This is a typical diner, nothing more and nothing less. Bright colors on the wall, glass dessert case up front, and plastic booths that make your legs stick in the hot summer months. The food was decent. I split a BLT with a friend and enjoyed it despite two things: it took over 25 minutes to receive the single sandwich, and it was smothered in mayo despite ordering it without. The breakfast at other tables looked delicious, but it's hard to mess up some eggs and toast. Side note: There is a wall menu of lots of milkshake flavors that I'd like to come back and try. The staff was friendly with the exception of the rude (owner?) woman in charge of the front desk where you pay on your way out. I definitely got the vibe that if you're a regular then you'll be treated like royalty while the rest of us are a mere annoyance. read more

The place: as a lakeview resident, I've walked past this neighborhood staple a thousand times before recently venturing in. We were looking for something simple, not bougie, and Stella's earns a 4th star for the kind and accommodating demeanor of whoever greeted us. We initially were seated at a table not to my boyfriend's liking, and we only waited a few more minutes before being gently ushered to the much more preferable booth. Inside, it's what you'd expect from a neighborhood greasy spoon. The taste: his hash browns weren't as crispy as he would have liked, I felt like I tasted remnants of bacon smoke on my veggie omelet, which personally makes me almost gag. I didn't say anything, but I have a strong aversion to bacon, and I'm sure the grease sort of gets in everything. The portions were oversized, but just so-so in terms of taste imo. If it was open at 2am, and more of my nights were spent out drinking and in the search of some sustenance, I'd probably end up here more often. My face: gracious smile since the boyfriend paid. I think bill for breakfast did 2 was around $35 when all was said and done. - shouldn't have been more than that, but I'm not sure I actually saw the bill. ‍ read more

I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy my experience and probably will not return. Service is a bit slow--I understand there is a staff shortage across the country and there seemed to be only one or two servers this evening, but this was still slow and I was concerned about the parking meter. Country fried steak was good and so was the mash, but the spinach was inedible: way too salty and sour and I could even taste the salt grain. I became concerned about my blood pressure due to the amount of salt. I had no idea why they would serve this kind of thing. Maybe others had better luck with them (as the British guy of "Lost in the Pond"), but I am sorely disappointed. read more

Love this diner! Great sandwiches, good soups, good pies and everything you want in a diner.

We enjoyed our food. Pros - The portion sizes are relatively large espeically for the price so don't worry about leaving there hungry. More than likely you will leave food on the table or take leftovers. The coffee was decent. It was not gourmet or something to rave about. They have a $3 per person fee for the booth if you don't order food in case you are one of those want to sit and wait for hours in a booth and sip unlimited refills of coffee. I swore that only happened in the movies, but if it's a fee added to their menu well I guess it happens more often than it seems. They use fresh ingredients! My food took a while to come out but it was worth it. I could tell it was made with fresh eggs and meat instead of something out of a can. Street parking is available but start looking for it early. This extremely busy area is known for having limited parking and lots of traffic! Excellent service - The busboys, waiters, and waitresses understand good service and work to continuously provide it. From the friendly greeting down to quickly removing used dishes from our table to being prompt in offering refills on coffee and water, this place understands how to be attentive without clingy. :) Our waitress had the flare! She wore this gold metallic eyeliner and was full of energy. It was one of those things where it's a small detail that makes you smile and is hard to forget for no reason at all. The bathrooms were very clean which is a huge plus but beware they only had two in the whole place and they get kind of busy so there maybe a line. Cons - No parking lot. Most diners at least have a small parking lot, but I'm guessing in Chicago those are hard to come by. :) No other con's it was nice. read more

A small town, family run feel with the typical diner menu and service. This is a great place to go for a quick, casual meal if you are craving a standard diner. Its run like you are in a small town and the owner is super friendly. The milkshakes are also amazing I definitely recommend getting one (or only that)! read more

Great diner, friendly staff. Good food! Love coming here after my workout for a good breakfast. :)

You can tell that the Mavraganes family no longer owns the Restaurant. A girl with a heavy asian accent answers the phone and is impossible to understand. And it only gets worse when you arrive. The girl that is hard to understand... and no one was wearing a mask, was walking around loudly chewing on a donut. The "owner" was sitting in a booth with a guy staring at her cell phone and never looked up. The only person that was extremely helpful was Laura, the server. Good ole days of a friendly family restaurant GONE. Food was mediocre. read more

* tried Stella's Diner today 2/5/17 * we had no wait which was surprising on a Sunday morning. * almost as soon as we were seated , the bus staff brought water and asked for our drink order * soon after our server arrived and we placed our order for : The West Coaster, the Firehouse Breakfast Special and The Breakfast Special. My husband asked for them to substitute corned beef hash for the hash potatoes but they wouldn't even for an up charge. The food arrived in a timely manner, was hot and plentiful. * we would frequent this diner if we lived in the area read more

