thought-out like all Starr restaurants, but certainly cozy and welcoming while still managing to be trendy and hip. We were seated in about 20 minutes at a long table with other groups. The long tables definitely bolster the casual, fun, family-style vibe but if you're there on a first or second date, I would recommend requesting one of the smaller tables. The menu was small and limited which I think is appropriate for a pizzeria. The focus should be on the pizza, and there shouldn't be BBQ chicken or any other crazy toppings. I suppose I am a pizza purist. We ordered fried risotto balls for an appetizer. They arrived in a pool of marinara sauce. I cut one open with my fork and found a dark grayish material in the middle that looked like ground meat. Since we are all either vegetarians or pesco-vegetarians, we inquired about it and were told that it was mushroom. Mushroom was not stated in the menu, and one of my companions abhors them. Aside from this annoyance, they were kind of bland. Then we ordered a margherita pizza and a vongole (clams) pizza. I insisted on ordering the vongole because it is so rare to find it on the menu at pizzerias. My mother makes the best clam pizza I have ever eaten so I wanted to see if there was a place in Philly I could go to get my fix in a pinch. Sadly, this is not so. The pizza was literally soup in the middle. The crust was soggy and limp. In addition, it was way over salted. The margherita was more edible, but still soggy in the middle and not worth its price. We will not be returning to Stella. It is a neat space and the waitstaff was friendly and competent, but if the pizza isn't good at a pizza joint, you might as well hang it up. Clearly Starr didn't ask the right people about how to make a good pizza, or he didn't listen hard enough. Or maybe they deliberately duped him because there is a worldwide conspiracy to keep Philadelphia in the Pizza Dark Ages. All I know is, I'd rather drive an hour and a half to my mother's house for her clam pizza than spend $17 at Stella again.
(2)Claire S.
First of all, I love the decor and vibe of this space. From the tall ceilings to the mint green painted wooden chairs and massive brick oven, I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance. The Tartufo pizza (black truffle, fontina, egg, parmesan) was a delightful change of pace from what you normally find on a pizza and was truly delicious. As was the spinach pizza. A glass of house red topped off what was a very nice meal. If I lived in Philly, I'd love to become a regular at Pizzeria Stella.
(4)Rob L.
I know how you people are all Stephen STAR F***ers, but really this is the worst pizza I have ever had. The pies were cold by the time they arrived at our table and the dough was actually wet and stiff! Then the waitstaff were pushing us out the door before we even finished... and the place was not even crowded. It was as if they were embarrassed to have served us such dreck. If you want great pizza go to Brooklyn.
(1)Perry A.
Everything was perfect for al fresco dining on a sunny, cool and breezy Saturday afternoon and Stella had all of their large windows open to wash their industrial space with fresh spring air. With all of the sidewalk tables taken up, we missed little of the pleasures of the day at a window seat. The octopus fennel salad brought a large succulent chunk of the mollusk, enough to slice so that everyone could sample. Tender slivers of fennel accompanied the herby salsa verde. Even the man-cub nodded his approval. Even though i had been pining for the Tartufo and the Pistachio, it was the son's birthday so we played it safe and picked two pies: the sausage and the spinach. The crust on both of these pies had good old world flavor (reminded me of the fresh bialys that came out of the ovens on the Lower East Side), nice smokey notes, nicely charred and thin. Only complaint is that it wasn't crispy enough to hold up the toppings without folding the slice. The fennel flavored sausage was moist and subtly scented without being too salty. The dollops of pesto that accompanied it with fresh mozzarella made it an outstanding pie. Of course, had they made their own earthy mozzarella, like Pizzeria Lo Bianco, it would have taken it to the next level, but as it is, one of the better pies I've had in Philly. The spinach pie, which came with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts was not as pronounced as it should have been, but was satisfying nonetheless. Capping our lunch, we got the chocolate and hazelnut gelati. The chocolate was perfectly fine with good chocolate carrying the flavor load. But it was the intensely nutty hazelnut that grabbed our attention. Purportedly, store-made, these were exemplary. A well planned out and executed menu gives us many reason to return.
(4)Katie H.
I know we have some Starr-haters out there - I'm not one of them. I work across the street from Jones, have had more than a few fun times at Budakkan and I really love the pizza at Pizzeria Stella. What can I say - Starr is to mid-range dining as McDonald's is to fast food - CONSISTENT. I went with my sister and her two kids - we had the polpette pizza, squid salad, arugula salad and the arancini. I really loved the pizza. I mean, I really loved it. So much so I have thought about longingly the past few days. Yes - a little pricey, my credit card took a hit (nice of me to treat the family, eh?) but I can't complain - the food was just plain good.
(4)Karen B.
three stars only because it's overpriced. otherwise, four. this is possibly my favorite of the stephen starr oeuvre (but i guess that doesn't say much?). points for good service that feels genuine and not fake or forced. additional points for currently having victory summer love on tap! the menu features six red pizzas and six white. of the red, get the sausage. of the white, if you like truffles (and i question your palate if you don't), get the tartufo. you can smell it coming from halfway across the restaurant (this is a good thing!). plus, it comes with a sunny-side-up egg on top. all pizzas should, really. i'd say this place is good for groups, but they don't take reservations, which is kinda annoying (note: pietro's down the street also has pretty bangin' pizza and will accommodate you!). but for small parties, stella is worth a visit for sure.
(3)Nicole B.
Stopped here on the way to the airport and was very excited to try another Starr restaureant after having such a great experience at Barclay Prime. Ordered the margarita pizza and the rice balls. Better rice balls in NYC but still good. Also better pizza in Philly. ALOT. Don't get me wrong. It was good. But we shared a pie and the balls and and were still hungry. For a 15.00 pie one should be full. For 22.00 one can get a fantastic pie from Lorenzo's on South St which needs to be put into 2 boxes and is better. good to try Stella's but sorry Mr. Starr. We won't be back again. Too many other places to try.
(3)Victoria F.
As we walked to our last after dinner last night, I said to my boyfriend that I thought this was the best pizza I've ever had. I've since had to reconsider, but not because the pizza wasn't as good as I initially thought. It just doesn't seem quite fair to compare the Tartufo pizza (black truffle, fontina and parmesan with a poached egg cut open over the whole thing) at Pizzeria Stella with, say, a gooey, cheesy slice from a local pizza joint. They just aren't the same thing. Apples and oranges and I love 'em both. This Tartufo pizza... holy cow was it delicious. When I read the menu, I was imagining a fried egg atop a pizza, which sounded interesting. When the pizza arrived, however, balanced on top was a perfectly poached egg (NOT raw, as other reviewers are saying); they split it open and let the yolk run all over. The strong, nutty flavor of the truffles, combined with the slightly sweet, soft cheese and the runny yolk? Perfection. I can already tell that I'll have a hard time exploring the rest of the menu - it'll be too tempting to have this over and over again. My table also tried the grilled octopus (I don't eat seafood, but my companions seemed to enjoy it), the caprese salad (tasty but not standout - although the thick, sweet balsamic vinegar was a treat), the Polpette pizza (with meatballs - this was pretty average, I thought) and the mushroom pizza (which looked delicious, but I was too stuffed from my Tartufo to partake). For dessert, I had the hazelnut gelalto, which was spectacular. The setting is pleasant enough - stylish but casual, with big windows and a fun, funky vibe. A little loud, but not so much that you can't enjoy the conversation at your table. We had no wait on a summer Friday at 7:30, which was a pleasant surprise. Go. Enjoy! Eat some truffles!
(5)beata n.
Appetizers were good, especially the rabe, but when it comes to the pizza, we ordered the margherita and the sauce was pure salt, maybe we just ordered wrong?
(2)Jeff S.
Good food...By far my favorite dishes isn't even pizza, it its the rock shrimp pasta dish and the chopped salad. The chopped salad is huge and fresh....great.
(4)Yasamin M.
I just had dinner at Stella for the first time, and can say with confidence that it will most definitely be the last time. The food was simply awful: the pizza dough was soggy and chewy, the and pasta and appetizers were wrong at every turn - all very ham-fisted and amateurish on the flavours. Just like Parc, this is another sign that Steven Starr needs to stop opening restaurant after restaurant without paying attention to the quality. If you're thinking about trying Stella, do yourself a favour and don't!
(1)Andrea M.
Pizzaria Stella is a young, vibrant dinner spot in Philly. I love the sheep's milk ricotta (save some to have with your pizza crust). Their brick-oven pizza is delicious. My favorite is definitely the mushroom. The Tartufo is good and something a little different with truffle and runny egg yolk, but not a pizza I want to eat over and over again like the mushroom. They also have a cool bar with interesting mixed drinks and sodas.
(4)Lauren H.
Despite the lackluster experience the first time around, I brought the parents here tonight because I figured pizza was a safe choice (my parents aren't very adventurous eaters). The waiter got my dad to eat octopus. That's how good this waiter was. The caprese salad was delightful The spinach pie (my mom's choice) and the mushroom pie (my dad's choice), were quite improved since my last visit. I still think the menu prices are a tad on the expensive side, but as this was a pre-birthday dinner, my parents picked up the tab, so I shouldn't complain - but it will still give me pause when I have to reach for my wallet. All in all a much better experience and well worth an extra star!
(3)C B.
I don't get the good reviews. The pizza quickly went cold. Tasted blah. I rather go around the corner to Peatro's.
(2)Jp S.
Good service, great thin crust pizza. Fresh ingredients obvious. Some unique items on the menu- not an extensive one and wine list needs improvement. Prices are too high. LaFourno near 7th on South makes similar pies as does Pietro's on South St near 2nd street.
(3)Amy F.
Love this place - great to take little kids for a good meal as well. Sitting outside in season is perfect. The pizza is terrific but so are many other dishes, salads, starters, etc. we don't always have their pizza. Service is very good.
(4)Casey H.
We were here for the first time last weekend. The crust is absolutely amazing! It's light, soft, but also crispy! I don't usually like Margheita pizza, but this one was really delicious! We also had the Spinach and I loved that as well! In fact, we loved it so much we came back the next day and had lunch after some shopping at the farmer's market. I think this might become a routine!
(5)Mitch L.
The pizzas here are amazing. There's something about the crust that I really enjoy. It's soft with the right amount of crispiness. I've been here three times and have never been disappointed. Will be back again to try every type of pizza on the menu. Went to Slice after seeing it's four star review on yelp and was highly disappointed, couldn't understand why stella's only got three and a half stars.
(5)Gianmarco C.
This place is great. The pizza margherita is one the best I've ever had outside of Italy. I also loved the Tartufo pizza with the truffles and egg, and the San Daniele prosciutto and arugula pizza. The menu is nice and concise, dedicated to the pizzas and a few excellent anitipasti and salads. Their house gelato is also really good.
(5)Matt S.
So we were in the Society Hill neighborhood again last night and my wife suggested that we give Stella another try. My experience was a little better this time, perhaps because I knew what to expect from the crust: well-above average American style doughy crust (a different creature all-together from true Italian style crust, which I was hoping for on our first visit). This time I had the Piccante (spicy ham) and my wife had the Tartuffo (truffle and egg). I have to say, both were very tasty. The Piccante was indeed delightfully piccante and the egg/truffle pizza brought some serious rich, creamy, earthy deliciousness. The quality of the ingredients and my adjusted expectations, along with the general friendliness of our server, and a cheap yet decent glass of table wine led me to upgrade my rating to 4 stars. As long as there's not much of a wait and you can walk right in, I'd say this place is worth a visit.
(4)Elise K.
I'm going to have to disagree with my old buddy Mikey I. Do I ever crave Stella specifically? EVERY SINGLE DAY. More specifically - TARTUFO pizza. My boyfriend is tired of hearing me say that this pizza is like crack to me (he loves it too but chooses to branch out to specialty pizzas and other stuff, which is always excellent as well). We've been here several times and have always had a great experience. Service is consistently good and pizza ingredients fresh and fabulous. I don't know what's in that pizza dough, but it's really the only pizza crust that I insist on eating every bite of. Also, do yourself a favor and grab a Sgroppino - especially if you're sitting on the sidewalk people watching - it's the perfect summer drink.
(5)Shannon O.
I love Stella! First of all, in terms of decor, it is so interesting to see "Stephen Starr does restraint". It's simple and tasteful, but somehow still gorgeous with the dark tiles, slate tables, beautiful brick oven, and semi open kitchen. Totally relaxed, but done so well. The Tartufo pizza is ridiculously good. Perfectly salty with black truffles and egg...why haven't I seen anything like this before?? It's genious. The crusts are wonderful, as well as the portions. I scarfed 2 pizzas between three people, and although we were full, I wasn't uncomfortably so. I can't wait for spring when they bring back outdoor seating--what a beautiful spot on Headhouse Square!!
(4)Amy B.
My favorite is hanging out at the bar and relaxing with a beer. I'm a creature of habit and my latest addiction is the Grilled Octopus Salad. For this type of weather, it's refreshing, light and so tasty that at one point I was there 4 times in a week and one of the sittings, I had two orders...yes two! Oh and now that they've added the pasta dishes, they have my belly's full attention...pardon the pun. The bartender's are great so sitting alone is lonely but if you don't feel like talking, there's a TV.
(5)Ryan A.
I've been this place twice. Once during the opening month and a second time later. The first time was okay. I wasn't too keen on the group seating, it just seemed like a way to cram as many people into a small space as they could. It was cramped and uncomfortable. The calamari and olive antipasta was really good though. The second time we sat outside, which was better and it was a really nice day. The waiter was way to attentive and kept coming over interrupting our conversation, almost to the point where I was going to say something. We tried to order the calamari dish again but I'm not sure if they changed the menu or took that off or what, but when we ordered that again we got grilled octopus on top of a potato (that is currently on the menu now). I guess I should have read the menu better, I wasn't impressed with that small 12 dollar dish. The pizza can be soggy, it definitely wasn't memorable. The only thing I do remember is how expensive it was. Might I recommend pietros? Overall I won't be back.
(2)Frank K.
Just went to Stella's...on a Friday afternoon. No crowds. No pressure. We had the Pistachio pizza...a white pizza with red onion slices and chopped pistachio's. I never had the combination and it was delicious! The crust was superb...thin, crispy, and folded well. The pizza is a bit pricey at $14 for a pie that would be a small or medium at most other pizzeria's. Next time, I plan to try the margerita...so I can sample the tomato sauce. I'd go back anytime. They do have takeout...no delivery. We had no pressure from the server...but then again, there were probably no more than 10 other people in the shop .
(4)Amy R.
Ok, I know. Giving an over-priced Starr pizza joint 5 stars seems ridiculous. But I can't help it. I love this place. I love sitting outside along Headhouse Square to eat. I love the crusts on the pizzas. I love the San Daniele (prosciutto, smoked mozzarella and fresh arugula). I love the pepperoni. I love the arancini (delicious fried balls of risotto). And I really love the olive oil gelato. Seriously -- it sounds crazy, but just try it.
(5)Anthony F.
I loved the sausage and pesto pizza. Pricing was ok. Ate outside on a nice august afternoon. The trees offered just enough shade.
(5)Lea K.
My roommate and I went there last week for their "we aren't doing restaurant week but we are having a deal" night. We both got the octopus anti-pasta, tartuffo pizza, and hazelnut gelato! SO FREAKING GOOD. I'm kinda always expecting to leave Stella being like yeah its good but I they surprise me every time with amazing pizza. Even now thinking back about the tartuffo pizza my mouth starts to salivate. I am blown away by there quality. I love it. Nom Nom Nom.... I want more.
(5)Jes L.
WE LOVED IT! I have to be honest, they had a $25 special the night we went, and we probably wont go back until they have another special...but because of the special that night we got to try 4 different pizzas & 2 different apps! Kristen our server, was fantastically pleasant, casual and helpful. By far one of the best servers we've had in this town. We had the sheep's milk ricotta and the beet salad. Both were good. We love beet, the temperature difference between the ricotta and the bread was great, could have used a bit of salt or some kind of seasoning. We had the Mushroom, Pancetta, Tartuffo, and San Daniele pizzas. The Mushroom was good, lots of oregano, ham was slightly smokey, not salty at all. The Pancetta was everyones #1 favorite, a lil' salty, a lil' bitter, it was well rounded goodness. The Tartuffo, while providing table side entertainment (they break the yolk table side), was super rich, salty and basically overwhelming. The San Daniele was basically a ham sandwich. It was crazy. While cool that it was pizza that tasted like a sandwich, there really wasn't anything else cool about it. All that followed by gelato! 5 flavors to choose from...all were good! ;) Great location, nice ambiance, we weren't sitting on top of the next table. It was a great all around dinner.
(5)Caitlin C.
Without meaning to, I ended up eating here with a date on a Tuesday at about 5:15pm. When we walked in it was empty except for the small army of servers in black. The first thing I noticed was that they had given Cosi's old space a more modern makeover, but somehow had made it seem cold and a bit cramped in the process. Our waitress came right over to greet us and was super friendly and helpful throughout our meal. . We ordered the margherita and the pistachio pizzas. The crust was thin and tender and nor overly doughy and the cheese was just right, melty but not stringy. The nutty pistachio flavor on pizza was something I never expected and the experience made the trip worthwhile. The food ratio was just about right. My date ate his whole pizza (and was stuffed) and I took two pieces home. We decided to splurge on the "secret recipe" gelato. It wasn't worth the $4 a scoop price tag. Buy a pint of Ben Jerry's at Wawa on your way out. I found it on the icy side and lacking that characteristic punch of flavor. Fine, but over-priced. The atmosphere was loud and too cramped for my taste. Other diners wore a strange mix of casual, trendy, and business attire. Over all, the dining experience was fine. The food ranged from adequate to tasty, but at $45 for two sodas, two pizzas, and two scoops of gelato, I don't know that I plan on going back.
(3)ryan p.
Stella gets a lot of unjustified hate. If you don't know what to expect heading into a Starr place then you haven't eaten enough in the city. The prices are a little high, but Starr did his research on pizza. There's no better place in the city. The San Daniele and Tartufo are the standouts for me. There's enough tables to hardly ever have to wait, great outdoor seating on headhouse square and just an overall enjoyable delicious experience. Needless to say I've been back a time or ten.
(5)KC M.
Went here for dinner on the Saturday after NYE and it was glorious. Had the Margherita pizza all to myself and it was soooo goood (no need for parmesan, salt, pepper, etc). Also got the stracciatella gelato and it was delicious. Definitely need to come back here and try other pizzas...would totally recommend!
(5)Adam D.
They left the R off of Stellar for a reason. Well, as usual , the place looks nice. Steven Starr has a knack for making a restaurant look nice and have a vibe/scene. I cant argue with that. The thing is , he also has the same knack for providing decent at best food to go along with that. Pizzeria Stella is another example. Nice looking place, not so amazing food. We went and chose the Pizza Vongole and the Calamari.Both were sub par , Both ended up making us a feel a bit "off" I should have known better than to get a pizza with clams. Stick to the basics knucklehead. I will review my own decision to get a pizza with clams on it. That review would be F- . But lets get back to the restaurant. The prices are too high for whats being offered. Another major minus. If a place in Rome can charge 7 bucks for the worlds best tasting pizza. Mr. Starr , please follow suit. Go straight to Dar Poeta in the Trestevere section of Rome and report for your punishment. Mediocre food, fancy shmancy (ish) surroundings and a very basic level of service = snore. thank you.
(2)Meg B.
I happen to be a fan of Steven Starr's restaurants so I couldn't wait to check out what he was able to do with on of my favorite foods, pizza. The first time I attempted to go, there was a line out the door so we opted to check it out before a phillies game during the week, right when they opened. The atmosphere : is very different from his other restaurants, very quaint and I enjoyed it on a late sunny afternoon. Definitely not a place to go and grab a drink like his other restaurants. Starter: We shared the sheeps milk ricotta cheese and flatbread app to start off. I looooove ricotta cheese and this was very yummy. It was so good that I asked if we could hold onto it and dip our pizza crust into it. The Pizza- We shared the sausage. I am a huge fan of thin crust and this was a nice thickness for me- thought the bottom was alittle too black- I understand it's the result of a wood oven but I thought it was too much. I thought the flavor over all of the pizza was good- nothing to make me think it's the best pizza I've ever eaten though. Wine: it was ok- had two glasses of pino grigio- It might have been just a mental thing but I don't like how they serve the wine in stemless square glasses- I guess that goes with the motif though Over all- I 'd go back again- but don't think this restaurant compares to his other restaurants
(3)Tyree A.
This is really the only place now that my wife and I truly enjoy pizza. We are over the inconsistent and one note Lorenzo's, the quality of Soho on Market has gotten worse each year and our own Rustica's cardboard crust is always a disappointment, (no matter how late or how many pints). Stella's pizza has that crispy and doughy crust, a good flavor to their sauce (not amazing, but really good) and their toppings are fresh. The service is always pleasant. I wish this place was in our hood because the pizza in N. libs is horrible!
(4)John H.
I don't remember where I read it, but this was on one of those Top 10 lists for 2009, so we decided to check it out. We got there at 5:10 pm and were told that there was a 45 minute wait. There isn't really a bar area or waiting area, but they did take down our cell phone number and offered to call us when a table was free. We walked the 1 block to South Street and we found a bar - Bridget Foys at 200 South Street - in which to have beers. Had the restaurant had a bar, that is money we would have spent there. We went to check in and found that our "seats" were at a bar-like area, where all three of us basically faced the kitchen and pizza oven. Not the best way for people to have a conversation. We waited 45 minutes for this? We were told it would be another 20 minutes for a table. So we took the counter. We ordered a Sausage and a San Daniele pizza to split between the three of us. It was more than enough, even though we were told that each pizza was a "personal" pizza. We still had a few slices to take back. The pizzas were very tasty...just the right spice of the sauce...and the Sausage had just the right kick. The crust was fabulous, nicely thin and chewy outer crust. The smokey flavor from the wood oven made these pizzas among the better pizzas I have ever had. One great thing about our table, was the vantage point and watching the "conveyor belt" in which the pizza crew made the pizzas. They were terribly efficient, each with their own task and passing it down to the next station to make each individual pie. There was a lot of attention to detail and it appeared clear that they worked as a well oiled machine. Definitely this place has a great system in place and a good pizza to share. Definitely, this was worth checking out.
