I hadn't been to Stella in their new location. I had very fond memories of the old one. I was extremely disappointed. The new place is lovely, much more spacious than the old one. For starters, the service was terrible. Granted, we were seated at the bar, but I don't see why that means we could only have one menu. And I don't understand why it took 10 minutes before they took our order, or why they only checked in with us only once to see if everything was OK when we had ordered more than one course. The food was better than the service, but not by much. We started with the antipasto plate. The prosciutto was almost inedible. it tasted fine, but there were large chunks of something or other that made it impossible to chew. Forget cutting it with a knife. The cheese was cold, not room temperature, cold. The beans were crunchy. On the other hand, the salami was good as were the peppers. And the focaccia was out of this world, my husband enjoyed his pasta. I got the osso buco. it was a generous portion, and the meat was quite good, but there was a spice, possibly nutmeg, that was way too strong and did not please my palate. I was disappointed that the dish was not served with a marrow spoon. All in all, it was a decent dinner, but I would not pay that much at this restaurant again. read more

My fiancé and I celebrate all our meaningful events at this place! It's decently quiet, the staff is attentive, excellent cocktails. But their is one thing that keeps us coming back. The truffle gnocchi...is...to...die...for. Seriously, don't miss this dish when you check this place out! read more

Sat at the bar with Rhonda, she was great. Read about this place on yelp but couldn't get a reservation. About 6 seats at the bar that are all people eating, first come first serve. Place was packed, had some really good wine and a great meal Great place and the bar is an excellent option if you can't get a rez. read more

Service is mediocre . Drinks were the worse Our server was extremely rude and always seems to be in a rush . Food was decent but overpriced This place is full of older people . Boring as F... Definitely NOT recommended. read more

absoulutly NOT WORTH THE MONEY . awful service on X mas eve.. are waitess had no personality not friendly nor on her job .. never showed up to ask how things are .. we repeadely had to ask for refils on soda .. even though we ordered expensive wine AND MARTINIS . The food portions were very small .. the Gnocchi was not right and VERY SMALL . Just a sad experience .. plus we had a reservatioin for the last 1 1/2 months .. and still had to wait .. for 30 min .. to get a table UPSTAIRS, when I asked for main dining room . . This was it .. second time LET DOWN .. back we go to Rocco or Cafe Figaro in burlingame at least there you know what your going to get . The waitress was the biggest let down .. NO personality .. she looked irratated all night long .. and should not be in the business .. she must be related to some one . ? just awful . what a let down .. even though we left a 20 % tip . would of left 30% had she been on top of her game . read more

I have not had such a seamless dining experience in a long, long time. Everything was perfect. Service. Food. Atmosphere. Even during Covid and sitting outside in 55 degree weather, (with heaters everywhere) I completely forgot the matters of the world for a little over an hour and had a wonderful time. Thank you to the entire crew of Stella. read more

Had dinner here recently on a Friday night. First time for us. Arrived at 5:30 w no reservations. We were seated immediately - but restaurant was essentially full by 6:15. So it would be advisable to make a reservation. We had: Crab cake appetizer - very good Asparagus artichoke soup - delicious Halibut - excellent, although the potato cake was burned on the bottom (they replaced) Chicken parmigiana w penne arrabiata - very good Gnocchi pesto - one of the best pestos we'e ever had Service was very good. Overall it was a great dinner. read more

Delicious food and incredible service. Great cocktail menu! lovely outdoor patio. Friendly staff and cozy place.

As someone who lived in Switzerland, I can recommend this restaurant. Delicious, great wines and wonderful service. The one caveat, and reason why I have a four star and not a five is because the maitre'd (a young girl at the entrance) was not very gracious, did not smile at all or seem welcoming and that's a pet peeve of mine. I think the first thing you'd want in a restaurant is to feel good upon entering. She also sat my elderly parents in a poor location for them. However, the fabulous server offered to move to us (as there WERE other tables). read more

Went here on an impromptu date night and loved it. The service was amazing, very friendly, and the food was equally great. Also take note to get their old fashioned - it was one of the best I've ever had. read more

Gets busy, packed so make sure you have resies, or check in early. This place is amazing, the service is great, the place itself looks beautiful. Modern and cozy. The foooood, the food is 10/10 the best thing for me was the TRUFFLE MASHED POTATO! Aside that, we ordered the filet, ossobucco, lamb, and chicken parm. All the food was eaten, no complains. The BREAD PUDDING is to die for!! Def going back!! read more

Our favorite Italian spot in Burlingame! The food is great and staff is always super attentive and accommodative. Great spot for a nicer dinner with friends and family! We often go for an early dinner and our toddler inhales the penne pomodoro. read more