We stopped in to split a strawberry milkshake and it was very tasty, the decor was nice, and our server was attentive and polite. The shake was thick, creamy, and blended well and we were given two straws and two strawberries. There were no actual strawberries in the shake, so we were a little disappointed in the strawberry flavoring, but overall we had a nice time. read more

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Service was great, the staff are super nice and helpful. The food was good too. Average diner fare good and filling. We came in for breakfast and left full and satisfied. No complaints. read more

We came to Stella's for a nice weekend lunch. Of course, we got breakfast, which wonderfully served at all times. We were seated right away. The place was clean and neat and smelled awesome. I ordered the skillet special, which had chorizo in it. I love chorizo. Like really love it. And the skillet was loaded with it, so I was a happy guy. Everything tasted great, from the coffee on to the hash browns (extra crispy) to the side pancakes. Food was fast and hot and yummy. No complaints there. No, not the best I have ever eaten, but the menu was nicely complete, with some cool takes on old favorites that I can't wait to try. The real stars here are the staff, however. The server was funny and friendly and really awesome. But the buss boys who came by and refilled water and coffee were the best. They didn't hang around us, but the instant we needed something, even if we didn't realize it, they were there to take care of us. Seriously, nice job guys. I can't wait to go back! read more

Stella's is a great reliable go to in East Lakeview. They have an extensive diner menu which includes an all day breakfast menu, so if you can't find something good to eat, you got problems! Service is always on from the moment you sit down...I don't think my water or coffee was ever empty! Food is quick, fresh and tasty. I recommend the Bacon Cheeseburger, the Chorizo Skillet, the Chicken Finger Basket and the Pumpkin Spice Cake...o, and a milkshake, which they are known for! read more

Stella's Diner - Chicken Finger Basket - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

4.5 stars, would need to visit more before 5 stars. Super friendly, welcoming service. Casual, relaxed atmosphere with my favorite seating arrangement, booths! Mac & cheese - 4 stars. Satisfying cheesiness and sauce-to-noodles ratio. They offer it in two sizes, cup or bowl. We chose the bowl haha. Buffalo chicken sandwich - 5 stars. Crispy, juicy, and decently spicy. Stayed crispy throughout the devouring process. Unforgettable. Pumpkin spice cake with cream cheese frosting, served with ice cream - 4.5 stars. Just the cake, 3.5 stars. With the frosting, 4 stars. Top it with ice cream, 4.5 stars. I was purring with enjoyment while eating this xD read more

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Another trip to Chicago, another breakfast at Stella's. I love everything about Stella's, and I especially loved the way they perfectly poached my eggs, and followed my ridiculous instructions for my version of an eggs florentine. I treated my friend and my fiance, and spent about $40 after tax and tip. For the level of service, and quality of food, it's all worth it. read more

Stella's Diner - Eggs florentine without hollandaise, with wheat bread instead of English muffin, added feta and tomatoes. - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stella's is the best! The breakfast is always amazing (biscuits and gravy, ftw!). They have all the "diner" favorites (burgers, pasta, sandwiches), but definitely kick it up a notch. I recently tried the catfish my bf ordered and it was breaded and seasoned to perfection. One of my favorite meals there is probably the cabbage soup and the spinach pinwheels. An odd combo, sure, but so tasty and satisfying. On one of the most recent trips, we took the suggestion of a fellow diner who told us to order the chocolate pudding. Stella's has a lot of desserts to choose from, like the multiple shakes and sundaes, but I had no idea about pudding. We ordered it and it definitely lived up to the hype. The owner and all the staff are always so friendly and welcoming, too. You'll find yourself wanting to come back, for sure! read more

Stella's Diner - Portobella mushroom sandwich - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is totally not worth it. We went here for Sunday brunch and were seated shortly after we reached the place. We had a nice outdoor table and other than the ambience of Lakeview East on a Sunday afternoon there was nothing else going on even remotely good. The food was totally not worth the money and completely lacked flavor. I ordered an omelet and it was lackluster, having not being seasoned at all. Even after adding a considerable amount of salt to bring out some flavor, it was still bland and the texture of the eggs wasn't anything great. There are a ton of brunch places a stone's throw from this place, go there instead. read more

Friendly neighborhood diner. This place is nostalgia for me, but I think it losts its moment. The vibe is different now.

Not that it's hard to make a julienne salad but Stellas' salad is huge, fresh and delicious. I like the Greek dressing.