(3)Jim R.
The 4 of us needed to beat the dinner crowd, so we arrived at 5:15 Friday night and had no trouble getting a table. It was a different story as we left a little after 6:30 when there was a 25 minute wait. The space itself is very nice as is the staff. As can be seen on other reviews on this site, there seems to be a pattern - push large quantities of food! We had ordered the octopus and calamari antipasti (which was the best thing we had all night - it truly being excellent), along with the asparagus, sunny side up egg with parmesan vinaigrette (no big deal) and were told that the "Arancini", rolled risotto with parmesan and marinara was not to be missed - it could have been. We then ordered two (12 inch) pizzas - the "Finocchio" with black olives, caramelized fennel, mozzarella and tomato and the "Vongole" with clams, broccoli rabe, pancetta and mozzarella. Our very nice and non-pushy server said she thought we hadn't ordered enough, suggesting that we each really needed our own pizza. The two that we ordered were more than enough and although good, were really not all that special - and at approximately $45 a couple before tip, including beers/soda, certainly not worth a 25 minute wait. We were glad to experience another Stephen Starr restaurant but won't be in any real rush to return to this one.
(3)Chris W.
As soon as I stepped into Stella I had a smile on my face. 'Last train to London' by Electric light Orchestra was playing on the speakers. In fact, it seemed as if the theme was 'Best of the 70s and 80s' all night. After the song was over I came back to reality and got down to business. I was hungry for pizza and Steven Starr's take on a pizzeria was on the menu. I chose Stella because I was actually avoiding Super Bowl fever and I noticed from walking by that they do not have any televisions. It was perfect, there were only 3 other tables in the whole restaurant. Dining for two at Stella was satisfying. We ordered the sheep's milk ricotta as an appetizer. I asked for extra flat bread because the large bowl of cheese was only served with four pieces. We also ordered the Piccante pizza because as soon as I saw cappicola as a topping I was sold. The waitress asked us if it was our first time at Stella. She went on to explain how the pizza is small and they recommend one pizza per person. I considered ordering another pizza, but I just ate half of an enormous bowl of ricotta....so we passed on the second pizza. The Piccante is delicious and I highly recommend it. Thankfully both of us were full from the appetizer and one pizza. It was a very satisfying meal along side of the Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale that I couldn't resist. The waitress (of course) highly recommended the gelato for dessert. We were both full from the cheese and pizza and declined. I was actually expecting the bill to be more than it was. $35 for people isn't too pricey, especially for dinner. If you're in the mood for pizza that is a little more complex than the normal pizzeria I'd recommend Stella. At least for the music they play!
(4)Jayma K.
Love the location and atmosphere but the pizza was way too salty. Very hard to enjoy it and should have sent it back after the first piece.
(2)Salvatore B.
Service was great. The food was so so. I ordered Arancini(risotto balls) which had no flavor at all. The only redeeming grace was the tomato sauce. Also ordered broccoli rabe appetizer, which I thought was cooked properly. The pizza was AWFUL!! Although the ingredients were fresh, the dough was very Undercooked. It was burnt in some areas, and raw in others. The bottom of the pizza was raw. I looked around at other patrons, and the pizzas all looked the same. This is Philadelphia. There are better pizza places than this.
(2)Yen V.
LOVE their tartufo pizza.
(5)Andrew S.
I love many of the Starr restaurants with exception of Cuba Libre in Philly, D.C. and Stella. Both are high on price but low on substance. I would recommend 3 other brick oven pizzas within a 1 mile radius over Stellas. It's just too average for the high price. I'll stick with El Vez, continental midtown & Buddakan
(2)Sara L.
When I was little, growing up in CT, on special occasions we'd visit Wooster Street and check out Pepe's or Sally's. It always meant a wait, usually of an hour or so, before we got inside. But it was so worth it--the best pizza I've ever had. Transcendent pizza. The crust is chewy and blistered and beautiful. The sauce is tomato-y and fabulous. And the cheese and toppings are always perfectly proportioned. Thinking of the white clam pie and the pepporoni makes me homesick. All this is to say that the bar is set high. My perfect pizza was programmed long ago, and has never been equaled. So how did Pizzeria Stella stack up? Start with the decor. Its always important, and Starr (typically) has done a great job creating at atmosphere, centered on the pizza oven. Service was friendly and efficient, and we quickly got ourselves settled in. The menu is much more adventurous than your average pizza joint, with some fancy pies plus a bunch of apps and salads. We played it safe and ordered olives, a green salad, a polpette (meatball) and margharita pizza. For drinks we got two of the housemade lemonades. The lemonades were fabulous--tart and icy. Definitely good for a hot day. The olives and salad were also excellent. The olives had an interesting orange flavor from the rind. The salad had mint, which, again nice on a hot day, and was not overdressed. The pizzas were good, but not to my mind, great. The crust was good, but not blistered enough. The sauce was forgettable. The cheese was good and the toppings were tasty and in good proportion (didn't overwhelm the crust and fall all over the place). And for the prices I think I was expecting great. Granted, I didn't try the more non-traditional pies and I'm still curious so you might see me back here to check those out. And the atmosphere was relaxed with a great location. So I wouldn't totally cross it off the list, but for me, not a top performance.
(3)Jakkie K.
I choose Stella for the birthday lunch last year - and now I am obsessed with the tartufo pie. A woman came up to our table told us to order it and that "she dreamed about the tartufo". I didn't try any of the other pies because I couldn't image them being as good as the tartufo, but my friends enjoyed them. They also do takeout which is awesome.
(5)Gary S.
I have been to Stella twice since it opened and have to say both times have found the pizza to be truly excellent. Second time went with a big group so pretty much have been able to sample most of the pizza varieties and the appetizer/sides. As others have noted, the crust fired in the brick oven really is the key to all the pizzas, but I also found the toppings - even the more unusual ones like pistachio with red onions - to be memorable. It's nice and casual, simple menu, friendly servers, reasonable prices - a good Stephen Starr formula that works. Others commented on inconsistency of the pizza - I have now had six pies there and all were done just right - crispy but not burned. Maybe a little bit of char here and there, but that is the way brick oven pizza is supposed to be!
(4)Mike C.
Ok. Very poor draft list. Pizza ok, but nothing special or particularly original compared to other gourmet pizzas in Philly (i.e. decent neighborhood gourmet, but not worth a trip). Some of the apps were good.
(3)Justin K.
So as a Starr fan and a Pizza fan, I was pretty excited to check out Stella...its got a rockin location right off South Street thats easy to get too, and a cozy little atmosphere...I also found myself glad I didn't read the Yelp reviews until after I went as I thought it was better than a lot of my fellow yelpers did! We went for a late weekday lunch and it was nearly empty, so the service was quick and really efficient (constant water refills rock!) Anywho my friend and I split the simple yet awesome Asparagus appetizer....I never in a million years would have thought to put a Sunny Side Up Egg on Asparagus, but guess what...it WORKS. Hints of Olive Oil and Lemon just tied it all together beautifully. For our Pizza we chose the San Daniele (Smoked Mozzarella, Prosciutto, and Arugula)....the wood burning stove hit the thin crust with just the right flavor...The crust was thick enough that it was slightly doughy inside the crispy outer layer...The Prosciutto was also great and I would consider getting the Prosciutto meat appetizer alone next time. For dessert we had the slammin' House made Gelatos (Pistachio and Blackberry). The Pistachio came with fresh Pistachio crumbs on top along with one of the BEST pieces of Biscotti I've ever had...hell I would just order Biscotti from there next time without the Gelato if they just had a platter of those! Anyways I'd definitely try another Pie down at Stella, so you should probably go try one too.
(4)Dave B.
Very very unique and fancy pizzas. Very Tasty. Not your normal slice, so don't go there expecting traditional pizza.
(4)matt h.
Let me start by saying that I am a big Starr supporter and i frequent most of his establishments as often as I can. That being said, I was very excited for Pizzeria Stella to open. Two of us went to Stella on Saturday night at approx. 9:30 - the place was about half full. Atmosphere wasn't typical over-the-top Starr, which was kind of refreshing actually. After chatting it up with a close-by table we settled on the Sausage pizza and one beer and one wine. I won't make this story any longer than it has to be so here goes. Our waiter, Brandon, took about 7 minutes to come to the table after we sat down, is this being picky - maybe, but, c'mon 7 minutes with a half full place?? Pizza arrives at table by a manager, drinks still not there. We casually mention to the manger that we hadn't received our beverages. Call me critical, but from 4 years of being a waiter in college, if food would happen to get to a table before drinks I would have gone crazy and made sure the drinks got there asap - not Brandon. Even after I watched the manager tell him about us not getting the drinks it took another 4-5 minutes for them to arrive...wow. One bright note - the pizza was amazing, hence the one star, if the pizza was bad I would implement a new zero star system on yelp specifically for this review. So at this point, Stella has about a 3 star rating - then the check comes - and we were charged for double the drinks. Yes, you read right. After bringing this to Brandon's attention, he said that those were the 2nd round of drinks we ordered through the manager....aaaand we had to inform them that those drinks "ordered" through the manager were the first round we never got. Of course there was no apology, just some unfunny joke trying to brush it off. So in conclusion, if you want to try Stella, get it to-go - I know I will.
(1)miss f.
We had no idea this was a Starr restaurant until we saw "STARR" postcards by the door as we left. Stella had no "Starr" quality. We thought it was a slightly better looking than average, decent quality, grossly overpriced "New York Style (wink wink)" pizza place that would thrive in it's location due to outdoor seating. First there is nothing on the menu about the size of the pizza. This is important. The extremely thin crust, sparsely topped, brittle pies came in one size, one usually considered "small." Neither the menu nor our server mentioned this. Our server came over 3 times to take our order and never offered any info or assistance as we wrangled with the menu. Prices ranged from $10 to $17 per pizza. We assumed splitting one would be a meal. Many of the pizza combinations seemed more creative than complementary. The "special pizza" with ramps sounded delicious but tender, delicate, seasonal ramps were paired with asparagus which upon roasting would overwhelm the ramps. We ordered thru a similar process of elimination. We have adventurous palettes but respect ingredients and don't eat as a "dare" preferring harmony. We got a meatball pie with ricotta, mozzarella and fresh basil and a romaine salad to split. The service was "hovery" but not good. A server should stand still when they ask "is everything ok." When we did have a question -if goat cheese was in the "Romaine salad" we were served, our server said "No, it's Ricotta (garbled)" haughtily turned on her heel and left. We both loathe goat cheese but picked around whatever the hell it was and enjoyed the salad. The red onions and hints of mint worked well together. The romaine and tomatoes were fresh. The casual food and decor clashes with the constant clearing, of dishes, especially those still in use. Philadelphia kitchens have come to rely more and more on fewer and fewer Philadelphians and Stella is no exception. Sad to see a South Street "open kitchen" wood fired, brick oven pizza being completely staffed by people who chattered loudly in Spanish. That brought the "authentic wood fired pizza experience" down several notches. The interior was stylish but not outstanding. The personalized wood burning oven screamed look at me. The bathrooms were clean but rather pedestrian. The newly renovated Melrose Diner's ladies room with glass tile is more stylishly appointed. The muzak was ironic, mixing the Jam with Fleetwood Mac. We had just finished our salad when the pizza came. We both laughed. It was tiny. The crust was highly visible. At the first bite we could tell this pizza was a New York joke on South Street patrons. It was literally a "meatball pizza" it perhaps had ONE thinly shaved meatball on the whole thing. The crust was floury, tortilla thin, crackly and artfully appointed with toppings. It was tasty, tiny, extremely expensive and unsatisfying. While swatting away staff who kept trying to take our plates while we swiftly ate the pizza we announced our verdict on Stella, SUCKS and is for SUCKERS. There was mounting tension and disappointment as we realized we both were still hungry, but didn't want to order another precious pizza. We considered our portions equivalent to a "light lunch." Our server, or a size on the menu could have guided us better. Really easy fixes. We were STUNNED to find out it was a Starr place as we left. Only 2 clues it was a Starr place, the choice of bottled or ice water and ramps as a feature ingredient. The cost per portion should have been a clue. After we settled up, we took our starving selves to Phileo.
(1)E. J.
Just off of Headhouse Square and away from the touristy part of South Street lies Stephen Starrs newest addition -- Pizzeria Stella. I met up with friends here on a Friday night, thinking we would have to wait more than 30 minutes for a table since we arrived at the prime dining hour. Much to my surprise, my friends were already seated. Tables on the perimeter of the restaurant are good for parties of up to four whereas the tables in the center of the restaurant are long like in a family dining room. As such, our party of three sat at the end of one of these long tables where we could rub shoulders with another party and take surreptitious glances of what they ordered. Depending on where you are seated, you can also get a nice view of the open kitchen. Pizzas are delivered to the table as soon as they come out of the oven, as such, it goes well for staggering a shared meal. Service was fine: I didnt even notice that my water glass was full every time I took a sip. As soon as I finished my beer, our waitress was quick to ask if I desired another. Our eyes made a bee line to the pizzas, skipping over the appetizers. We each ordered a pie: pistachio, spinach, and tartufo (black truffles and a cracked runny egg on top). The pistachio was the best of the three we ordered. While we decided to change venue for dessert, the gelato flavors that evening rivaled that of Capogiro: olive oil gelato? Wow. Oh did I mention that its apparently a very baby-friendly place? Patrons that evening were not reluctant to bring in their infants and toddlers. Service was top-notch that evening.... I wonder if it had anything to do with the proprietor himself -- Mr. Starr -- being there schmoozing at the bar.
(4)rococo c.
Pretty environment and a good idea--just poorly executed--and this from a Steven Starr fan. The pizza was so-so--I've had better nearly everywhere. The crust is so thin it gets burnt and full of bubbles. It tasted more charry than anything. The salads were quite yummy, but toddler sized. The service is to die from. The aggressive move-it-along attitude (on a night when there were PLENTY of open tables) was obscene. I was not even seated before I was asked what I wanted to drink. We were just settling in when an inquiry was made about our order. Our pizzas were a quarter eaten when a crazy-eyed busboy asked if he could remove them for us. Our waitress was like a parody of herself--grinning and maniacally perky and interrupting us constantly--visibly impatient to turn our table. Ick. When I've paid ninety dollars for pizza for two, I do NOT want the check dropped before I've requested it. Especially by a moron who says "Not to hurry you, but here's the check." And then repeatedly checks for the money. You can't charge upscale prices and provide low-rent service. Chaotic and unrelaxing--the opposite of a warm Italian experience. Disappointing.
(3)Courtney L.
Skip this place. Went here last early last Saturday evening; definitely not worth the $16 for a 12" pie. The crust was burnt, leaving black marks all over your teeth and a bad taste in your mouth. When the pizza arrived I asked the food runner if he had something to serve it with and replied with "no" and walked away. The pepperoni had an odd taste to it. Service was slow and we were one of about 5 tables. Would not go back. There is WAY better pizza to be had in Philadelphia.
(2)amber r.
amazing. pistachio, red onion, and fontina pizza = one of the best dishes i've had in philadelphia. easy going, helpful staff. clean, relaxed, european style atmosphere. beautiful bar and brick oven. i can't say enough about this place. bring a couple friends, try a couple different pizzas to share, a glass of house wine or an italian beer. so good.
(5)Kaitlin H.
Had a great time here! Came on a Friday night was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away. Everything I had was great. For pizza my friend and I shared the tartufo because I was told it was what I had to try. While I thoroughly enjoyed it I think I had such high expectations I was slightly disappointed, although it still had great flavor. I am dying to go back and try some of the other pies because they all sound amazing. Service was awesome!
(4)Joe D.
Awesome - I have no complaints at all about this place - we had the deep fried risotto balls which were incredible. And then, we got the picante and sausage pizzas - so good! I normally don't even like brick oven pizza but it's to die for here....the crust is chewy rather than being thin and crispy - which is the main thing I dislike about other brick oven pizza. We will definitely be back many many times. Plus we went on a Friday night and only had to wait 20 minutes to get a table. It doesn't get much better than this!
(5)Antonio A.
january 4, walking down 2 street tuesday afternoon. stella! sign on sidewalk says meatball night. meatball night! 6:30pm. not many customers. we sit at the counter in front of the hot oven, feels good. ilana wants to give us the schuylkill in tall glasses. she is very nice. pellegrino, please, in short glasses. glass of cantele chardonnay, apulia, for her. glass of monsanto 'monroso' chianti, tuscany, for me, i had two. romaine salad to split: ricotta salata, cucumber, onion, cherry tomato, mint. polpette pizza for my partner: meatballs, san marzano tomato, ricotta, basil, sicilian oregano. she loves meatballs. margherita for me yum: san marzano tomato, buffalo mozzarella, basil. i added garlic. good salad. good pizza. crust is holding its own. we leave happy and stuffed with a doggie pizza box and a half bottle of pellegrino, i brought my own cork. january 5, lunch at home, the pizza was still great.
(4)Ti L.
Steven Starr has finally done me right. While I admit I haven't been a fan of the fare at many of his restaurants, Pizzeria Stella has tasty brick-oven pizzas that are sure to please anyone in the family. The dough is crispy, yet chewy and the flavor combinations pop in your mouth. I give special props to this place for being able to accommodate my oh-so-picky cousins (all 10 of them) and having everyone leave a happy camper. Will definitely be back.
(4)Marcela P.
My boyfriend and I decided to go for lunch. We ordered a salad and 2 pizzas because we read that they were small. For taste wise the one was very greasy and alittle soggy. Sorta a disappoint for lunch not sure if we will be going back. I would recommended going to "Slice".
(2)Rissa V.
brought the sis and bro-inlaw here because they are super pizza fans, and Stephen Starr has yet to disappoint me. We were given a pager so we headed on over to a pub across the street for some beer and darts while we waited. Nice. My bro-inlaw has super picky food preferences (ie no meat other than turkey or chicken, and nothing (deep)fried. The asparagus, poached egg and hollandaise and the risotto balls swimming in a puddle of marinara were equally awesome. I didn't think i'd like a ball of risotto. While the more interesting pizzas were vetoed because of various pork or beef topped products, we got the 4 cheese and the margarita pizza. Amazzzzing. In fact, so amazing that when my bro-inlaw breezed through town again 2 weeks later, he shot down all my restaurant choices and instead wanted to eat here again. 2 weeks later the menu had already changed to other various interesting pizza creations, but he was so hard-pressed for an exact reenactment of his previous experience, he sweet-talked his way into the chef rummaging in his cheese pantry to recreate his quatro-formaggio he so loved. I'm not going to lie, I can't wait to try a delicious poached egg over top my pizza drizzled with meat flavors, or some other interesting variation, or any other appetizer, but i will have my chance someday. P.S. The olive oil is so delicious and a great dipping for your crust!
(5)M M.
I'm not even going to get into all of the details...just going to say that this is the best "real" pizza I've had in Philly. One of the best anywhere. Everything we have experienced at Stella has been stellar! The apps, wines by the glass, basil gelato, service...all consistently outstanding after several visits!
(5)Ivy L.
This is another Starr! This is a great place for lunch or if you're in an exotic pizza mood. You can get a great salad and split a pie... sounds like a date! Definitely give it a try.
(4)Elizabeth M.
Went here last night just for some gelato (which was delicious!). I have been here a few times before and have enjoyed the pizza each time. The spinach pizza is my absolute favorite! Last night, we sat at the counter which was a unique and fun experience. After seeing all the pizzas made right in front of me, I definitely want to try a few different pizzas next time I go.
(4)Josh S.
amazing place! great, beautiful decor. asaparagus with egg and parm on top....for an app. amazing. we ordered some forgettable onion pizza and the tartufo. GET THE TARTUFO! trust and believe. amazing.........although the server fibbed and said "you can't taste the truffle" we adored the pizza. incredible.
(5)doctor j.
If this is Starr's best attempt at a pizzeria he should consider getting out of the business. Not one thing about this place is good. If you think spending $15 on some rinky-dink ass pizza is worth your money. Then good for you. What people don't realize is that pizza isn't supposed to be some high end affair. It's pizza. And if its going to be high end, then make it good. Stella isn't good. At all. BTW. Good work on the "Finnocchio" pie. Made me laugh. And then die a little inside.
(1)Ronald S.
I hate to say it but best pizza I've had in Philly. Waitress was nice and attentive. Place is packed on a Tuesday!
(4)Andy S.
A better deal is a $5 bottle of wine from the state store and a Gianfranco's pizza delivered to your house. Much better meal too! But, one does not go to Starr restaurants for the 'food' but I guess for the ambiance. The service was good and prompt. We had the Radicchio salad and the Sausage pizza. It was good, but not the best ever. The house red wine tasted like battery acid and is overpriced at $5.50 a glass.
(2)Shoshana S.
Stella is really a great no-frills pizza place, surprisingly from Starr. While the pizza oven dominates the space, this is no Buddakan or El Vez -- the decor is nothing to see here. But, there's definitely something to eat. The Tartufo pizza is probably the best pizza I've ever had, and the broccoli rabe appetizer is great.
(4)Stephanie H.
