Thursday night. Quiet. I like how the bar is separated from the restaurant. But good golly the restaurant space is dark and the seating is just shy of church pews. Do they really want patrons not to linger? My shrimp and grits was quite tasty. Lots of medium shrimp. Tasty grits. A good smattering of parmesan over the top. Unfortunately the beet salad was fairly flavorless. All the components seemed to be there but it really needed pizazz. The pan seared red onions needed salt. Lose the afterthought of bleu cheese and toss on some chunks of tangy goat cheese and by all means a sexy dressing was sorely needed. The beets were tender and a nice big portion of salad overall. I rarely drink hard alcohol, but that Pear Tree martini was mighty good. Our server, whose name I did not catch, was excellent - there when you needed her, not obsequious and invisible when you just wanted to be with your dining guests. I will return. read more

I've had 3-star meals here, but lately the kitchen has seemed really off. It's just so inconsistent. The same dish will be radically different from night to night. I just think there's not a lot of care or thought being put into the food. The Mogenson's have a restaurant monopoly in Eau Claire, and I find the food at all their establishments startlingly average. It's too bad, because I've heard new places really struggle to get a foothold because everyone's been eating at Stella's/Mona's/Livery/Mogie's for so long, we've convinced ourselves the food is good and there are no other options. With Stella's, the menu is inventive but the execution is usually lacking. Recently, the kale salad I ordered first came out as a Caesar. Then it took ten minutes to correct this error, despite it being a dead Wednesday night. The kale salad that did arrive made me wish I had just eaten the Caesar -- the kale was brown around the edges and not well-dressed, i.e. dressing and cheese were pooled under it as if the kale had been laid on top and then not tossed. I have had the bourbon pasta a number of times and sometimes it's tasty and sometimes the sauce is watery and flavorless. Burger is really average and always med-well even if you ask for it rare or mid-rare. Sweet potato fries are probably the most consistently good item. All the other pastas I can make at home, better, and for less money. Salmon is usually decent, though nothing groundbreaking in terms of the preparation.At least they seem to be able to not overcook fish, which is saying something. I guess I shouldn't hold Stella's to big city restaurant standards, but I don't know, it just seems like the food is lazy and with a few tweaks it could be a whole lot better. read more

Lovely, delicious food and very very friendly waitstaff. The ambiance is nice and dark. Makes for good conversation. Drinks are cheap (but mixed rather weak :/) Great place to go with family. read more

Service was above standard, and food came out quickly even though they were short on cooks. Our waitress, Heather, was friendly, helpful, and very efficient. My wife was, also able to breastfeed out baby without any discomfort. It was a very enjoyable experience. Excellent fish and appetizers. Country fried catfish with spicy tartar was delicious. Had cheesy portobello for appetizer. Great combination of cheese mushrooms and breading, allows for perfect taste and consistency. For desert we had Cookie Monster which was Guinness Stout with vanilla bean ice cream. It was the perfect beer float, expressing a flavorful creaminess with the thickness and body of the beer. We also enjoyed the banana rum bread which was topped with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. Again, I was not disappointed. The only downside to this experience is that I may be too full to drive home! :) read more

Gross. This happened awhile ago and I should have reviewed it right away but alas....I was too busy puking from the food. I got the catfish dinner and it tasted like whatever they used to clean the grill. I threw up after dinner. Thanks a lot. read more

When we first walked in, I was impressed with the decor, ambiance and feel of the place. However, when we asked to be seated in the back room which serves as the main restaurant through the front bar, I was met by an unpleasant smell and I couldn't place it. The room was also empty, but it was 8:30PM on a weeknight. After two minutes, the smell went away or I quickly became accustomed to it. Every piece of food I tried was outstanding. I am not exaggerating. We started with the crab cakes. They are served with a good dipping sauce, and are thick and flavorful and moist. Really some of the best crab cakes I have had. Also, tried their cornbread which is served with honey butter and it was also very tasty. I had the Stella Cajun-style fried catfish which was served with the smashed potatoes and coleslaw. When the catfish came out without a sauce, I was a little worried, but once I started I couldn't stop eating it even when I was already full. The fish was flavorful, tasty, moist and bone-free. The sides also get high marks from me. I also sampled my brother's Gumbo, and it was spicy yet still very flavorful, and delicious. However, you need to like spicy to eat a whole plate of the Gumbo. The quality of all the seafood I sampled seemed very high. The Stella Bloody Marys were also very spicy and very good. The service was also outstanding as we had a somewhat demanding customer in our party and that smile never left our waitress's face. And it wasn't fakey-fakey, OK?! read more

