There a many things that make me happy, but not many things that get me excited - and I am excited to have found Stella's! I was in the neighbor hood having just treating myself to an hour of bliss at - you guessed it, The Art of Bliss (Claire Santos - look it up, you wont be sorry) and I went in to grab something interesting, non-commercial and yummy for lunch - boy did I get what I was looking for. The staff was attentive, informative, genuine and super helpful. Jeremy suggested I order a nice glass of wine (brilliant move on his part) while I shopped around and waited for my lunch. The selection of pantry items and home goods was a proper balance of uncommon assortments, without overwhelming endless choices. The variety was diverse enough to tempt you without scaring you away. I shopped for individual pasta dishes and while they didn't have the typical dish per se, Thomas showed me a perfectly wonderful substitute to fit my needs (another brilliant move on their part). I could go on, but I hope you get the drift. We all talk about supporting local business and Stella's makes it easy to do - good items, great value and easy parking - what more could you ask for.. read more

Been a few times with friends. Had best cheese, veggies,nuts and , olives, hummus, crackers board, flat breads ( my fav's!!) , and deserts. Much more available, but ours were tailored to diet preferences. Owner/manager available to help you with ordering decisions, including wines!! Best for adults unless your kids used to all sorts of different flavors and choices. May need a reservation if a few people in your party, like on a Saturday. Enjoy read more

The owner and staff are awesome. Great eclectic food choices that will make your tongue sing. Cocktails are great, as well as the wine choices. Shopping choices for take home cooking and drinks are great too. Great place for a low key time solo and with friends. Background music gives a nice atmosphere and vibe. We'll be back! read more

If I could do no stars I would. I could not get waited on at Stella's. I read some of the good reviews and was looking forward to giving them a try and was very disappointed. The waiter (they only had one - it is a small place) never acknowledged me and was too busy clearing a table to simply say that he would be right with me. Decided to go somewhere else. Too bad. read more

This is a place that I'm in love with the idea of loving. They have a ton of products that always catch my interest, and I wish I could buy on the spot, but I don't live anywhere near here and would have to ship it home (I live in Washington state at the moment). Whenever I'm in the area visiting my parents I make a point to try to stop by. They have a rotating menu, and ready to eat desserts. If you're into most fast food joints then the taste of the items they generally push out probably aren't for you, but if you are into trying new things that most people probably don't make at home (even though they easily could) then give it a shot. If you are in the market for a wedding cake, birthday cake or cake for any other occasion this is the place to go. The pastry chef is the best in the area. read more

Very fresh and tasty, I had the chicken salad sandwich on sour dough bread. Laid back and relaxing place to eat and the store gets very busy because you can also shop for spices, chocolates, and many other kitchen items. A great touch to the downtown square! read more

I am a picky eater. I went in for lunch on a VERY busy day, the gentlman taking my order had zero problem modifying my order. I was brought a huge carafe of water at my table. My food was delicious, and exactly how I ordered it. read more

We dined here for lunch on a Friday and had the flat bread and chicken sandwich. The food is fresh, tasty, and you can tell the ingredients have quality. The atmosphere is somewhat congested as the dining area is part of their store. There are about 6 or 7 tables but we found one in the corner to avoid incoming and outgoing store traffic. The store itself has many hard-to-find specialty kitchen items and foods. When we're back in Ocala, we'll definitely visit, as this place is unique! read more

Stopped by this store today for the first time and happy to know it exists in Ocala. Craft beers, wines, cheese, kitchen items for sale and more. I am looking forward to dining at this spot. The service was good and the guy at the register was pretty informative with everything the store had to offer. My husband bought the carrot cake and it was delicious. read more

I'd agree with X S that these are the best grilled cheese sandwich we've ever had. We had all the vegetarian sandwiches and flatbreads...all were amazing. The flatbreads had really great vegetables and good cheeses. Even the chips were good. (the chickpea salad wasn't so great). the desserts were great too (maybe only four star level). The chocolate cake was especially good. The lemon/cranberry was a bit tart, but my daughter liked it best. read more

Stella's Modern Pantry is an amazing spot. The staff are friendly and the place is clean. The head chef Albert treats each customer like family. Check this place out! read more

