La Stella’s Restaurant & Catering (Boca Raton)
La Stella’s Restaurant & Catering, 159 East Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, Florida 33432 (561) 544-2081.
Just got back from eating dinner at La Stella’s…a 30 seat “mom & pop” Italian joint in Boca Raton. Wanna talk about mom-pop?… the lady owner is both waitress/bus-girl…same goes for a family guy-friend who is both waiter/bus-boy. You can check La Stella’s menu/prices/photos at www.lastellasrestaurantandcatering.com.
This evening my “selected” entree was chicken scarpiello (on the bone)—the dish was so loaded with cherry and fried peppers that it was borderline inedible. A guy at the next table, told me-he also thought that the chicken scarpiello was way-way too spicy and that he would need some Rolaids when he got home.
Lucky for me, “my table” also ordered—house salad, gnocchi, eggplant parmigiana, grilled chicken, meat-balls and fresh mozzarella flatbread—which I got to taste… all very good. So, in total—we had 7 dishes, 6 were just fine and 1-was a disaster, which is an .857 batting average.
Just so you know, I found the service to be super-friendly but amateurish…it sort of reminded me of children-stars Shirley Temple and Mickey Rooney “doing a show.” The portions were ok…but too pricey for what showed up. The entrees came with NOTHING…no salad, no pasta side…and get-this, no bread. That’s right, no BREAD. Humor me, take an hour or two…give me the name of the last Italian restaurant that you ate at that didn’t serve you garlic knots or garlic bread or any type of bread. Go for it, I’m looking forward to hearing from you guys.
Let’s sum La Stella’s up this way…a “no-liquor” $142 bill for 4 people was not a good deal. If the owner gets real-waiters, has garlic bread when you sit down, throws in soup or salad–and a pasta side with entrees, gets rid of those “peppers”—Jeff Eats will be back for a second go-round.
La Stella’s is open Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-10pm and Sunday 5pm-9pm.
Hey Jeff,
My wife and I ate at La Stella’s about a month ago. We thought that the food was quite good. We have to agree that the service is very makeshift. We also have to agree that not serving bread is very strange. You are also right on prices. Without getting a salad or pasta as most restaurants do, you end up spending more on things you normally get with your entree.
Jeff,
Don’t let facts stand in the way of your opinions! Delicious bakery fresh bread, both garlic and sans garlic, are served piping hot in generous amounts to anyone who requests it.
You should know because you scarfed down an order of it to the crumb. Chicken Scarpiello is by definition prepared with hot peppers…go ahead, take an hour or two and find me a recipe for it from a reputable establishment that doesn’t have them.
As far as the professionalism of the staff that relocated your party to a table more suitable to your liking on an extremely busy night…there is more than 40 years of high level and standard bearing hospitality experience at work there every night. Does a “real” waiter have to wear a black bow tie and a name tag to impress your underdeveloped service sensibilities? Any member of the loyal and growing legion of La Stella’s culture will attest that no accomodation is ever spared to ensure that each and every guest is treated with the highest level of attentiveness. Your cockeyed and half true report is a reflection of your inadequecies as an observer of epicurean commitment. Stick to reviewing greasy spoons.
Karl, Boca
Several friends recommended this restaurant. My wife and our two adult kids had dinner last week and were far from being impressed. La Stella’s is very small and found the restaurant to be extremely uncomfortable and noisey. The food wasn’t half bad but the service is extremely unprofessional and all over the place. We all thought that the menu was a bit on the high side in that main dishes came with neither a salad or side.
La Stella’s has been in business for less than 1 yr. It has load of really good competition. With a professional hand running this restaurant it might have a chance to make it.
Sometime ago you wrote about Philomena’s which is in Pompano. Same kind of place with 30 seats or so. Only difference is that a 75 year old real Italian lady is running the show and the whole homey atmosphere works.
La Stella’s should check Philomena’s out for some lessons.
Karl Alterman: Just had a chance to read your post.
Not sure who you are, but you really have no idea as to what you are yapping about. I’m gonna assume that you were the male-friend who was working there.
Why in the world would I mention the lack of bread, if it wasn’t true? THERE WAS NO BREAD. Do you really think that I pull this stuff out of a top hat? Obviously you do.
Karl, while I’m replying…my chicken dish was so “spicey” that I couldn’t eat it. As a matter of fact, a gentlemen sitting at the next table, also commented to me that he had ordered the same dish and it was terrible and too seasoned.