Stella Blues - Street View - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

If you find yourself in Eau Claire, WI instead of Nawlins, then give Stella Blues a try. Their southern style cooking is about as close as you'll get to the real thing. Let me start by giving a shout-out to our server, Holly, who is only outdone for cheerfulness by Santa Claus! I will remember her positive attitude and attention to service for a long time. She's the benchmark for what servers should aspire to! Now to the food! My wife had the fried chicken. While the crust was crunchy and crispy, personally, I thought the meat was a touch dry as both pieces were boneless chicken breasts. It sure would have been nice to have the option for thighs or legs, which IMHO are better suited to frying. We asked Holly for a suggestion to moisten-up the dish, and she recommended a rémoulade that did the trick. Nonetheless, a southern chicken gravy would have been a better accompaniment. I had the jambalaya. When it first arrived, I thought it was a bit dry, but a quick stir brought up the juices that had sunk to the bottom. I guess my dish was done before my wife's chicken and was sitting for a few minutes. The flavor was very good, and I liked the variation of adding vegetables like zuccinni and squash, along some broccoli. The andouille sausage was delicious, and the whole dish had just the right amount of kick to it. Very good. We split a pecan pie for dessert. The filling was good but I thought the crust was a bit too thick. I also would have appreciated it if it had been heated just a bit. Still, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, it was a nice dessert. We asked for espresso, but unfortunately, the restaurant didn't offer it. One last comment: there's free wireless at Stella Blues, always appreciated. A very nice amenity. All in all, a very good dining experience in a funky room with just the right amount of noise. If I lived in Eau Claire, I'd eat here again for sure, especially if Holly was my server! read more

Went with some friends while we were visiting in town and ended up really disappointed. We sat down right away and had appetizers quickly, but proceeded to wait over an hour and a half to get our main course. The waitress didn't return to fill our water glasses or ask if we wanted more drinks. We saw many people around us getting their food put into to-go boxes as soon as it came from the kitchen, and we ended up doing the same. We had a friend with us who had to work the next morning very early and wasn't expecting to spend 2 hours at dinner, we ended up feeling terrible we kept her awake for pasta that was pretty bland. Just aren't sure what we got spending over 100 dollars for 4 people. Service was bad, food was just ok. We won't be returning. read more

Our server alone would make Stella's worth a return visit- she was great. I wish I could remember your name so your GM could read this and give you a raise. :) They have a great beer list. I got a Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, which I'd never seen on a bar menu before, and rarely have I been so enamored of a beer. Bar prices were reasonable. Our appetizer (calamari) was well prepared and flavorful. Diner #1 got the burger and thought it was okay, and enjoyed the sweet potato fries he upgraded to. Diner #2 got the Portobello and Blue Cheese Sandwich and loved it. Diner #3 got a salad with grilled chicken- fine. I got a cajun pasta dish with crawfish and artichokes, which was good once I salted it. One of the nice things, or one of the let downs, depending on how you feel about spice, is that this is the world's least spicy Cajun food. Very large portions though- more than enough for two whole meals. Definitely worth a trip. read more

Really good place if you find yourself in Eau Claire looking for food that doesn't come in a paper bag. I was a little nervous, Cajun food in West Central Wisco? Not to worry, folks. These people know what they are doing. We started with the cornbread as an appetizer. As a rule, I do not eat cornbread. It is usually dry and I don't like the texture. This cornbread however was so moist and delicious, if could have been served as a dessert (which is exactly what my Mother did!) I got the Salmon served with brown rice and veggies ($18). I ate the entire dish it was so good and the salmon cooked to perfection. It was topped with a lemon dill sauce that was fantastic. We were really happy that we found this place. Great menu options- from high end to low- something for everyone for sure. read more