Ordered delivery. Their packaging is very good. The bacon I got was a bit burnt (in a bad way.) They give you a fair amount of strips though. Their Rueben left a lot to be desired. The corned beef was pretty spongy and disgusting. Their Cajun rice wasn't bad however, even if it was not very powerful tasting. Might try again in person one day, but I won't get a Rueben sandwich. read more

This place is an iconic old school diner with great service and huge portions all for a very fair price. I typically dine here on the weekends. There's not a substantial wait either, so this is always a safe bet! If you want to avoid the mini wait, deff try take out because it's very quick. For the seven plus times I've been here, I've never been disappointed. Try anything and EVERYTHING. P.S. Make sure to look at the specials for the day. And have their coffee. And their milkshakes. read more

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I've been here twice, most recently on my last visit to Chicago with my mom and aunt. When I came here two years ago, my aunts, cousin, and I shared a chocolate malt. On my most recent visit, I had the Greek omelet with onions, feta, and tomatoes and hash browns, plus some fries that my mom had. Everything I had here was good. Not amazing, but good. The problem, as others noted, is the service. Last time I was here was around 3 pm on a Friday afternoon and the restaurant was almost empty. My mom and I were seated immediately, but the wait for our servers to take our order and get the check to us was ridiculous. There was a family next to us and they got served much quicker than we did though we were here first! And none of the food we ordered was that difficult to make!! read more

Finally got to stop in after a year of always seeing the place packed. They have a giant menu that anyone can find something they'd like. Have amazing skillets that come with a large amount of food for a ridiculously cheap price for the city. Friends got the chocolate milkshake and said it was one of the best they've ever had. Can't wait to go back and try more thing of the menu! read more

Stella's Diner - The Gypsy Egg Skillet - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I would go to Stellas diner everyday if I could. This place is great. From the wonderful skillets to the Apple Cobbler (get it extra hot with ice cream), the food is tasty. What is better than the food is the service. I always feel welcome there, and have become good acquaintances with Gus & the Gang. They will go out of their way to make you feel welcome. read more

What to do when the people you're with can't decide what to eat? Find a diner, of course!! After checking some Yelp reviews, we happened upon Stella's Diner. We made our way over to Stella's and were cheerfully greeted upon entering and seated right away. Waters all around quickly parched our thirst. A very cheerful waitress soon stopped by to take our drink order and leave us with menu's. My brother and I chose the 1/2 lb bacon cheeseburgers with fresh cut fries and coleslaw. My daughter chose the hot turkey dinner, while my wife chose the corned beef on rye. The food arrived in practically no time and we dug in. The coleslaw was great; creamy yet with a hint of vinegar. The burgers had a great charbroil flavor and the fries were just right. The corned beef (on marbled rye) was moist and tender and almost no fat, and full of flavor. The turkey dinner had stuffing and potatoes and cranberry dressing and looked great. The server was cute and funny and paid us plenty of attention without hovering too much. I cannot think of anything negative to say about Stella's. We will be back. A very solid four stars. read more

Walked in here with my friend for a mild-hangover breakfast (mild, but still this meal was important). Before we sat down I had misgivings: First of all the place looks like it's from the 1960's and not in a good, intentional way. Secondly they only had 100 year old, nonperishable creamer and granulated sugar for the coffee. It was generally just a depressing atmosphere to me. There were prob other telltale signs that this was a bad call on my friend's part, but the COCKROACH was what finally ended this stupid endeavor. I hadn't been seated long enough to remove my sunglasses before we overheard the man in the booth behind me relocating tables. "Why" the waitress asked, "oh bc I just saw a cockroach crawl across my table." She seemed unsurprised. My friend saw it too and finally conceded that she made a huge ass mistake and we should run. So I can't speak to the food...but needless to say I do not recommend trying this place. read more

This is still one of our all time favorite diners. Since we were in the area visiting the nature museum, we decided to stop by for an early dinner and everything was just as good as we remembered it to be. Our son enjoyed his mac n cheese while my husband went for his favorite Gypsy Skillet and I enjoyed the usual club sandwich. We kept on eyeing the chocolate diva cake and ending up getting it. Service was fabulous and our waitress was really friendly and helpful with our baby. We're glad that we were able to introduce an old favorite to him. read more

Stella's is such a great breakfast spot! Due to covid they only have outdoor seating at the moment, but it was such a beautiful day that it didn't make a difference. The staff took all the health regulations seriously. They were also extremely friendly. The food was great as always and not over priced. Always a great place if you're looking for breakfast or lunch in lake view. read more

My family, including my sister with lots of food allergies, was coming over for Father's Day so I ordered for delivery from Stella's as I've had lots of great food from there in the past. Didn't catch her name, but whoever I talked to on the phone was SO helpful and made sure that the allergies were attended to and my sister could eat with the family without worrying about getting sick! We all really enjoyed our meals with great food as always but even more important to us, we all enjoyed really great customer service! read more