Let’s talk service. I ordered a Coke. The waitress/owner brought a glass filled with Coke. When I asked for a refill, she returned with a partially filled can of Coke and poured the Coke into my glass. The proper way to refill a glass, is for the waitress to remove the glass from the table and bring a fresh filled glass back.
Look…I could go on and on–on how “mom & pop” this joint really is, but I’d just be wasting my breath on you.
Good luck with La Stella’s, because you are going to need a lot of it to stay in business, if last night’s meal-service is indicative of the way the restaurant is run.
Thanks for reading…
I think you got this all wrong…I have visited La stellas several times and each time was beyond impressed..being from providence,RI where Italian food is a staple…I feel la stellas food is just as good, if not better…in such a small place I felt it quite welcoming with such a small staff..it makes me feel as if i am a pampered guest in someone’s home…I will continue to recommend this to all my friends in the south FL area and have yet to hear different from anyone I sent in there.
karl,
you obviously have some connection to the owner. bashing jeff eats is a bad move. i have followed jeff eats for years and he calls it as he sees it. since jeff eats doesnt accept advertising he is beholding to no one. if jeff eats says there was no bread i would literally bet that there was no bread. i carefully read his writeup and he said that 6 out of 7 dishes were good. most baseball players would die for a average like that. if he says that the service was unprofessional i’ll bet you that it probably was.
I have eaten at LaStellas many, many times and loved it every time. I always asked and received very good bread….
The portions are very large..and like many restaurants are served a la carte…
I think everyone should check out this local gem and make your mind up yourself. It’s unfortunate that Jeff didn’t have a good experience but I always had a wonderful dinner and experience…Check out LaStellas!!!
ALL I KNOW IS THAT WHEN I ATE AT LA STELLA’S THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE SEE THROUGH GLASS KITCHEN WINDOW. ONE GUY PUTTING THE FOOD TOGETHER WAS WEARING A BASEBALL CAP AND LOOKED LIKE A MEXICAN TO ME!! I LIKED THE FOOD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Jeff, Really? I have NEVER been to an Italian restaurant where bread automatically comes to the table! You have to order it AND PAY for it! If LaStella’s were giving away free bread the place would be packed with unwanted customers. As for your bill of $142, that seems like a very reasonable amount considering you ordered 7 entrees. I have dined at LaStellas and the service is impeccable and quite accommodating considering we had 2 young children with us.
E.P.
Thanks for bringing this out Jeff. I can tell that you are definitely right about the lack of professionalism at this restaurant. A classy restaurant owner would normally come on to a blog like this and thank you for trying their restaurant as well as promise to make things better the next time you come in…
I haven’t been to LaStella, and quite frankly, I must say that I have no intention to do so after reading Karl’s rant.
Remember Karl…Service With a Smile!
Jeff…..what planet are you from? The food and service at LaStellas were as good as it gets. The waite staff were courteous, gracious and attentive. Each guest is greeted like a friend and made to feel special. The food is better there than at most every other Italian restaurant I have ever been to….including those with much higher prices. I agree with E. Perry. $142 for 7 entrees is quite a deal.
Laughing my behind off at some of the comments here. Like the one where E. Perri says that EP has never been in an Italian restaurant where bread automatically came to the table. Obviously this person hasn’t been to too many Italian restaurants. Or the one where Karl who works there tells Jeff Eats that Jeff Eats definitely got bread.
All I know is that if Jeff said no bread, there was no bread. Otherwise why would he even mention it.
The comment by David L makes sense. The owner or worker Karl should be apologizing for not doing a better job not belittling Jeff Eats. Jeff didn’t like HIS DISH and that’s his call and he is entitled to his own opinion.
I ain’t going to this joint.
My wife and I eat out regularly. We live in East Boca and have been in a large number of Italian restaurants. We have also eaten in many others.
Awhile back Jeff Eats did a story on Copper Canyon which in a nutshell said that the food and service stunk. Right after the story appeared numerous comments appeared some agreeing with Jeff Eats and some going the other way. My wife and I ate at Copper Canyon 2 weeks ago and Jeff Eats was so right that it wasn’t even in funny. When we look back the positive comments we realized that the pro writers were either owners or friends of owners or idiots because any sensible person would know that the food in general was over seasoned and that the service stunk from high heaven. The guy who does the reviews in the Sun Sentinel also had the same comments as Jeff Eats did.
