I had scouted out this place and it didn't disappoint. We didn't have a reservation but got lucky since a table was just being cleared. Absolutely delicious beet and greens salad, perfectly baked pizza, and friendly service. read more

La Stella Trattoria - Pizza Margarita and salad - Italian Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

We ordered takeout pizza and they were delicious. The portions were generous, and the leftovers were great the next day.

By far the best meal I had when visiting my partner in Nanaimo. The space is cute and inviting, with the wood fire oven on display in the middle of the dining room and an inviting patio. Between the two I of us, we shared the foccacia, rigatoni bolognese, pepperoni pizza and wood fired beets. Everything was outstanding but the foccacia and pasta truly stood out. We were expecting a sensible portion for the former and we were blown away by how generous they were! In Vancouver, this would easily be two portions at somewhere like Autostrada or Savio and nowhere as tasty. The rigatoni on the other hand was perfectly indulgent - made in house and cooked al dente, every bite was beautifully coated in a decadent but not overly heavy 'white' bolognese. The pizza dough was wonderfully airy and had great leoparding on the bottom from the oven. The pepperoni they used wasn't my favourite, but a solid rendition nonetheless. We also enjoyed the beets as a starter but some of them came a little too burnt. Still, the sweetness from them complemented the accompanying stracciatella perfectly. Our service was on point and we also noticed that they had a stellar wine list at super affordable price points. Italian and Spanish reds, all at the $30 mark, plus they allow you to take what you can't finish home! I'll definitely be back when I'm in Nanaimo next. read more

La Stella Trattoria - Rigatoni bolognese and foccacia are a must! - Italian Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Thank you we have been waiting to celebrate our anniversary here and can't say enough about how amazing our meal was . The setting outside at dark with the lights and autumn leaves just brought a romantic vibe to the evening . Service and advice on what to choose superb choices . Can never go wrong with Tiramisu for dessert to end a special evening . Thank you again , a must for anyone that loves Italian food . read more

See all

The service was wonderful! The food is incredible. We were just passing through BC and wanted some Italian. The Margarita pizza was the best per my husband. The meatballs were out of this world! Go with the bread service too; trust me! read more

Very average Italian restaurant, not worth the hype. The restaurant boasts the first Italian pizza oven imported to Nanaimo. Interestingly enough, inside the restaurant you can't really smell any pizzas baking. It doesn't smell of food at all, actually. The service is pretty slow. It took awhile for us to get seated, then get the menus and water. Although the restaurant is small, I think they need more wait staff. We opted to sit on their little patio, which was cute and comfortable. We decided to order an appetizer and pizza to share. The meatballs came with a crunchy yet soft piece of bread, 5 juicy meatballs covered in cheese and in a tomato sauce. This was decent, perhaps a bit pricey for $16 especially because in another review they used to serve 6 meatballs. We got the garlic sausage pizza for $19. The crust is very thin and there was a lot of cheese, so you have to be a blue cheese lover to enjoy this pizza. I found the crust a little on the chewy side. The portions were good, this was enough for the two of us, probably because the pizza is 16". If you want to eat here, reserve online via Bookenda. They don't pick up the phone during dinner hours, so this is probably your best bet. They might also show on DoorDash under another name, "Pizzeria LaStella". Personally, I did not hate that I went here, but I would not likely return. Perhaps Italian food isn't a strong point in Nanaimo. I would rather head next door to Astera's, which I loved. read more

Grabbed some take out pizza and a kale salad from La Stella for our dinner one night in Nanaimo and we really enjoyed the thin and chewy crust and appreciated the size of the salad! We ordered: Prosciutto and Arugula Pizza - a thin layer of tomato sauce with mozzarella and prosciutto served with a healthy amount of arugula, this pizza was a delicious taste of what this restaurant has to offer. The prosciutto was a little bit too salty but it helped to balance out the bitterness of the arugula. My favourite was the crust which was chewy, flavourful and not too oily. Zucchini Pizza - wanting to try something with a pesto base, this pizza was a little bit oilier but the fresh mint and lemon helped to cut through the grease. The zucchini was not too noticeable with the strong Parmesan topping, but we really enjoyed this pizza! Kale Caesar Salad - this salad was quite large for the price, topped with plenty of Parmesan and croutons. The sauce was served on the side which made it a great dip for veggies as well! Overall, we really enjoyed this meal and had leftovers even though we were starving! read more

Perfect Italian pizza. Amazing! Pizza maker could be a lil more personable After all, he is the center of attention Good service and amazing food read more

Came here for a friend's birthday dinner, part of the table shared 5 pizzas and we ordered a pizza with gnocchi to share. The ambiance is nice with attentive and friendly service. My friend who also got a pasta agreed that they were fairly small in portion. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy which paired wonderfully with the tangy beef ragu filled with tender beef. I found it a bit rich after eating about 8 of the gnocchi. The crunch on top and generous cheese definitely elevated the experience. We also had the Calabrese pizza, to which I enjoyed the crust where it was thicker (amazing dipped in the gnocchi sauce), but the middle with toppings was too thin and salty for my liking. Overall it was a pleasant experience but the food was a bit lackluster. read more

