Restaurant Stella Marina — Restaurant in Vienna

Review: A One-of-a-Kind Dining Adventure at Stella Maria

Tucked away on a quiet street in Vienna, Stella Maria isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Operated entirely by one elderly gentleman, this tiny Italian gem serves some of the best food you’ll ever taste in the most unusual setting.

Walking into Stella Maria feels like stepping into another world. The decor is a delightful mix of rustic charm and controlled chaos: vintage photos, handwritten notes tacked to the walls, and shelves filled with old wine bottles and peculiar knick-knacks. There’s no staff, no music—just the soft hum of the kitchen and the man himself, shuffling between tables with an air of quiet confidence.

Here’s the catch: there’s no menu. At Stella Maria, the old man decides what you’ll eat. “Trust me,” he says, with a knowing smile. And trust him, you should. The food is extraordinary. Every dish feels like a love letter to Italian cuisine—handmade pasta with velvety sauces, perfectly seasoned risottos, and a tiramisu so ethereal it could make you weep.

The quirks don’t stop at the food. Service follows its own mysterious rhythm. You might wait a little longer than usual for your meal, but when it arrives, you’ll forget everything else. Between courses, the owner might share stories from his youth in Italy, punctuating them with dramatic hand gestures and the occasional laugh.

At one point, he brought out a bottle of limoncello, poured small glasses for everyone, and raised a toast to “la dolce vita.” It felt like being welcomed into his family for the evening.

When the bill came, it was scribbled on the back of an old receipt with a note that read, “Pay what you think my food is worth.” This unorthodox approach only added to the charm of Stella Maria.

Dining here is not for those in a rush or expecting polished, modern service. But if you’re open to a slow, heartfelt experience filled with incredible food and a sprinkle of eccentricity, Stella Maria will leave you enchanted.

Five stars for the flavors, the authenticity, and the unforgettable character of the man behind it all. Bravo,...

Stella Marina was for us, one of those restaurants we would pass countless times thinking 'must remember to try this place next time!'

We feared the worst as we approached to the sight of scaffolding outside, that Stella Marina had succumbed to the pandemic! Thank goodness we went all the way in just to make extra sure!

Stella Marina is open for business everyone!!

I'm sure I'm not alone coming out of lockdown thinking ourselves much better cooks as a result! In some ways yes, in the ways of pasta clearly not because I doubt I could ever cook pasta like Valentino cooks a pasta. Hands down the best pasta outside of Italy - undoubtedly better even than some in Italy!

I'm sure I'm not alone either, in experiencing since lockdown, what a huge difference quality ingredients make. It is clear how much care and passion for the right ingredients is considered in every plate of food here.

The quality of the olive oil and parmesan elevated a simple grilled vegetable antipasto. The creaminess of the burrata made an outstanding dish of a perfectly tomatoey sugo pasta, with just the right touch of chilli. We were already impressed by the simple yet outstanding flavours. But to know that all pasta is always home made was just the 'burrata on top'!

Equally impressive was Valentino single handedly managing the restaurant while preparing all dishes cooked to perfection.

We would have willingly paid double the price for our meal.

I hope there will be many others who have also come out of lockdown intent on visiting such hidden gems to be wowed by the quality, authenticity and outstanding flavour.

Please do yourselves a f(l)avour!

Thanks for a memorable evening Valentino! We look forward to being your...

My pasta was spectacular. The chef wasn’t particularly friendly, but I already knew that from reading the other reviews so I set my expectations. There is no menu, the chef will tell you what is available. The menu is in his head. Tonight, there was pasta with clams, Squid ink pasta with shrimp, and pasta Bolognese. I opted for the squid ink. It was truly delicious, a hint of spice, just the right amount of garlic and seasoning, really filling. I enjoyed my meal. If you have dietary restrictions, this is not the place for you. If you want good service, forget it. It’s just one guy, the chef, running the show. It will take him a while to get to you. However, the pasta is fantastic. I would give it five stars for the food. He did seem friendlier with locals/Italians that came in. Perhaps because I speak English I was treated less friendly. He even said prego to me when I took 5 seconds to think about my options. I don’t think that he liked that I asked what kind of meat is used for the bolognese. Don’t come here for the service, set your expectations, and come for the excellent pasta. In the end, since there is no menu and no prices, I was a little nervous to see what I would owe. My dish was 19.20. I rounded up to 20 Eur. Reasonable and...