On this La Stella’s, we see the same pattern forming. Jeff Eats didn’t like something and all of a sudden positive comments start to pour out, same goes for the negatives ones. The only way to know for sure who is right or wrong is to try La Stella’s for ourselves.
This time unlike Copper Canyon we won’t try this restaurant. For KARL who apparently is an owner or waiter to tell Jeff Eats that Jeff Eats had bread is ludiocrous. Jeff Eats knows and doesn’t know whether or not he got bread. There is no reason whatsoever for Jeff Eats to even mention this if it didn’t really happen.
So KARL you won’t see us.
This time we go with the critic.
IF YOU WANT GREAT ITALIAN FOOD, Go to Casa D’Angelo 171 East Palmetto Park Road which is a few doors down from La Stella’s which is at 159 East Palmetto Park Road.
La Stella’s is a joke.
Don’t know a thing about La Stella’s. What I do know is that Stella’s Pizzeria which is located at 19585 State Rd. 7 in Boca Raton is a great pizza hole in the wall. Maybe they have 5 tables. Some of the best NY style pizza, pastas going. They always have specials. My favorite pizza.
Big fan of Nino’s, Renzo’s, Matteo’s, Dominic’s II, Augy’s, Villa Venezia, Carlo’s all in Boca. EVERYONE OF THEM PUTS A BREAD TRAY ON THE TABLE WITHOUT THE CUSTOMER EVER ASKING.
If Jeff says that chicken was over spiced, no bread, rookie service, then it happened. The guy wasn’t voted top every day food blog by the Sun Sentinel in 2009 for nothing.
Jeff,
I just finished reading your review, and I must share a few points. First, your writing style and I’m being generous by calling it style, is neither coherent or even vaguely grammatical. It’s only your sense of self importance that comes through (it certainly explains your need for financing your own amateurish website). Furthermore, calling yourself an expert because you eat out often makes most South Floridian experts, but most likely with more knowledge about food than yourself. Now I’m probably wasting my time pointing all this out since your lack of food education is probably on par with your remedial communication / grammar skills. (Note: People aren’t bred, they are reared, but perhaps you’re the exception.) I’m wondering if you didn’t miss the mark as a purveyor of “joints’ when you stepped into a restaurant. Joints usually don’t do ala carte, so perhaps you’re equally non-plussed when your sub doesn’t come with chips and a drink. In addition, dishes that you don’t understand, nor appreciate may have more to do with an uneducated palate then being an arbiter of fine dining. Even knowing that you’re calling 6 out of 7 dishes ‘fine’, you still rant on peevishly about your need for free bread on the table waiting (I’m just guessing that you might measure food quality first by the poundage delivered.) In the future, I might advise you to think twice on your use of baseball analogies, since an average of .857 is twice that of the best ever; so opining that
in relation to baseball is nonsense. I hope when people read this, they consider your abilities and seek out a reviewer / critic worth reading.
Tried about five weeks ago.
Food is fair.
Very small restaurant.
Nothing memorable.
Long time reader. I see that owners and friends are trying to flood the site with positive comments. Instead of talking about the food they are talking about Jeff Eats. Amazingly they don’t get it. He has the site and they don’t. They are coming to him not vice versa. The more they write the higher the review goes up in Google and Yahoo search. They are defeating their own purpose. I thought that Jeff gave a fair review. he said that out of 7 dishes 6 were good that service was friendly but a bit amateurish. Nothing too terrible as matter of fact in his own style he pointed out what a high batting average the food got. The bread story means nothing but if Jeff says that there wasn’t any you can rest assured that there wasn’t any. I have eaten all over the world and most restaurants just put bread on the table. It seems at this restuarant you have to ask for bread. Which tells me that it is probably watching the money and that business isn’t all that strong. I have eaten at Casa D’ Angelo many times and have walked by La Stella’s many times. The review and banter convinced me to just keep walking bye. I’ll stick with Casa D’Angelo, Matteo’s and others in the area. One last thought. If I recall correctly, Jeff way back didn’t like Casa D’ Angelo’s Ft Lauderdale location either.
For $31.50 a person YOU SHOULD GET BREAD WITHOUT HAVING TO ASK FOR IT.