Starr has done it again... a little less dazzling this time. I've been to Pizzeria Stella a few times and always leave with a full belly and a mouth full of garlic breath!!! This place has limited options in my personal opinion but I haven't been disappointed. This restaurant features mostly pizza with a few salads, sides and pasta dishes. I have gotten some awesome pizza with meaty mushrooms, pine nuts, veggies and lots of melty cheese! However, I do not eat anything from a pig so my pizza choices were limited. Even the meatballs are a veal/pork/beef mix (I don't MIX meat either... ew!). I also don't eat sunny side up egg so the tartufo pizza that tempts me every time is not a choice for me. Yes I am picky but yes if you are picky about meat products you might want to try another gourmet pizzeria. Although pork and runny eggs are prevalent, I have been able to find pizza and enjoy it immensely. The spinach with pine nuts is amazing. YUM! I also REALLY enjoyed the rosemary bread, and broccoli rabe! If you're in the area it's definitely a place to try, but I wouldn't go out of my way.
(3)Alex W.
The Tartufo, Sausage, and Mushroom pies are our favorites. We have tried about 2/3 of their pies and all have been good. They keep the menu simple and we like that they strive for consistency. Noise level can be high. When the weather is nice, the outdoor seating can be nice. We've gotten to know a few of the staff members and they often stopped by our table even if they're not waiting on us.
(4)Laura M.
In all, just ok. Got the polpettes to start. Sauce was good but the meatballs themselves were dry and not seasoned well. Got the sausage and tartufo pizzas. Both, again, just alright. No seasoning whatsoever in the crust and under seasoned toppings. Have had better pizza in Philly for sure. Service was just fine and the atmosphere is what I believe people crowd this place for. It can't be the pizza. Didn't sit outside, but I imagine that would improve the experience as well.
(2)Amanda F.
I am waffling between giving this three and four stars, I can't quite decide. We went for lunch today and it was pretty empty in the restaurant, so we were seated right away and the service was prompt, and our waitress was friendly. The actual restaurant space is very pretty, with roughed-up seafoam blue chairs and chalkboard-colored table tops, and the pizza oven in the center of everything: it was neat to watch the flames rushing across the top of its bricks. Unfortunately, I don't know if it was because we were seated near a window or what, but it was REALLY COLD in the restaurant--I was wearing a sweater and I wanted to put on my coat. It made it a little hard to get comfortable and really enjoy the food. We ordered the sheep's milk ricotta and flatbread to start off. The flavors were spot on--it was salty, a little sweet, and you could even see the olive oil and little spices threaded throughout. The flatbread was also delicious. The only problem was that the amount of cheese that they gave us was way too much for the four small pieces of bread that came with it. Still, I really enjoyed the freshness of the cheese, though it would have been nice if the bread was a little warmer to contrast its coolness. We split the margherita pizza and the taste was spot on, as was the crispy thinness of the crust. The bits that tasted the best were the charred crust: I found myself wishing for a higher char ratio! The sauce of San Marzano tomatoes (a smart choice) was simple but flavorful, though a little thin. Still, it was tasty enough that we wolfed down the smallish pizza in a few minutes. I could see Stella getting a little expensive if you were really trying to leave stuffed, since the pizzas ranged from $13 - $17 and I could easily have eaten one on my own. Probably not a place I will frequent often, but a mostly enjoyable experience this time.
(3)Alison P.
Went to Pizzeria Stella tonight after seeing a movie nearby and it was definitely good, but I wouldn't trek back anytime soon. The restaurant is pretty big but we were originally seated in the bar section which is very noisy and had a funky smell. The hostess gladly moved us into the main space, which was much nicer. The food was a bit overpriced, but everything was tasty. The Caesar salad was really nice, with real anchovies in the creamy dressing. We shared the Pancetta pizza, topped with crisp Italian bacon, oven roasted onions, and tuscan kale. It was delish on a crispy thin crust, which we dipped into the leftovers of the asparagus topped with an egg over easy and parmesan sauce. The highlight of the night, and definite must-order at Stella, is the gelato. The honey marscapone gelato was unique, creamy, light, and so perfectly sweet, topped with a small walnut biscotti (perfect to split for 2). The service was only ok-- our water glasses were never refilled and the server continually tried to up-sell everything, which can be kind of irritating. If I'm in the neighborhood I would stop in to try the Tartufo pizza, but otherwise would rather try many of the other great restaurants in Philly.
(3)Tiffany E.
This is probably the best pizza I've had in Philly. I went there not long after it had opened and the service was great and the food was even better! It's a really cozy space, great for casual dates. I love sitting at the pizza bar and watching them make all the yummy pizzas. I've only ever gotten the margherita pizza but it is consistently good each time I get it. The basil is fresh as well as the mozzerella. I have gone back multiple times and highly recommend it.
(5)Nina C.
We had one of the best pizzas in Philly here---the Piccante. Spicy, salty and cheesy with a delicious perfectly done brick oven crust. Really yummy. The meatballs were good, but nothing to get too excited about. I'll be back to try some of the other pizzas. A good Stephen Starr---hope it lasts because we were one of the few parties lunching that day.
(3)Asa T.
My experience at Pizzeria Stella was most definitely an interesting one. To start, the place is very nice simply because it's in a top-notch location. Starr is right on the money in putting the restaurant right off the busy end of South Street, and there's no doubt that the place would not have stood a chance in an area such as Rittenhouse Square. As for the decor and service, they were both relatively good. There were no big surprises, although the seating was rather cramped. And as for the food...well it definitely was not mediocre...not even close. Service - (3/3) Decor - (3/3) Food - Romaine Salad (3/5) The salad definitely had a good deal of dressing to it, making it tastier than expected. As for the size and consistency of ingredients, it fared out pretty well. Not too big, not too small, and there was no true lack of tomatoes or onions or anything essential to making the salad stay interesting. Tartufo Pizza (4.5/5) This pizza blew me out of the water, to say the least. Upon seeing the amount it cost ($17), I laughed. I thought Starr was trying to get the idea across to the people of Philly that the restaurant is supposed to be a laid back, inexpensive place to grab a slice from time to time. This would have to be the reason why I left it at a 4.5, and not a 5. But, of course, there was some reason to the high price. It contained truffle, egg, parmesan, and lots of olive oil, and for that, it was delicious. You will not go wrong with ordering this pizza. Go for it, you will not be let down.
(3)Vicki H.
I really like Stella. It's an awesome place to come when you want to go somewhere nice to eat, but don't want to drop a ton of cash. The service there has always been really friendly and quick, the pizzas are yummy (although you might not agree if you don't like that brick-oven charring on the crust), the fried risotto is taaasty, and the $5.50 house wines are reasonably priced and hit the spot. It's not as over-engineered and over-designed as other Starr places, and I really love that about it. I'm glad I live so close!!
(4)C K.
really good for pizza. They had appetizers non pizza and were yummy. Great classy casual pizza place.
(4)Ali H.
We were seated immediately on a Saturday night, which was nice, as were all of the staff we encountered. The pizza was great, especially the crust, which had the perfect crunch to dough ratio. The toppings were fresh, and the sauce was great. It wasn't too sweet, and it didn't overpower the toppings. I would definitely recommend a visit to Stella any time you're in the area looking for a delicious, relaxing meal--more upscale than a pizza joint, but casual enough to be fun. Good selection of beers, too.
(4)Beth K.
Good pizza, convenient to us in Head House Square - slightly overpriced though.
(3)K K.
I think opening Stella was a brilliant idea for Stephen Starr, I think he just missed on a few things, mainly the pizza. But before I write a review on the pizza, I would like to comment on the staff and atmosphere. When walking into the newly renovated Cosi, you instantly feel as if you walked into one of your favorite low-scale restaurants when you were a kid. Not to stay the decor is bad; it's actually the opposite. For someone like myself, walking into an upscale restaurant that attempts to make you feel like you aren't dressed formal enough, can be intimidating. Walking into Stella is a breath of fresh air, nothing special about it, humble and attractive. Each time I have been here, the staff is always ready to greet you, super friendly, but not overbearing. There has been one occasion on which our server, a male server, neglected our table for about 20 minutes, but compared to the other excellent service I have experienced, I guess everyone has their bad days, just like the rest of us. I enjoy sitting at the bar, you get to watch the sous chefs work on each individual pizza as if it was their first day, trying to impress the chef. It's quite amazing how carefully they handle each pizza. I ordered a margarita pizza once without basil, and it came out with basil. I watched as the sous chef caught this before it was brought over to me, and instead of taking off the basil, they prepared a new pizza. The sous chef, not the server came over and apologized and within four minutes, I had my new pizza. If you are lucky to go there without a crowd, your food comes out fast as lightning, as each pizza takes about five minutes, start to finish, due to the wood burning stove. If there is a crowd, you will wait a little longer, but if you make it known to your server that you are sharing everything that you ordered, it will come out one by one as it's done so you're not just sitting there waiting for everything. Ok, the pizza. I have tried the margarita, the four cheese, the pistachio, the picante, the clam, the pepperoni and the tartufo (truffle). The crust is perfect and the amount of olive oil drizzled on the crust and the top of the pizza is perfect. The flavors, need some work. Painter has the four cheese and margarita down to a well executed science. I am a huge fan of clam, however, this pizza was almost inedible. The clams tasted like they came out of a spaghetti clam sauce jar - they were tuff and had a foul flavor. It seems as if the clams were baked, which leaves them pretty tough, especially sitting on the line all day. If Painter was able to figure out a way to steam the clams, maybe drizzle a spicy butter sauce of the pizza, I think it would rock my world. The picante pizza had a great flavor, a little spicy for me, but I can never handle heat. I think one of the most exciting pizzas on the menu is the tartufo, the truffle pizza. This has obviously truffles on top, and what most people find interesting is an over easy egg cooked in the middle. The server comes to break the yolk and smear it over the pizza. I was so excited for this pizza, but I was left only tasting egg - the rest of the flavors were lost. The pepperoni was pleasant, but nothing too special about it. The pistachio had too many onions which lost the pistachio taste. The appetizers were good, I recommend the asparagus. I also recommend the gelato. I'd love to see Painter put out a mushroom or pineapple pizza. I'd also like to try the other 4 pizza's on the menu. Either way, I will make my way back soon! All in all, a great place to take a date or the family for a smaller budget. Hope this helps!
(3)Vivian T.
I am not a fan of Starr restaurants but I have to say the food exceeded my expectations. I went here the other evening with my husband and one yr old daughter. The place is family friendly and the hostesses and waitress were really nice and friendly to us. We ordered two pies (tartufo (yum!) and magherita (sp?)). The pies were individually sized but priced for a large. I am used to sizes from places like Lombardi's & Ray's in New York. Nevertheless the pizzas had a lot of flavor and the wood fire stove really added a special smoky flavor to the crust. We also had the broccoli rabe. I was surprised since I haven't had rabe prepared this way. They were really soft and lacked the bitter taste I am used to. The house wine is really good and goes will with the food. My husband ordered other wines from the menu and I really think the house wine was better. I would definitely come back here.
(4)Megan D.
I love Pizzeria Stella! Olives are delish. Pistachio is quite good. Margherita is fantastic. Tartufo is where it's at! The combination of the truffle and the cheese and then a freshly cracked egg on top....amazing. They also have homemade gelato (the way to my heart) in all sorts of flavors. The olive oil and basil are the two that come to mind and both were fantastic!
(5)Brooks A.
First time there. Excellent place for lunch. Two of us shared the chopped salad (great salad, lots of veggies and roasted tomato dressing was outstanding!) and sausage/pesto/mozz pizza. Sausage pie was also fantastic. Great service.
(4)Cora B.
every time someone is visiting philly, i bring them here and they are always amazed at how delicious the salami/prosciutto appetizer platter, spicy shrimp pasta & pizza's are. i'd have to say that this is one of my favorite restaurants.... LOVE! mmm
(5)Jessica N.
I went here the opening weekend and got a table with virtually no wait. The atmosphere is very relaxed, except during the day when it is bombarded with society hill people with their kids. The menu is very simple, but well prepared with good quality ingredients. We tried the starter with asparagus and the risotto balls (oh man so amazing). Over a few trips have tried quite a few of the pizzas, they are a very thin crust, somewhat blistered and crunchy. The favorites are the standard margerita and the one with crushed pepper flakes and prosciutto. It's solid good food, but portions are on the small side for the price. Also I kinda miss the s'mores at the former Cosi's.
(4)A R.
Walked in with moderate expectations -- Starr's restaurants can sometimes be too much theater and don't always deliver on the food. But Stella delivered! We started with the beet salad -- (delicious!) and shared the pistachio pizza (crispy crust, delicate flavors!). Nice atmosphere, attentive service and great pizza. We'll be back!
(4)Anthony Z.
Came here just last night for the first time. The atmosphere was great, and it is a great addition to the corner at 2nd & Lombard. The service was decent. The waiter was capable enough, and attentive enough without being overbearing. It was just me and one other. We started off with the Rosemary Flatbread. It was great! I was pleased enough with this appetizer that I considered ordering another one! Then came the pizza. We ordered 2 pies, the Sausage, and the Picante. Both were good. But just good, nothing more. I felt the pizza was a little TOO thin on the bottom, and the crust was a little too burnt in places. The toppings were fantastic, however. I'm not one to eat pizza with a fork and knife. I think it's a little ridiculous, but the pizza was so thin that I had no choice but use a fork and knife just to get it to my mouth. The real shock came with the bill. 2 people, 2 pies, 1 app, 2 sodas.... $42!!! After tipping the server, I left $50 poorer. $50 for some mediocre pizza! I have to say that while I may at some point be here again, it isn't a place that I will be including on my list of places to eat. The pizza was mediocre at best, and the cost was just outrageous. It's a good place to go, but just not worth the expense when I can find much more enjoyable pizza for much less money at other places.
(3)lisa g.
Good area and nice looking restaurant - food ok but pizza has so much salt that you'll be drinking water for days!
(3)Trauts N.
This is our default "go to" restaurant. Can't go wrong here.
(5)Jeremy B.
When I saw this place get 3 bells in the Inquirer, I knew it was time to go there. A positive experience from the door. We did not have to wait, but kinda got a jerk table by the front door, no biggie. At least there is another door blocking Old Man Winter and it was in front of the ovens. Or server was helpful and didn't let me over order, like I normally do. We got the octopus and squid ceviche appetizer which was tasty and fresh. We got a suggested special of meatballs, polpette, with sauce over creamy polenta. This dish was tasty as well but could of been primo if the meatballs were made properly. The flavor was there but the texture was all wrong. We got the Vongole pizza-clams, broccoli rabe and pancetta. Again the flavor was correct, clams were not overdone and everything melded well. My only complaint, a tiny one, is that they cooked the pizza in an unclean oven. There was burnt flour, etc. on the bottom of the pie, pretty displeasing. Oh, you should have something more than gelato for dessert, it being 20 degrees and all I was not in the mood for anything frozen. I will return, it definitely was a nice spot.
(3)Hugh J.
found myself there for a business group activity . . . all of the pizzas were creative & very tasty . . . . brick oven thin crust with great ingredients . . . also of note was the fried calamari which was obviously fresh made . . . . and the gelato was a welcome surprise.
(5)Kristen H.
A fun place that is kid friendly. Good pizzas (the piccante was a favorite at my table) and fair prices and also a good beer selection for those of you who like to have a beer with their pizza. Nice service and nice ambiance.
(4)Meghan W.
My husband is Italian (not the Jersey shore variety - he is from Milano) and he thinks this is the best pizza he's had in the US by far. I have to agree - if you're looking for a more authentic Italian pizza. We usually order 2 pizzas and we end up finishing them both, but that's not to say that there's a whole lot of room for dessert! I really like the pepperoni and the one topped with arugula is my favorite. I've also tried the mushroom, which was really good as well. The pizza comes out quickly, I imagine due to the fact that the super thin crust takes no time to bake. Service can be a little spotty. The last time we were in, the waiter slammed a beer on the table - we actually jumped. He then ran away without saying anything. You sometimes have to ask for water refills, things of that nature. I'm not a major fan of Steven Starr's places in general as form over substance doesn't really do it for me. However, I must admit this is really one of our favorite spots in Philly. One additional observation - the acoustics in the place are awful. It tends to be really noisy and you find yourself shouting to be heard over the din.
(4)chris h.
i went for the second time this weekend and i liked it better the first time. i am not a pizza snob, but i think the crust was too spongy this time around. but i loved the toppings, the spicy sausage is delish. the lentil appetizer was top notch. i think the space is great, and there are not a ton of really nice spaces to eat pizza in philly, so that is a major upside for stella. and the service was really solid, so all in all a fine place to eat. i'll go again, but it won't be top of my list.
(3)Dave W.
Salad servicable; pasta, okay; pizza, the real standout, excellent; tartufo pie- with truffles, fontina, and a runny egg yolk was good and a break from the ordinary. margharita-- tasty; 5.50 for house red, not a great pour, but for the price not complaining.. like the location right off south street.. would return
(3)Kimberly C.
I had been looking forward to going to Stella for quite sometime however I am not sure if I will go back. I think if I had a large group I would think about it. The appetizer of grilled octopus was really good but the pizza was soggy on the bottom. It was not horrible but soggy wood fired pizza I just don't really understand how that is possible. The service was indifferent. Overall I would give it a 2.5.
(3)Leah G.
I have eaten at Stella twice for lunch. I have been very happy with the food..both the salads and pizzas, and I have tried several. They change up the menu frequently it seems. I think the prices are pretty high. Expect to spend about $15 minimum for lunch. I have actually spent 30, but I had salad, wine and a pizza. The pizzas are Italian style...the same size you would get in Italy. You can share, but one is not enough for two people unless you order something else. They are baked in a wood-fired oven, so sometimes the crust bottoms can be a little too well done, but otherwise, delicious. I have to agree with some other reviewers that at least once the servers were in a rush to clear the table. They took my co-worker's plate away while she was still eating, which is pretty ridiculous. I think it just depends on which server you get. Despite some of the drawbacks, I still enjoyed my meals and will likely go again.
(4)Alexis S.
I live close by, so I'm at Stella weekly. The food is great and consistent. More importantly, it's quick. I often come here with my two kids and the food is out in less than 15 minutes, sometimes 10. Though there is not a kid's menu, it is very kid-friendly. What kid doesn't like pasta and pizza? In summer, they offer outdoor seating, which is great when little ones get noisy or need to walk around. I'm never disappointed and it has become a "go-to" for our family.
(5)Terry V.
Charred pizza. Brussels sprouts flavor=charred. Wine in a rocks glass? If servers used tray, they could serve more drinks in less steps. If the person who told specials (ten minutes after seating) took a drink order, server checks would up. Would not go back.
(1)Michael C.
One of our favorite spots ! fried calamari with the hot peppers is the best don't forget to get the brussels sprout pizza or the pistachio pizza with the shaved onions to die for love sitting outside at the foot of head house square
(5)John L.
Impromptu Sunday night dinner in Old City on a cold spring evening. We were both in the mood for pizza and my wife suggested this place. The bar was closed for a private event and the pizza bar was really busy. But, the hostess easily solved the problem for us and suggested a call back to my cell when two spots opened up. So we walked to work up even more of an appetite. We settled into the inviting bar near the oven. Pretty much immediately, we realized we were in for a good meal. Pizza after pizza came out of the wood fire oven perfectly cooked and with just the right amount of "burn" on the crust; each one was then finished with sea salt and a little oil on top. With all fresh ingredients and in the hands of an extremely efficient army of pizza makers, we felt like we were in good hands. The wine list is small but adequate. There were some beers that we will have to go back to. We started with some wine, which was generously poured. We ordered the meatballs and the ricotta, along with some olives to start. The ricotta was excellent, and it was served with fantastic rosemary bruschetta. The olives did not disappoint and were extremely flavorful. The meatballs were served with a delicious red tomato sauce. They were light and flavorful. We scarfed them down quickly. We shared the margarita pizza. The crust was just perfect. And too often, pizza in the states drowns in its own goodness; there is such as thing as too much of a good thing. But not at Pizzeria Stella. The pie had just the right amount of sauce and cheese. The star, the perfect crust, was showcased perfectly. It was the closest (along with the pie at Bar Lucca) to an authentic pizza Napoletana in the US. Great job. The service was efficient but friendly and we appreciated the call when the seats became available. We will be back here. Many times.
(4)Fran G.
Disappointing Salad swimming in dressing Meatballs a bit on the tough side Pizza just ok Service very attentive
(3)Gina M.
The staff were very friendly and very informative. We had The broccoli rabe and it was a close second to my father in laws. We had the margarita and Quattro Formaggi. They were amazing and I loved the crust. We will def come back and try their other pizza's.
(5)Lily W.
This review is long overdue. Stella has the most creative and scrumptious pizzas! But in addition to great, thin-crusted, wood oven-baked pizzas, they have terrific salads and pastas! Though their menu isn't huge, what they do they do amazingly well! Our consistent favorites are the following: Antipasti: - shrimp arrabbiata (get extra flatbread to soak up that flavorful sauce) - Grilled octopus - Rosemary flatbread Insalate: - kale salad Pasta (we love that they offer two sizes so you can order a small enjoy other things on the menu): - Pomodoro - Crab gemelli Pizza - Brussels sprouts (our all time favorite!) - Mushroom - Nduja - Tartufo - Spinach Buon appetito!
(5)Cynthia U.
First time here!! It was great! It filled my craving for brick oven pizza. Had the margherita pizza... Yummo! Will def be coming back. Our waiter Jarrod was very nice. Had the lamb Bolognese was awesome too!! Made lunch time with my mom a happy time!! Thanks!
(4)Robert S.
