Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge

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Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge
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Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge

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Address:
17 Monarch Bay Plaza
Dana Point, CA 92629

Neighborhood:
Dana Point

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
Italian

Price: $31 to $50

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More Details ›

Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge Details

Dining Style: Fine Dining
Website: http://www.stellasitalian.com
Email: reservations@stellasitalian.com
Phone: (949) 234-1679
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Monday - Friday: 11:30am - 2:30pm Dinner: Sunday - Saturday: 4:30pm - 10:00pm Happy Hour - Monday Through Friday: 2:30pm-6:30pm, Saturday 4:30pm-6:30p.m., Sunday 4:30-9:00 in Lounge Lounge Hours until 11:00 p.m. Weekdays, 12:00 a.m. weekends
Payment Options: AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: Italian, Seafood
Executive Chef: Marco Mariselli
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Delivery, Entertainment, Fireplace, Full Bar, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Stella's provides full off-site catering for any event.
Private Party Facilities: Our patio is available for private parties for lunch and dinner. A minimum number is required for a completely private affair depending on the day and time. The patio offers an ideal setting for Saturday and Sunday afternoon affairs as the restaurant is closed and the ocean views are spectacular. Please call for more information.
Private Party Contact: Luchi Bierbower (949) 234-1679
Entertainment: We feature a live saxophonist Tuesday through Sunday.
Special Events & Promotions: Sign up for our email club on our website to receive information about wine and cheese tastings, special entertainment and events.

Getting there

Cross Street: PCH & Crown Valley Parkway
Parking: Private Lot
Parking Details: We are in the shopping center and there is parking in front, on the South Side, and in the back of the restaurant.

A word from Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge

Stella's is the embodiment of serious Italian cuisine - original recipes and techniques alongside the freshest organic products, housemade cheeses, and carefully selected Italian flavors. Stella's is the perfect place for friends and family to gather - be it at the bar with a chilled martini, an… appetizer in the lounge, or dining alfresco while tasting your way through the wine list and menu. Whatever your pleasure or mood, Stella's can make it happen!Continued

Stella's Serious Italian Restaurant & Lounge

4.2

54 $31 to $50 restaurant

Featured Reviews

More Reviews ›

Reviews from OpenTable Diners Learn More

55 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

55 Current Reviews

Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews

Overall

(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5

Food

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 4.2 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 4.1 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

Filter Reviews By:

Diners classify this restaurant as:

neighborhood gem(31)
romantic(26)
fit for foodies(18)

special occasion(17)
scenic view(14)
great for outdoor dining(13)

Current OpenTable.com Diner Reviews (55)

Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

The ratings above are how

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 04/02/2012

2010

Dined on 04/02/2012

2010

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"The ratings above are how I felt about Stellas on prior trips ...as this will not allow me just to respond about what happened. See below"

Dined on 04/02/2012

2010

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Overall rating

(Very Good) 4 / 5

We had such a great time that

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/26/2012

2010

Dined on 03/26/2012

2010

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"We had such a great time that we got a little loud. NOT ROWDY -- we are old folks. We will return."

Dined on 03/26/2012

2010

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, scenic view, great for lunch

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

service is wonderful, unfortunately

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/25/2012

2012

Dined on 03/25/2012

2012

Food

(Good) 3 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"service is wonderful, unfortunately the food is just ok. soup was served lukewarm, pasta was brought out barely warm (sent it back to reheat). the sax player is very loud."

Dined on 03/25/2012

2012

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Overall rating

(Poor) 1 / 5

Can you spell "Awful"

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/18/2012

2003

Dined on 03/18/2012

2003

Food

(Poor) 1 / 5

Service

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Ambiance

(Poor) 1 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"This was an awful experience. First, the seating choices are: 1) tables staring at a bar and TV sets, or a patio, which on a cold evening induces cold food and colder people. The menu choices are standard Italian fare, with reasonable prices. However, when the food was delivered, it was insipid. A Cesar salad could have come from a fast food restaurant. Low qulity, flavorless Parmesan cheese, with viscous dressing with all the appeal of wall paper paste. Croutons which were stale and inexplicably orange like Cheetos!. Entrees were worse. A pizza with sausage and "fresh oregano" - was as follows, good crust, good mozarella - sauce was flavorless and underseasoned, sausage looked and tasted like low quality breakfast sausage. No oregano."

Dined on 03/18/2012

2003

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

They have a gr8 Happy Hour

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/16/2012

2012

Dined on 03/16/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

"They have a gr8 Happy Hour everyday."

Dined on 03/16/2012

2012

Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Stella's Restaurant always

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/12/2012

2010

Dined on 03/12/2012

2010

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"Stella's Restaurant always provides wonderful food and served by their gracious staff. Sitting in front of the fireplace and overlooking the Ocean enhances a person's outlook to be thankful we live in Monarch Beach.

However, the saxophonist takes a rest on Mondays. Gary knows hundreds of songs by heart. He is amazing, as he can bring you back in time.

We have dined here many times and will continue our visits."

Dined on 03/12/2012

2010

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, scenic view, great for lunch, hot spot

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Overall rating

(Good) 3 / 5

Food was very good, the life

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 03/01/2012

2012

Dined on 03/01/2012

2012

Food

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Service

(Good) 3 / 5

Ambiance

(Good) 3 / 5

Noise Level

Energetic

"Food was very good, the life music nice but a bit too load for our taste,"

Dined on 03/01/2012

2012

Special Features: fit for foodies

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Stella's is great!

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/17/2012

2012

Dined on 02/17/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Noise Level

Moderate

"Great food. Great service. Very romantic. Great spot for a dinner date."

Dined on 02/17/2012

2012

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Our first visit to Stella's.

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/16/2012

2012

Dined on 02/16/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"My wife and I went to Stella's for the first time, to celebrate our 32nd anniversary. Our anniversary is actually on Valentine's Day, and we originally had reservations to go that day, but after learning they had Valentine's specials on that day, and the menu was apparently limited to 3 items, ranging in price from 480 TO $100 per person, we decided to wait. I'm sure the Valentine's specials were very nice, and it included flowers and a photo booth, but it just didn't appeal to us.

So, we waited for 2 days and then went and celebrated our anniversary then. We were pleasantly surprised by the ambiance, which was very nice. We enjoyed a very nice and delicious dinner, and we were treated very well by the staff. A good experience."

Dined on 02/16/2012

2012

Special Features: vibrant bar scene, notable wine list, special occasion

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Overall rating

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Romantic and incredible food!

OpenTable Diner Since

Dined on 02/14/2012

2012

Dined on 02/14/2012

2012

Food

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Service

(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Ambiance

(Very Good) 4 / 5

Noise Level

Quiet

"I've been to Stella's a couple other times on non-Holidays and found it to be quite nice, great food, and great atmosphere; especially on the patio near the fireplace. This last visit was on Valentine's day. My date and I had a very nice romantic time. The food was incredible, the ambiance was nice with the sax player, the waiter and the bus boys gave excellent service. The only thing I can make a negative comment on was the price. I felt it was a bit high (albeit it was a 5 course meal) but being a "holiday" I guess that's just the was it is."