Keep up the great reviews. You are one of a kind. Not always right, not always wrong, but you call it like you see it.
maxie & karl and others,
one of the best things about Jeff Eats is the Comment Section. not an expert here, but I am almost sure that Jeff Eats can publish the comments that he wants and delete those that he doesn’t want. from your comments, it appears that Jeff Eats publishes ALL comments whether they are favorable to his position or not.
i don’t always agree with Jeff Eats’ picks but I do enjoy the blog.
i think Karl what you should have done was ask Jeff Eats to try La Stella’s again not try and tell the guy what he did and didn’t do.
as for you Maxie, you write like an imbecile. you didn’t talk about La Stella’s you talked about Jeff Eats.
trust us many readers, we love his style and appreciate that some folks like you just don’t get a creative guy’s energy.
I don’t know much about Jeff Eats nor do I know about the owner(s) of LaStella’s Restaurant, but I have something to say about small business.
The U.S. economy is largely consumer driven, spurring 60-70% of U.S. growth.
Small businesses are the engine of our economy and our nation’s economic recovery, in addition to driving job creation. At this time the nation’s average unemployment rate will likely tick higher in 2010, to match 1982’s peak at 9.7%. Therefore, when idividuals criticize businesses producing quality products you are doing an injustice to this country’s economic future.I can only come to the conclusion that those individuals do not share the same camaraderie as other Americans. Please just take a moment to think about that and maybe you can channel your criticism toward the disingenuous group of businesses and members of our society.
Wow! Looks like a ton of comments on this one. One thing always mentioned in blogs is the fact that there can be false reviews, either positive or negative. Jeff’s blog is positioned toward the common man. Sure we can read critics in the sun sentinel, or new times etc and they have some good points, but their business is reviewing restaurants. Jeff tells it like he sees it. We are not looking for fancy writing just his straight opinion. I am sure several of the positive comments here on this place are fake. I have agreed with virtually every review by jeff. Keep in mind that you can have a bad experience or meal at any place. The restaurant business is super tough. However to creidt Jeff as he will sometimes go back to a place for another try. I also give him credit for letting these comments post. SOme bloggers would just delete it. Rob
For $142 four people can have a top shelf meal at Matteo’s which is tried and proven Italian restaurant right down the street from La Stella’s. For half that amount four people can have a great meal at one of the really good mom & pop’s in Boca like Augy’s or Nino’s or Dominic’s I or II.
I like Jeff Eats. I like a guy who calls as he sees it. It’s his personal opinion but thus far over the years he has usually been right on the mark.
I don’t like some of the negative posters here. They were not talking about the review but rather about Jeff Eats the person. Bad move, cause I kind of think that all of the positive comments are from the owners and their friends.
I won’t be dining at La Stella’s.
There are plenty of other Italian restaurants that I got to try.
Thanks,
JH
Karl Alterman: You are full of crap.
The fact of the matter, my wife and I dined with Jeff and his wife the night that he has written about. We arrived earlier than Jeff and were seated at a hi-top which was fit maybe for 2. When Jeff arrived, we decided that if we couldn’t have a regular table for 4, we would try another restaurant. At first, YOU didn’t want to give us an empty 4 top which had a reserved sign on it, in fact you told us that you didn’t have enough chairs (there were only 3 at the table)but the woman owner said to give us the table and miraculously from the BACK in the kitchen area you found another chair for us.
The facts are simple. The woman owner never put bread on the table and never asked us if we wanted any bread.
We ordered 2 1/2 salads, flatbread, gnocchi and 4 entrees. Jeff’s was HORRENDOUS. After taking two bites, he was FINISHED. I, my wife and Jeff’s wife also tasted his dish and it was HORRENDOUS. By the way, the 5 people sitting next to us, also told us that the chicken scarpiello which one of the gentlemen had also ordered was terrible.
Now for the rest of the meal. The flatbread was good. But it arrived LUKEWARM. Jeff said not to make a big deal over it, so we ate it. But like I said, LUKEWARM.
The salads were good.
I had the meatballs. They were excellent. The dish came with one piece of toasted bread.
My wife had the eggplant. She liked it.
Jeff’s wife had a grilled chicken breast. She really enjoyed it.
Two drinks were ordered. My wife had a diet Coke and Jeff had a regular Coke. The woman owner refilled Jeff’s drink at the table from a partially filled Coke can. Sorry, sonny, but that’ not the way it is suppose to be done.
