Stellina Pizzeria — Restaurant in Washington

Recently married, my husband and I have committed to a bi-weekly date night to keep the romance alive. While we currently reside in Stafford, our hearts still yearn for the vibrant Northern Virginia and D.C. area where we spent many years, especially during our dating days. For our inaugural post-wedding date night, we decided to venture into D.C. Our go-to spot in Alexandria, RedRocks, had lost its romantic allure due to changes in both the food and layout. Determined to recapture the magic, we embarked on a quest for a pizzeria that would offer a romantic ambiance rather than a sports bar vibe. Our search led us to Stellina Pizzeria, nestled at 399 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002. As we arrived at the location, we were immediately struck by the lively, bustling atmosphere. The streets were teeming with people, all seemingly relishing their evening. Stellina had both outdoor and indoor seating options, and we opted for the cozy indoor setting. Fortunately, there was no wait, and our host promptly seated us. Our night took a delightful turn when we were introduced to Julio, our server for the evening. Julio was not only welcoming but also a font of knowledge regarding the entire menu. His recommendations were spot on, and he didn't stop at merely suggesting dishes; he took the time to explain why he chose each particular item. He steered us towards the Cuoppo Misto as an appetizer, followed by the Picante and Napulella Pizzas. It's no exaggeration when I say that everything Julio recommended surpassed our expectations. The crispy prawns, calamari, and potato chips were a symphony of flavors, expertly seasoned with just the right touch of saltiness. The pizzas, a delicate balance of dough and toppings, were bursting with flavor and texture, creating a culinary masterpiece. To accompany our meal, we enjoyed drinks that were equally outstanding. I opted for the "On The Way To Rome," a blend of bourbon and raspberry puree that, in my opinion, achieved perfection in a glass. My husband chose the "Mezcalita," a drink so delightful that we couldn't resist ordering a second round. Our evening was an unequivocal success, with every element contributing to its perfection. From the warm and generous hospitality of Julio to the masterfully prepared dishes, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We left Stellina Pizzeria with the certainty that we would return to Union Market soon, eagerly anticipating another evening...

While the classic Neapolitan Margherita pizza hits the spot, the Di Melanzane Lasagne Eggplant Parm was the stand-out and favorite dish of the night!

The crispy Cuzzitiell Panini was so tender and couldn't get enough of the Eggplant Parm that I ordered a serving of Di Melanzane Lasagne with layers of juicy rich eggplant. The Eggplant Parm is marinated for over a day bursting with sweet flavor. While the eggplant is fried and oozing with cheese and smothered in tomato sauce, it's not oily or overly cheesy. It's just the right combination. If you enjoy bread and can't decide between a pizza and eggplant parm, then I recommend getting the Cuzzitiell Panini, which comes with a 1/2 size portion of the Eggplant Parm and housemade kettle chips. The Di Melanzane Lasagne is great for sharing!

The Margherita pizza hit the spot with mozzarella cheese, basil, and tomato sauce with a light and airy pillowy soft crust. I prefer the simple Margherita over the Cacio & Pepe white piizza. The Cacio & Pepe Pizza was a bit too cheesy and didn't have the balance of flavor that I was looking for.

The owner, Matteo Venini from Amalfi Coast, kindly explained the pizza making process with fermenting the dough over a couple of days and then baking it in the oven at 800 degrees for only 90 seconds. Laborious process for perfection!

The Rossi di sera cocktail packs a punch and potent with Bourbon, peach liquor, limoncello, lemon juice, Marasca cherry, Rinomato. The alcohol is a bit overpowering and couldn't taste the limoncello or lemon juice.

The service or lack there of - is a bit awkward. While a hostess or waitress will seat you, you have to order and pay at the register. No one will wait on you, the servers will bring out your food when it's ready. Makes sense from an efficiency standpoint, but there's no signage. We waited patiently for over 10 minutes expecting a server to greet us and take our order, finally a server came over and directed us to the register.

The area around the warehouses is still sketchy with graffiti and dim lighting (despite the gentrification with new restaurants and Trader Joe's). It's hard to find street parking, and parked at the Union Market lot and walked over. Not the safest place at night.

I prefer Stellina Pizzeria over 2 Amy's or Menomale with better pizza and more casual homey ambiance. Will be back for some Di Melanzane Lasagne and Neapolitan Margherita pizza and try the Tiramisu (sold out...

I have been a loyal customer at this Stellina Pizzeria location for years, but yesterday’s dinner was so disappointing that I feel compelled to share my experience. While I can’t deny that the food quality was good, the service was poor—worse yet, it was unpleasant and downright disrespectful.

We arrived early, around 4 PM, and placed a simple order: two kids’ cheese pizzas, one margherita, and my usual chittarra de pesce (which I’ve always recommended in the past). My husband ordered a pizza with extra shrimp and a beer. When his pizza arrived, the shrimp was missing. The waiter, Neloy, casually told us they “forgot” and could just put the shrimp on top. There was no apology, and of course, adding shrimp after the pizza is cooked is not the same as having it baked in.

After getting the corrected pizza—with shrimp awkwardly tossed on top—my husband ordered another beer. It was placed on the service counter and never brought to the table. The staff wasn’t paying attention, and we even noticed one employee on their phone. We were the only table being served at that time, so there was no excuse. After waiting, my husband eventually got up and retrieved the beer himself because he wanted it with his food.

A few minutes later, Neloy came over and—in Spanish—told my husband that he “shouldn’t do that” because there were cameras in the restaurant and it “doesn’t look good” for a customer to grab their own drink. No apology for failing to serve the beer promptly—just a scolding. I stepped in and explained that no one was paying attention, the beer had been sitting there, and we expected better service, especially since we were under the impression that gratuity would be automatically included. Neloy then informed us (again, without an apology) that they had suspended that practice.

I finished my chittarra de pesce, but the experience had already been ruined by the lack of professionalism. When we got the bill, the waiter automatically added a 20% tip without asking—after telling us earlier that gratuity wasn’t included. For poor and disrespectful service, this is unacceptable.

I paid the bill without arguing, but I left feeling extremely disappointed. As someone who has supported this location for years, I expected better. This experience has seriously made me reconsider...