Philly Dining: Pizzeria Stella

As mentioned in my review of the movie Frances Ha, lunch prior to the screening was at Pizzeria Stella (420 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106). Also as previously mentioned, slowly but surely, I aim to get around to all the Stephen Starr restaurants in the city, but he populates them so fast, I doubt I’ll ever catch up; my palate and stomach are willing, but my pocketbook still lags behind.

Actually, Pizzeria Stella is quite affordable for those employed – LOL! Pies range from $11 – $19 and seem to be the exact right size for a party of two. Just don’t ask for meat to be added to a vegetarian pizza, because they’re gonna charge you $5 for one sliced meatball.

We ordered the MARGHERITA san marzano tomato, basil, buffalo mozzarella. $15 (added the meatball $20). I know Stella will be offended by this, but to me their pizza tastes like the Italian restaurant chain Bertucci’s, only perhaps not quite as good. Bertucci’s has the same brick oven, flat style, but just a touch bready-ier and the bottom is generously wisked with oilve oil.

Stella does definitely warrants a return visit. I’d like to try another pizza, or go for the LAMB BOLOGNESE rigatoni, pistachio gremolata or do Antipasta with a rosemary flatbread. See Stella Menu

The beverage menu is celebratory! Not only an extensive wine/beer list. But I’d love to try the peach sangria, Italian soda’s and don’t these look fun – KUTZTOWN SARSAPARILLA, KUTZTOWN RED CREAM 3.5 See Stella Beverage Menu

Stella’s House Made Gelato rivals Capogiro’s 4 Tines!

The coffee was rich, but impossible to pour cream out of this shot glass without making a mess.

Here’s what Craig LaBan had to say about the restaurant when he reviewed it back in 2010- The menu is refreshingly small but smart, with a handful of well-crafted starters to round out an easy meal… But it is the dozen or so pizzas that are really worth the occasional
half-hour wait for one of the no-reservations seats. Starr’s crew, led
by culinary director Chris Painter, did their homework, logging hundreds
of miles to investigate the country’s best pizzerias, experimenting
with umpteen dough recipes, adjusting for the ever-changing whims of
temperature and humidity, and fine-tuning the oven’s blaze, down to
timing the occasional fistful of pecan chips – poof! – to keep flames
rolling halfway up that dome. READ MORE Philly.com

I happened to arrive for lunch at Pizzeria Stella, just as they were opening. I asked the manager if I could video tape the layout and look of the restaurant for my review. As you can see, it’s very spacious, a great place for meeting up with a party of 6 or more. Here’s the video (2:02)

Over all, based on my one lunchtime visit – comfort, style, service, pizza sauce, crust, ingredients, hitting pleasure center – 3 Tines.