Stellina focuses on the foundational elements of Italian culinary traditions through a meticulously curated menu centered on artisanal pasta production. Every plate highlights the interplay between high-quality semolina and seasonal ingredients sourced to maintain authentic flavor profiles. The kitchen emphasizes traditional shaping techniques that ensure the perfect texture for various regional sauces. Patrons encounter a direct approach to preparation where the natural characteristics of ingredients dictate the outcome of each dish. The interior environment prioritizes functional simplicity, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the culinary output served at the tables. This commitment to standardized preparation methods creates a consistent experience that respects the historical roots of Italian cooking while maintaining a clear and accessible format for every visitor who chooses to experience these regional specialties.
Stellina is widely celebrated for its authentic Italian cuisine and high-quality handmade pasta, with many guests describing their meals as memorable, flavorful, and expertly prepared. While the service is frequently praised for being professional, warm, and attentive, some diners have noted inconsistencies regarding long wait times or occasional lapses in communication. The atmosphere is generally considered cozy and elegant, though several visitors have pointed out that the space can become quite noisy, making conversation difficult. Opinions on pricing and portion sizes are divided, as some feel the experience offers great value for the craftsmanship provided, while others find the menu limited and the portions insufficient. Despite mixed feedback on seasoning levels and occasional service hurdles, many patrons recommend the restaurant for its fresh ingredients and standout dishes like the tasting menu and tiramisu.
Delightful culinary experience ( the pasta is outstanding), attentive service, & an elegant ambiance. The outdoor seating provides an enchanting setting , with a view on the heritage architectural masterpieces of Rue Saint Jacques.
We visited here for lunch before checking in at the InterContinental, choosing it on the spot via Google Maps.
Although the 4.3 rating made us hesitate briefly, we decided to go in because the exterior looked trustworthy & reliable.
The building exterior has a classic Old Montreal charm, & the interior is cozy & beautifully designed, creating a wonderful atmosphere. They also have an outdoor patio space, which looks great for dining during nice weather.
The lunch menu was reasonably priced & the portions were satisfying. The appetizers were pleasant, & the fusilli pasta course was a bit salty, but still delicious. The main filet mignon steak felt like finding the best tenderloin steak of my life. It was cooked to a perfect medium-rare, & the meat was incredibly tender & pillowy soft.
The service from the staff was welcoming & polite. It is recommended Italian spot near the hotel.
Jul 3, 2026
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Unfortunately, our experience was disappointing. The food took quite a while to arrive, & when it finally did, half of the dishes were cold & had to be sent back to the kitchen. For the price point, especially with pastas around $38, the quality did not meet our expectations.
That being said, the service team handled the situation professionally. They were very apologetic throughout the evening & kindly offered us dessert as a gesture of goodwill. While I appreciate their efforts to make things right, the food itself fell short of what we expected.
I personally really enjoyed my fish (linguini scampi). It was rich & creamy & the scampi was fresh & not rubbery at all. I went for a party with some friends & two of them both felt sick after eating. One of my friends ordered the taglionini & they were soo salty she only had a few bites of her meal & had a stomach ache the rest of the night. The waiter had implied that this was one of the restaurants signature dishes which & it was disappointing. Another friend of mine ordered the carbonara & she enjoyed it much more, but similarly the dish was way too salty & hard to finish. For a restaurant serving $40 pasta dishes you can get better elsewhere. The waiter also tried taking away our octopus appetizer dish when there was still half of it left & didn't even ask before trying to clear the dish. Lastly, we had reservations at 8:45 that we made two months in advance & we didn't get seated until 20 minutes later. I had this restaurant in my list for a long time & after finally going, I wouldn't go back & wouldn't recommend it either.
Took the kids here on a Tuesday afternoon & it was honestly one of the easiest family meals we've had in a while. The staff were super welcoming & didn't bat an eye when my youngest made a mess of the table. We ordered the pasta & it was simple, fresh, & exactly the kind of food that pleases everyone without a fuss. We'll definitely be back, probably on our next low-key weekend when we want something relaxed without having to plan too much.
Service started out great but we had multiple people attending to us which made it difficult to know who to ask when we needed something. I prefer to have 1 server per table. The hosts were so sweet & accommodating even when we needed to modify our reservation time last minute. The ambience is great - but the tables & chairs felt a bit flimsy which I found odd. The food was pretty good. The bone marrow pasta was touch dry, but still delicious. The potato tortellini was so rich, but I really enjoyed it. Others claim the portions are small but I felt they were fine. There aren't many options for vegans, but there are some for vegetarians! The highlight was the tiramisu! I don't normally like it, but my friend really wanted it so we gave it a try & this is a dessert I would eat over & over again! Great wine selection.
We always have a delicious meal here. It's definitely on the pricier side but honestly never disappoints. All of the pasta are incredible but the carbonara & tagliolini with buffalo butter are highlights!
Had an absolute pleasure to dine at Stelina recently & it was fantastic. The knowledge & service JJ gave us was incredible to say the least. Big thank you to the chefs behind the scene as well to the bartenders. The food was delicious & we left very impressed & satisfied. The pasta dishes are a must try families.
-Insanely small portions for the exorbitant price of each dish. It's almost insulting to hard working people who enjoy going out.
- Calamari appetizer had a total of literally 8 calamari with the batter falling off them, mixed in a plateful of roasted green peppers, to hide the lack of calamari. Why serve them if they're too expensive for you?
- Burrata is not a whole ball of burrata at all- served on a few grilled peaches, with no bread ( 8$ Extra for a microscopic piece of'Focaccia' that is smaller than a McDonald's cheeseburger bun.) It's simply embarrassing. & Who does one think they are charging 50$ for a plate of pasta?
For Italians who know good homemade, authentic food from Nonna, for young people that go out to restaurants often, it's definitely disappointing all in all. Crazy prices for pasta & extremely mediocre appetizer/mains portions. The 5 star reviews are severely exaggerating. Please don't take people for granted with abusive prices & portions thinking we don't notice these things. Based on the responses by the owner to other well-deserved bad reviews, it's clear his ego's larger than caring about what people actually say in their honest reviews.