See all

We stopped in on a busy Saturday evening and the hostess was nice enough to find us a table. We thoroughly enjoyed our food -- kale Cesar salad, tagliatelle and a pepperoni pizza. I would recommend this place for the food, the ambience, the service hands down. It was so busy, I also recommend calling ahead for reservations. read more

This place was tucked in on a small one way street in a cool section of the city. The service was quick and the Margherita, wood fired pizza I got was very good. I'll go back when I'm in Nanaimo again. read more

Looked on Yelp for good Italian and this came up. Friendly non-intrusive service. Cool atmosphere with a wood fired oven and open kitchen in the centre of the restaurant. We had no reservations and showed up at 7pm. We started with bread EVOO and vinegar. Our son had spaghetti and meatballs... they were amazingly tender and well seasoned and there were 6of them! They're big enough that hubby and I each had one and brought home 2 meatballs with leftover spaghetti. I had gnocchi with beef ragu. It had toasted bread crumbs on top and the gnocchi were soft, pillowy and had no chew. They were smooth and complimented the rich sauce with carrots, celery, onion and shredded beef. It was a tad salty but still a winner for sure! Hubby ordered a calabrese pizza with a real kick of heat to it. He was in heaven. Simple, quality ingredients makes this a winner. I tasted the crust and it had a really good chew like true thin crust pizza. Overall, we'd definitely eat here again and try other items but will have to travel 16 hours to do so. Highly recommend this unassuming gem... read more

Best pizza on the island. The crust is super authentic, the ingredients and meat are fresh. If you are sceptical of the price of the pizza, it's worth it! The smaller size is huge and can feed 3 people. Best pizza place in Nanaimo. And the owner or manager seemed really laid back and nice as well. read more

We popped in here for dinner after listening to The Island Consort sing across the street in St Andrew's United Church. They had just opened for the evening, so we started off with the place to ourselves, but it quickly got busy. We started with the Arancini and the Brussel Sprouts. Both were good, but the Brussel Sprouts were my favourite. They even appealed to one of my table mates who usually dislikes Brussel Sprouts. I had the Funghi pizza, which had a lovely thin crust and a well-balanced set of toppings. My dad ordered the Kale Salad which was huge! They used tender leaves, so it had a very light feel to it. Other table mates tried the Gnocchi with Beef Ragu and the Bucatini. Everyone loved their dinners. Don't forget to order a dessert. They are definitely worth it. read more

My wife and I enjoyed a really nice meal there. Salad with a smoked olive oil dressing, lemon/ basil risotto, and fresh pasta... Add to this a friendly and professional staff and it equals to a very nice experience. read more

The restaurant was great! Nice variety of menu items. Could be a little less salt in some of the items. Desserts were all amazing. Good food and nice atmosphere. read more

We stayed in nanaimo for 1 night and our host recommended this place. It was her favorite and it didn't dossapoint. We order the mushroom wood fired pizza and a pasta. Both delicious. A bit too salty for our taste but they went very well with the ipa! The staff was very friendly as well. read more

Best pizza hands down! My wife LOVED her ribbon pasta!! My son had the mushroom loaded pizza. What a masterpiece!

Such a great little gem! Some of the best pizza I have had we got 3 different ones and all were exceptional! The pasta was perfect and salad was refreshing. Everything was great! read more

See all

Best Italian and date night spot in Nanaimo! The pizza is amazing and their chocolate gelato is FIRE.

Looking for good restaurant in area we were staying and something different than seafood. Made reservation online and showed up 10 min before reservation and was told that people at our table were finishing up and it wouldn't be too long. There was an open table but just assumed it was for different reservation. Came back and was shown to open table we noticed before?? Front of house needs a little work. Later a family came in and servers and even manager walked around them without even seeing if they had been helped? That being said, food was Excellent!! Had the gnocchi and it was so good, daughter had pizza and it was also very good. All the food was great and up to expectations including desserts read more

Holy geez the chicken gods have blessed this place. The yum yum chicken is amazing and not so spicy my kids can't eat it. Waitresses are always nice and attentive. It's plain but I'm there for the food not to look at the decor. I'm glad they put all the effort into the food. This place is a treasure. read more

The food is absolutely delicious, the pizzas are my favorites. Only giving it four out of five stars because the service was a little bit slow. They were very friendly though. read more

The best pizza I ever had ! You should try it! We sat at the bar so we watched how they made pizza. Fresh made pizza was awesome! The duck pasta also good, but I like it to be less sour. read more

See all

La Stella is fantastic. We've been around a dozen times by now and each time are impressed by the fresh, quality ingredients and friendly service. Their brunch menu is exceptional - albeit smaller than many other places (not a problem given the quality). Would recommend the Benedict, either pizza (breakfast pizza is amazing), or carbonara. They also have a great brunch cocktail list. Dinner is just as good - terrific pizzas, many great pasta options, and a respectable (again, small) drink list. read more

La Stella Trattoria ranks as one of my all time favorite meals. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. We had the pesto pizza for an app (shared with 4 people). The crust was amazing. For the main course, I had the Gorgonzola Gnocchi- it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were amazing and the walnuts added a great taste to the walnut pesto. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're in the area. read more