The brick-oven style pizza at Pizzeria Stella is my favorite in the city, if not my favorite pizza overall! It's located in the hip Old City/Society Hill area and is just a short walk to/from South Street. The pizzas come out just the way I like it, thin and crispy. I've only tried a couple of their pies, but I would imagine them all to be equally as savory. The margherita is super tasty with a nice amount of sauce, mozzarella and basil. We also just recently tried their calzone and I must say it was a good choice. The calzone comes stuffed with eggplant, crushed tomato, ricotta, smoked mozzarella, parmesan cheese and basil. Really tasty and filling. Pizzeria Stella is just a cool place to get some really, really good pizza, among other menu options. They have also expanded into the space next door and have their "Bar Stella" open 7 days a week. Another great Stephen Starr restaurant.
(5)Marley H.
Great little pizza / pasta restaurant with nice outside seating options. I have been here twice now and the pizza and pastas have both been great. The service has been amazing, though it can get crowded on the weekends. This is not an "upscale" Italian venue, but is not a little hole-in-the-wall either. Overall, the pizza is not as great as Nomad but it very good. Great weekend spot.
(4)Nikki H.
Came here today for lunch. The space is great for large groups. Very open with a visible brick oven. I have the pomodora pasta - I think that's what it's called- and it was delish. Just a simple pasta dish. The waitress was very friendly and attentive. I'll be back to try their pizza and wine.
(3)Dave S.
I am in town on business and needed a pizza. I am glad I found Stella's. The wood fired pizza is simple but everything you want in a pizza. Great crust and great toppings. Rivals some of the best pizza I have had. They also have nice beer selection that compliments the pizza well. Do not forget to leave room for the Gelato. You will not be disappointed. Last but not least, the staff were super nice and welcoming.
(5)Jean-Bernard L.
Very delicious, inventive pizzas. Wood stove, thin crust, perfect amount of grease. Friendly atmosphere, and beer prices are reasonable, 6 dollar range for a craft draft. The pizzas are on the small side though, and you will almost need a pizza per person if everyone you are with has a big appetite. And at the $11-19 range per pizza, it makes it most most expensive pizzeria I've ever been to.
(4)Jessica S.
Casual yet very nice atmosphere. We really enjoyed the special tomato salad, the crab pasta dish, and the pizza. Service was excellent. Drinks were very tasty too! The bar area is very cool too with a vintage feel. I recommend for a casual night out!
(5)Susanne F.
Love the atmosphere in this place! Octopus was incredible but small. Pizza had great toppings and thin crust, but I think it needs to be cooked slightly longer as the bottom is soggy and not crispy.
(4)Alexander R.
The food is consistently delectable. The service was good but lacking on the personality front. They serve decent wine and a couple Italian beers. I would definitely give this place a shot for the brick oven thin crust alone. They were also very sensitive about my silly dairy allergy.
(4)Pachandra O.
I liked this place quite a bit. Tasty pizza, nice outdoor atmosphere, reasonable prices, and amazing homemade gelato. What else could you ask for? The service was friendly and attentive, too! We will definitely be back.
(4)Juan M.
Awesome! Sorry for not forwarding pic's but the food looked so good we prayed and jumped right in. Had the meatballs as an app.... they were really good. Great service and the pizza's are so good I'm willing to claim them as amongst the best I've had (and I had quite a few). Don't skip dessert you will not be disappointed. Cudos to Jared our server.
(5)Vern H.
I ate here with my 7 yr. old son, we ordered octopus for an app. and 2 pizzas one Quattro Formaggi and one Pancetta, everything was great as to be expected coming from Stephen Starr, my son told me this was his favorite pizza place.
(5)Courtney J.
If you like European style pizza, Stella is the pizza place for you. I'm kicking myself for not having tried Stella sooner! So far this is my favorite pizza in the Philadelphia area. Of course what makes a good pizza varies greatly depending on personal taste. Here's what I like about the pizza at Stella that makes it #1 for me: 1. It's cooked in a wood burning brick oven which creates a smokey flavor. 2. The toppings are fresh and high quality such as buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. 3. The crust is very thin on the main area of the pie, but the crust on the outside is fluffy and chewy. --Basically, it's simple, but it's simple done well. My husband had the mushroom and ham pizza and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed my margarita pizza. Not only is the pizza good, but the calamari with peppers appetizer my husband and I shared, was a stand out as well! The calamari was well seasoned, hot, crispy, with not spicy, but bitter fried green peppers. It came with an aioli and marinara, so you have the best of both worlds. The sangria was good, but nothing to write home about. The Sgroppino, on the other hand, was one of the better cocktails I've had in a while. It contained lemon sorbet, vodka, and prosecco. It's tart with bits of lemon rind, a little slushy from the sorbet, and only slightly sweet. Two sprigs of mint were placed in the center which gave it not only color but a hint of mint flavor. I would go back just for the drink! I was stuffed after the food, and even had to get a to-go box for my last slice of pizza. However, when I heard there was olive oil gelato, I just couldn't pass that one up. My husband got the espresso crunch gelato. We really should have shared because it was a generous scoop. The olive oil gelato was creamy and buttery from the olive oil. I'm so glad I gave in and ordered it. The espresso gelato had a rich coffee bean flavor. Service was excellent, and my water glass was never empty. I can't wait to go back and try other pies and the honey marscapone gelato.
(5)Micaela M.
Hmm... ok. Dinner as a group of four was pretty fun at this open and spacious restaurant, but mostly due to the fabulously priced wine list - $12 for a carafe of house red, which yielded 3/4 glasses each time we ordered. We left happy and buzzed without breaking the bank, which is always a win. As for the food, we weren't blown away, but perhaps had high expectations due to the "Best Meatballs in America" accolade that Pizzeria Stella received in the fall. The meatballs were good - not dry in the least (dry meatballs are the WORST) and flavorful. The one my friend cut into seemed to have a huge chunk of potato in the center, which was a bit puzzling, but we enjoyed it anyway. Our second appetizer, the calamari, was just OK. And the star of the show, the pizza, was just OK wood-fired pizza.. We had the Margherita, Pepperoni, and Tartufo (in order of most-enjoyed to least-enjoyed). I wish the egg on our Tartufo was set a little more because raw egg white can be a pretty off-putting taste/ texture and it was hard to eat with all the egg bits slipping around. The service was just OK as well - our waitress was overly attentive at first and then hard to find later in our meal, but it was still a nice dining experience.
(3)Joseph D.
The best pizza outside of Italy and it does rival some of the iconic Pizzerias in Italy. I always know what to expect from Stella. Also, to not the non-pizza items are excellent as well. A very nice selection of beer and wine to round things out.
(5)Jessica B.
I just moved to Queen Village and my roommates and some friends decided to get to know the neighborhood and ended up here for lunch. It will not be the last time for sure! They have lots of outdoor seating, and Headhouse Square is the perfect place to sit outside on a nice day! Service was good, quick and friendly. They also have a pretty good beer and wine list, not huge but definitely something for everyone! Huge plus - it was pretty hot outside and our waters were refilled regularly (thanks!!!). The waiter suggested one pizza per person, we had 8 people and ended up getting 6 pizzas between us. Most of us thought it was enough, the guys said they could eat more, so if you're hungry don't be afraid to order a lot. It is not easy to choose between all of the enticing and unique pizzas! You can smell them cooking the wood fire oven even from outside, and its killer! All of the pizzas were wonderful, thin and flavorful crust, and not too heavy. We argued over which one was the best! The clear winners were the Piccante which is has just the right amount of spice, the spinach extremely flavorful and my personal favorite, and the San Daniel a little unique and completely delicious. All of them were great though down to the standard Margarita.
(5)Herbie H.
Stopped by Pizzeria Stella before seeing a movie at the Ritz 5 on a friday night and enjoyed my first visit! Two of us split calamari and then the San Daniele pizza (prosciutto / arugula / mozzarella.) The calamari was decent, and made slightly better by the garlic aioli that came with. The pizza was great - light and crispy crust with flavorful and plentiful toppings. Service was very good - attentive without being overwhelming. It seemed to be a place that is frequented by young families and their strollers and accompanying stroller-aged children.
(4)Rachel S.
Ohhh Stella. You rock. I've been here so many times since they first opened, and every visit has been a pleasure. Family and friends are always happy here. First reason might be because the pizza crust here might be the best: so insanely flavorful, with a perfect leopard-spotted undercarriage indicating expertly tended char, plus the right amount of cornicicione. Secondly, the menu offers diners both the complex AND simple pizza options, and there is no 'bad' choice. The balance of flavors--in the simple Margarita or the epically delicious Tartufo--is always on point. It seemed appropriate, then, to celebrate true love over a love of pizza. For our rehearsal dinner, Starr Catering (the BEST!) helped us come up with a delightful menu that made all our guests happy in this fun event space. The antipasti course was loaded with so many options, and served family style, that everyone nearly forgot to save room for the main attraction-the pizza, obviously! We went with the margarita for those who like to keep is simple, the spinach because it's amazing, and the tartufo for those willing to be adventurous. Lastly, our servers began bringing out all the flavors of gelato for everyone to sample. In short, nobody left hungry or thirsty and plenty of pizza was packed up to go back with the boys to enjoy later!
(5)Sara N.
Although the classic staple margherita pie was satisfying, I probably won't order it again--it seemed almost boring. Especially since I'm more tempted to try the marinara and the sinfully decadent tartufo upon return to this brightly open and spacious pizzeria.
(4)John K.
Philly is home to quite a few artisanal pizza joints. You know I'm all about Pizzeria Vetri and their delicious Neapolitan-style pizzas. Fairmount has it on lock down with Bufad, Osteria (another Vetri joint), and of course, the aforementioned Pizzeria Vetri. Midtown Village provides great pizza in the form of Barbuzzo and Zavino. And for those lucky enough to live in Society Hill, Stephen Starr's Pizzeria Stella has got you covered. How so? Their 800 degree oven whips out 12 inch artisanal pies like nobody's business. If there are any doubts above the wood-fired oven, just take a gander at the stacks of timber ready to provide the leoparding on your crust. So this past fall, the GF and I stopped by Pizzeria Stella to try their pies. We grabbed one of the best seats in the house - the doors were completely open to Headhouse Square so we were essentially dining al fresco, inside. Melohattan [$9] Bourbon, pomegranate liqueur, sweet vermouth I was in the mood for a drink, so went with the Melohattan - a clear nod to the oft-enjoyed whiskey-based cocktail. The bourbon base provided some smoky sweetness, with the pomegranate coming through on top of the sweet vermouth. Easy drinking and delicious. Sheep's Milk Ricotta [$11] Rosemary, flatbread I first tried sheep's milk ricotta at Andrew Carmellini / Robert DeNiro's Laconda Verde in TriBeCa and since then, if it's on the menu anywhere, I will order it. Pizzeria Stella's version was a bit grainy, but the flavors were still there - salty, creamy, delicious. The chewy rosemary flatbread was especially nice, just begging to be slathered with the ricotta. Arancini [$8] Risotto, parmesan, marinara This was the GF's first time trying aranchini and since this visit, she's ordered aranchini everywhere she goes. These were perfectly executed - crispy on the outside, with creamy risotto with just enough bite within. The tangy marinara and the salty Parmesan helped to add flavor to each bite. But really, it's all about the outer crunch for me. Yum. Margherita ($15) San Marzano tomato, basil, buffalo mozzarella But on to the Neapolitan-style pies. We started with the margherita - easily a standard by which all artisanal pies should be measured. Pizzeria Stella has it in spades. These 12 inch pies had a pliant, soft chew, with just enough crust from the oven to provide texture. The sweet, tangy San Marzano tomatoes meld beautifully with the buffalo mozz and the fresh basil. The leoparding was "spot" on as well. Tartufo ($19) Black truffle, egg, fontina We had to try the truffle-egg pie as well. Sure, every pizza joint has one of these. But that doesn't make it any less delicious - especially when a farm fresh egg is broken in front of you - tableside. The salty fontina was a great foil for the heft of the egg and the earthiness of the truffle. Fresh shaved black truffles would have been nice, but hey, we'll make do with the truffle oil - despite all the critics. Honey Mascarpone Gelato ($4) Pistachio biscotti And for a sweet note, we had to try some of the homemade gelato. Mascarpone imparted exceptional creaminess to the rich, french vanilla, with additional sweetness coming through from the honey. Decadent. The GF and I aren't big fans of biscotti, but this pistachio iteration was pretty good - great crunch and flavor. So if you're looking for a casual and relaxing night out or are simply craving great food in the form of an artisanal pie and more - Stephen Starr's Pizzeria Stella has got you covered. Say what you will about this restaurateur, but there's a reason why all of his places (in Philly at least - sorry Questlove!) are a hit.
(5)Rachel A.
We had a great dinner at Stella. For the two of us, we ordered one tartufo pizza, one order of broccoli raab, and 4 cocktails. A perfect amount of food, even though the total bill was a little high at $70ish. (It's the cocktails, which were good but not necessarily worth $11 each). The food was just. So. Good. How can you not love an egg, cream and truffle pizza??? The broccoli raab was covered with a snow of grated cheese, which perfectly complemented the garlicky greens. So great. Stella is definitely in my Philly-visit rotation for next time. Also, I just discovered the cozy bar area below the main room. Might be a good place if you want to get further away from the families with kids.
(5)H. I.
Wondering what took me so long to come here, but it looks like this will be a new go to favorite! I saw the ad for Pizza Week here which is a killer deal: choice of 2 antipasti or salad, 1 pizza, 2 gelati for $35! We ordered 2 sets of the deal (4 antipasti, 2 pizzas, 4 gelati), and an extra pizza. For appetizers we got the shrimp arrabbiata, polpette, grilled octopus and calamari. Everything was super delicious. I'm a stickler about grilled octopus and this was some of the best I've tasted in the city. The arrabbiata sauce was not as spicy as I expected, but was still really good with the flatbread served with it. For pizzas we ordered the margherita (I added mushrooms), brussels sprouts, and the pizza on special that night with andouille sausage. The pizza is Neapolitan style, thin crust and wood fired. They were all delicious. I think they are a little pricey though for the size. There are 6 slices per pie and it's recommended 1 pizza per person. The service was great. Our server was really friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and drink list. He was very attentive and checked up several times to see how everything was as did one of the hostesses. The atmosphere is also warm and inviting, open floor and view of the oven and pizza line, but not too noisy. I will be back for pizza week round 2!
(5)Debra T.
We love PIzzeria Stella is our stop every Saturday for lunch. The food is great, the beer is good and the staff is wonderful. Especially Jarod....but they all are very warm and make you feel like your the best! The calamari is our favorite in the city. We live in S. Jersey and go over the bridge to enjoy our special lunch...every Saturday that is where you can find us!
(5)Bob R.
Nice atmosphere, great service and good menu. One star off for price/value. We had the broccoli raab and a margherita pizza. Both were excellent. I would return.
(4)Leo F.
Best pizza in town, hands down. I'm from Italy and this is the kind of pizza you find in Naples.
(5)Melissa C.
Food was delicious. Service was ehhh. We ordered 3 rounds of beers/drinks and waited each time with empty glasses. Other members of the waitstaff were more attentive to us. We received a round from another server. Our actual server never checked in with us once our food arrived, which came out fast and hot. We were just a thirsty group. Even though we could have had a better server, I won't hold that against Stella. The pizza was amazing and we saw potential in others working there.
(3)Ashley M.
This place is awesome. I definitely recommend starting your meal with the marinaded olives and a pitcher of their sangria, which changes depending on the season. All of the pizzas are delicious - a standout being the Brussels Sprout. I've never had a bad experience with the service here either. The staff is friendly and obviously well trained.
(5)Paul M.
There should be two ratings one for service and one for food. The service in this place gets a 2 at best. Once we were sat 4 employees came over to our table to tell us our server would be with us shortly. 10 minutes later we were greeted by our waiter, he was nice and described the specials and took our order. After that we didn't see him again. No one ever came to refill our drinks or even ask how the food was. The check was just randomly placed on the table by another waiter and I had to wait another 10 minutes before my waiter appeared to pay it. Now on to the food.... One word.... Delicious! We started with an heirloom tomato, burrata, and pesto salad. It had the perfect amount of salt to enhance the whole dish. We then had the Quattro Formaggi and Tartufo pizzas, both were amazing. For dessert we ended with Olive Oil gelato and a Honey Mascarpone gelato just because they were different. We were more then pleased. Had the waitstaff been attentive and treated us better, giving this place 5 stars would be a no brainer.
(4)Maria E.
Good pizza, not amazing though. I will say that the grilled octopus starter was INCREDIBLE. I was hesitant because grilled octopus can be hit or miss. This was fantastic - just the right level of char, nice and salty, I'd go back there just for the octopus, no lie. The pizza was decent. Tried the margherita which was pretty good. Also had the Pistachio -- the pizza itself was good - loved the cheese and red onions, but I just didn't love the idea of Pistachios on a pizza, too heavy. Not their fault. It was a good slice, just not my thing. I'd like to try some of the other menu options. I thought the bottom was a tiny bit too burnt but I am very sensitive to that sort of thing. Good service. Metered parking spots nearby.
(4)Cara T.
It's no secret that I'm a Stephen Starr fan and I had not yet visited his pizza joint so I was happy to stop here this week. Despite being a Saturday night, my party of 3 walked right in. The menu is filled with pizza options and several pasta and salad options as well. I highly suggest the rosemary flatbread as an appetizer.... it's drizzled with olive oil and it's delicious. I ordered the margherita pizza and it reminded me of pizza that I had eaten while visiting Italy. For dessert I got the stracciatella gelato, which was simply fantastic. I moaned with my first bite and made sure my dinner companions tried it as well. My friend ordered the espresso crunch gelato and she said that it was too intense of a flavor. If you're in the area and looking for a solid specialty pizzeria, stop by. Save room for the gelato!
(4)Tess I.
Went here with a few friends on a Saturday evening. Ordered the margarita pizza, basic but classic, and the goat's milk ricotta. The ricotta was fluffy and light, heavily flavored with rosemary. The giant pot was served with only 4, tiny pieces of flatbread, which was a little irritating. The margarita was perfect. It was honestly nothing special per se, but the ingredients were bursting with freshness and the crust was a magnificent texture. My only complaint is that an examination of the crust suggested that the flatbread may have been the exact dough. Excuse my nitpicking, though. Overall, the food was great, but a little pricy. The service was attentive, especially considering that we were sitting outside. Nothing is exceptionally creative, but the food is fresh and flavorful.
(4)Ainsley A.
As a former restaurant employee, I absolutely HATED when people would walk in about a half hour until closing. So you could understand how nervous I was when we walked into Pizzeria Stella at 9:40 on Wednesday night to grab a quick bite. The staff was more than happy to seat us which alleviated my nervousness and set the dinner off on the right foot. We split the spinach pizza- the crust reminded me of what I ate in Rome- light and airy with a bit of crisp, but sturdy enough to hold our toppings. The melding of flavors between the spinach, tomato puree and pine nuts was exactly what we felt like. We couldn't decide between a white or red pizza and the puree satisfied both cravings at once. WIN. It is reasonably priced- mirroring the pricing of other great pizza places like Nomad and Zavino. I would put PS in my top three gourmet pizza places in the city. The outdoor seating adds a nice touch with a great view of Headhouse Square.
(5)Shannon M.
We chose Pizzeria Stella when looking for a place to bring our young children and meet up with a friend visiting the city for one night. It was a great choice. The food was really really good and the service was great. It was the perfect atmosphere for what we were looking for. We don't live in center city but if we did we would absolutely visit more often.
(5)Marie W.
They serve some of the best fried calamari I've ever eaten. Crisp, salty perfection served with fried strips of pepper. Yum!
(4)K. B.
Great date place. Society Hill impresses me yet again. Both appetizers and the pizza were very good. Only negative is it doesn't take reservations. Kind of annoying.
(5)Wally O.
Amazing flavor from the mushroom pie with rosemary ham, garlic. Fantastic! Calamari was wonderful! Would be 5 stars if the beer was colder
(4)Kim L.
Stella is still one of my favorite places to get pizza in Philly, but now that I've been to Barbuzzo, it is now knocked out of the top spot. There are still so many things to love, though. I'll admit, it stresses me out that they don't take reservations here. I usually come here with a party of at least four on a weekend night, so the fact that our dinner plans are up in the air until we arrive to find out how long the wait is, can be a little worrisome. This visit, we decided to sit at the bar since the Final Four games were on and we were more than happy with the service we received while we were originally waiting for a table. Both bartenders were extremely knowledgeable about the food and were able to make great recommendations. They were attentive, friendly, and kept our beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) full! I'm ADDICTED to the Tartufo pizza but I decided I'd try a different pizza this time around, so my beau and I split the San Daniele, topped with prosciutto, smoked mozzarella, and arugula. It was delicious (damn, the crust is good!) but still only ranks second to the decadence of the Tartufo. We also had the arancini as the appetizer but it paled in comparison to Little Nonna's version, so it was a bit of a disappointment. The honey marscapone gelato is to die for. The olive oil version was creative, but not tasty enough to warrant an entire serving, in my opinion. I'd give the food three stars, but for overall experience it's a solid four. I've always loved the relaxed atmosphere and enjoyed the more laid back bar area even more. See you again soon, Stella!
(4)Stacey M.
What a great pizzeria! I have to say I love a good wood fired pizza and a unique offering of different flavors and toppings. We ordered the Pistachio pizza-pistachios, red onion, rosemary and fontina-and the calzone-eggplant, ricotta, crushed tomato, smoked mozzarella, Parmesan and basil. The Pistachio pizza was absolutely amazing! beautifully cooked crust with the perfect amount of toppings. The calzone though was pretty salty. It was almost too salty to even finish and I probably wouldn't have but my husband decided he had to! Probably wouldn't order the calzone again but I am sure you couldn't go wrong with any of their pizzas. The service was good. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. We sat at the pizza bar in front of the brick oven/cook area. It was pretty cool to watch them make everything but also sort of awkward. I definitely enjoyed this place and will head back soon.
