Loved this burger! They had so many different options it was hard to pick. I'd go back and try another. They also had a nice beer and cider list. read more

Stella is a convenient spot to grab a bite near the University of Iowa Hospital, with a darker, fairly quiet atmosphere for a bar-style restaurant. My lady and I stopped in while visiting my dad, and we were seated and greeted quickly. However, it took quite a while--about 10 minutes--for our server to come back and take our orders. To be fair, they did seem a bit understaffed for the number of guests. We ordered the Woodbury and Dickinson chicken sandwiches. Both were pretty average, with the Dickinson being the better of the two. Surprisingly, the French fries ended up being the highlight of the meal--not something I normally feel the need to mention, but they stood out more than the entrées. One thing to note: bring your own condiments. They charge $1 for a small ranch cup, which was a bit of a letdown. Overall, I'd probably skip Stella's when visiting Iowa City. read more

Stella - Dickinson Chicken Sandwich and fries. - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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We were at UIHC & walked over to Stella's for lunch. It was a Sunday around 2pm. We were greeted & seated promptly. Davis was our waiter. Drink orders were taken. We had 2 Stella's. They had a great local beer selection & signature cocktail menu. Food was ordered. We had the Italian pizza (no red peppers) add Kalamata olives and a burger with an egg & hand cut French fries (skin on) The food was tasty. We sat on the patio. It was a beautiful 74 degree day. There was 2-3 other tables seated. Ambiance was chill (after mowers stopped) RR were clean. read more

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Took the college kids to dinner here in the summer. As an alumni of Iowa, this place wasn't here in the 90s lol . Super close to the football stadium. It's a darker place with tvs. Great place for students and locals alike. Waitstaff was a bit slow and missing at times. Food was great! My seafood pasta was filling and great portion size. I was recommended this over the fish and chips by the waitstaff. Parking is rough and small. Probably a bit too pricey for students but when mom/dad are in town, it's a great spot! read more

Stella - seafood pasta - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Went here twice while in Iowa City. The fist visit (Saturday night) was a three star review. We met friends there and sat on the side patio. Our server was a little slow. We ordered two 5 oz. beers, two 8 oz. beers. The 5 oz. came out correct. Instead of two 8-oz., our server brought one large beer. Not great for the person that was driving.... The only response we got was that "I rang it in wrong." I ordered the tzatziki chicken sandwich (on the same server's recommendation). Not good. At. All. Something in the sandwich had a weird taste. Didn't finish but the fries were good. Second trip for lunch was much better. Sat at the front patio facing the street. I ordered the Sriracha Pulled Pork Sandwich because of the combo of flavors (spice, pork, brie, bacon, onions). It was good but not spicy at all. I loved the brie idea. Again, the fries are outstanding! Service was much better too. This was a solid four so I am defaulting to that rating. read more

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10/10 Recommend adding Stella to your list if visiting Iowa City. They have phenomenal food, great service, and an extremely pleasant environment. My only regret is not going more often. You will feel God in this Stella's. And i'm not kidding. read more

Stella - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

The cajun seafood was solid. The black bean burger was very messy but OK. Service was friendly. The experience was more sports bar than restaurant. read more

Stella - Table by the window. - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Amazing spot will definitely be back. Very good food, all felt very fresh. Fast and friendly service!! read more

Stella - Tenderloin - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Burger Monday for $10.99 (all day) with $3 bet happy hour (2-5) is the day to come and have a beer and gourmet burger for $12. They charge for ranch which is a pet peeve of mine so technically $13 for my order with the ranch. The bacon and blue was my choice : Quinby. Otherwise the food and ambiance is cool but ridiculously overpriced being it's one of the few eateries near the hospital. Also part of the Kaeding restaurant umbrella mafia. read more

Stella - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Jambalaya taste so good. It comes with huge shrimps too. The rice was a bit undercooked [to me] but the flavor was amazing. I wasn't a fan of the voodoo shrimp flavor... the gravy is sweet in a weird way. If I knew the Jambalaya already has so many shrimps, I'd skip the voodoo shrimp. read more

Stella - This menu is not on website. - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

This place was right down the street from my kid's dorm on U of Iowa move in day, so we checked it out for lunch. Right away it felt super welcoming (menu posted outside on the gate, farm to table signage, rainbow flag in the window) and it has a cute black interior. We were greeted right away by a friendly staff member, and seated immediately. Their indoor seating area seems small, but they also have awesome wraparound outdoor seating that looked amazing. The menu is huge and provides lots of options for everyone. Burgers and black bean burgers seem to be really popular, and they've got pizzas and Cajun food on the menu, too. One of us had a burger and bacon cheese fries that were great. The other two of us ordered off the Cajun section. The gumbo came out hot and had plenty of meat and flavor. The crawfish ettoufee was piping hot and delicious. Both had a kick of spice, but neither was too spicy. The BBQ shrimp appetizer was my favorite; it was big enough for a meal. Huge shrimp in a BBQ gravy over grits. That had a flavorful kick of heat as well, but not at all overpowering. Everything's was delicious and seemed reasonably priced for the quantity and value of the food! We'll be back when grandparents come to visit campus! read more

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Ordered fries to‑go on June 24, 2026 around 7 PM. When I got home and opened the box about 10 minutes later , and the fries were overcooked, clearly made in old oil, and tasted like burned potatoes. For something that costs over $6, this was really disappointing. Would not recommend. read more

Service was attentive but not overbearing; the food options are diverse & the jambalaya I had was quite good (just the right amount of spicy and each bite I took, I got shrimp, sausage, or chicken! My sister had the fish & chips & said the fish & tartar sauce were hits but the fries were nothing too exciting. The pomegranate mule was lackluster but the Hot Mama (a spicy watermelon margarita) was absolutely the bomb! read more