Stella Blues - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

The food we ordered was utterly delicious . . . The server we had was utterly sweet and helpful . . . and I am utterly devastated that this restaurant isn't in my town so I could go every night! We started with the Cheesy Portabellas, which were incredibly yummy. The combination of portabellas, panko bread crumbs and mozzarella on a cold night just hit the spot. I think the serving size was more for one person rather than two, though. My angel got the Southern Fried Chicken. He loved it, and I loved the piece he gave me to try. It was incredibly tender and juicy despite being white meat . . . how did they do that?! It was delicious! I got the special of the night, which was the Fried Catfish. It was so extremely good. Thinking about it gives me immense joy and immense sorrow. Joy - because it was truly wonderful (my darling loved the piece I gave him so much, and he is SO not a fish person). Sorrow - because I don't think I'll ever be in Eau Claire again; therefore, I may never have this meal again. We probably should have gotten dessert, but we were so stuffed with delicious food, it would've been a sin. Overall, this place is wonderful. Everyone should check this joint out. read more

I'm in town for business and decided to try this place out for dinner. I was impressed, for a few reasons: 1. Friendly waitstaff - Missy (my waitress) was friendly and helpful, and I was hanging out and working for a bit - she wasn't pushy or impatient, but was attentive. 2. Good beer - they have a good selection of beers on tap 3. Wifi - they have free Wifi - which means if you'd rather work from a bar than Panera/Starbucks when on the road, this is the place for you! I was able to sit in the back and get a ton of work done while enjoying some beers and good food. 4. I had the catfish (blackened) and red beans and rice - they were DELICIOUS - and served hot. Overall, a great experience for me here in Eau Claire! read more

Wide variety of drinks, food, & tap beer! Great spot for special occasions and date night! Unique items you won't find anywhere else! 21 taps & 150+ drinks! read more

A very unique and entertaining place to eat. The staff was very attentive, the decor inviting and fun (VERY remeniscent of a Memphis 'blues club'), and the food was very good (the cornbread is worth walking a mile over broken glass to get). We sampled the andouille sausage (perfect!) and the gumbo (a little thick in consistency and too light of a roux flavor for my taste). I had the ettoufe (which turned out to be the gumbo with crawfish over rice) and my wife had the catfish special (killer!!!!!) with the beans-n-rice (ok, but a bit more of a 'pinto' taste than I normally like). The drink menu was fun and they poured an EXCELLENT Patron margirita. My Steller Bloody Mary was ok, but had a very strong 'cheap' pickle taste. They're beer tap selection was extensive and fun. All in all, a very enjoyable experience well worth another trip. read more

This place is wonderful. The service was exceptional, ask for Heather who is an absolute riot. Linda, the owner, was a gracious host who spend time with all the patrons. Drinks and specialty cocktails were better then proclaimed. Cajun food was authentic and tasteful, not the "northern version" of Creole cooking. A definite must if in Eau Claire. read more

I have been to Stella's four times and have yet to be let down. The food is really good and has just the right amount of kick to it. So many of the restaurants in the Eau Claire area are so stale. Burgers, chicken strips, mac & cheese, etc. and this is a nice change. The pricing is right in line with any other sit down restaurant. The parking is a bit funky, they have a lot but it's a block or two away. Not a problem in the summer, but in cold Wisconsin winter it may be? The staff is always helpful, one time the hostess was a grouch, but they were busy and everyone has a bad day. I plan to go back several times! read more

This is one of the best places to eat in Eau Claire! It's so great that the dishes have a Southern flair to them! If you have tried Mona Lisa's and liked it, then this will be a good one for you too since the owners own both places and the dishes are paralleled in a sense. read more

When a server OFFERS "corn bread for the table" and then proceeds to charge it as an upsell on the bill it is shady af. Not to mention it came out 20 mins after the rest of the food. read more

This was my second time there.... One of the best places around. Original Menu, Cool building, indoor and outdoor seating... Great tap list... Trust me on this one, if you are in Eau Claire, give this place a shot. read more

Without a doubt my favorite place in EC. Just had blackened catfish and Arrogant Bastard Ale. Tasty. Always has the best rotation of regional beers on tap. read more