(4)Amanda M.
My best friend was in from out town Sunday night, and we headed down to 2nd st without any place for dinner in mind - Pizzeria Stella was emitting this sort of warm glow on a chilly night, and promised wood fired pizza, so we were sold as soon as we walked by. How lucky that we stumbled upon this gem! So many places promise true wood fired pizza and then disappoint; Stella's was the opposite - far better than expected. The crust was amazing - you could taste all the baked-in woody flavors! I had the four cheese, which was just slightly wilder than my friends' margherita - I will definitely have to venture back for some of their more creative offerings. My only complaint was that they seated us in the back room, by the bar, next to the window, by ourselves. It was a very strange choice, and we should've asked to move - the main dining room looked so inviting. Though there was an interesting collection of bottle openers decorating the walls, I would have preferred to be seating in the main room.
(4)Kristen M.
I visited Pizzeria Stella for the second time* on a Sunday at 6:15 with a party of 7. The restaurant has a relaxed open air vibe, perfect for summer. Myself, dining partner and our dining budding split off the rest of the group to develop our own ordering strategy. We each picked a pizza and agreed to split them three ways. We ordered the pepperoni pizza, the Tarutfo (black truffle & egg) pizza, and the mushroom pizza. I really enjoyed my pepperoni pizza, the truffle pizza was a bit too strong for my enjoyment, and mushrooms aren't really my cup of tea. I ended up eating most of the pepperoni pizza by myself. The remainder of the table ordered the calzone, pomodoro pasta, and Margherita pizza. The crust was the best part with the perfect balance of crispy and doughy, and the toppings were very fresh. Our waiter was friendly and attentive. It was a bit expensive to be a regular go-to pizza place, but it was a nice treat. Great for large groups. *The first time I went to Pizzeria Stella was with a party of 25 last summer, before I started yelping.
(4)Kelly P.
Delicious food! The ricotta spread was to die for. Our bartender, Canyon (spelling?) was friendly and created a st germain cocktail just for me. I really liked the bottle openers displayed on the walls. I only experienced this spot during a low key weekday around 6pm.
(4)D S.
I have to start by saying I have celiacs disease and can't eat gluten without getting violently ill. Some people react to that by saying "then you shouldn't eat out idiot!" If so,I'm sorry I can't eat gluten, believe me, very sorry. And I don't think that every restaurant needs to have a Gluten-free menu. My problem with a place like Stella is that its so simple to have a gluten free option. Buy some gluten free crusts and make your pizzas on that whenever someone wants one. I don't really understand why this is not an option when going to a place like Stella. I would have asked this question to the people at Stello directly but there isn't anyway to contact them direct.
(2)Joe W.
Quite possibly the best pizza in the South Street area. I had the olive oil gelato and it was one of the best desserts I have ever eaten. Friendly staff and nice atmosphere.
(4)Peter C.
The pizza here is good, everything else however, is mediocre. I've had the San Daniele, pistachio, and piccante pizzas, all if which I would recommend. The meatball and rigatoni entree/apps I ordered were slightly overdone and overpriced. Not surprisingly, the focus at Stella's is on the pizza.
(3)Michael H.
Another great meal. Had the octopus and broccoli rabe as appetizers and the tartufo pizza for dinner. Everything was outstanding!! Such a gem of a restaurant. Low-key, good food and reasonably priced. Go! And order the tartufo, you will not regret it.
(5)Michele W.
Went for an event which a friend had an open bar and it was incredible!!! Loved the service and the pizza wasn't exactly my style (I prefer greasy floppy pizza) but it was still absolutely delicious. I loved the decor with the collection of bottle openers on the wall!
(5)Elaine M.
Since I live close by; I have been to Stella about 4 or 5 times now. I was pleasantly surprised that Stella is not like most overstated Steven Starr restaurants. The atmosphere is casual, they have a generous amount of outdoor seating and several seats at a bar that faces the brick oven (perfect seat for a cold winter night.) I wouldn't waste your time on salads or any other odd appetizers at Stella, the wood fired brick oven pizza is the main attraction (and should be the only attraction.) If you can grab a seat at the bar, you will be entertained by the chefs assembling the pies and tossing them around in the oven. Hopefully the arrogant executive? chef won't be garnishing the pies when you sit at the bar; he really turned me off with his attitude. Everyone else that worked there was friendly. I am not big on meat pizzas, so most of the items I have tried are veggie pizzas, and the rosemary bread (really tasty.) The pies aren't that large... too much for 1 person, but not big enough for 2 people... We usually get 2 pies and have leftovers. 3 pies for 4 people would probably be perfect. Drinks are typical Steven Starr overpriced so don't plan on hanging around much after you feast.
(4)Adam H.
Went here for the first time with 4 other people around 9PM on a Saturday. The pizza menu was extensive and the crust was fantastic. Our party as a whole preferred the white pizzas to the pizzas with red sauce. The special happened to be our favorite, which was a pizza with ground sausage and roasted eggplant and mozzarella. Top that off with a couple of $12 carafes of house wine and it makes for a great evening. The only negative of the night was the slow service, despite the restaurant being only half full.
(4)Kristin S.
After eating here I wish I had looked through the reviews before seeing the 4 stars and assuming a good choice was made... The food was good, though nothing special for the price and the service was atrocious. Once our pizza was served we didn't see out server again. I'm glad I had the foresight to ration my one drink because another was not in the future. It wasn't even packed, no reason for the lack of attention. Won't be back.
(2)Noelle A.
Stella is FABULOUS!! My absolute favorite pizza place in the city. I cannot give enough stars. The tartufo is out of this world, closely matched by the pepperoni pizza and the marinara. Meatballs and calamari are also dream worthy. You will never be less than thrilled with any of these items!!! The house wine are nice compliment for just about all of the dishes and the environment is lovely; lively and relaxed. Not to mention the cozy big pizza oven. I love Stella. I can't wait to go back and go back and go back.
(5)Candice G.
Had a fantastic lunch today at Stella. Was highly recommended so we finally decided to venture to Society Hill for some fire oven pizza. The dough is fantastic--I love thin crust pizza but sometimes the crust isn't flavorful or is too crunchy. Not this though! We had a Stromboli as well which was bursting flavorful pepperoni and served with a side of drinkable marinara. Service was great; Canyon was friendly and warm without being overbearing. Ambiance is open and simple. Great view from the window side table. We'll definitely be back!!
(5)Rob V.
On a chilly Valentines Day (for being someone who so strongly rails against dining out on V-day, here I was, being a hypocrite) we stepped into another Steven Starr concept, my umpteenth and my girlfriend's third. An open wood burning hearth calls out to you from the street, from large dining room windows of this Society Hill restaurant. The menu is Neopolitan inspired, offering six red and six white pies, a selection of appetizers and desserts, along with a full bar. The staff is on-point, as is usual with Starr Restaurants. Jared, was exceptional though. Well informed, prompt, knowledgable, and an expert salesman, Jared was everything I look for in my staffs. We started off with cocktails in the bar, since there was a brief wait. My lady had an exceptionally strong Negroni, with Beefeater, Campari, and contratto americano rosso and I had an excellent take on a Moscow Mule, called the Meletti Mule, which had Smirnoff, Ginger, fresh lime, and Meletti amaro, a favorite of mine. Once seated and spieled by Jared, we started off with Polpette, which was an order of 3 wood roasted meatballs, peppers, onions, and aged provolone. It was rich, delicious, had a bit of heat from some red pepper and a smokiness, a woody flavor, from the wood burning hearth. Excellent. My girlfriend ordered the Chopped Salad which came with a blend of ten different vegetables, and she subbed the white wine vinaigrette for the roasted tomato vinaigrette on the side, although Jared also brought the roasted tomato for us to try as we'll. I ordered something different, wandering out of my comfort zone (as we all should aim to do, once in a while) and getting the Mushroom pie with rosemary scented ham, garlic crema, and smoked mozzarella. As of 9:00, the dining room was probably half empty, but it was surprising it was that empty that early on a Valentines Day. There was no prix fixe menu or reservations being taken, that's why I chose it. I did notice it was a bit more family friendly than I expected, with no less than five families with kids dining nearby. Cute date spot, but there were a fair amount of kids. The food arrived, the salad with the specified dressing, and the pizza fresh out of the oven. The pizza was meaty, garlicky, crusty, and perfectly cooked. Girlfriend enjoyed her salad and even tried the pizza, minus the mushrooms. I ordered an Allagash White to wash down the mushroom pie, and we ordered and lingered over the Stracciatella Gelato, which was Vanilla with Chocolate Chips and a little Chocolate Biscotti. Keeping in mind we closed out our 23.00 bar tab for the Meletti Mule and Negroni previously, some might feel a 60.00 bill for the Polpette, Veggie Salad, Mushroom pie, Allagash, and Stracciatella was a little high. Let's be real here.. at Starr Restaurants you are paying for that extensive training and thorough service. The Atmosphere/theming. The location. And all that jazz. It is all rolled into the prices. I have found its love or hate with Starr Restaurants, and for me it's love. I will definitely be back to try the "best in the city" Octopus and Tartufo Pie.. I was almost talked into them!
(4)Aaliyah P.
Starr has the ability to make any space seem pretentious but relaxed at the same time ( its a weird gift) Sunday I was craving pizza ( not the standard delivery) so a friend and i wandered over to Stella to have a bite and chat it up . We decided to sit at the high top "bar" where you could see the pizza magic happening around you. I will say that i like the wine list ALOT. All options come from the boot and are fairly priced for the area and hell ill say it for a Starr joint. We both did glasses of the house red which was a smooth montepulciano it was perfect and rang in at only 5.50 per glass. I will say that i was annoyed they dont offer it by the bottle but its still a great buy. We decided on the tartufo since most of the options have some sort of meat product on them. Tartufo has been one of the main pizzas ive ordered and the best in the city so far is Zavinos rendition when they have it on the menu. The crust was legit and the truffle oil was milder than i would have liked. But all of the components (cheese, runny egg )worked well. The pies here are all 12' so we each had about 3 good size slices. We added an order of broccoli rabe and were both left satisfied. Im going with the 3 because of the price. The pizza was almost 20.00 and not really worth more than 15 in my opinion. Im not opposed to spending money on a quality meal ever, i just felt like there could have been more; more done to the pizza and slightly larger maybe 14''. Id probably return to try the traditional pie, it seemed to be the house favorite oh and of course that house montepulciano.
(3)Thao T.
This place is OK. I don't hate it but I definitely cannot bring myself to say I like it. For a Starr restaurant, I think it's really disappointing. The service was fine. The menu was OK. The food wasn't bad but it's nothing special. Can't even remember what I ordered. The whole place is easily forgettable. Only remember the name because I live in the neighborhood. Will always prefer Nomad Pizza over this place. Won't come back.
(3)Nick G.
Might be the best pizza place in town. Minus a star for no wifi.
(4)Alishia W.
Best artisan pizza in Philly! There is nothing like the tartufo pizza I have to order it every time! The appetizer specials are creative and delicious and the olive oil gelato is a must-have dessert. The perfect spot for a date or to bring friends/family.
(5)Mary M.
We love this Neapolitan-style pizza spot in Headhouse Square. Our go-to pizza is the Tartufo, you can't go wrong with black truffle, fontina cheese AND A FLIPPIN' FRIED EGG on top! Seriously so decadent. For pasta as an app, my choice is always the insanely simple Pomodoro. Some of the best spaghetti I've ever had. This week is Restaurant Week but Stella does "Pizza Week." For $25 you get an antipasti, a pie and gelato. You can do it per person or share, as my fiance and myself did. We tried the sheep's milk ricotta for the 1st time tonight and it was awesome! Great for dipping your crusts after the pizza. The gelato was heavenly. One of our favorite spots in the city.
(4)Randi E.
There's pizza, and then there's fancy pizza. Pizzeria Stella is fancy pizza. The mixtures and combinations of toppings and sauces are all fancy, but in the end Stella's is a quick and dirty. It takes mere minutes for a hot, thin crust pizza to come out of the extremely hot oven and launched into your mouth. It seems almost unnatural. And there is no way to take your time with the delicious pizzas, because they are addictive, not too heavy, and also, once they cool down, some of the allure vanishes. Also, what I failed to notice (or was not told the first two times, but clearly explained the third) was that the pizzas are divided into red sauce based or white sauce based. Without even realizing, I had dabbled in both sides. This last time was my third occasion visiting the fine pizzeria. The first time, my family of four shared three individual sized pizzas, though I ate the lion share. I remember indulging in the ingredients, ranging from run of the mill pepperoni (though special tasting) to the more rare, arugula and prosciutto. The second time, three fourths of my family went, and we each ordered a pie (more to taste); salty kale and pancetta, thick ham and mushrooms, and endless pepperoni. This last time though, I was with my favorite dining partner, who is willing to try different things. I have always wanted to try the Tartufo pizza, featuring an over easy egg, fontina cheese and black truffle. No one before dared to try it with me, and this time I got to, and it was beyond delicious. It appears to be a favorite of many of the patrons and even some of the staff. The truffle was not over powering as it some times could be. They mastered the luxurious flavor with ease. And the yolk of the egg made everything more decadent and delicious, emphasizing the richness of the truffle. The thin, airy and almost crunchy crust tops it off as a masterpiece. It is deffo a place worth checking out. The pizzas are so delicious, fancy but familiar at the same time.
(4)Brandon W.
Amazing. I wanted to try everything on the menu and the ambiance was comfortable. Attentive bartender even though I came during the awkward pre dinner timeslot. I met their general manager Tracey and she was super sweet and genuinely cared about my experience. This was my first time here, and I will definitely be back!
(5)Lindsay H.
Stella is the home to one of my favorite pizzas in town. The Tartufo. If they ever took it off the menu, I'd likely cry and boycott the restaurant...it is that good. From the second this pizza comes out of the massive brick oven, I swear I can smell it. It's smothered with blue truffle, fontina cheese and an over easy egg that they smear all over the second it's in front of you. It's heaven. Obviously, I generally stick to my favorite but I have tried some of their other pizzas and they are pretty top notch. Stella definitely is up there with best pizzas in Philly in my book. Pizzas aside, the rest of the menu is pretty impressive, the service is good and they make some tasty drinks. Check it out!
(4)Melanie B.
Amazing fresh food. Had the heirloom tomato salad and the Piccante pizza. Flavorful, deliciousness
(5)Marg H.
This is one of my favorite date night places, this is one of my favorite places to take my family when they visit, and this is hands down my favorite place to go for Pizza Week- their version of restaurant week. For $30 per person, during pizza week, each person gets a glass of house wine, an appetizer, a pizza, and gelato. WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. I've done it twice, both times chosen the olive oil gelato, the stuff that dreams are made of. I also love their house-made ceasar dressing, with real lemon and anchovies. The tartufo is, obviously, something we order every time, but I also love the capricola pizza. And if you have enough for leftovers, I swear the tartufo is even better the second day, if you can imagine that. My family is relatively normal and midwestern- this is a great place to take them thats not overwhelmingly spendy or trendy, but feels like a nice night out in the city. For what its worth, they also love La Calaca and Zorba's in Fairmount, and Devil's Alley- we're big fans of good food, big portions, reasonable prices, and friendly servers. Stella fits all of those.
(4)Gretchen E.
Stella, not so stellar. Ideal location in Headhouse Square, less than ideal dining experience. The ambiance is legit. Big booths and big windows makes for spacious comfort and pleasant people watching. Alas, the food is a bit lackluster and Starr-style overpriced. The salads are limp and sparing. Pizza dough is stale and sauce is barely present. Toppings are skimped. And the wine tasted like it had been sitting out with its top off for a week (i.e. not good). A good place for parents to bring kids - there were many! I suppose this is Society Hill's Chuck E. Cheese.
(2)Melanie S.
First let me say we try to avoid Stephen Starr restaurants but Stella doesn't disappoint. It's not the best pizza but it is very good and very consistent. The Polpette (meatballs) are also very good. It's not fancy and no real privacy if you are on a date, but if you are with your kids or a big group - it's perfect.
(4)Adam N.
A great spot for a casual but delicious meal. We stopped in last night with our dog and got a table outside. The wait staff was on point and knew the menu inside and out. The truffle pizza was amazing, though a bit pricey for what they consider a personal pizza.
(5)Michelle C.
How have I neglected to write a Yelp review for Pizzeria Stella? It's the home to my favorite brick-oven style pizza in the city, after all. There's the margherita, with a healthy amount of sauce and about one small circle of mozzarella and one leaf of basil per slice; the piccante, with salty capicola and provolone, plus crushed red pepper; the wood grilled sausage, with long hot pesto; the tartufo, with earthy truffle and egg yolk running along the salty cheese. I've now had all of the pizzas with the exception of one or two and they each hold their own place in my pizza-loving heart. If pasta is what you're craving, the few options on the menu will satisfy. Most recently, circular tubes tossed in spicy arrabiata sauce with rock shrimp was heavy on taste but light enough to be healthy. Pro tip: Start with the olives and marcona almonds, tossed in olive oil and orange zest, along with a glass of house wine.
(5)Chelsea B.
My boyfriend and I decided last minute to choose someplace for dinner, and Pizzeria Stella is two blocks from my apartment. This was my first Steven Starr restaurant and I have to say that despite the reputation I enjoyed myself and didn't feel robbed for small portions. There was a 10 minute wait for a table so we got a few drinks at the bar. The peach sangria was delicious with fresh sliced peaches and none of that overpowering peach schnapps taste. The bartender sold my boyfriend on some bourbon they had just gotten in, so I think she knew her stuff. The waitress took time to explain the pizza menu and we went with the grilled octopus (potatoes, fennel, salsa verde) and the sausage pizza (red sauce, fresh mozzarella, pesto). The grilled octopus was delicious, if piled with a high fennel-to-octopus ratio. The pizza was good, but it could have been better: the crust of the pizza was light and browned on the outside but it was almost soggy in the middle. The ingredients were obviously fresh, but next time I think I'd try a different meat (the sausage was tasty with the pesto but nothing spectacular). These 12" pizzas are 6 large slices each, but since it's thin we finished feeling slightly less than full. That being said, three hours later I wasn't hungry so it was probably the ideal amount for a meal for two. I can see myself coming back here to take advantage of the outdoor tables facing Headhouse Square.
(4)Zareen S.
Ok, I need to do this before i go to bed. This was so random. I heard they had the best bread in town and had been pining away to come here for a while! Sitting in the living room, 9:30pm, we decided to cab it here, it closes at 10pm. Seriously. Ordered the Grilled octopus Salad and Tarfotu Pizza, since we both happen to be Pescetarian. Pizza with black truffle mushrooms and a poached egg that your server pops and spreads around the pizza after they bring it around and then u wait a minute or two for it to settle in? I'm telling you, my tongue never tasted all these flavors together before, and the rosemary went soooooooo well with everything.It was Rosemary without acting like rosemary, the smokey flavor taking it to new heights. The grilled Octopus Salad with Fennel? I don't think I can put it into words. For a newb food explorer like me, not that I don't know my food, but only recently have been getting into new levels of it, this was heaven packed in tentacles! We also got Yards to go with it, surprisingly complimented both the salad and the Pizza incredibly! What a wonderful night! Our server was superb, weather was crisp and the food numbed my mind and tummy. ugh! P.S: I don't care who you are, eat that crust !
(5)Gautam T.
Really??? I was expecting some amazing pizza considering this is a Starr restaurant. Don't get me wrong, the pizza was good but fell way short of the high expectations one holds when dining at Steven Starr restaurants. The ingredients on the pizza were super fresh and delicious. The crust and dough were sub-par they even came out a little bit burned. This is a short review, but nothing really made me happy here.
(3)Colleen S.
LOVED this place. The only thing keeping me from a full 5 star rating is that the pizzas are quite small for their expensive price. We ordered two appetizers, three pizzas and drinks.. It was about $140 for 4 of us. I know that doesn't seem like a lot to spend on dinner for 4 people, but I must emphasize that the pizzas are quite small! We originally ordered appetizers and two pizzas, but had to order a third because we were still hungry. (We do REALLY like to eat, so maybe the average group of 4 could be satisfied with a little less!) We all split the Romaine salad and Arancini. Delicious, I would definitely recommend them. The salad had a hint of mint which I really enjoyed. Our pizzas included a Margherita (tomato sauce, mozzerella, basil), Piccante (capicola, provolone, red pepper, tomato sauce) and a Tarfuto- THE MOST AMAZING PIZZA I'VE EVER HAD (Black truffle, fotina cheese, egg and Parmesan cheese). All of the pizza was great, but the Tarfuto was so unique! I love egg and have never seen it on a pizza like this! It was nothing like breakfast pizza with scrambled egg. There were sunny side up eggs baked onto the pizza. The server cracked the yoke and spread it over the pizza when he brought it out. I hope everyone who reads this will order this pizza!!!!!!!!!!! Will definitely go back here. Not your typical lazy Friday night pizza joint, but perfect for a date night!
(4)Stefanie A.
I'm fighting the urge to give Stella 5 stars. Why? Last night's pasts special--pumpkin ravioli with sweet breads in a truffled chicken jus--was one of the best things I've ever eaten. The salad was good, too, and the pizza, great. The service was also friendly and quick. Not that 4 is bad, but the past few times I've been, I wasn't as blown away as I was last night. So 4 it is. Generally Stella offers good service, great food, reasonable prices, an appealing menu, nice space (though with strangely loud 80s music), good outdoor space, and a solid drink list/menu. Especially the sorbet vodka proscecco drink. As far as pizza goes, it's up there in the ranks of Philly pizzerias IMO, and I'm a tough critic, being a recovering NYer. Sometimes it's a bit too kiddy city in there, but given that there are two rooms, plus a bar, you certainly have options if seated next to a brood of bawling babes. Good food, good times.