Had dinner with friends at Stella's and it exceeded my expectations. The food was delicious and the ambiance was just what we were looking for. The friendly staff made us feel more than welcome. read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this place. The food, the ambience and the staff were all wonderful as described. I was with a group of 5. We sat at a circular table toward the back of the entrance for an early Saturday dinner. It's a very cozy pace, and feels like "home." I had the pleasure of speaking to the owner; she's a sweetheart of a person; all the staff were personable and attentive; particularly our waiter, Billy. I live in a part of SF surrounded by "hip" restaurants and bars, but this place in well worth the drive to Burlingame. Thank you for a memorable evening. read more

By far the best Italian food we have ever had! My partner and I try to find every possible excuse to go here (birthdays, holidays, etc.) because it is so good. I think we've been here maybe 3 or 4 times now and each time the food is great, the service is amazing, and we leave feeling disappointed that we're too full to eat anything more. Highly recommend!!! The rosemary focaccia is a must-have. read more

Today we held our 50th Grammar school reunion at Stella Alpina Osteria. The food was amazing from appetizer to desert. The accommodations for our group was the perfect setting. The service was impeccable. I highly recommend them for dining and events you may have. read more

Stella - San Francisco's St Elizabeth's Class of 1972 celebrating 50 years of friendship. - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

This place was excellent - great food, attentive service, and an elegant, classy ambiance. I loved the truffle oil gnocchi appetizer (it was delicious!), Stella salad (it was light and refreshing), and pasta arrabiata (the spicy sauce was great, and I appreciated the ability to add chicken to the dish). This was a good spot for a business dinner (just be warned it gets crowded and can feel a bit too cozy...)! read more

An excellent little restaurant. Cramped quarters are owed to its popularity. The reason for which will be evident when you taste the food. They start you out with a small plate of Gnocchi for the table. It is beyond delicious! For my main course, I had the braised veal with a side of Rosemary Marbled Potatoes. Excellent! The wait staff is excellent. This is an area where the restaurant is well served by its small footprint. The wait staff was never far away and constantly an unobtrusively checked in on us. They kept the fresh, warm bread coming and our water glasses full. Overall a great experience. Next time I'm in Frisco, I'll definitely be back to sample more of the menu! read more

I ordered escargot and one of the "snails" was actually a piece of beef! Another one was diced vegetables! No snail! What kind of scam is this!?!? My husband ordered spaghetti with meatballs and got bolognese. They offered to comp us desserts, so we got the molten banana cake. Meh. Wouldn't get it if we had to pay for it. Friendly staff, not a great dining experience. read more

Please reconsider opening back up for lunch! We miss you terribly! It's super cozy sub terrainium vibe is cool and understated. read more

Stella - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

The food is generally good, though on the expensive side. The butter garlic prawns with spaghetti could be less greasy because it has given me a stomach ache in the past. The two stars is for not being careful with their food for people with food allergies. We specifically ordered vegan dishes for our toddler due to serious allergic reactions to dairy and egg, and told our server to be extra careful with cross contamination. There was verbal agreement, but the food turned out not vegan and gave our child hives all over. Luckily, we did not have to go to the ER for anaphylaxis. If you are someone with food allergies or who prefers vegan dishes, do not assume their vegan dishes are truly vegan. They are not careful with food handling and you may end up with a trip to the hospital. Needless to say, we shall not return to Stella with our kid or anyone with food allergies or dietary restrictions. read more

Excellent cooking. Great meal. Terrific service! Neighborhood gem. Moved into an expanded space on Burlingame Ave. adding to the wonderful collection of restaurants there. read more

Great restaurant. We really love going there. The food is great, ambiance outdoors is lovely and the service is always top notch.

Food pretty good. Staff and maitre'd not as friendly as years ago (new owners?). Take out food was great the second time as didn't have to deal with the staff. read more

Came here for date night on a Wednesday and it was packed. We were glad to have made reservations through yelp beforehand. I'll keep the review short - - the complimentary bread is really good. Some of it had bits of black olive in it and was so good! - Gf got the veggie arrabiata penne. Was pretty good. - I got the pollo parmigiano which prolly wasn't the best decision. It tasted alright but I feel like I could get that kind of food anywhere. Will prolly try something else next time. - we shared the truffle gnocchi appetizer which was slightly too truffle-ly for us. - the wine selection and drinks are really good. - the vanilla gelato was prolly our fav thing. So simple, yet so good! Will prolly come back sometime, but might try out different dishes. They seem to have some good meat and vegetarian options which I'd be down to try. read more