This place has diner fare with upbeat pop flair. My boyfriend and I wanted to eat out, but the wind chill prevented us from venturing farther. Fortunately, Stella's is right outside. We finally went out around 8:00pm and despite the chill, it was worth it. We shared the Dracula's garlic bread, which is two nice-sized loaves of bread toasted with them sliced for easy access to pieces of bread. The amount of garlic and oil was immense, but if you love garlic, it's paradise. Very cost effective especially if you are sharing with a group of people. I had the chili for dinner and it was perfect for a chilly evening. The place was closing soon, but we had wanted dessert. I had asked one of the servers if we could have the chocolate diva cake. Apparently, it never got back to our waitress, but the manager was super kind and gave it to us on the house after we had explained what had happened when the check came. The food is good and it is diner food, but instead of a poorly lit place, Stella's Diner has a bright and cheerful atmosphere. Customer for life. read more

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Some of the best soups in Chicago! I love their chicken noodle soup and chili. Their salads have always been really fresh and delicious too - same with the homemade salad dressings. Great chicken tenders and fries too. Super affordable, and great portions. Really nice people over the phone and in person. Nice and easy to order for pick up. Looks like they're doing a great job being safe during COVID - lots of plexiglass, sanitizer, and masks being worn properly. Get your breakfast, lunch or dinner here ASAP! read more

This dinner has probably the best breakfast in the whole of the lake view neighborhood. Breakfast meats are the best quality,hash brown potatoes are the real thing no cubed potatoes baked in an oven passed off as hash brown potatoes. Eggs done the way you want with many different egg skillet combination And the coffee the best of any breakfast dinner.Stella keep doing what you do best read more

Delicious, immense breakfasts. Love the Mexican Jolt. Hey, that sounds suggestive, mwwahahaha! Nice place, quick, friendly service. Perfect for weekend brunch. Gets crowded with what always seem like a polite crowd. I've had Reubens here, but they're the open face, too large to pick up variety. I want to grasp my Reuben before it submits to me with a squish of sauerkraut. Eating it with a fork is a fail. read more

The server we sort-of had (ordered it to go) was really nice and personable, but I don't think we caught her name. The food we ordered, on the other hand, was a little disappointing. Maybe I just ordered the 'wrong thing' but I had the one and only wrap they had on the menu. To be honest it wasn't that good, and the ranch it came with was watery. I should have stuck with my first intention of getting a burger, but I had been eating burger after burger all week. I'll come back to this place and try something else next time though. UPDATE: I've since been there a couple more times and had one of their burgers, which was much much MUCH better than the wrap I first got. Also, order the garlic bread! UPDATE #2: + Maria's Mystery milkshake + South beach milkshake + Dracula's garlic bread - chicken penne pasta (with pesto) read more

Great little breakfast/brunch place. We came here with a group on a Sunday morning. The staff was accommodating, getting tables set up for our party of eleven. Service was excellent throughout our visit. I had the Challah french toast with strawberries. It could have been cooked a bit longer, but it was still very good. My husband had an omelet, which he devoured. We'll be back for sure, maybe with fewer people in our party. read more

Cute little diner in Lakeview area. Was a quick walk froM our Air BnB so we decided to drop in for lunch in our arrival day. Had the avacado BLT and tuna melt, both pretty basic but good. Large portions. Also tried the Maria's Mystery shake - it was delicious and had all the right sweet components. read more

Not sure what the hype is about here at Stella's. I had arguably the worst omelet and service here at Stella's. The omelet had zero flavor, along with the hash browns. This place is outrageously priced as well. Save your time, money, and appetite for someplace else. read more

Quick to be seated, quick to be served. Huge menu with tons of options. Basic food but hits the spot after a night out! I got the hobo skillet which was hashbrowns topped with kraft singles and 2 eggs with a side of toast. I got exactly what I ordered and it was delicious. The only complaint was that my friends hashbrowns were cold. read more

Stella's Diner - Hobo skillet with 2 eggs over medium. Corned beef hash in the back of the photo - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They serve delicious diner food with a friendly, family vibe. I've dined in and ordered take out and everything is perfection. Do yourself a favor and save room for dessert or a milkshake. I had the chocolate pudding. That was a big mistake. I'll be stopping in every day for some! So good! read more

Decent food, good coffee, and mostly friendly service. I would recommend dining before 10:30 a.m. on weekends. This place fills up very quickly and they don't have the most space to wait to be seated. It feels like you're always in the way when waiting to be seated unless you wait outside, which can be unideal depending on the weather. Nonetheless, it is a cute diner to have breakfast in Lakeview. Expect to pay $30+ minimum with two people, so if money is an issue, there are cheaper breakfast options. read more

Stella's Diner - Diners Near Me - Chicago, Illinois