(4)Yingbo W.
The pizza here is the brick oven style. Honestly, I can't compare different brick oven style pizzas and say which is the best. They are all about the same, thin and crispy crust with the pie being around 12 inches. Well I will say the toppings here are very good. They use many Italian deli meats paired with leafy veggies and the the flavors just blend together perfectly. The cheese is very good, too. If you want pizza, you can't go wrong here.
(4)Jacqueline L.
The restaurant's getting 4 stars for the Tartufo pizza alone. Truffles, fontina cheese and an egg?! Hurt me it's delicious. I've never had a bad pizza there though. After a recent trip to Italy, I think again Mr. Starr did his research and these pizzas are done right.
(4)Tyler R.
I would suggest against Pizzeria Stella as a first, second, third, or fourth date option IF you're getting pizza. The crust will leave your teeth filled with crunchy black bits from the wood fired oven. BUT, if you're going to get something from here, you want to get the gelato. $4 for enough for two-three people. The olive oil or honey mascarpone are freakishly delicious and light. The pizza is fine, though a little too wet and mushy. The beers are priced typically for this part of the city, but the cocktails can be pretty nice (read: have a pompelmo). I won't be back anytime soon for pizza, but I might have to go back for the gelato.
(3)Andrew H.
The chopped salad, sausage pizza, olive oil and cherry gelatos, glass of house red and glass of Lambrusco with espresso. Perfect meal.
(5)Ed P.
1st time here and ordered: thin crust pizza with sausage, chefs salad, spaghetti with meatballs. Each dish looked and tasted freshly made. Delicious and excellent deal!
(4)Ric P.
Very nice, old world charm with a massive, tile covered, wood oven kiln behind a bar seating area. Staff was friendly and the pizza was done in two minutes. Excellent flavor on the pizza! Overall a 5-star establishment.
(5)Steve S.
2nd time here - still as good as the first. Exceptional pizza, octopus and drinks. I keep trying to get a bad meal at one of Starr's restaurants, but they're all so well run it's impossible to get anything but excellence.
(5)Nate E.
Excellent food- I would order blind. And it's relatively inexpensive and casual for a great meal!! The grilled octopus with fennel salad is one of the best in the city, and the wood-oven pizzas are the best in Philly- I go with the kale or brussel sprout pizzas. The house wine is also quite good for the price.
(5)Monica L.
Pizzeria Stella is a simple yet great Stephen Starr restaurant located in Headhouse Square. I love the pizzas here because they have an ultra-thin crust, so you aren't left feeling stuffed and bloated after eating a few slices. Stella offers a very cozy atmosphere inside with a brick oven and is a great place to go on a winter's night, or if the weather is nice you can sit outside along the sidewalk and people watch. I have tried several of their pizzas, and my favorites are: the Pistachio, the Sausage, and the San Daniele. The Pistachio is definitely my number one. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I also highly recommend the Sheep's Milk Ricotta appetizer and the Arancini. Top it all off with a cold Peroni, and you're good to go!
(4)Paige C.
Ugh I hate to downgrade my review after a few really pleasantly delicious meals here, but things have definitely gone downhill... Stopped by last night around 8:30 and the place was DEAD..maybe 4 other parties? I was shocked because every other time I had been there the place was packed and there was a wait. I was excited that we could be seated so soon and figured it was a fluke, but after the meal I think the slow night was probably because other people have noticed the evident decline. I will say the Caesar salad that I ordered was sublime. The romaine was crisp and fresh and the dressing was delicious. Garlicky and creamy and honestly one of the best renditions of the classic salad I have had in the city. We also went with the ricotta and flat bread starter. Yuck! Gross! Blarg! (It was so gross it deserves the invention of a new word to explain how I feel about it.) The ricotta was grainy and gloopy. Maybe I am spoiled bc I live on 13th with easy access to the heavenly ricotta available at Zavino and Barbuzzo. This is a travesty to the cheese world. I don't even know how they made it so badly, but it was. We went with the sausage pizza, ordered well done. When it came out I had high hopes seeing the bubbly black charred bits on the crust, but one bite in I realized it was false advertising. I can only guess that the temperature of wood fire oven was WAY off...the dough cooked too quickly on the outside giving the appearance of a well cooked pizza, but in reality the interior was still chewy and doughy--not even close to done! The other big offense was the greasiness of the pie. At first I thought it was just very fatty (albeit flavorful sausage) but I started watching the chef actually making the pizzas (we were sitting at the bar overlooking the oven.) When every single pizza came out of the oven he proceeded to pour more olive oil on it...why?! It isn't adding flavor to the pizza, just additional fat and moisture. Maybe on a crispy pizza it wouldn't have been so offensive but on my barely cooked dough it was a mess. We also ordered a carafe of sangria to split. While the flavor was a little too sweet for me, it was drinkable. My only question is why are they serving apple/cinnamon sangria in the Spring? Shouldn't sangria have a seasonal fresh profile...very confusing drinking this on a warm April night. I am sad to say I probably will not be back to Stella after last night. And based on the dearth of customers, I can assume that I am not the only one that's not making a return trip. Sad Face.
(2)Olga M.
Nothing is better than a well-executed Napoletana style pizza. Starr's empire delivers as always. The only reason I'm rating Stella at 4 stars is the bang for a buck - the pies are a tad small for their price, in my humble opinion. The dough, the sauce, the charr! Very nice for a family outing (feel comfortable bringing our wild 2 year old toddler over) or for a casual date. A true neighborhood gem in the neighborhood where Philly comes from al over the corners to dine out. PS. It always cracks me up when people complain about 'burnt' pizza crust in Napoletana style pizza....man, it's like complaining that meat is too raw in tartar!
(4)Abby I.
Pizzeria Stella is located right across the charming Headhouse Square. This is the perfect al fresco dining spot! I came here on a Saturday night with friends and we ordered 4 of the 13 pies on the menu- Quattro Formaggi, Spinach, Sausage, and Pistachio (my pick!). Each topping combination is well thought out creating a happiness of flavors in my mouth. Whoever thought of putting pistachios on a pizza in genius! The only negative about Pizzeria Stella is that all of our pizza pies had burned crusts. All of our crusts looked like it had a pattern of burnt polka dots! Our waitress was very attentive making sure that our beverage glasses were always refilled. Plates were cleared immediately upon finishing. I will be returning but next time, no more burnt crusts please!
(4)Emma T.
Really great location and awesome brick-oven pizzas. The waiter told us they usually suggest one pizza per person, but they are easily sharable. My mom had the rock shrimp pasta, which came in a creamy tomato sauce and was sublime. Their beer is good value, but as is the case with any Philly restaurant, the wine is expensive. The great thing about Pizzeria Stella is that they have (actually tasty) house wine that is significantly cheaper.
(4)Thijs B.
We had a great dinner at Stella's! The pizza's were really good and tasteful. The crust was thin and crispy. We had the Pepperoni and Spinach pizza and they were both very good. The people were very nice and the food came real quick.
(4)Brian C.
Pizzeria Stella has that nice polished Stephen Starr feel to it, which I really appreciate. The dining room has long tables, and a beautiful wood fire oven with white tile on the wall. A pretty lovely setting. The pizzas there are good, really not much to complain about. They're slightly on the smaller side, but that's okay (we Americans seriously eat too much). At the same time though, the pizzas didn't blow me away, which is okay too. The Tartufo is a really nice pizza, but the flavor profile is so similar to the Uovo pizza at Barbuzzo (it's the egg and black truffle) that I almost feel like I'm eating a knock-off. We also had the Margherita, which was fine too. I don't get cravings for pizza that often, I think perhaps it's memories of school lunches and dorm pizzas that draw me away from it, and Pizzeria Stella does offer a good selection of quality pizzas, but for some reason I'm not chomping at the bit to come back right away.
(3)Isabelle K.
I want to not love it because I have a weird love-hate with Starr restaurants. But do love it. This is my go-to for brick oven pizza in Philly. I've had every one of their pizzas and they're all chargrilled joy. My all-time faves are their margherita (can't go wrong with a classic), lamb (serious comfort food!), and pancetta (bacon in Italian is still delicious). My favorite thing on the menu is definitely their grilled octopus salad. It's salty and refreshing at the same time. That lime and herb in the salsa verde dressing really kicks up the dish and the octopus is cooked perfectly every time (not an easy feat!) Their cocktails are pretty decent too but honestly, all I need is the octopus salad and some brick oven deliciousness.
(4)Jay K.
VEGETARIAN REVIEW: Appetizer: We ordered some kind of bread too, it was just really crispy with a lot of oil on it. No flavor besides bread & oil. Pizza: Pizza was undercooked & sauce had too much basil in it. Cheese had no flavor. It didn't taste like that stringy or delicious mozzarella cheese I'm used to getting. Beer: Beer selection included a few craft beers, which was nice. Service: Good service! It's probably why I gave it a two instead of a one. Decor: Cute... it would be a good first date place. Also, it's more of an upscale place so don't expect any traditional pizzeria appetizers like fries or mozzarella sticks! NOTE: I came here for pizza, it wasn't good. I'm unsure about the pasta, so please don't let me deter you away from that. I want to try to remain unbiased. But, as far as coming back: I wouldn't come here again nor would I recommend it (for pizza).
(2)Adam S.
Good wood fired pizza. They use quality ingredients but for a 15 dollar margarita pizza, I expect larger portions. Over all, I would have to say as far as taste and quality, one of the better pizza spots in the city.
(3)Michael M.
So Sunday afternoon at 1pm we wandered in to a table at the ready. There were folks here, probably 2/3rds of the place was full, but we were surprise to find a seat so quickly based on what we had read. We ordered the octopus and calamari appetizer, and I considered the marinated olives but we opted for a fourth pizza instead. The octopus and calamari was very good. Not a chewy bit in it, with olives, tomatoes, olive oil, onion, and, surprisingly, potatoes. It was very good and I'd order it again if I had someone to share it with. It's a hefty portion. We ordered the margherita, pepperoni, piccante, and tartufo pizzas. For three very hungry people, these were almost completely eaten, with three slices left to bring home. The margherita was my favorite. The papery thin yet crispy crust, tart tomatoes, and rich cheese simple yet delicious. The pepperoni was very good, reminding me of old school handmade neighborhood pie. The tiny slices adorned the pizza plentifully and had cooked into little dish like retainers of flavor. Yum. The piccante was also very good, and my son's favorite. With just enough heat to give it kick without overwhelming the generous portion of capicola. Finally, the tartufo. Very good, with the egg yolks broken tableside and smeared over the pie. There's no missing the black truffle either. Overall, very good but apparently mine alone, as everyone else with me was too squeamish to eat the raw egg! Service was perfect and precise, and we were in and full and out in under thirty minutes. Some of the tables are a bit close together, and beware the common tables. Why you ask? Small humans eating pizza aren't too careful where they place their hands. I watch one young'un place a saucey paw onto an older ladies fur coat while we were there. If it's fake, it will wash out. If not, she deserved it for wearing fur. If it were a young couple on a date, that could have been a problem. Four pies, an appetizer, three drinks and a bottle of water were ~$80, so it's not cheap. If we had ordered liquor - wowzers. But everything looks good. I think Starr has another winner hear and as long as the quality doesn't tank, as so often it does a few months after opening here in Philly, I'll make Stella one of my routine stops.
(4)Walter K.
Pizzeria Stella has been calling to me since it opened. I love a good pie, and my freind Quinn lives around the block. I was (an still am) thrown off by Starr's comments that good pizza isn't available in Philly. Tacconelli's has always been a special treat for me, and it's widely considered some of the best pizza in the country, not just Philadelphia. Is Starr just pimping up his new place? Or does he really believe that if it's not under his watch, it's not that good? I may never know. For an appetizer, Quinn and I split arancini. It's a creamy, buttery, mushroom risotto rolled into a ball, lightly breaded and deep fried. The outside has the texture of hushpuppy. The contrast of the fried outside and the delicious pasta inside truly makes a great dish. I don't remember having arancini before, so I don't have anything else to compare it to, but this was a great way to start our meal. Stella is likely the fanciest pizza you will find in Philadelphia, and truth be told, it is some of the best. My mouth is watering a bit just thinking about it. They are small, at 12 inches in diameter. Much has been made of the pistachio pizza, and I was quite happy with our decision to split it. It is a white pizza topped with chopped pistachios, red onion, fontina, and olive oil. The combination and ratio of these toppings was great, and having nuts on a pizza tasted completely natural. Our second pie was the Piccante: capicola (prosciutto-like spied and cured ham), provolone, crushed red pepper, and tomato sauce. The sauce is great; sweet and tangy, but still only a compliment to the other toppings. This pie was good, but the capicola was much too salty, and seemed to dominate the whole pie. Quinn disagreed with me though. The Piccante was her favorite, while I preferred the pistachio. Sadly, the beer list here is weak. The beers are either not very good, overpriced, and in some cases, both. I'm interested in how Starr's beer garden shapes up. The rest of the menu is rounded out with twelve pies in total, and there should be one that would please any palate. Menu can be seen here. The service and atmosphere are right in line with Starr's other locations. The open kitchen where the pies are made and the prominent oven are gimmicky. But they're cool gimmicks nonetheless. Bottom Line: Pizzas are small and expensive, but delicious. The outdoor seating here makes this a great summer or spring dinner. You'll drop around $50 for two without drinks, but it is worth it. The pies are really great, and the medley of toppings is a real treat.
(4)Jay Y.
There's nothing like walking in to a warm restaurant on a cold night with the place dimly light, the room filled with the smell of pizza with a large brick oven in the middle of the place. This place came highly recommended by a friend and we came on a fairly quiet Sunday night. We ordered a five pizzas and I had a slick of each and their pizzas did not disappoint. My favorite was one of the specials that I did not catch the name for, it has nice spicy kick to it, which really hit the spot. The tartufo was also very good along with the sausage. The brussels sprouts one was probably the least tasty in my opinion. Remember when you hated brussels sprouts as a kid? well, apparently putting them on pizza didn't make them any better, and you would think putting anything on pizza would make it better ! Overall a nice place to have dinner and on a better night, probably a nice area to grab some beers afterwards...
(4)Victoria L.
Went here for Pizza Week: their version of restaurant week. $25 for an appetizer, pizza, and dessert. It was surprisingly empty. My friend and I decided it was a good deal, but there was no way we could each finish all that food. So we got 1 Pizza Week menu and added an extra pizza so we could try a different kind. We started with a caesar salad because we wanted something lighter before eating 2 pizzas. The dressing is fine, but the croutons were atrociously hard. If there are less than 5 ingredients, you should make sure all of them are good. The waitress recommended one of the large bottles of beers to share. We ordered the Bruton Bianca ... delicious! We both loved it. I'm going to have to hunt it down. Next we received our pizzas: a margherita and the San Daniele with prosciutto on it. The pizzas are decent, nice chewy texture to the crust. Not really what I expect from brick oven pizza. The real game changer of the meal is the gelato. We got coffee and it was delicious. It's not that creamy, which was okay after trying to eat 2 pizzas. My favorite part of the meal was the biscotti it came with! Overall, it was a disappointing for a Stephen Starr experience. But the spot is nice and casual, so I might come back?
(3)Patricia W.
Giving it 3 stars probably because I ordered the wrong pizza. I had the piccante, taste was a bit too strong for me but the crust was really good. Also had the calamari since I read some of the reviews saying it was the best they ever had but it honestly wasn't that great. It was soggy and pretty bland. I'll probably go again to try a different pizza.
(3)JSquared J.
The atmosphere was very nice, a little loud and a little too dim, but nice views especially since we sat by the window looking out towards Head House Square. The pizzas were just ok. We had a white pizza with mushrooms and Gorgonzola and it was tasty, but the edges were very burnt. Then we had a margarita pizza which none of us cared for. Too soggy, sauce was too sweet and the big globs of mozzarella were chewy overkill. The meatballs were delicious. The octopus was cooked well but the portion was too small. The best things we had were the calamari which was just the right level of salt, crisp and tenderness; and then finally the hazelnut sorbet and olive oil sorbet. Can't really go too wrong with dessert though! I would go here again to try other menu items. 4 adults, all the food above, 2 glasses of wine, 8 beers, 3 espressos and 1 coffee later we walked out paying $200 including tip.
(3)Di P.
A girl needs a half here. 3 and a HALF stars for this place. I love brick oven style pizza, but after Pizzeria Vetri and Nomad's and Zavino... so hard to discern which is better! We had their special pizza which was a lamb prosciutto and it was very good. The ambiance is very casual. Lots of long tables so good for groups. Lots of families and kids there. Wouldn't necessarily go on a date there.
(3)N W.
I ordered the brussel sprout pizza to be adventurous and found it to be phenomenal. Generally don't even like brussel sprouts but the pizza was a fantastic balance of sharp flavors and chewy crust. The pizzas also came out really fast (less than a ten min wait for six pizzas). Stella also has quite a spacious place, with decent seating for large groups. Though they officially do not take reservations, I would recommend calling a day or two in advance to give them a heads up of any large groups you plan on bringing.
(4)Kathleen K.
After beers across the street left our tummies a rumbling, we stopped in here for a late night snack. Between the 4 girls, we split two pizzas and a salad. everything was really good! The waiter heard us talking about a birthday so he brought some delicious honey marscapone gelato for the birthday girl. Oh. My. God. I will dream of that gelato for years to come... like frozen cheese cake.... or honey and rich cream mixed together... I cannot describe how amazing that gelato was. I'm suprised the 4 of us could split that without breaking out in a fight over the last spoonful
(4)Patricia B.
A++ for customer service, Pizzeria Stella! I recently came here with some friends for a quick bite. We ordered sangria, an app, and two pizzas. Our sangria came out, quickly followed by the app. Our first pizza arrived shortly after that. We waited and waited for our second pizza. Never came. We finally asked the server about it...she had forgotten to put it in. It came out IN A FLASH...free of charge, accompanied by a carafe of sangria on the house. That's how customer services is done. The app of olives and almonds is to die for. The Tartufo pizza is great-just be prepared for strong truffle flavor. The only reason they get 4 stars is the inability to make the brussels sprout pizza veg. Evidently, they cook the pancetta and the onions together, so the pizza would have been just sprouts and cheese. I LOVE a good sprout pizza, so a vegetarian option would be nice.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Stick with the pizza. Craig Laban's review said that their pastas and calzone were extraordinary. They weren't. But the pizza was very, very good and we would definitely come back for that. Otherwise, great location, clean and spacious, and friendly staff.
(4)Daniel C.
I've lowered my rating. Went back here this week. While the pizza is good, the price value is decidedly not. Two personal pies, a salad and a gelato are not worth $50.00 (tip included). Service was as good as ever by the way.
(3)Alex G.
Stopped in for a quick bite on a Sunday afternoon and sat outside facing 2nd St. We had the margherita pizza. Didn't know what to expect because of the mixed yelp reviews but it was actually really great. The crust was thin and on the softer side. Would definitely come back here.
(4)Margo v.
A very friendly and comfortable place. Get there early to avoid the noise. Best place is in the bar area. Delicious pizza. Delicious grilled octopus. Great drinks. Good service. A great neighborhood place.
(4)Schuyler L.
Who trained Stephen Starr's servers? It upsets me when the server takes my plate while other people at the table are clearly still eating. This is rude. Just a note: the inside of this restaurant is extremely loud. It was uncomfortable. Although slightly formulaic, the restaurant was well laid out and beautifully decorated. As for the pizza, the dough was just right, the toppings were fresh, and the pizza was delicious. Expect to pay $15-$20 per 14" pizza. The hostess couldn't put our name in until everyone in our party was AT the restaurant. I understand this is relatively standard, but they were not busy at all. We would have drank dranks at the table while we waited... but you don't want our money? Lastly, if you yelpers attend with six or more people, ask to have check reprinted without the automatic 20% gratuity added. Then tip 20%.
(3)Matt G.
Low key but creative and high-quality. I wouldn't take a first date here (or anyone you are trying to impress) but great for established couples. Great pizza, good atmosphere, and outdoor seating. You may have to deal with screaming kids.
(4)Allie H.
So many phenomenal creations here, leaving me dreaming of pizza in Italy. Puffy and tender crusts circle a thin-bottomed pie, mottled with just-right black charring. All the pies I've eaten here -- from the simple tomato mozzarella and basil option to the indulgent Tartufo with runny egg yolk -- were oh so surprising and pleasant . Most are topped with mozzarella that tastes fresh and young. The sausage pizza is spiced with long hot pesto that adds a welcome kick. A spinach pizza feels nearly healthy (though not quite, with all that olive oil) with garlicky sauteed spinach, pine nuts and mozzarella. A mushroom pie is overwhelmed with paper thin slices of rosemary ham, a garlic cream sauce and smoked moz. My roommate once had a creative special with sauteed pears and a soft cheese, which was a strikingly adventurous choice for a typically conservative eater. No matter, the few leftovers were boxed up and eaten cold the next day. Despite all the combinations of toppings, the classic Margherita will always be my favorite. Drinks are expensive and pours are light, but a glass of decent house red for $6 isn't a terrible drain on the wallet. There are plenty of other options on the menu -- deep bowls of salad, pasta, antipasta -- but why bother ordering them? Stick with the restaurant's focus and you won't go wrong.
(4)michael p.
5 stars- meat plate with rosemary bread 5 stars- picatti pizza 4 stars- homemade ice cream and gelato Great neighborhood atmosphere from a Starr restaurant. All around great service and friendly staff.
(5)Sara G.
Just a quick update to let you all know that I am still loving Pizzeria Stella. And last time we were there, we finally tried some apps and were so delighted! The shrimp arrabiata, broccoli rabe, and grilled octopus were all SO GOOD. In fact, the grilled octopus was some of the yummiest, meatiest octopus I've had in a while. I am hungry just thinking about it. Oh, and the pizza and service are still fantastic too.