Loved this restaurant and will definitely be back! The atmosphere is perfect - bright and chic decor with well controlled noise level so it feels fairly intimate even though there are high ceilings. Service was great - Manhattan cocktail was delicious! The pasta I ordered could have used a little bit more flavor but was still good. Looking forward to trying other dishes on return visits. read more

Get the truffle gnocchi as an appetizer and the focaccia! Skip the osso buco - SALT SOAKED. Fiocchetti is my go to and generally the tables fan favorite. The salmon is also amazing but it was a special so I'm not sure how often they serve it. Fantastic service. Reservations are available but you can usually walk in and get a table within 30. Burlingame has a great downtown to walk around in while you wait. Parking can be a bit difficult but we've never had too much of an issue. This is our go-to for a girls night treat. read more

Just had the perfect romantic dinner under cozy outdoor seating with heater lamps and lights. Cannelloni stuffed with short ribs preceded with Caesar salad was just the right combo. Ended with Meyer Lemon Tart which had the really get zesty lemony flavor! Expert execution of entire meal. read more

Stella - Outside corner - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

Made a reservation for 3 and was placed at a door. Looked around and we as minorities were placed sitting at the door where every time and it it was often that the door was opened and the cold air hit us. Not too impressed with ambiance as we have been here many times and this was a disappointment. read more

Great service and high quality pasta dishes! Super yums! The gnocchi is a must try!

If you go to eat at Stella - you MUST get the truffle gnocchi ! It is so flavorful and yummy...share it with your table...you may not get a huge amount - which is great as it is rich and so full of flavor! Outdoor seating is great when the weather is warm - heaters are furnished, as well. Had the filet last night and it was perfection!!! Go...make reservations, though. read more

We have gone here for many years for fine Northern Italian dining in an appealing, sophisticated interior. Alas, things have changed. The atmosphere and decor inside were less warm and refined, might we say casual? There was outdoor seating but we don't like eating on sidewalks next to cars. In terms of food, the signature gnocchi was still fun but everything else clearly slid downhill. The caesar salad was unrecognizable. Entrees were forgettable. The service was reasonably efficient, but noticeable more brusque than before. Wait staff in past always built up a rapport with the table. Doubly sad as they knew it was our anniversary. Two possible reasons why things have slid: 1:COVID, of course, which decimated the atmosphere and likely cause big staff turnover, impacting both food and service, and 2:Their planned move to Burlingame Ave, which is immanent and distracting. Always sad to see a uniquely fine restaurant slide. Will I give them a try after they have settled into their new location? It is likely I will, with some trepidation. read more

I have eaten here several times, and the food has been absolutely heavenly. My favorite is their gnocchi. I have had gnocchi many times at many different places. There is none like the gnocchi at Stella Alpina Osteria. It's pillowy, fluffy, and just melts in your mouth. The Oso Bucco is also delicious, flavorful and tender. I would highly recommend. I've also ordered takeout and would also encourage anyone looking for a special or just delicious meal to takeout from this divine restaurant. read more

Great bar scene. Food about standard I expected. No truffle gnocchi so far this year.

This place is amazing. The food presentation, and taste is outstanding. The service and friendliness of all the staff created a fantastic experience. And to top it off the ambiance was perfect. read more

Offered bread and later saw it was $7 on the bill. I had the lasagna. It was good, but I prefer Stouffer's. Staff was friendly.

Their famous truffle stuffed gnocchi had declined, it's lacking of truffle taste, and it's smaller than before . It was disappointing! Forget ambiance, no table clothes or candlelit, forget the old world charm, it's just OLD! Noted celebrating birthday, didn't do anything, didn't even bother to put candle on our paid desserts! Why the hell you ask on website then! The escargots were okay but tiny, and didn't come with any toast, that's ridiculous for the price that charge! Their lamb shank was okay, unimpressive, the veal portion was smaller than other restaurants. This restaurant definitely overrated and quality is on the decline, so be aware, it's definitely not as good as before. With that said, won't be returning, not paying for $$$ and get $$ worth of food and services! read more

Always awesome - one of the best restaurants on the Peninsula. LOVE the new location too.

Nice quiet ambience with great food! My friends and I ordered the Gnocchi with truffles, Rigatoni ragu and Risotto cakes. The gnocchi with truffles was AMAZING! This could be a great place to catch up with friends or to go on a date. I would say this is one of the best Italian places in Burlingame. read more

Stella - Gnocchi with truffles - Italian Near Me - Burlingame, California

Amazing food but make sure to make a reservation. Tried to go back this week and no reservations available.