There was a large party maybe 10 people, there was the 5 top and us 4. The 10 people were very loud. Throw in the fact that you had some drumming music playing while we were there, you couldn’t hear what others were saying.
We ordered at 7:30pm and our main dishes didn’t come out until after 8:30pm. A bit of wait, wouldn’t you say?
The woman who owns this restaurant was very pleasant. Trust me, she isn’t a professional waitress and it showed big time.
During the hour plus we were there, not once did I see you or the woman ever go into the Kitchen. You have a glass see through and all I saw was a man and woman serving up the orders. I couldn’t careless, but there is absolutely no way that they were Italian. My money says they were from somewhere in Latin America. The guy was wearing a baseball cap, didn’t look like a chef to me. Let’s just say, you see guys and gals like this at joints like Cannoli Kitchen and pizza by the slice places. Now I could be wrong here, but these two people are in no way or shape chefs. They were just reheating prepared food and plating it.
Although this wasn’t the best meal. We spent $142 which included a 20% tip on the meal plus tax.
I think you will find that Jeff when he is reviewing doesn’t pass comment to the owners during the meal. That’s why we didn’t say anything about the flatbread or chicken dish.
I wish you no bad, but you guys are amateurs. Trust me, I am 61 years old and have eaten in restaurants all over this country and abroad. You think that you are running something “special” well my friend you aren’t. What you are running is a nickel dime operation that is existing on a wing and a prayer.
If you got some professionals in there to help you, you guys might have a chance, but for now, I give you very little chance of lasting more than a few more months. Wait to the Summer time comes,you will be sucking wind.
By the way, if I were you I would have my eyes check, because you absolutely didn’t see Jeff eating bread at our table.
One other thing, you remind me of actor Brad Garrett who starred in the Ray Romano series. You know, the big doofy brother.
That’s the facts. You looooose.
M.S.
I love Brad Garrett! Mickey Rooney too! So which am I? That is a pretty apt illustration of how extremely off kilter you and your friend are.
If you have eaten in restaurants “all over the country and abroad”, you have undoubtedly have been dining on fare prepared by and proudly served by hard working Latino American chefs.
A Latino American is qualified to sit on the Supreme Court but is not credible as a culinary professional. Are you serious?
It is the year 2010; wake up and smell the marinara…all chefs that ply their trade in Italian restaurants don’t look like Chef Boy ar Dee.
Maybe you need to start drinking caffeine free Diet Cokes…you seem a bit wound up!
Hi I am Jamie Barlow the “lady owner” of Lastella’s. I am sorry that you think my service was unprofessional, Jeff. However, at LaStellas we do deliver bread to the table. You didn’t receive it when I removed your menu because you ordered a flat bread. Again, my apologies. At this time I would like to offer anyone that comes into LaStella and mentions Jeff Eats a free glass of wine.
Jamie Barlow: Just had a chance to read your post.
Based on your “comment” I guess I was correct when I indicated that NO BREAD WAS SERVED. To be honest with you, no big deal, as you seem to be a super nice hardworking lady. That said, your pal Karl Alterman wrote saying that and I quote, “…you scarfed down an order of it to the crumb.”…obviously, your pal either needs glasses or is a LIAR.
Very bad move… having Mr. Alterman fight your battles. As you can see from many of the comments, many of my readers weren’t too happy with his bogus claims. Don’t know if MOXIE and several others are your “pals”–the bet is that they are– but attacking me personally, doesn’t cut it.
The facts are simple. Most of your food was good. There was no bread. The service isn’t “pro” you- yourself now admit that bread never made it to the table and I am sure you recall refilling my glass of Coke from a can.
Based on my review, I don’t think that any of my readers will look to cash in on your “free glass of wine”…they know that I call it like I see it.
Good luck with your restaurant.
Thanks for reading…
Once again Jeff Eats comes out on top. I note with interest the comment from owner Jamie Barlow who admits that Jeff’s party was not served bread. Jeff calls it like he sees it. No dicking around. No games. What is is and what isn’t isn’t. Obviously the owner knew when to fold her cards, because her employee Karl and other friends were just making a bigger mess for her.
I have eaten at LaStella’s. Was it the best Italian meal that I have had, no! Being Italian and a New Yooorker to boot from the Bronx, I kind of think that I know what Italian food is all about. My mother was a good cook, but my nonna Linda was the best ever. I see on the menu the word GRAVY, so somebody is trying to play Italian here. Now with names like Barlow and Alterman I don’t think that the owners have much Italian heritage going for them. Now that doesn’t mean that they can’t cook good Italian food, but something might just be lost in the translation.