(5)Aruna A.
So I've been thinking about going to Stella for a VERY long time. This plan never came to fruition at any point in time - until it was a backup plan tonite. I was supposed to hit up Federal Donuts, but b/c they were already sold out of both donuts and chicken, we decided this would be a delicious alternative. When we arrive, we were seated promptly The space is really nice, I like the ambiance and decor. The outside seating also had heaters, which seems like it could be a great idea for a crisp fall evening. The menu is easy to understand and pretty simple, and from what I tasted, delicious. I had the margherita pie, and it was AMAZING. I loved it. Beyond loved it. I would have gladly taken it home and had it's babies. Though that is really biologically impossible, you must catch my drift. It's great. I cant' wait to go back and eat my way through the rest of this menu. Damn you Stella, I now have to go to the gym.
(5)Rachel S.
We love it here. Great for kids in the earlier hours and fun causal atmosphere for a grown up dinner. Their specials are always delicious.
(4)Rita C.
I've been to Pizzeria Stella a handful of times and it definitely does not disappoint! The pizzas seems simple, but you can tell a lot of thought was put into each one to come up with not-so-typical combinations of ingredients. That being said, the Tartufo is hands down the best pizza on the menu. The pie comes out of the oven with an egg cooked on it, then the server uses a spoon to smear the yolk over the entire pizza. It's fantastic! I definitely recommend checking this place out! It's worth it! Tip: Pizzeria Stella does not accept reservations. Though, if you're planning to go with a large group you can call ahead to give them a heads up (oh hey, kind of like a reservation).
(4)Nicole L.
Stella is my go-to place for a good pizza in the city. It's an upscale casual restaurant with clean tables and good service -- definitely not the place for your typical frat boy meat lover's x-large pizza. Best seats are in front of the assembly line counter, where you can watch the pizzas coming in and out of the wood-burning oven (unless you're averse to the scent of smoke in your clothes). In any case, you're sure to be seated relatively quickly. Though pizzas might be a little smaller than you expected, they're quirky mixes that you won't find elsewhere -- offerings such as Tartufo (egg and truffle), Pistachio (red onion and pistachio), and Pancetta (with kale and onion). They also have more traditionals like margherita, sausage (a fave), and spinach pizzas in the house. Don't forget to ask your server if they have a pizza special for the month; we ended up with a fantastic brussels sprouts and bacon pizza. For apps, the caesar salad was passable, but the beet and gorgonzola salad is a great contrast of flavours. Drink it all down with a selection from the beer and wine menu, or if you're a non-alchy like me, a Kutztown sarsparilla pop on crushed ice. Yum!
(4)Michael N.
I hadn't gone to Stella in a while, but I think they have remained consistent. The staff was very polite and helpful, while not being pushy. The pizza is really the important part, though. The pizza is very good. The crust is thin and crispy. The toppings are fresh. The sauces vary, but none are too sweet. I recommend the pistachio or the tartufo. The other important thing is that it does not feel greasy or heavy, even the pizzas that have a tomato based sauce. It is also nice to be able to sit outside and enjoy the weirdness of Headhouse Square. At times it is bustling and others is deader than roadkill and smells just as bad. The weird thing is, though, because the sidewalk is so steeply sloped, it sometimes can take some effort keeping you drink of your lap.
(4)Chris A.
The pizza is awesome, and they have some interesting toppings.
(5)Jay B.
No better pizza than a brick oven pizza and this was top notch. Not sure why people are complaining about the little bit of burn on the crust? Brick oven pizza is supposed to be a little charred, that's why you get it from a brick oven as opposed to a conventional pizza oven. I've been here five times and would go back weekly if I could find somebody to go with. The pizza is incredible. Everything is so fresh and cooked to perfection. Order the "bianca." It's not on the menu but it's a four cheese white pizza and it'll be included in my last meal, one day. The rotating craft beer selection is always fun and I always reach for something new. Their salads are super fresh and the presentation is top notch. Go for the Arancini for your appetizer, they're excellent. My favorite pizza place in the city - I come from Manayunk to get it. If you like a "little burn" on your pizza, go to Stella...it's charred and it's wonderful.
(5)Brian S.
Stella has the best limp-crusted pizza in town. And no, it's not a good thing.
(2)Josh V.
Pizzeria Stella is absolutely wonderful! The spinach pizza is amazing and every app that I have had there has been great. We generally sit at the pizza counter and really enjoy watching the skilled chefs making all the wonderful pizzas. The Arancini is one of the top ten foods that I have ever eaten, and their tomato sauce is crazy good! The servers are outstanding, and I have never had a bad meal there!
(5)Karen K.
I had high, high hopes for Pizzeria Stella after visiting two of Stephen Starr's restaurants in Philadelphia and Le Diplomate in Washington, DC. All three were excellent. Also, pizza is my favorite food. We ordered the margherita pizza. It looked good but unfortunately the majority of the crust in the middle of the pizza was very soggy. The fresh tomato sauce on the pizza was delicious but it could not compensate for the soggy crust. The chopped salad was also excellent. I am often in Philadelphia for family functions but will be looking for the best pizza in the city elsewhere.
(3)Aisha L.
My boyfriend and I came here to break our Yom Kippur fast. We were STARVED! This cute little pizza place is right next the the headhouse farmers marker terminal and has out door seating looking over the fountain and beautiful architecture that society hill offers. We ordered a pizza margh and substituted the Buffalo Mozz. for regular mozz. The waiter was obliging and nice. I also got the peach sangria for $5 and it was delicious. The pizza was also very good. The red sauce had an amazing burst of tomato flavor which I love. We wrapped up pretty quickly and were on our way. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Don M.
We started with the Salumi Mixto antipasti it came with hot coppa, prosciutto, felino and flatbread. This was a good choice. The pizza here is razor thin so you can eat a ton without feeling stuffed. And it is pretty good, we had a variety of pies, Margherita nice flavor tasty, Sausage, Zucchini, Spinach all very good. I also tried the Broccoli rabe different twist good texture and good tasting. It helped having a local here with us as he knew the menu well. Good choice, good food, good service. Worth stopping by if your in the area.
(4)David A.
Really enjoyed this place. Best pizza I have had in two years in Philly. The tartufo pizza, heavily hyped by fellow yelpers, is awesome. The margherita pie takes a big backseat after the heavy taste of truffles. Oh..the other stuff: We also tried the meatballs (polpette) and they were very tender and tasty. The side of broccoli rabe was also very good. Also tried two pasta dishes; the spaghetti pomodoro was light and fresh and really enjoyed the pasta with lamb bolognese. Really about pizza here but happy we tried other dishes. They have a full bar. We had the "Italian Soda" listed on the menu called Stellamaro. It's a carbonated drink that has the Italin bitter called Amaro as on of the ingredients. A nice summer drink. Tried the Stracciatella Gelato for dessert. A bit icy but refreshing (we ate outside with our dog) and it was very hot. Looked much nicer inside. Next visit. Service, provided by Emily, was friendly and efficient. Look forward to trying different pies.
(4)Francesco B.
I really enjoyed the pizza here. One of the best that I had in United States. Service is a good and the location is nice. I tried the pepperoni pizza and the buffalo mozzarella pizza. Both very good. Gelato is also good!
(4)Trang N.
It is a cute little pizza place, however the pizzas aren't anything spectacular, and they are a bit pricy. I would say they are slightly bigger then a personal pizza, I do like the tartufo pie, as well as the polpette pizza. The grilled octopus was a nice size and very flavorful. There isn't an extensive beer or wine selection, but it suffice since we just popped in for a bit. The people watching in the summer time is great. I would think Steven Starr would have pulled out a couple more stops when he puts his name on a restaurant. Like I said, it's not stellar.
(2)Louis B.
This is not your average pizzeria. It is a Steven Starr restaurant, which means it caters to an upscale, hard to please customer base and it has to work for its laurels. Then the location in Headhouse Square in the middle of one of the most historic residential areas in North America. And just a block and a half to the South Street compilation of punk rockers and partying students... Which means a cacophony of personalities... Then there was the food... Outstanding. We entered to celebrate a couple's anniversary along with two other couples, and left both happy and satiated. Their pizzas are the thin-dough kind, easier on the nutrition-conscious. We tried the superb Quattro Fromaggi, a succulent Prosciutto and Arugula pie, their Pistachio, and finally a Spinach pizza. The appetizers included a superb flat bread with a ricotta dip and a mouth-watering octopus salad. Travis, our waiter, was a tornado of activity and provided outstanding service, making the evening even better. Their gelatos are superb, and my only recommendation is to have a dessert like sorbet or something akin for the growing number of lactose allergic or lactose intolerant customers. Their espresso was awesome. And of course, al fresco dining in Headhouse Square so you can bring your furry friend. Excellent restaurant....
(4)Superfly T.
We came in on a sunny afternoon to have drinks outdoors; good service, reasonable prices, and great selection of beer, wine and sangria. We should have stayed for a pizza or two, the pie here is a perfect thin crust in a home made brick oven style. I'll be back soon.
(4)Paris L.
Love love love the thin crust Neapolitan style pizza
(5)Rafa C.
The pizza at Stella's is wet and soggy, extremely chewy, and the crusts were burned. The cheese was also below average, nothing quality about it, and it slipped off the pizza as it was so wet! Part of the problem was also too much sauce. I went last night with a friend and we had been expected something much closer to authentic Italian brick oven pizza. Stella's didn't come anywhere close! Seriously, don't waste your time or money here!
(1)Sara L.
If you want to pay a hefty mark-up for small, but decent semi-fancy pizzas in an "uber-authentic " Stephen Starr/ Epcot Italy environment, you can't go wrong with Stella. Things to know before you go: 1) It's popular - so expect a wait at any remotely busy time. 2) The portions are larger than a tapas joint, but not by much. Each person will need a least $15 of food (whether that's a whole pizza or a 1/2 pizza + salad/appetizer) to satisfy even average girl-sized hunger. 3) It's very family friendly. Decide for yourself if this is a good or bad thing. 4) The wine and especially the beer selections are very limited, but the "house" red wine is decent quality for a decent price.
(3)Neil S.
It seems that in Philly people are drawn towards rustically crafted, Neapolitan style pies. This works quite well for me, for I'm a cheap lay for live fire pizza as I've mentioned in my review of Zavino. Stephen Starr has apparently cashed in on the trend, so Stella has become a go-to upscale pizza spot in Philly, mainly due to the fantastic topping offerings. Crust is my favorite part about Neapolitan style pizza, and Stella disappointed me a bit. I expected a bubbly, amorphous crust that yielded a different experience with each bite, instead a fairly uniform looking pie appeared before me. There was a bit of ash around the rim of the crust but not the heavy char that I love. While the exterior was pleasantly crisp it yielded to a slightly too soft and fluffy interior. The crust wasn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it was merely too puffy and not crispy enough to merit perfection. But the toppings? Man, oh man, I'm going to have dreams about these flavor combinations. Greens roasted to absolute perfection, delicately charred vegetables, fresh cheeses and quality meats meld together to create astonishingly complex, layered flavors and textural contrasts. The salty fat of the pancetta beautifully melts onto the mild mozzarella which complimented the earthy, almost creamy roasted kale and tangy-sweet onion on my Pancetta pie. The Pistachio pie's creamy, nutty fontina pairs excellently with crisp, vibrant red onions and crunchy pistachios. The Tartufo defies explanation, it's simple and classy. It's like the classically beautiful girl that went to your high school who got straight A's and was seemingly immune to the boorish jocks, except in pizza form, if that makes sense. It probably doesn't, but the point is whoever crafted Stella's topping combinations knew what they were doing. On a different note, Stella offers plenty of seating and a rather casual ambiance. Stella is an unusually restrained Starr restaurant and thus feels organic and welcoming without beating you over the head with style over substance. It's all about the food here, so go for some great topping experiences and a casual, relaxed vibe.
(5)Richard F.
We have gone to Pizzeria Stella from the day it opened. We are also a couple who have sought out the best pizza restaurants throughout the country and in Europe. From Pizziola in the Bay Area to Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix to so many places in NY. Stella stands up to each of them. I was worried about a year ago that the initial superb quality of Stella's pies was declining. Not so anymore. Last night we were there with two pizza mavens from NY and California and they thought the quattro formaggio was equal to the one they had had in Naples. The Pistachio continues to be an inspired revelation. The Tartufo is second to none. Finally, we had the gelato (Olive Oil and Choc-chip) and, my goodness, did it blow us away, esp the Olive Oil. Utterly unique. Stella continues to be one of the three or four best pizza restaurants in Philadelphia.
(5)Perry H.
Went here for the second time over the weekend and left happy again. On both occasions I found the service very friendly and never felt rushed, so maybe the staff was just having a bad day (in regards to previous reviews). Either way the pizza is fantastic; a perfect portion for sharing with another person. If you're in a group of 3 definitely order multiple pizzas. If you're into thicker crusts you might have an issue here as the crust is thin with a great light and airy crunch around the edge. The ingredients definitely shine here from the appetizers (we had the broccoli rabe with garlic) to the pizzas. We had the special pizza of the night which was mortadella with a pistachio pesto, caramelized cippolini onions, and a various mix of cheeses. It's a shame this pizza isn't on the menu everyday as I would have a hard time turning it down. Lastly, the price is pretty great. As someone else mentioned, this is a no frills (for Starr) pizza spot which does really great pizza well and affordable. Pies average $14 so you can easily leave for $10/person if you're on a budget. The beer prices however are a little steep; $6 for a bottle is a bit pricey. Definitely try this spot; with its sidewalk dining its a great pick for a sunny Spring/Fall afternoon.
(4)Joanne T.
they don't take reservation...it was a sunday early evening (630is) and they were able to accommodate my friend's bday dinner party of about 15. waiters were a bit slow and kinda odd how they took one person's drink order and left and came back a minute later for the next. didn't realize this was a SS resto til the bf mentioned. hence the prices. let's get to the point, best thing i ate here was the grilled octopus (potato, fennel, salsa verde) it was very refreshing with a hint of mint leaves...i would order two of these with a beer and call it a night. 2nd to the best was the sheep's milk ricotta flatbread, though the ricotta was a bit thick and intimidating (but don't be intimidated, it's pretty damn good). ok so the arancini (risotto, parmesan, marinara) could've been better. it was so bland. they could've at least maybe use arrabiata/diablo sauce instead of plain old marinara. we also ordered rock shrimp all'amatriciana (calamarata, tomato, chilies, guanciale), such a small portion even for half order. it was like 5 bites and done. nothing special (translation: pasta, shrimp, sauce). let's get to the pizza. the bf chose the tartufo (black truffle, egg, fontina). we've had our fair share of black truffled pizza. so far the winner hands down is Nomad's in south philly. just had more layers of flavor. sorry stella, just wasn't a fan. i suppose next time i gotta try the pistachio pizza. not my fave place for fancy pizzas. we planned on going to capogiro but this place made their own gelato. so why not try. i had a taste of the olive oil, espresso, and stracciatella. olive oil tasted just like it, espresso was strong in a good way, and stracciatella was a party in my mouth. sidenote: the toilet in this place was oddly placed (i mean seriously!! it's right there as soon as you walk in the door) wtf, who does that?!? all in all group of 15 bill of about 480..kind of pricey for just pizza...mehhh i think i'll pass this place next time. sorry SS you did not impress me this time.
(3)Karen F.
A close female friend and I dined at Stella tonight. The weather was sublime and we sat inside - but right by the LARGE open floor to ceiling windows - so we had the best of both worlds - inside and al fresco. We BOTH ordered a plate of the special app - a gloriously fresh mozzarella and heirloom tomato (yellow, orange, red, brown and purple) salad. It was lightly and PERFECTLY dressed with a basil infused oil and a sweet balsamic (decent quality - not the cheap stuff, but not the 17 year old either). It sang on the palate. I am hankeing to try the meatball and risotto app - next time. (And there WILL be a next time.) Next we split a pizza. Let me preface this by saying that I am not (shocking, I know) a pizza lover. I am a pasta lover, but never really "get off" on pizza. Stella's pizza is very, very good. (My friend says it's better than Osteria - but the pie she had as Osteria was burnt.) Thin crust - but not ridiculously thin. (I dislike "pizza on a cracker") Thin in the middle and medium rise (with some puffiness) on the edges. We had #11 - Spinach. It was a white pie with a healthy hit of garlic, toasted pine nuts (Oh, yeah, baby!!), the ideal amount of fresh, bright green, sauteed spinach, and a few heavy handed spinkles (globs?) of a sundried tomato/oil puree. Definitely tasty - and worth a try for those of you who like spinach. One negative? No substitutions on pie. They make 'em how they make 'em. One positive? GREAT service by our your server (can not remember her name - but she was really nice and attentive.) Another thing... only gelatos for dessert. We skipped dessert here and opted to get some home-made cakes at "More than Just Ice Cream". But I bet their gelato is good. (However, Capogiro is not too far, ya know...) Anyhow - Starr strikes again with a good (and not overly decorated - thank goodnees) spot. Note to the hard-working pie men (and gals): Please keep the pies crispy on the bottom - nobody likes a soggy pie. JOB WELL DONE. Oh - another thing - we really wish you'd take reservations. Thankfully at 5:30 on a May Sunday we (2 people) did not need one and were seated quickly. Hooray!
(4)Kimberly S.
I remember when this place first opened. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews and thought frankly, this city does not need another pizza restaurant, nor another restaurant from Stephen Starr, so I wasn't that eager to check it out. Well I finally went last night with some coworkers for a late dinner and was not disappointed. Get the Tartufo pizza! With black truffle oil, fontina cheese and drizzled egg yolk, this pizza is a sure winner. We also had the sausage pizza which was delicious, too. I never order sausage on my pizza, but I really enjoyed the minced texture and bold flavor. I love the brick oven style of the pizza. It gave the crust the PERFECT texture. For an appetizer we had the grilled octopus. This was easily just as good (if not better) than Barbuzzo's or Chifa's. For two pizzas, octopus, 2 beers and 2 sangrias our bill came to $30/person which is not bad.
(4)Michelle R.
Enjoyed the deliciously unique pistachio pizza while here. Lots of outdoor seating in the warmer months. A little pricey, but worth a try.
(4)Scott H.
Stella follows the tradition of all Starr restaurants (in my opinion) mediocre. Starr is not a creator. He just takes whats already "cool" and makes it into a mirror restaurant. I cant however complain about the service. The host and the server were very friendly. The marinade they use for the olives tasted gross too. if its gourmet pizza you seek, try Barbuzzo or Osteria.
(3)Abigail L.
I am not a fancy girl. I mean, sometimes I like to pretend to be, but deep down I always feel like the out of place peasant who accidentally got invited to some gala and everyone is whispering behind her back. Stella may be a Stephen Starr joint, but it won't make you feel like you need to go study up on etiquette and buy expensive clothes. It has a nice down homey, even family feel to it. I really appreciated the atmosphere, loud, warm, a little dark. Nice. My husband and I have been wanting to try this oddly located fancy pizza place for some time now. We're both truffle whores and had heard the tartufo is excellent. It is. I get really skeeved by sunny side up eggs so we asked them not to crack the yolk table side and they were nice enough to place it on his side of the pizza, leaving mine pristine and gross, egg bit free, but still drenched in truffley goodness. We also split the margherita pizza and some broccoli rabe, both delicious. You know the prison cooking scene in Goodfellas when Ray Liotta talks about how it's sliced so thin Paulie used a razor blade? I think Paulie was in the back slicing garlic. It melted in my mouth. The house red and white wines are nice, not gross and vinegary like most places. Four glasses of wine, one app, and two pizzas equalled $64 plus tip. Not too shabby at all for a date night. It was busy and the service was fine, I feel like it could've been a tad friendlier, though the hostess was all smiles and seemed very sweet.
(4)Jonathan R.
Walked in on a busy Saturday night and was told there was a 25 minute wait - so we decided to sit at the "pizza bar" instead. The decor was great. The service was attentive. Wait times for food were normal (reasonable). Everything was DELICIOUS. I can't count the times that I said "wow" throughout the meal. No complaints - I can't wait to go back!
(4)Luigi C.
Pizza is so so...too oily and fatty to be a pizza. Wine bottles are kept by the oven and when served wine is warm like a soup.......this place has a long way to go!
(2)Cesar H.
Pizza is absolutely delicious. granted, we just came in for a pizza and a drink and it was just perfect. The place smells great, its clean, you see the pizza being made in front of you, couldn't ask for anything better. if you're just looking for a great pizza and a drink, this is your place.
(5)Michele C.
Pizzeria Stella is now quite possibly my favorite Starr restaurant. We went on a Saturday night not expecting to get a table without a wait, since they don't take reservations. To our surprise - and despite $20 for parking in a nearby garage - we were seated immediately and the service was brisk and friendly. Drinks are reasonable and the menu is affordable. The restaurant is cozy and it's fun to watch in full view of the cooks manning the large pizza oven. The highlight of the meal was the unbelievably delicious appetizer - the sheep's milk ricotta with rosemary and flatbread. I'm a huge ricotta cheese fan but I've never experienced a dish like this. The ricotta was smooth and rich and light and delicious. It was a large portion that could have fed more than two people. It was accompanied by the most delicious, hot, garlicky foccacia flatbread you'd ever want to eat. This appetizer is now on the list of the top five or ten best things I've ever eaten in Philadelphia. There wasn't enough bread for all the cheese (or maybe we are just gluttons), but when we asked the server for more, she brought an entire order free of charge. Nice touch. The table next to us was so envious of our appetizer that they decided to add it on to their meal as well. The pizzas are 12 inches and thin crust. The menu offers 12 different pies. I would have liked more to choose from, but I was satisfied with the one we chose: The Picante - capicola, aged provolone, crushed red pepper and tomato. Despite being a bit salty from the capicola, it was delightful. Most tables ordered two pizzas to share, but after the ricotta appetizer, one pie was enough for us. It's hard to find a flaw, but if I was being picky, the toppings (and some of the cheese) fell right off the pizza after grabbing each slice. That's not much of a drawback when you're consuming slice after slice of hot, gooey, delicious pizza. For dessert, they served housemade gelato. I was surprised there weren't other options, but the gelato was good. It comes in several different flavors (we got the stracciella - forgive my spelling - which is vanilla with hard chocolate pieces in it) and is accompanied by a tiny homemade biscotti. Delicious, light and a perfect ending to a wonderful meal. Only $60-some dollars for a pizza, appetizer, dessert and several drinks? Not bad at all.
