Stella! Washington Street, South End

This week we tried Stella in the South End. Stella is located on the corner of Washington Street and West Brookline directly across the street from Franklin Square. I loved the feel of this restaurant. It is very simple but elegant with simple wooden tables and modular white chairs. There are some yellow accents including the big yellow awnings outside. The whole effect is very clean and crisp and at this time of year the big windows look out to all the bright green buds on the trees in the park across the way. I felt like I was at a restaurant in New York overlooking Central Park, but it was even better because it wasn’t New York!

Stella describes itself as “offering affordable and approachable Italian cuisine in a chic environment”. Stella is reasonably priced- entrees are around $24 or if you stick with the pasta or pizza around $16 or $17. We tried the spaghetti and meatballs and the portion was enormous! Check out their beautiful website and menus at www.bostonstella.com.

We started with their Mussels- some of the best I have ever tried, in saffron cream sauce with roasted peppers, white wine and garlic. We  also tried the Caesar Salad and the Crudo Misto. The Crudo Misto was really good and unusual: it was a plate of salmon and tuna tartare with a lemoncello vinaigrette- really delicious I thought. We also had the Crispy Seared Halibut with melted leek, potato and summer pea ragout, and sweet corn crema. Doesn’t that sound good? It was!

I really liked Stella and this is a great time of year to go there. Boston is so beautiful in the spring with all the flowering trees beginning to bloom.  I felt as if I had been transported! Maybe the next step is to find some great spots to eat outdoors (this would probably be one of them with their large outdoor dining area overlooking the park). Let me know if you have any great ideas.

Gotta go run the marathon now:)!

Bon Appetit!

Robin