Although I read reviews on yelp, I don't normally write them. After my now third visit to Estrella, I feel a compulsion to write one, because even though I could point out elements worthy of criticism, I really like this spot a lot. I want to put some positive words out there on Estrella.
The space: Quirky by design. The indoor space has very high ceilings and hardwood floors. There are no sound absorbing decorations or anything, so the place is LOUD for real. I was there mid-afternoon so it was mostly empty, but then a group of eight enthusiastic talkers came in and the sound bounced off the walls at a deafening rate.
There's a random projector splashing the far wall at the other end of the bar with one of the "Alien" movies on a silent loop.
On all three visits, I have noticed a real family vibe about the place. I'm not sure the family dynamic, but this is a place where the parents that work here bring their kids and the servers fawn over the children and you could likely even spot a toddler running around behind the bar. This is not a criticism. It feels like a really laid back, welcome-all kind of place.
There's ample outdoor seating, from umbrella covered tables on the deck to wicker chairs and sofas in the grass. They keep on hand numerous water bowls for people who want to bring their dogs and dine outside. Very cool. Downtown Downingtown is sort of gentrifying and a spot like this is a result, but not in an unwelcome way.
I read some earlier reviews before writing this, and some of the criticisms are valid. The place is loud, but I don't mind it. It gives the room a good energy. I sit at the bar, and it's clean, but did a bartender spill something in front of me and not clean it up for a few minutes? Yes. The bar staff and servers seem mostly young and possibly inexperienced, but they are enthusiastic and well-meaning. The menus actually are filthy sheet paper, crumpled and stained, on clipboards. They probably have a color printer on site where they could print new menus each day, or they had a design firm generate the menu, which they likely would have ordered in bulk, and they have boxes of fresh crisp menus in a closet somewhere. Why they don't replace the menus is a mystery to me.
Well, this is getting long. Let's talk about drinks.
I only drink beer when I come here. All their taps are craft beers from the Philly area. Estrella is attached to the East Branch Brewing Company, but they sell beers from many other local brewers. I've drank pilsners, NE IPAs, and sours here and enjoyed each one tremendously. I never looked at their wine list so I can't speak to that. Their spirits are all boutique brands I've never heard of and I noticed that a good many of them on display behind the bar had the word "Pennsylvania" featured on the label, so maybe they stick to local craft liquors as well. They feature a lengthy house specialty drink menu that must be popular because I'd say half the crowd was drinking the mixed drinks as opposed to the craft beers.
Tacos: Estrella's slogan is "Tacos y Mas." These are definitely not in any way an attempt at authentic Mexican food. Except for the fact that the flour tortillas are made in house. They experiment with non traditional taco elements in most of their offerings. If you are accustomed to tacos you had in Texas or Arizona or Southern California, you might not care for these tacos. I lived in SoCal for eleven years and I think their unconventional spicy fried chicken taco with hot sauce, pickled red onion, sliced housemade dill pickles, slaw, hot sauce and crema is one of the most amazing things I have ever shoveled into my face. I inhale this thing. A craving for it pops into my head occasionally and burrows in for days until I get myself to Estrella and satiate the urge. It owns me.
Still great but paling by comparison, the spicy shrimp taco comes with red cabbage and a cilantro avocado cream that has wonderful flavor, but the shrimp was kind of drowned in the sauce. Great flavor, but a saucy, messy taco. The carnitas taco on the other hand was slightly dry, but again, very tasty with the pickled jalapeños and onions. The black bean taco was fine but I have no lasting impressions of it, so it was slightly forgettable.
There are also burgers and nachos and brisket and frito pie and chicken biscuits and other stuff that sounds great, but I intend to work my way through their entire taco menu before branching out. I still have to get through a blackened shrimp taco, battered fish taco, fried avocado taco, that brisket taco with a fried egg on it, and a few more before I expand my Estrella horizons. I look forward to putting in the taco work while I sit at the bar with a hazy tasty beer.
tl;dr:
This place is good. Keep an open mind, get into the laid back vibe, and check it out. read more