Stella Blues — Restaurant in Eau Claire

Sadly, this is a restaurant we have dined at many times before, but last night was a MAJOR fail. After making reservations two weeks in advance and receiving a couple returned confirmation calls from them along with them confirming where they would seat us I was extremely impressed… UNTIl, we showed up.

We were seated in the front of the restaurant by the bar when we specifically confirmed with them that they were going to have us sit in the back area where this group has sat previously. They then separated us into two different tables telling us we could not sit together as a group because they didn’t have staff trained to serve that many people… All while, another group was seated together, bigger than ours, right next to us. Later, we went back to the area we were supposed to be seated and sure enough, big table of people sitting together right where we were supposed to have been seated. Hmmmm…

Our other table was served their food before we even ordered and finished 30 minutes before the us. When three of us ordered the Smoked Pepper Caesar salad, there was NO dressing on the salad and I am not sure what they meant by Smoked Pepper Caesar but there was nothing smoked about it and the only pepper on it was from the shaker. They didn’t even offer fresh cracked pepper. I then, specifically asked about being able to just have one meat on my entree but to have them split the meats to 1/2 being one of the meets and 1/2 of the other meat, the wait staff checked with the kitchen and they were fine with it. Welp, got the check and each of us who did this were charged full price for two meats. I suppose that would not have been all bad had the meal had that much meat on it but it did not… so our entrees ended up costing almost double. When I asked about this with the wait staff, she did apologized and took ownership for the miscommunication but could do anything about it even after owning the mistake.

Food at Stella’s is quite amazing but this experience has destroyed my taste with them. The greeter, an older woman who has worked there for many years was unapologetic, rather brash and had no recognition to how this evening was set up and confirmed with Melissa, who was excellent to work with when we we first making arrangements for the evening.

Not sure I will recommend nor return anytime soon. Eau Claire has really expanded their dining option over the past several years we have lived in the area and we will just find a...

I don't believe I've ever had a more disappointing eating experience. I've been so excited to try this place since moving to eau claire, so I finally got the chance when I took two friends for christmas.

I was first shocked to see gumbo and jambalaya north of $20. I expected prices to be on the higher side, but assumed that would be for more specialty offerings, not simple cajun staples. I thought I'd play it safe for the first time and go with gator tacos as it is hard to screw up, both, gator and tacos. Oh how I was wrong.

The tacos are the most bland abominations I've ever had the displeasure of eating. So uninspired. The gator was an over fried, over breaded, dry, tasteless mess, and the out of place tortilla strips did it absolutely no favors. None of the flavors melded together and the oversized fried balls of meat made eating them a chore. At $17, this is simply unacceptable. I'd choose a $1.50 taco from the back of a truck over these any day of the week.

Everyone else's food was mediocre at best. The scallops were the high point by far, but the green beans were almost void of any flavor, and the "smashed" potatoes tasted more of water than they did garlic.

The pasta was equally mediocre; no better than a dish you could find at olive garden for half the price. The crab dip was the only thing that was genuinely enjoyed this evening, but avoiding failure on such a simple dish doesn't offer much reprieve from the rest of the experience.

I can't express how disappointed I am to have spent $120 on such low quality, overpriced food. Coming from the south, there are days I'd almost give a finger for some decent cajun food; but I'll never make the mistake of wasting any more money at this...

When I exited this restaurant, it was almost freezing outside, and yet I still felt more warmth than the hospitality I was shown at the bar. The restaurant may be Stella, but the hospitality wasn't, although they did give me the blues

When I was asked to sit at the bar because they were booked up with reservations, I was fine with that, although I did really want a table because I don't like bars.

My crime was proceeding to approach my seat from the side near where the drinks are set out. Instead of being given the benefit of the doubt, I was called out in a sharp tone for blocking the drinks area when all I was trying to do was slide my seat from the side to not crowd the people seated next to me.

The sharp tone evoked my abrupt response that I wasn't trying to sit in that spot. Then I asked for a menu and was told the large group around me had priority, and it could be 1/2 hour before I could order.

I said I would wait and was served my food much sooner. While waiting, I observed the friendly interactions between the bartender and the couple seated next to me.

This made me wonder what was wrong with me. I did not feel welcome at this establishment, and I had done nothing to deserve it. I spent $30 on a meal while trying to have a nice night out. Hope it...