Stella Blues - Monday catfish special - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Why would anyone come to the same restaurant for 12 weeks in a row, and then come 2 nights in a row there last week in Eau Claire? Because this place is that AMAZING! BY FAR THE MOST INCREDIBLE RESTAURANT IN EC!!! I tried a new place every night for weeks, but kept coming back to Stella every single week- I started every meal off with the kale salad- wow... And had a variety of menu items, every single one, with out fail, unbelievably great- Loved the beers and drinks too, awesome service- Everything you expect at a world class restaurant! My only wish is that it wasn't so far from my home- I'm going to miss this place and it will be my 1st stop anytime I'm anywhere near EC. Oh yeah- the atmosphere is also 5-star - lighting perfect, not too noisy, and the building is absolutely beautiful... Must visit! read more

The three of us arrived at opening, we were immeadiately seated (of course!). Ms. Waitress made some excellent recommedations one of which I chose: the seafood fettucine was outstanding. Great beer selection and portion sizes were VERY Midwestern. Oh well, us Midwesterners hate to walk away with room in the gullet. For what you're geting the prices are reasonable. Can't wait to return. read more

Ok, first the good... The service was great, fast and the staff was friendly and accommodating. Deep fried items were great. The burger was good once the banana peppers were removed. The tortellini was good as well. Now the not so good... Chicken and waffles were soggy and drenched in an alcoholic syrup. Almost inedible. Had to scrape the chicken and other toppings off and eat separately. The second attempt at a good waffle was unsuccessful and arrived partially frozen(for these prices I feel at least the waffles should be made fresh). The jambalaya was spaghetti sauce with some rice and chicken. Edible but not worth taking home. The soft shell crab sandwich was bland but mostly edible. I hope this was an off night and the cooks were just warming up since we were one of the first customers at 4pm. It's a cool place and has a lot of potential. I felt bad for the waitstaff to go back with a frozen waffle. read more

I tried this awesome Bloody Stella ( Bloody Mary drink) and the taste of this mixture spiced tomatoes juice with vodka was well balanced. It was not any watering taste either. I would recommend you this drink. Now to the dish, I tried this BLT Salmon sandwich and believe it or not, it was delicious! The salmon was grilled and it got juicy once you take a bite with the bacons. It came with the potatoes bun and the Cajun ranch sauce. Overall, the food they makes were Cajun. It reminds me of the food from New Orleans in Louisiana. Honesty, the list of entrees on the menu have great choices but it was hard to pick the best one to satisfied your belly. Yet, great opinions on the menu! The place was cozy. It felt like you are in urban-antique theme-restaurant which as the concept of going back in late 20's to 50's before retro style came out. I like the wood floors and white tiles floor, wood benches ( seem it was used from a church or train stations back in the days) and awesome wood chairs.The inside is red for the most and good lighting. It not loud or any surprising white noises. It was comfortable and lots of space. It a great place to social with friends and have couples that are on the dates. read more

Stella's is one of my go-to places in Eau Claire. Is the food really Cajun? No, but its a reasonable approximation of Cajun food for Wisconsin palates. That said, the food is generally quite good. While my SO and I have had a miss or two on occasion, overall the food quality is very solid and the service is also good. The drink menu is pretty extensive--there are 30+ different martinis and an additional dozen mojitos. My only knock on Stella's is that the menu is pretty staid--we have been going there for over a decade and I am pretty sure I could count on one hand the number of new menu items that have appeared in that time, but that is a minor issue and I would argue Stella's definitely ranks in the upper-tier of restaurants in the Eau Claire area. read more

We had dinner here a few weeks ago...service was weird on a quiet Thursday nightZ. Hard to explain other than to say it was a bit in attentive on a slow night. Love the space. Food was good . I had the scallops. I think we will go back to figure out if we truly like it or if it's the hype. read more

I can envision this place being great fun and food IF it wasn't so cold out or a Tuesday night (which it was when I visited for the first time). I read the other Yelp reviews and I have to disagree about the service being poor - our server was attentive, helpful and friendly. Maybe it was because it wasn't that crowded and this is a big place, but I would not complain about the service. I will complain about the cheese curds. They were cold - which for fried cheese is like jumping into a pool only to find out it is frozen (you've seen that video, right?!!) I MIGHT complain about the gumbo, which we tried based on other Yelp's. The gumbo was unique because it has strips of bacon in it; it had a unit spice, but I would not order it again based on the flavor (bleh) and textures (mushy veggies and hard bits of rice). I ordered the Scallops entree at the top of the menu. No one had mentioned it on Yelp, but the server told me it was definitely a popular item. It, like the gumbo, had strips of BACON throughout. I am definitely a Sooey-Supporter, so this was actually the highlight of the dish for me. The scallops were just "meh" and the side of red beans & rice was disgusting. Another positive aspect - although I am not able to personally vouch for this aspect - is their cocktails and beer selection. Like I said at the beginning, I could envision this place being much better when it is warmer and I could enjoy one (or two :) of their concoctions. read more