(5)Caroline P.
pizza week - stella's answer to philly restaurant week is actually a solid deal. you get to choose a starter (an app or a salad or a soup), a pizza, and a happy ending (gelato) - all for $25. my sister and i took my mom out for lunch, and between the three of us, we chose the arancini and the marinated olives for our starters - both were delightful. we had a difficult time narrowing down our choices for pizza - they all sounded great. we decided on the quattro formaggi (sauce/4 cheeses), the pepperoni (abbruzze pepperoni/mozz/sauce) and the san daniele (proscuitto/smoked mozz/arugula) - they were delicious. (i think the arugula might have benefitted from a post-bake drizzle of olive oil, but that might just be me) i would love to try the pistachio, the mushroom, the zucchini, the pancetta, the tartufo, and the piccante pizzas...damn you, stella - STELLLLLAAAAAAAAAHHHH - you make me sound like a glutton! the crust is a tender and delicate version of chewy - nice and thin and tasty, it was beautifully spotted with char (this is a good thing). the toppings were delicious, and generous...we ended up eating only half of all three pies, so home the rest went the honey-mascarpone gelato was delicate and delicious, and the stracciatella was generously veined with chocolate - nice for 3 to share. they make a good espresso here - italian-mamma-approved.
(4)Carolyn H.
Finally got over to Stella for an early dinner before dropping off the boyfriend and his mom at Sir Paul's Wacho.. er.. Wells Fargo Center show. (Stella McCartney connection discovered just now, this very second, I swear.) Things I loved: --The SIZE of the place -- no waiting, no smooshedness, music not too loud for easy conversation. --The server. I don't know her name, but our sweet, tattooed waitress was super friendly and lovable without ever being overbearing or chatchy (even though she could probably get away with it, given this is a Starr jam) --The house wine! A nice glass of white wine for under $6 is surprisingly hard to find 'round here. --The back bar, which looks like a fun place to spend a happy hour Our party of four split: --The marinated olives (big huge fan of the greens; some blacks were a little squishy/over-ripe, but still tasty) --The salumi mixto app, which comes with rosemary bread (GET IT) --The San Daniele (prosciutto and smoked mozz with basically an arugula salad on top) --The Polpette (meatballs on a pizza! zomgz!) I wanted dessert but could not handle dessert -- even though their homemade-gelato offerings of the day included fresh basil. Oh well. Next time I want to go the Pistachio/Tartufo/Gelato route. Who's with me?
(4)James G.
Very good pie, probably the best in the south street area. Friendly attentive staff, and a very solid value.
(4)Laura M.
Awesome pizza! The restaurant is located in the lovely historic district of Philly (Queen's Village?). It's a beautiful neighborhood and stopping by for some pizza and beer was perfect. The server was friendly and pleasant and we pretty much devoured our two pizzas. Nothing...maybe a crumb was left behind!
(5)Stacy M.
When I looked up this place on Yelp to post my review, I actually thought I had the wrong name. Wait, Stella, right? The Stella whose slices got top honors in Philadelphia magazine? You Philly folks are a tough crawwd to please. Either that, or we here in the Beantown don't know our pizza. Nope. That's not it. I came with a few folks and shared a sausage pie. (That means "a pizza" for all you non- Mid Atlantic folks). ;) I thought it was delicious. The dough was a bit burnt on the edges, but otherwise thin and nicely doughy at the crust. The sausage seemed low- fat yet full in flavor, and was crumbled perfectly over a nice, fresh tomato tasting sauce with cheese. Service was quick and knowledgeable. The brick oven was the center of the attention atmosphere-wise, and I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing. We were there for pizza, after all. Highly recommend for a higher-end slice.
(4)Nancy L.
My husband and I get take out from this place at least once a week, and it never disappoints. Our favorites are the San Daniele, Mushroom, Margherita, and Sausage pizzas.
(5)Ritu K.
Oh Stella how I dearly wanted to love you, but alas it cannot be. Your crust was too salty, a bit too thin and burned in all the wrong places, and your toppings lacked flavor. Such a disappointment and nowhere near the Neapolitan pizza I obsessed over in Naples..Beyond crushed with disappointment..
(3)Taylor L.
Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!! I'm pretty surprised that there aren't more 5-star reviews on here. I have trouble finding negative things to say about Stella. I stopped in here with my family on our way over to the She and Him show. I wanted to find a place that had good food, but in a casual setting. Well, Stella was basically perfect for that. Every single thing that we ate was positively delicious: - Broccoli Rabe (appetizer): We almost ordered a second one after polishing off this delicious dish in a matter of minutes. Need I say more? - Arugula Salad: Fresh, simple, crisp, perfectly dressed. - Grilled Octopus: You'll notice that none of my reviews ever include seafood. That's because all seafood is icky. My dad seemed to like this dish, though. - Caprese Salad: Fresh heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzerella, olive oil and balsamic. Yum. - Spinach Pizza: Perfection. Just the right amount of all the ingredients and the pine nuts were a nice touch. **Disclaimer: we are all from the west coast, and, therefore, while we do enjoy a good slice now and again, we are not pizza aficionados like all you east coasters. And we don't call them "pies"** Not to mention the ambiance. Starr restaurants always have undeniable emphasis on awesome ambiance, so it was nice to see that Starr was able to pull out a beautiful, but more casual and subtle environment.
(5)Felicia D.
Where are you tonight, my dream pizza? This is the pizza I have been searching for, lonesome as Fievel and twice as hungry: thin, flavorful, tenderly blistered crust, sexy black leoparding on the bottom, and only the best ingredients scattered in expert proportions. The best pizza at Stella -- the must-get Pistachio with its namesake nuts, red onion and fontina cheese -- fulfills my fantasy. Not so the red-sauced pizzas, which always seem soggy, 'cause the crust is so thin and delicate. But anything minus red sauce is supremely satisfying. A re-occurring beef I've had with Starr restaurants for many years now are the small -- nay, stingy -- alcoholic beverages. The teeny pours of wine are served in tumblers, and cheap brews like Birra Moretti are way spendy at $6. My grumpy wallet forces me to stick with the plonkish house red for a only moderately rapacious $6.
(4)Brendan O.
Once again, Starr's proclivity for going "Full Epcot" when it comes to designing an "ethnic" experience has been fulfilled yet again at Pizzeria Stella. And, once again, the prices are simply too high. AND, once again, he has chosen to ignore the city's love for the BYO (this would have been a great candidate). BUT... The food here is simple and excellent. The pizza is tasty and inventive but with a true "old world" sense, my personal fave being the prosciutto/fresh arugula mix which is utter perfection. And not to be missed are the arancini, deep fried risotto balls served in a red sauce, a traditional Italian appetizer that will disappear within seconds of hitting the table. If there are more than two of you, make sure you order at least two servings. I would happily bite my tongue when it comes to the prices and the overly buttoned-down suburbanite clientele and grant 5 stars to Stella if our Mr. Starr would simply make the switch to BYO. The in-house wine selection at Stella is over-priced and surprisingly crappy.
(4)Manuela A.
Great casual place! Perfect for a weekday , catch up with your friend, kind of night. Pizzas were yummy. Beer was cold. Aranciata balls were ok. Asparagus so so. Need to give it another whirl!
(4)Mary S.
Pizzeria Stella turned a year old in Septemeber. How I only just finally got myself there seems ludicrous! It's was lovely, it really was! and I live in walking distance, and yet... somehow I've missed this place for a whole year. Well, after our most recent visit, let me tell you I will definitely be returning soon, and telling others. It was one of those unseasonably still warm nights in late October and the bf and I decided a stroll was in order given the weather. We were actually headed for Xochitl, but we didn't make it because we bumped into PS and remembered how we kept meaning to stop in. We were offered seating outside on the sidewalk and it was simply lovely. The inside looks pretty nice also, what with the brick oven aflame, and the low lighting (next time). Our server was overly courteous and attentive, and helps us in our quest to try a few different things without spending a lot of money. We ended up with this ridiculously awesome pizza- simply named the Mushroom (i think) but it was mushrooms, and proscuitto, and basically what ever pizza i've ever wanted in my life to taste like. Seriously. I cannot wait to return. We drank some house red wine since it was very affordable and we weren't really out for a huge splurge. We also had a great little salad and overall I was a huge fan. To end the night we had the pumpkin gelato, and it was the best damn gelato I think i've ever had- and it had the benefit of being eaten the week before Halloween, just as I was beginning to feel all "in the season of Halloween". It was a great meal, and I intend for there to be many repeats of it in the future, now that I realize this is so close to my apt.
(4)D S.
Good place for a casual bite. Pizza is tasty.
(4)Tom R.
Visited Stella on Saturday night with my wife and two other couples. It was still early (about 6pm) so it wasn't crowded. They seated us right away. The pizza was great -- especially the pistachio and fontina pizza. We also ordered a piccante (capicola) and a polpette (meatball). I think Earth Bread up in Mt. Airy is still a bit better but this place was pretty solid. I'd go back. The beer options were limited with only two on tap -- Stella and Mad Elf. I was expecting a bit more by way of adult beverages, but hey. Overall a good experience. Great neighborhood too, especially at Christmastime.
(4)Connie S.
I came here for dinner with a friend on a weekday night, not crowded at all so there was no wait. Charming ambiance, and the food came pretty quickly. The crust is certainly what makes Pizzeria Stella unique- it's thinner, crispier, more airy that in your typical pizza. I was quite pleased with this texture, but it seems like the crust is a very polarizing factor among other Yelp reviewers... not for everyone, I guess. We ordered the Tartufo and the Mushroom. I had heard great things about the Tartufo (black truffle, fontina, & parmesan - and the server will crack an egg over the top when it arrives at the table), but I was disappointed. The egg made the crust so soggy that the pizza fell apart- everything was muddled and not that tasty. I liked the Mushroom pizza (which comes with ham, mozerella, and garlic creme) better. As for how much to order, I'd say 2/3 of a pizza is perfect for a moderately hungry individual. I just think that for the same price, you could get a tastier pizza for less money at plenty of other places around Philly. Pizzeria Stella is worth a try, but I'm not dying to come back.
(3)Alexander M.
Finally got the chance to try Stella last week, and thankfully it was worth the 8-block walk to get there. I'm not much of a Starr groupie, or a hater for that matter - I firmly fall into the "El Vez, yay! Jones.. meh" spectrum. First off, I've read some reviews (here and elsewhere) that have a problem with their crust. These people are not to be trusted. For me, crust is 50% of what i judge a pizza on; if the crust itself isn't satisfying, the rest of the pizza isn't. That said, Stella met my absurdly high crust standards. We had the mushroom, which was very gratifying and the perfect size for my date and I. I'm particularly looking forwards to trying the Margherita and Tartufo in the future. The Arugula salad was an excellent starter, and I say this someone who normally skips his salad. I'm with Felicia, however, in that the house red seemed to be the most manageable drink option. (This may have to do more with my own financial situation than with Starr's pricing, admittedly)
(4)John T.
Unlike Starr's other restaurants (think Buddakan & Morimoto), this one is less fancy and more down to earth. Don't get me wrong-- the pizza was superb (we had the sausage and added ricotta from our appetizer) and anything but average, but the atmosphere is more laid back and relaxed. As a connoisseur of pizza crust, I found theirs to be exceptional. The wait staff is attentive and soft spokenly nice. Stella is a great place to grab a bite and enjoy the outdoors in a charming neighborhood. Would definitely recommend outdoor seating if available. One small problem we had were aggressive drivers constantly honking their horns at the intersection next to the restaurant. It was somewhat obnoxious but can't be helped, I suppose.
(4)Mike S.
Went here on a nice warm day after work with some friends. Good layout of the floor. The tables surrounded a large woodfire pizza oven in the center and there was a lot of natural light. The service was great. Our server was helpful in deciding which pizzas to order. The pizzas were beyond everyone's expectations. The piccante (capicola, crushed red pepper and aged provolone) was my favorite. If you like some spice, I suggest you try this. The other pizza that was outstanding was the sausage pie (sausage, pesto, basil and mozzarella). Any pizza lover should give it a try. Price point was appropriate for what you get (10-15 per individual sized pie). The pies are a good size for one person but would probably not be enough if you were sharing with another person. Check it out! I'll be going again.
(4)Yuri R.
A nice stroke from Starr, and a well received replacement for the previous location tenant, the nonetheless to-be-missed coffee spot, Cosi. Of course I couldn't resist going somewhere named after mom! Welcoming our Canadian friend to Philly, we took in a couple tasty local brews from the competently assembled list, to wash down the fresh and crispy highlight, pizza. There are several country Italian satellite dishes to whet the appetite, but needless to say, the menu hub's and the establishment's raison d'etre are the dozen imaginatively topped thin crust pies. I couldn't resist insisting on my favorite desert's namesake, the egg and truffle topped tartufo, and though a bit apprehensive at first, my dinner pals agreed it was a really yummy combination. A good wine selection fills out the needs of the palates of most diners who'd pick Stella for a meal. Pretty darn good for what it is.
(3)Iris M.
If you live anywhere near Philly and love dining out, you've heard the name Stephen Starr. The iconic restaurateur reportedly searched high and low for the perfect pizza crust recipe while holing himself up in NYC and sampling different pies from the city's best pizza joints. Sadly, Stephen's efforts don't translate into anything spectacular. He may have found the Valhalla of pizza crust recipes but his giant custom-built brick oven always manages to char the pizza almost beyond the point of recognition. Honestly, I've had better pizza at hole-in-the-wall spots around the city. I've given this place plenty of chances to redeem itself and it always comes up short. If you're dying to eat at a Starr restaurant, you'd be better off going to The Continenal.
(2)Elizabeth B.
I realize I'm bordering on excessive by updating my previous review twice. I would like to point out the new-ish meatball Tuesdays -- For $15 you get one of three meatball themed dishes plus a romaine salad or minestrone. Since I don't eat beef or pork it's rare that I can seize an opportunity to dine on meatballs, so I selected the mini shrimp meatballs with spaghetti. The portion was pretty small and thus nicely complimented by the salad. (which was delicious) I'm not sure I would order shrimp meatballs again -- I like shrimp and I like the idea of a meatball but there was just something a little strange about the combination. I'm glad I tried it though. Future visits I'll stick to pizza.
(4)Erin G.
Wood fired pizza? I'm in. I thought that maybe Philadelphia was finally breaking it's bad pizza curse. Almost, but not quite. Pizzaria Stella is easy to get to, and a nice addition to the neighborhood that already includes the Artful Dodge and Xochitl, among others. I arrive with a date on a Friday night, and the place was hopping. Really, really full. Luckily we didn't have to wait on our table, but the restaurant was so loud (between the music and all the animated folks just inches away from us), we had to lean-in to hear each other. We order the Tatufo, deciding to split it, and got the immediate "Just one pizza?" from our waitress. Luckily, I'm not easily intimidated. Our wine came out promptly, and the food was fairly rapid, too. The Tartufo is a great pizza with black truffles and a raw egg that the server breaks over the pizza at the table. We were quite pleased with it, but as it cooled the egg became a little less appetizing. The pizza rack that sits on the table is actually really annoying - it takes up far too much space in already tight quarters. Perhaps a rack that clips on to the table, instead of sitting on it? I don't have real complaints about the food, location, or atmosphere, but I think they are straddling a hard line between casual and formal. The servers were very attentive - too attentive. We were continually asked if we wanted more wine before we had even finished our glasses, and three different bus boys tried to take our plates away (when we paused from eating) while were still covered in food. In many ways, it just felt like they were trying to rush us out the door. Perhaps we weren't spending enough money? This is a nice space to stop by with friends if you're in the neighborhood, but it's too loud for a date and too expensive to be an everyday joint.
(3)Rachel U.
The best thing about this place is the staff. They're friendly, helpful, and don't get flustered or rush you on a busy rainy night. But the food isn't quite good enough for the price tag. It's good, but not amazing. I'd describe the pizza as dainty; decent flavors and well made dough. I liked the simple margherita better than the spinach sundried tomato pizza; when I complained about the lack of sundried tomatoes halfway thru they did make me a new pizza. The chicken soup was very flavorful, but maybe a bit salty, and the arancini were yummy. I dig the casual vibe, even down to the stemless wine... cups. I think it'd be cool if they had a 'build your own' option.
(3)Mike G.
Returned 4 months later and found my meal really enjoyable. The service was better the pizza was great. I convinced my friends that at least one of our pizza's HAD to be The Tartoufo, with black truffle and an egg on top, and it didnt let us down. I could live on this one alone. The others were really good but it's the tartoufo that has me hooked.
(4)Courtney C.
The pizza toppings are AMAZING. The crust was bland - but I think it is intentional in order to focus on the flavor of the toppings. The salad we had was interesting and delicious. I liked the wine selection as well. All in all, worth a visit for sure.
(5)Steve L.
Outstanding meal. Started with a terrific Caesar salad and then went to thin crust, brick oven pizza heaven with tartufo (truffle), margherita (buffalo mozarella), spinach, quattro formaggi (4 cheese). Finished strong with espresso gelato and a vanilla gelato with chocolate crumbled throughout. Already looking forward to a next visit. Good work Stephen Starr.
(5)Sruthi S.
Stephen Starr finally got it right. In a city where he's been known for overdone, overpriced, and over talked, with Stella Pizzeria, he scored on the unpretentious atmosphere, the unpretentious price, and the unpretentious but amazing pizza. You get a perfect pizza - satisfyingly salty, thin, delicious. The tomato sauce on the margherita is downright delightful. Defintely go!
(5)Jen L.
Good Lord, another Steven Starr joint. I liked my food a lot. It's hard for me to find fault in ANY pizza, I even really sort of like the pizza you get at Chuck E. Cheese's. So, yes - I liked the pizza at Stella. We had the Polpette, which had meatballs on top. Yummmmmm. I also liked the arancini - fried rice balls? Yes, please. I've read reviews that the prices are too high but I didn't think so - it seemed pretty reasonable to me. The only thing I didn't love was how Stella is trying just a little too hard to be all rustic. I like my wine (especially if I am paying $11 a glass) to be served in stemware. Those squat little juice glasses? Save it for Villa di Roma. I'll be back. I hear they have Meatball Fiestas on Tuesdays.
(4)Jennifer N.
First and foremost, if you like pizza you will enjoy pizzeria stella. I am not a pizza snob; i rarely make distinctions regarding thin crust, Neapolitan, chicago-, new york - or new haven- style. i just tend to like cheese, dough and tomatoes, so i am not hard to please when it comes to this type of cuisine. Having said that, pizzeria stella suffers from exceedingly high expectations. the pizza just does not live up to the hype, but that doesn't mean it is bad. actually, you will probably like it if you go there just expecting "good" pizza and not "change your life" good pizza. this reasoning probably explains why i enjoyed pizzeria stella much more the first time i went. I visited pizzeria stella not long after it first opened. the service was friendly, prompt, and the pizza was great. just what i expected. But once the food writers started churning out reviews, words like "revolutionary" and "fiercely artisanal" were being used to describe the food. after dining at pizzeria stella last night, I respectfully disagree. it's decent pizza with interesting toppings in a lively, well-designed environment. nothing more, nothing less. (for most people, such a description is more than enough to make them happy). I started off with the house red (the wine glasses are no longer piping hot when brought to the table, which is great. it would be nice if the red was chilled a bit , though). I was with a group, so we started off with the lentil ragu and the romaine salad. I love lentils, so was really happy with this dish. there is something mildly sweet about it. i couldn't figure out whether there was cinnamon, nutmeg or allspice in it. the romaine salad was small, but pleasing. just a hint of mint; very refreshing. after reading so many positive reviews on yelp, i ordered the pistachio pizza for my main. i love white pie and red onion, so i was happy with my selection. the pistachios provided an interesting twist -- they worked. i thought the crust, however, was a bit too present. meaning, do i need two inches of crust? it would be nice if they brought the ingredients a little closer to the edge. i ended up leaving a lot of crust on the plate, so that's a calorie saver right there, if you are into that sort of thing. the rest of my party ordered the sausage, pepperoni, and margherita pizzas. the sausage definitely has some kick; it also is a bit soggy towards the middle. the pepperoni and margherita are both solid. our server was helpful, perky, and attentive. we had to wait about thirty minutes for a table on a saturday night, which we expected. overall, i had a fun evening with friends and would go back if someone asked or if i felt like a bit more ambiance than mama palma's has to offer. if i could, i would give pizzeria stella 3.5 stars.
(3)Alex C.
Stella's slick overhaul of the Cosi space belies its underwhelming pizza. We stacked up a marghertia, spinach and meat pie for sampling. Each one was the same: satisfying crust, soggy center and unremarkable flavor. For as much fuss as they give the oven, I couldn't taste the benefit. A note on price: I'm not one to equate quantity with quality. But when the inversely as small and flavorless as the price is bloated (without the offset of BYOB), I can't see the draw. Skip Stella and wait for Starr's next pizza joint opening near Parc soon.
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