La Stella Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

See all

This was an unexpected surprise! Just in Nanaimo for the night and found this place on yelp. It was SOOO good! The homemade bread was the best ever! My daughter had the pepperoni pizza that had a spicy sweet flavour - loved! I had the ravioli that had a light lovely freshness! My husband had the spaghetti and meatballs. The pasta and flavours were prepared simply yet perfectly! The service was so good too. Nothing but good things to say. read more

Wonderful everything! Service, food, ambiance. Came in for dinner and had a truly fantastic experience. I have a dairy allergy and they happily made accommodations. Sat at the bar top so got to see the chefs at work. Clean and friendly. Would definitely go back wherever in Nanamio. P.S Kale Ceasar was fantastic. read more

Oh my goodness - this is my new favourite restaurant for dinner in Nanaimo! Have been twice in the last few weeks - the flavours in every dish tried so far (by 7 of us) are simply amazing - the Risotto is to die for and the pizza is excellent - nice thin crust and a fabulous selection. Beautifully prepared food with fresh local ingredients. This restaurant has great ambiance, service and even prices that don't break the bank! Felt like being in Italy! read more

Great pasta and pizza. Cozy atmosphere and great service. I would highly recommend this spot read more

La Stella Trattoria - a pizza cooking in an oven - Italian Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

I had the prosciutto and it was excellent. The price was on par with most solid pizza joints. The atmosphere was wonderful and they have high quality napkins which shows they take this seriously. Highly recommend. read more

La Stella Trattoria - Pruscuitto with arugula - Italian Near Me - Nanaimo, British Columbia

Delicious! Very nice service and friendly employees. Ordered the pizza and a kale salad. Both were so good. The sauce on the pizza was the best I've ever had. read more

Please don't eat here! I want a table when I show up. Hands down the best damn pasta place on the Island. If you like big portions with Alfredo sauce like every other pasta place then this isn't your place. Go to that Greek pizza place on the corner. This place knows ingredients, knows how to combine flavours and textures. The pastas are awesome, the firewood pizzas are incredible. If you're taste buds have tied please don't go here. I'd like to not have to wait for a table. No news on this review- agree with all the others that highly recommend. And as for the lady that complained about to much salt- go suck a cannoli. read more

This place was incredible! The location is quiet and the patio is so cute. The service was excellent and the food was delicious! Definitely a hidden gem in Nanaimo. read more

I was planning on Greek but circled back to La Stella after reviewing their website while I waited for a table. It was a FANTASTIC choice! I sat at the bar and enjoyed watching all the pizzas get prepped as well as watching the dough get weighed, measured., and mixed for The weekend. I had the fungi with prosciutto and it was awesome! Firing the pizza with the prosciutto on it rather than adding it after makes all the difference. I really enjoyed the house red wine. And dessert...lots of great choices. I went with the pear and bay sorbet and it did not disappoint. Thank you for a terrific dining experience read more

See all

Hmm, don't get the rating. Arancini were fine, wine selection fairly small but had a nice chianti. The pasta - over the top salty - not sure if it was a new parm they were using?? Couldn't finish. Hubs pasta dish was very salty as well. Service was good except waitress hadn't tried the dish I ordered so couldn't tell me her opinion. Disappointing, overall. IF we go back, will try the pizza instead. read more

I loved the charm and ambience of this Italian restaurant. We attended a rehearsal dinner here and were served family style, not a small feat for 50+ people. The food was amazing. I enjoyed the blended flavors in all the dishes we were served, and honestly can't point to any one dish as my favorite. The service was excellent. It was like watching a choreographed dance. My water glass was never empty, my wine glass neither. Dirty dishes were cleared in a timely manner and at one point, I noticed our waitress wiping off the tables. Who does that during an event dinner, such attention to detail! It was a long night but the waitstaff were always cheerful. Well done! I can't wait to return the next time we're in Naniamo. read more

really authentic pizza here. i like the location and atmosphere inside the restaurant. ordering the pizzas without cheese make them vegan and (although i haven't had them with cheese) still soooo tasty! i love coming here. i am only stopped by the prices. coming here on rare occasions only makes it all the more special though ! read more

Ate dinner here tonight with my family of 5, and it was spectacular! We ordered the olives, meatballs, pear salad, kale caesar salad, margarita and prosciutto/arugula pizzas, and gnocchi with beef ragu (shared everything). All dishes were cooked to perfection, and tasted just like the food we had when we were in Italy! We were pleasantly surprised to randomly find a gem like this in Nanaimo, BC! Also worth mentioning that the service and ambience were great. We very much enjoyed our meal here and would recommend it to others! (PS - we also liked the very decadent dark chocolate and caramel pudding for dessert!) read more

This place is amazing! I cannot say enough wonderful things about La Stella... We went for dinner a few months back while looking for a rehearsal dinner restaurant and fell in love with the place. Just had the rehearsal dinner and they exceeded all expectations in every way. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is cozy, and the service is top notch. This is a can't miss stop for any trip to Nanaimo! read more