Ruined the wedding cake. It was burnt, not the right flavor, just absolutely horrible experience. Went to talk with Albert about the issue and he wouldn't even hear it out. He refused to make it right. read more

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Went with friends last night for Greek night FANTASTIC. We will definetly be going back. Wait Staff was also very helpful when ordering. Thanks Everyone We Had A Great Evening read more

Best gourmet cafe in Ocala. Inside is also a great place to buy artisan cheeses, olives & kitchen gadgets. Desserts are a must. $4 for a brownie seems pricey until you take the first bite. read more

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Roger W's post was unfair & unnecessary. I sent him the following message: Roger - I am a regular at Stella's They do not have table service. Orders are placed at the register then you are given an order number. Select a place to sit & put your order number on the table. The staff will then bring your food to the table. They'll even bring you water in a cool pop top glass water bottle & pour it for you. Your impatience caused you to miss an excellent opportunity to enjoy their delicious food & drink. Before you bomb an establishment online I suggest you give the business a chance by asking some simple questions. If you took the time to understood how the service worked at Stella's you would have enjoyed a fine experience. read more

Stella's truely understands food: the most delicious grilled cheese sandwich I have ever eaten was a recent offering--it included sun-dried tomatoes, a bit of basil, two cheeses and was delicately toasted on sourdough bread. Other offerings favor neuvo-mediterrean, and I saw lots of happy people eating lunch that day. Have been there for dinner and the help never let on that it was the end of the day--they were just as friendly as if it were first thing in the morning. The powerpoint presentation on one wall of cakes really made me want to plan some birthday party some day...they were just gorgeous. Since there's an entire case devoted to the most scrumptious pastry, there's plenty of reasons to keep coming back. There's everything for the true foodie here: cookbooks, culinary tools and pans and aprons and sauces and salts and... There's a half a dozen or so inside tables and two on the sidewalk: This is a cosmopolitan, culinary delight and ought to be experienced often read more

Stella's is exactly the kind of place one would find in a side street of Chicago's Near North--and it's a half block SW of The Square in downtown Ocala! It caught me by surprise; I was stunned at how good it is. What is it: A tiny bistro surrounded by very unique grocery items? A fab cookbook store tucked into an incredibly perfect deli? A scrumptious bakery? It's all that and more. You'll experience cheery, polite and knowledgeable staff and fastidiously clean everything. This place can't be this good unless the manager & staff really cares, so "High 5!" you guys You'll adore this place if you like discovering and experiencing unique and good foods, gadgets, and more. read more

Yesterday, Haley (my daughter) and I had a day to ourselves. We had some errands to run and a lesson to get to, but after that we were free to do as we pleased. We decided to have an early dinner at Stella's Modern Pantry . Always a favorite gourmet shopping destination they also have an amazing menu, whether you're looking for a snack, dessert, or a full three course dinner, everything is always fresh, delicious and just amazing. When you walk through the door, you're greeted warmly by the staff. Super friendly, courteous, helpful and always with a smile. You immediately feel like you're very welcome. The menus are overhead, on colorful chalk boards and the choices are absolutely mouthwatering. Haley and I chose to have side salads and one of the flatbread pizzas. We grabbed a seat at the counter, our favorite place to sit so that we can chat with everyone and watch Stephanie artfully prepare the gorgeous dinner creations. Haley grabbed a Manhattan Special soda from their impressive array of soft drinks from around the globe and I opted for ice water (although the wine menu was very tempting!), which they serve in the most adorable bottles. Our salads arrived and they were gorgeous! Fresh, chilled, crisp greens, sun dried tomatoes, roasted peppers, greek olives, pine nuts and delectable balsamic marinated onions, with the perfect crunchy croutons scattered throughout. With perfect timing, the flat bread pizza came next. Echoing some of the flavors of the salad, the flatbread is thin, crisp and just perfect. Artichoke hearts, sun dried tomatoes, pesto, greek olives and imported parmesan cheese, it's the perfect main course. Super generous serving size, Haley and I couldn't finish it, but we certainly tried! We like to sit at the counter so that we can chat with everyone - talking about what's going on in town, the new products they're getting in, events that are coming up, we even had a conversation about some of our favorite (guilty pleasure) TV shows. There are tables as well, if you prefer a more private meal, but we just love to talk to everyone. As we munched on our dinners and chatted with Jeremy, we decided that we had to try some of the new pastry items. We listened to the names of each, but my decision was made as soon as I heard the words "Key Lime" - I'm not much of a dessert person, except for cheese cake and anything key lime, so I ordered the key lime tart and Haley decided on the Pumpkin Mousse Custard tart (I don't remember what it was actually called, but that describes it pretty well). These were so good you can't believe it. What I love about key lime is that it's tart and sweet and this had the perfect balance. The white chocolate garnish was a perfect touch and the dark roast cup of coffee with steamed milk sent it over the edge. Haley's is a little more difficult to explain.... sort of chocolate mousse, with pumpkin custard and this impossibly light whipped cream. Melt in your mouth delicious. As always everything was outstanding! They make it seem effortless, yet every detail is spot on. Every taste, every dish, the unique items in the store. Nothing is overlooked, making this a favorite spot for us in Ocala. If you haven't been there yet, what are you waiting for? You will be blown away. read more