The food was good, far from being great. When you eat in a Chinese restaurant you kind of expect Chinese waiters, at least I do. When I go to an Indian restaurant, Indian waiters. You get the picture? Miss Barlow is a pretty lady that looks like she could be running an art gallery in Soho. Don’t recall seeing anyone who looked like Brad Garret.
I tried LaStella’s once. Onto the next one.
My family and I are repeat customers of La Stella’s. They’ve catered several of our dinner parties anywhere from 12 to 35 people. The food is consistently delicious and our guests are always more than happy (and leaving with leftovers!). They pull it off with class and professionalism every time. La Stella’s may be the new kid on the block, but I have all confidence they will here for the long haul.
I have no doubts that Jeff calls it as he sees it but I do doubt that someone who drinks coke with dinner has a sophisticated palate…no matter how many meals they have under their belt.
Wow! somebody’s panties are in a wad! My husband and I eat at La Stellas regularly and love it! We have dinner parties for 4 up to 12 and have never had anything but high quality food with the most attentive staff who really does care!
Your description of the “lady/owner/bussboy” is one of the most genuine hard working ,caring, educated girls I have seen in S Fla. She has credentials and experience with a resume that would blow you out of the water! That is a fact. Her catering is beyond superb along with her own personal culinary skills! I’ve seen her catering skills handle a a small personal party to a crowd of 800 for big events. They love her professionalism and culinary delights!
By the way I must comment on a JEFF EATS pick………ROCCOS TACOS! You thought it was one of the best in S Fla? How can you complain about a silly bread basket at La Stellas when ROCCOS charges $$ for simple chips and salsa, $12 for guacamole, and margaritas almost at $15. That’s not a good Mexican joint…come on!
I will continue to dine at La Stellas and bring new customers there continually! I support the locals where I live when they earn it. Thanks again
This is my first visit to a food Blog, however my profession ( in the Audio Video industry)requires my participation in similar activities. I’d like to comment on JEFF’s review of La Stellas. I have frequented Jamie Barlow’s restaurant since it opened. Often. My experiences have been satisfying and enjoyable. Both Jamie and Karl form a team that is professional and skilled. I realize that a food experience is highly subjective and eating in nearly 200 restaurants can seem to make someone an expert, but I can respectively say it only make you a hobbyist. Jamie or more appropriately Chef Barlow– yes, she attended one of the most prestigious culinary schools, and graduated– has started a unique and eclectic dinner spot in East Boca. BTW– it may not be for everyone, but if you want to support an Owner/Chef who obsesses over fresh ingredients and classic preparation, call and make a reservation- you won’t be disappointed Your so called “followers” are lazy– the way to find out about the best eating spots, is to frequent a few successful one’s and befriend the wait staff or bar tenders, they know the “buz” and who is making as mark locally!
I’ve been reading Jeff Eats since he first started the site. I have never seen so many comments come up in a 2 day period. I got a sneaking suspicion that all of the positive ones are coming from the owner’s friends. They write like some graduates from Smith College. Stuff like supporting local merchants and culinary schools. They talk about dinner parties that were catered.
Look! We are trying to find good reasonable restaurants in Florida. We drink Coke with our veal parm. We are not looking for bs about classically trained chefs and other assorted crap.
What amazes me is that Jeff Eats said that 6 out of 7 ordered dishes were just fine. He only found one to be really bad. These guys are just aggravated because their owner pal didn’t get a great writeup.
By the way, Rocco Tacos is packed every night and is great. It probably is one of the best Mexican restaurants in Florida.
If La Stella’s got the crowds and business that Rocco’s gets, Miss Barlow wouldn’t have to play waitress every night. She would be home counting her money and making bank deposits.
Live and learn.
