Recommends

VeggieGuy

Joined 5 years ago

Great urban atmosphere and refreshing fare. Cafe Stellina was suggested to me by a friend and I promptly gave her props. I found it to be an urban gem without the typical hipper than thou hipster staff. I started off with a spinach, gorgonzola and warm pear salad. It was elegantly dressed and perfectly harmonized. I followed it up with the Hominy. I found it refreshing that Stellina broke out of the typical vegetarian mold, often so many try so hard to avoid simple dishes that really are the heart of vegetarian fare. The Hominy was as unpretentious as the staff and as colorful and complex as the atmosphere of the restaurant. I was thoroughly delighted and pleased. But before you go try the dessert. Our waitress graciously offered us a hearty individual cheesecake smothered in strawberries. The strawberries were fresh and tangy and complimented the rich cake wonderfully. I'll be going back soon!

Recommends

rupee101

Joined 5 years ago

cute place. I've tried this place twice for dinner and really liked it both times. It has an unpretentious setting, and the service is friendly and prompt. You feel welcome, unlike the neighboring establishment, to which I have been several times.

The menu has a lot of vegetarian options - the beet salad is quite tasty. We split the tilapia and the pork , both of which were cooked to perfection. The dishes were filling, but did not leave us feeling bloated.

Recommends

antigenius

Joined 6 years ago

Felt a lot like Europe. The breezy dining area, with it's large windows, open when weather permits, is so warm and welcoming, it felt just like Italy. The food is eclectic and the owner/chef, is back there, working hard in the visible kitchen to please her diners. The staff knows their stuff and willfully make recommendations for the stumped and/or perplexed (muscles with chorizo? delish!)

I thoroughly enjoyed my dining experience and will be back many times. The Summer looks beautiful and I know where i'll want to be seated...

Doesn't Recommend

seaty

Joined 6 years ago

Wait Staff and Owner bizarre. Nice location but the food and service had much to be desired. There are so many other places within a couple blocks next time I'll just keep walking.

Recommends

Anna Roth

Joined 8 years ago

Cozy Capitol Hill breakfast and lunch spot is beloved for its hearty cooking and friendly ambience.. The Scene
Airy and open, this Capitol Hill breakfast and lunch spot scores big points with its decor, an admirable mix of elegant (linen tablecloths) and funky (exposed cement walls). Big garage doors let in plenty of light and can be opened in the spring and summer to let a breeze stream in. Breakfast brings a neighborhood crowd, while lunchtime sees office workers from nearby First Hill.

The Food
Meals offer honest, stick-to-your ribs cooking--though notably lacking the calories and fat usually associated with the genre. Hominy, tomato and green pepper stew is the perfect antidote to a rainy day, blending the right amount of fire with enough grated cheese to keep things interesting. Chicken sausage and lentils, accompanied by a green salad, is a great shot of midday protein. Yam and peanut soup is hearty enough to be a meal in itself, especially when paired with the complimentary crusty bread and hummus.

Recommends

daciaw

Joined 9 years ago

G Is for Good. A friend and I came for lunch. We were seated promptly and brought water and snacks. Our food came out in a timely fashion and everything was delicious! I had the eggplant sandwich and my friend had a brie and mushroom quiche. We wound up talking for about an hour (annoying, I know), but the waiter didn't seem to mind and refilled our coffees the entire time. I'll be back for certain!

Doesn't Recommend

zebdog

Joined 7 years ago

Bad Service, Mediocre Food. After reading favorable reviews of this lunch spot, we decided to try it out on Friday. We were seated quickly and then ignored. Apparently we had sat at a table that none of the servers felt was their responsibility. Instead of someone just stepping up and taking care of customers we were essentially punished for the entire meal.

As for the food our rule is that there is little point going out for food that you can make better at home. The lentil/chicken sausage dish was basic, boring and lacking any seasoning. The hominy green chili stew appeared to be straight out of the can. And the biggest problem was that I couldn't even find any green chilis in the stew.

The pricing is also a bit steep given the location, ambience, level of service and food quality. Hopefully as they get more familiar in their new home things will improve, but I do not plan on going back. I would rather spend $35 on groceries.