Great atmosphere and friendly serve. A neat and colorful café - shop. It really adds a hint of alternative pop culture to Ocala's stagnate lifestyle. read more

After eating at Feta's decided to walk around to help the digestion and found this place. I am happy that I did. The front has seating, middle like Williams-Sonoma and the back there's collegiality. We had cappuccinos and olives, creme brûlée and chocolate read more

Deliciousness, a pure delight to the palate! A great place to get away from the mundane. Every dish prepared with care and exactness, every spice and ingredients blended to support and enhance the quality of the meal. I had the Tuscan Sausage Flatbread with red, yellow, and green bell peppers. My husband had the artichoke and sun dried tomatoes on a gluten free flat bread. Oh,my! My mouth is watering with the memory. Stella's is a desert lovers paradise. I had a brownie, chocolaty and light, yet masterfully done with minimal use of sugar. More deliciousness! Reminds me of DEMEL K.u.K Hofzuckerbacker in Vienna, but unlike Demel the staff is friendly, helpful and accomodating. Thank you. We definitely will return! read more

Crafts, beer, wine and cheese it's just amazing all the way around. Go check this place out in Downtown Ocala.

We stopped here on our way from Orlando to Destin to have lunch. We both had their take on a ham and cheese sandwich: Serrano jamon, manchengo cheese and pesto on a ciabatta. The bread was fresh and crispy. I would definitely go out of my way to come here again. Next time, hopefully to try something from their amazing wine selection. read more

Stella's is absolutely amazing! I have had lunch, dinner, drinks, you name it here and it is all delicious. Also, as an aspiring gourmet chef (at least for the family) I always get high marks. Highly recommend the Himalayan salt blocks and the sweetened soy sauce....together you get a steak you will not believe...Stacey and Thomas have all the gourmet goodies you'll ever need and Albert is an artist when it comes to desserts. Recommend, recommend, recommend...if you have/get anything less than stellar (pun intended) here I will personally pay you back, It's That AWESOME!!!! read more

Chef Albert made our wedding cake to order, mimicking flavors we loved in another cake in Seattle. He did such an amazing job that we had to frequent Stella's for their lunch and bakery items before we hit up the Marion Theater across the street. The people who work there are uber friendly and helpful! I love their specialty gourmet food items. You should def stop in! read more

How confident are you about being a man? Good. Then put down that pulled pork sandwich just for today and stop by Stella's Modern Pantry for a tasty lunch of flatbread with artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes. You don't have to try any of the fancy beverages (though I bet you'd like the vanilla chai soda.) You'll probably be be the only dude dining in the place, so be prepared for some heads to turn. Or bring the Missus and consider it a deposit in the marital bank account. You're gonna love it. Just think of the flatbread as a really thin pizza. read more

I moved down here from chicago. So you know the food is pretty damn good. Which for Stella's it was as well but.... it took the guy 15 minutes to take our order and then I asked for hot sauce (thinking it was semi mild) the guy hands me habanero sauce! I put it on my Flatbread and I ruined it. Now granted that was my fault but the guy could of told me. This place also is very yuppy. I was in a Harley shirt and maybe he took offence. Oh and I order a piece of hummingbird cake and that was stale. read more