FR
Food B
Service C
Price C
TA: Rocco’s Tacos is one of the hottest restaurants in Boca Raton. I was there two weeks ago on a Friday night and there was a 1 hour wait to get in. Every table inside and outside was taken, same goes for every bar stool. Rocco’s most be doing something right, my friend. There are two of them and both are slamming it. Now on the other hand, your La Stella’s has maybe 30 seats and every time I have walked passed it, never ate there, there were plenty of empty seats. Man, you are desperate to pump up your pal’s restaurant. You just picked the wrong one to compare it with. Sort of like comparing Babe Ruth to some minor leaguer. Get real!!!!
throwing down the gauntlet here.
i challenge anyone and everyone to eat the chicken scarpiello at Lastella’s and then eat the chicken scarpiello at Nino’s in boca raton and honestly and truthfully say which one is better.
my money says that Jeff has this one dead on.
First I want to thank JEFF for posting my last comments( #33). I did want to wrap up with a few thoughts. First, looking at other reviews, and the volume of comments generated, it looks like the visit to La Stellas has been a boon to both JEFF and La Stellas. Jeff has his supporters, and La Stellas theirs- controversy breeds interest, and for that I can only thank JEFF. Who would have guessed that a basket of bread could be so interesting? However, there is something that needs addressing, the comments by MS ( #25) are completely out of line with respect to the chefs preparing the meals. Omar is one of the most respected in South Florida, and has never ” reheated prepared food” in his career- and is owed an apology. MS- can you admit to the slander? Like the food- don’t like it- but all food is prepared fresh, from scratch… From Chef Barlow’s repertoire.
OMAR THE CHEF.
If a tony, angelo, maria, marco, bobby, ricky, jimmy, johnny, nino, michael, fredo, angelina, ain’t cooking, i’mmmma passing.
O M A R,
I have eaten at La Stella’s many times and I have to say that I have never been disappointed . I enjoy the warm greeting and always feel welcome. The food is outstanding and as is the service. Jamie, keep up the work.
Well Tony, at least you admit your a bigot- I’ll give you that. Or maybe your just closed minded. Ever heard of Rick Bayless? Not Mexican, but considered the Culinary Authority on such matters, These mixtures occur in the 21st century, come out of your stupor.
Jeff,
This has been a lot of fun! Thanks to you and the Jeffheads for making the internet so entertaining. Your “guess” is wrong…she never made such an admission. Bread was served with salads. Sorry that it wasn’t delivered with the pizza. I know that you can’t go back on this now…but you know, without a doubt; that bread was served and devoured at your table!
I need to buy some used kitchen equipment, appliances and tables and chairs. Looking forward to picking up same from LaStella’s when it goes bankrupt in a few months. BK is a all but a certainty. I ate there and unless the landlord abates the rent these clowns are running a piss poor circus. I got my eye on that convection oven that sticks out like a sore thumb which you can see via the pass through window.
Just watch!
The game film was reviewed. It is official, NO BREAD SERVED. JEFF EATS 10–LA STELLA’S 6.
Reading Jeff on La Stella’s and 44 comments got me real hungry for some real good Italian food. Going to stuff my face at Matteo’s tonight, http://www.matteosrestaurants.com.
Larry Fine, I thought you were dead. Say hello to Moe, Shemp, Curly for me. Loved your shorts.
barlow sounds like a sincere owner. alertman sounds like a clown jackass. the guy doesn’t know when to give something a rest. if barlow has any chance of making a go with La Stella’s she can’t have a clown representing her restaurant.
there are so many italian restaurants in the boca-delray-boynton-pompano area that La Stella’s can’t afford to even alienate even one potential customer.
i ate at Renzo’s last night and will try Mr. G’s that Jeff recently recommended this coming week.
sorry La Stella’s but i don’t see me eating at your restaurant in the near or distance future.
To Mr MS! you hope someone in a small business like LaStellas will be SUCKING WIND in the summertime? What a horrible mean thing to say! Why dont you just drive back to the restaurant and spit in the owners face? You are rude, arrogant and self righteous! Your coward face would never tell a restaurant owner this in person instead you use a blog to hide behind to banter. I will NEVER reccommend JEFFEATS blog to anyone or will I put ant importance on his diner dining comments as he keeps the company of someone like you. Thanks for showing us who you are!
TA, touchy touchy, touchy. I read what MS said and he didn’t “hope” anything bad for LaStella’s, the guy just expressed an opinion. In addition what in the world does Jeff Etas have to do with MS’s comments?
You obviously don’t know the S. Florida restaurant market. The Summer is when players who are just marginal usually fail. The population here becomes relatively small so tthe marginal players fold up.
Get a life and learn to live with reality.
BB
Going to give LaStella’s a try this week. Will report back.
Thanks,
BB