Since opening in May, Stella has been attracting considerable attention with its smouldering good looks, irresistable Italian fare and cheeky cocktails.......

Published Porter Airlines, October, 2006

The dish on Stella

Bustling Market eatery serves up comfort food with
contemporary edges  
The Ottawa Citizen

Published: Sunday, July 09, 2006

"Stella is the new girl in The Market, playing to full houses"

"Once in you are struck by a welcoming aroma of garlic and grilled shrimp, and once seated, you can't help but admire how well Stella looks."

"The room achieves a dramatic effect with a narrow range of tones -- all those fashionable earth colours, beiges and browns and tans, darkened rusts and bits of bronze -- within a frame of aged brick, to which is added polished marble, dark mirrors and large oils, massive sprays of flowers and rows of fat pillar candles."

"Plate portions are generous, not fussy, and the prices -- particularly in the pasta and pizza section -- are kept in a relaxing range."

"generously served"

"The porcelain-coloured buffalo milk mozzarella makes the tomato, asparagus salad memorable, and the obese meatball rising out of the minestrone (a very tasty brew of vegetables, beans, bacon and fresh thyme, perfectly seasoned) is a meal in itself."

"Pasta choices are winners. The linguine is perfectly cooked, moistened with an oceanic broth, wrapped around fresh Manilla clams, chunks of pancetta, sauteed grape tomatoes, basil and sweet nuggets of garlic. Al dente cavatelli (gnocchi-shaped pasta) soak up an herbed and buttery broth, with wild mushrooms and wilted spinach, and on top, short ribs, slow-braised and succulent."

"Duck is delicious, a thin layer of fat beneath a deeply bronzed skin gives flavour and juiciness to the pink flesh beneath. A dried cherry sauce plays the fruit-with-game card very nicely."

"For dessert, the warm chocolate cake, here called "fallen," is a delicious rendition of this popular dessert -- its moist, dark insides oozing into a sauce of caramel, another of milk chocolate. A few local strawberries tart it up and a scoop of walnut studded vanilla gelato provides the cool relief."

"So Stella has lots going for her: comfort Italian food with contemporary edges, a beautiful decor, an exciting atmosphere."

Hey, Stella!

Published Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Ron Eade - Editor Food Section, Ottawa Citizen

"Utterly perfect calamari"
"the owners of Stella are fixated on interesting and creative food"
"Chianti-based short rib is heavenly"

For Your Dining Pleasure

Published, Saturday, May 27, 2006
Daniel Drolet, Ottawa Citizen

"Stella Osteria serves up savvy design hits"
"Overall effect is classy, not trendy"