I love Stella's!!! Gourmet food and desserts that will have you running back over and over for more! The best service you can imagine as well as wonderful hard to find kitchen supplies and imported food staples. Fantastic wine selections. read more

Quaint yet sophisticated enough in design and selection of products to appease any crowd. Very unique and interesting product selection - from import beers to exotic chocolates to well-crafted kitchenware and cupcakes. Their well presented bakery/dessert selection is great. It's good because around these parts, there is nothing like it. read more

Delicious chicken salad on toasted multi grain bread with a side of chic pea salad is what for lunch. Yumminess in my belly!! But there is so so many good things here to eat. And the staff is so friendly, fast and attentive. A great place to eat for sure. read more

Delish menu complimented by uniquely eclectic choices of novelty and interesting items for the kitchen and home.

Beautiful cafe to enjoy a bite to eat with your favorite drink. Food, drinks and desserts to please everybody!

I was visiting Ocala, as I do often, and found this great little place. I went in for a glass of wine and was talking with the staff and asked if they had a small cast iron skillet. The young man disappeared and came back with just what I had been looking for and couldn't find in Jacksonville! I LOVE this place, and now when I come down to the tack stores, I know where to go to refresh and indulge my other passion, besides my horses!!! read more

Quickly becoming a favorite! A lovely little gourmet shop/ cafe/ charcuterie... it has a bit of all kinds of yummy goodness! Stop by at lunch for a great sandwich or salad, or a delicious flatbread - all made with the interesting condiments and ingredients sold right there in the store. Grab a great botle of beer or have a glass of wine with it, or take your pick of one of the many bottled organic drinks they stock. Wines, beer, cheeses, spices, condiments, baking supplies, cookbooks, oils, vinegars,...the list goes on. This is one great little spot with a classy group of people running the show! Long live Stella's! read more

Great little lunch spot! Had the fire roasted panini. Definitely will be returning! Would love to enjoy some whine and cheese one day.

Ate lunch here last week for the first time... was pleasantly surprised. The food was great, the atmosphere was "fun"... loved all the kitchen gadgets and cookbooks. It's not just a restaurant... it's a specialty store too! Love Downtown Ocala and Stella's in particular. read more

This is an amazing European-style market right in the heart of downtown Ocala. The food, service, and owners are warm, friendly, and genuine. They are dedicated to using fresh/local products, while preserving food culture. Great place to go and share a delicious meal and a glass of wine with friends. read more

Ocala's very own quirky Williams and Sonoma meets Gourmet Heaven. I drove to down town today hoping to find a quirky alternative coffee joint and found something better. The manager was extremely friendly as I walked into the store hoping to find a caffeine fix. Then I set my eyes on and exquisite and elaborate array of pastries and desserts. I ordered the Chocolate Mousse and my friend ordered the Lemon Tart and we both got the Lattes. As our order was getting ready, I had an opportunity to look around the store. This place is a foodie and gourmet cooks mecca. Everything from fancy cheese to microfilm graters can be found here. My Top Chef instincts kicked in as I surveyed the shop to find me a bargain. Our order was served up on a tray with an extremely cute decanter of water. I was impressed with the staffs thoughtfulness and service. You can sit outside or near the window with a wide assortment of cook books to skim through and salivate over. The Chocolate Mousse had three layers of Dark, Milk and White Chocolate and topped of with fresh fruit and edible chocolate leaves. The Lemon Bar was airy and the Graham Crust was absolutely divine. The Lattes,creamy and sprinkled with Cinnamon powder could lift anyone's spirits on a rainy afternoon. This place is a gem in Ocala's food and gourmet scene and a must visit for locals and visitors. They also organize wine-tasting events for groups which is a bonus. read more

Excellent and unfortunately well-hidden gem. Great selection of high-quality food, really nice people and fine kitchen ware. Highly recommend. read more

We stopped in because of the reviews. Excellent chicken salad on homemade toasted whole wheat. My husband had the turkey and feta on pita. Freshly made and worth the stop! read more