Stella Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Melbourne

Came for a midweek birthday dinner group booking approx 20

Absolutely loved the venue Fitout, we did a quick tour whilst awaiting service. Met the owner Ali. The downstairs PDA wine cellar looked great to keep in mind for a future intimate booking.

Upstairs level sits a beaut bar lounge area with intimate booths . We completely missed the rooftop and had big plans to go back up more stairs to look but dinner became quite an ordeal and I ran out of time.

Took over 50 minutes to get a drink. Ordered a glass of $17 glass of Shiraz only it was clearly end of a bottle that had been oxygenated and become quite acidic in its vinegar mouthfill. Sent it back and got a fresh far more palatable replacement, all very amicably.

A very long wait for meal orders followed by an extra long wait for the meals themselves. The delay seemed to be in the booking being for a steak night, only we all were having the weeknight $55 set menu One entree with any pizza or pasta Tuesday-Friday. What a fabulous offering with some delicious menu offerings to choose from!

It was hard to choose between the $28 Steak Tartare, Soft Egg Yolk, Potato Crisps, Chives and the Scallops, Guanciale, Saffron, Chilli Oil, Citrus entree. The tartare an all time favourite of mine had to be tried

My tartare was lovely, quite possibly overkill on the chives. I thoroughly devoured it and the few air fried crisps that came with it, just a few more would be appreciated, in keeping with steak portion

The plate of focaccia with tiny portion of oil & balsamic was alarming re-distributed by the waiter and taken to a seperate section of the table to share which we all picked up on as quite peculiar thing to do when we were all delayed with the meals and understandably hungry and there was no bread offering at our section

The pasta I ordered was the Lobster, sadly it took way too long to receive our entree’s at 9.20pm so I had to cancel the pasta main and leave. I was disappointed, and would have happily taken away as my stomach & heart was set on tasting by this stage

I would probably go back in a smaller group setting as I understand it was a bit of a schmozzle for limited FOH staff & kitchen with large group order on this...

One word…Disappointing.i went on a Saturday night for a friends birthday and was eagerly looking forward to it as the photos on the website and menu looked amazing. However, although the atmosphere and decor is nice the menu is disappointing to say the least. We started with a margarita pizza to share which was mediocre , nothing special you can’t get from your local pizza takeaway shop but the base was too chewy for my liking. The waitress as lovely but none of us could make out what she was saying due to her poor English which isn’t her fault but it just made the whole process of ordering and asking questions frustrating due to the language barrier . I was eagerly awaiting my $42 ‘Saffron Seafood Risotto’ which when brought out to me looked like a sloppy can of rice soup . I kid you not. The entire table thought they had bought me the wrong order. There was literally NO SEAFOOD, no whole prawns , fish, calamari, mussels you would expect to see in any seafood risotto anywhere you go. The peas were dead they were so overcooked , the sauce was bland and very wet and the whole thing looked like something out of a can . Looking around at the table , everyone’s portions were so small and just not in line with the hefty price tag . I don’t mind paying but I expect quality and at least not to leave feeling hungry . To top it off when my friend asked to have 5 min to work out the bill the waitress rudely yelled out “ Why??!” My friend was made to feel like an idiot . Finally we were rudely told we need to leave as they were needing to prepare the table for the next seating . Go there if you want a pretty place and have an expensive drink or bite to eat but don’t expect great, high quality dishes and prepare to pay for underwhelming food at...

If I could give Stella Restaurant more than five stars, I absolutely would. From the moment we stepped inside, we were wrapped in an atmosphere 3 levels of effortless elegance, where every detail – from the lighting to the service – was carefully curated to create a truly unforgettable dining experience.

Now let’s talk food – because wow. The prawn pizza? An absolute revelation. Juicy, perfectly cooked prawns layered over a crisp, golden base with just the right kick of flavor. It’s not just pizza – it’s an art form. Then came the caviar martini, and I swear I heard angels sing. It’s not just a drink – it’s an experience. Salty, smooth, and luxuriously indulgent – this cocktail alone is worth the visit!!!!

And just when I thought the night had peaked, the steak arrived. Cooked to absolute perfection, buttery soft with a rich depth of flavor that made me want to weep with joy. It was honestly that good. But wait – there’s more. The vodka pasta was the stuff of dreams. Creamy, silky, and bursting with flavor – I would come back again and again just for this dish alone.

The showstopper? The steak tartare. Hands down, the most delicious I’ve had in my life. Fresh, finely balanced, and paired with crisp, delicate crackers that added just the right crunch – it was perfection on a plate.

Stella isn’t just a restaurant – it’s a classy destination. A place where every bite is romance, and every moment is sprinkled with a touch of magic. If you’re in South Yarra and looking for a dining experience that will dazzle your taste buds and leave you dreaming about it for days, run – don’t walk...