Have about 12-15 beers on tap and over half are micro brews. I was hoping to have more than 2 from WI, but both on the menu were tasty. I had the fried chicken, which is a chicken breast with a thin breading and super crispy. The cajun fries were pretty good and the cajun majo was delicious. read more

Food very good-Service...eeh. Waitress did not say specials nor check on us during appetizers. Worst of all, we were still eating the appetizers when she served the entrees. She just put the entree plates on the edge of the table. Wow. The food was very good. Had the stuffed mushroom and the blackened catfish. Drinks was stiff and good priced. If we had a good server, would have been an excellent experience. Three stars overall. read more

Another pleasant Eau Claire surprise. Blackened tuna with beet salad was great, as well as the very long cocktail list (ancho chili margarita!). For a minute I thought we were back in New Orleans! read more

This is a definite out of The Bijou experience. Gumbo with just the right black pepper hints and Okra done right. Cold brews and happy service. Come get your crawfish fix in WI read more

Nice place and layout. Great server who offered excellent advice on tasty drinks. Very affordable. Only downside - skip the classic rock music when not offering live music. read more

I actually really like this spot. I've always enjoyed the dishes that I've had here, and it works well for me. I remember calling to make a reservation once and the staff was somewhat rube, but that didn't deter me from going. read more

this place has really gone down hill, the food and service used to be amazing but i continue to be disappointed every time i go. save yourself and just go to monalisa's! it's so much better which is surprising because they have the same owner. read more

The bacon cheddar cheese curds were a fantastic, unexpectedly melt-in-your-mouth delight. We could have ordered three baskets. The sandwiches we ordered (both under $10) were huge and the catfish fillet was nearly as big as my foot. The Cajun mayo had a nice zing. The dirty rice was alright, next time I will try a different side. The cornbread at another table looked spectac. Will eat at Stella Blues again, need more of those curds in my life. read more

Stella Blues - Catfish Sandwich - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Comfortable casual dining, with good beer selection, excellent food and good music. Usually get the jambalaya which is always excellent. I've been here several times and haven't had a less than good experience. On my short list of places to eat whenever I'm in town. read more

Second time here. Great as always. Got the scallops and they did not disappoint. Always great fixing a gem that I can rely on for business travel. read more

Walking in we were thinking it was going to be a new place to add to our places to go. Service was great. I had the rosemary chicken sandwich and was happy with that. My girlfriend had the crab cake sandwich. This is where it all starts going downhill. We've never had a fishy tasting crab cake. It wasn't good at all. I would pass on that for sure. We also ordered onion rings and fries to go along with our meal. Of course this is extra. When did onions and potatoes become a high price add on item? There is a long, hefty beer and booze offering. However, $6 tap beer? We each had two. In the end we paid $56 for two sandwiches and four beers. Yikes. This is Eau Claire, not Chicago. It's in a sketchy part of town which suggests they got a deal on the property. All in all, it was disappointing. It didn't make in on the list of places to frequent. Honestly the food at The Amber Inn along with great service and prices will continue to keep places like this off our and many local peeps favorite list. Cheers read more

I actually created a Yelp account just to let everyone know how wonderful my meal was at Stella Blues. I had the Pasta Rockefeller. It comes with a chicken, shrimp or sausage option. I chose sausage. It was delicious. The best pasta dish I've ever had. The atmosphere and decor had a hip-antique vibe. The wait staff was incredibly friendly, patient and sincere. Definately worth the stop, even if it might be out of your way. I can't wait to go back and devour/enjoy another entreé. read more

In my opinion, the best place to eat in Eau Claire by far. The atmosphere is fun (though somewhat loud), the decor is cozy and somewhat eclectic, and the food is great. I love the sweet potato fries with the Cajun mayo--- yum! Always have had top notch service as well. Can get pretty busy and I don't think they take reservations... but so worth the wait (just get a drink at the bar!) If you haven't tried this place, you are missing out! read more