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Food was great! Service was pretty good, but I think it's important for people to know website is advertising $6.99 burgers on Mondays and we were charged $8.99. read more

Stella is one of my go to places for a great night out. Everything I've had from here has been great and it introduced me to Clock House brewing as well. read more

Excellent service. Good food, well priced. Have hit this place up for a complicated Togo order (they nailed it), and dropped by and ate at the bar in the last week. Wide variety of chicken sandwiches and burgers, even the fries traveled well. Fries were a little on the salty side but did the trick. Tried the red beans and rice, a little runny for red gravy but the flavor was very good. Small was plenty for one. Bartender nailed a mocktail and was very happy over all with my experience. read more

Stella - Red beans and rice (small) - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Let's get straight to the most important item in this review - the FOOD. I heard that Stella is known for their hamburgers so that's what I had. There are over 20 different types to choose from which can be both overwhelming and time consuming! I finally decided on the Maynard burger and was very pleased with my selection. The burger was so very good. Lots of flavor, cooked perfectly, moist and the perfect size. I also really enjoyed the huge serving of fries. Yum Service was fast and friendly. We were seated on the outdoor patio which was nice but the chairs themselves were metal and rather uncomfortable. My lunch mates had chicken sandwiches (again a lot of choices) and said they were quite good. Located close to the University of Iowa campus near the hospital, this is an excellent choice for a quick meal. read more

Stella - The Maynard Burger comes with bacon, guacamole and garlic aioli - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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Good food. Good service. No complaints. It's within a short walking distance of University of Iowa Health Center, and is worth the walk. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere. read more

Stella is a family favorite. Here are the ABC's A stone's throw from historic Kinnick Stadium. Burger Night, every Monday. ($8.99!) Cajun Night, every Tuesday. (Half priced) Don't miss out on the daily specials! Everyone can find something on their menu! French fries that are piping hot and hand cut. Gumbo. OMG the gumbo! It is a go-to for me. Handful of 9" pizza options baked to order. It's sister restaurant of Short's Burger & Shine. Just order the Cuban. The house made pickles are fabulous. Kids options are solid! Clean plate club for my littles. Love the staff; attentive, professional, friendly. Melrose Magic. It's close to the hospital, a quick drive from the interstate. Never skip the fried pickles. Oasis-like patios-- PLURAL. (That are covered in the winter, even.) Parking is limited, but there's free parking down the street. Quick! Order some Short's Sauce. Rotating taps with awesome craft beer selection. Soup of the Day! Don't forget to ask or to try it. Tingley is my go-to burger: green chili, pepper jack cheese with guacamole. Unique cocktails, as well as some solid Moscow mules. Vegetarian options-- black bean burgers to die for. West-side must have. There's not a ton of options, Stella is a solid one. X-tra dressing. Their dressing are made in-house and great. You can order online for carryout. Zoom on over, open daily. read more

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Honestly one of the best restaurants in IC. Monday is burger night and it never disappoints. Usually get a burger with fries ($9) and a wedge salad + old fashioned. The patio is great when it's nice out, and the service is usually college kids who are always helpful and friendly. The ambience is bar like - could be nicer but the food makes up for it! read more

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I had the pleasure of enjoying an absolutely delightful meal on Stella's outdoor patio last week! Their patio is a must visit before the weather closes it down, it feels like you step into a secret garden! I tried the Humboldt Chicken sandwich and a berry gin cocktail. Both were extremely satisfying and had me leaving with a full & happy stomach! Stella is the perfect place for any kind of event from a date night to a business lunch, you'll be happy with your choice to dine here! read more

Stella - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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First time in recently. It was very hot day outside and asked to be sat inside in hope it would be cooler inside, however, they had their patio doors open so not much reprieve from the heat and bugs. Food was decent. I ordered the Arion burger. Needed a knife & fork to eat it. It's pretty large & a little messy so I'm happy I had a knife & fork. Loved knowing they use their own farm for their produce. Service was a little lack luster, however, I'm starting to understand that's just kind of how it is around here for a lot of places given that there are many young people either in college or younger and they either don't have the training or the desire to be anything beyond an order taker. Would still try again because their menu is enticing. read more

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Great patio atmosphere, excellent service, even with high volume due to graduation... Our party had about everything on the menu and it was excellent--i had fish and chips, huge portion. read more

Stella - Fish and chips - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Workers are always nice and give good recommendations when you ask for them. Great beer here too. Always a good time but does get busy!

We go to Stella a few times a year when in town visiting our daughter. We really like the place. The service and food are always good. However, as a Cajun food enthusiast, I was disappointed with the Red Beans and Rice. They are not a Cajun restaurant but do have a Cajun section on the menu. I tried both the gumbo (which was very good) and the red beans and rice. The red beans and rice were mediocre and overpriced for what you get. It didn't taste bad, but was just bland and boring. I love red beans and rice, but this was the least favorite I have ever had at a restaurant (including at the fast-food chain Popeyes). I look forward to trying the Jambalaya or the Drunken Chicken next time but will not reorder the beans and rice. read more

Great food, healthy portions, but really appreciated the attentive service from our server, Gabriella! Thank you!!

The first of many meals from Stella now that I'm back in Iowa City⁣. For this lunch, we got the Hardin chicken sandwich⁣ and Grand junction black bean burger⁣. The grand junction black bean burger is probably my favorite of all time and they always load it up with feta and sauce. Their fries are some of the best I've had and they always pile them up! I tried the Buffalo chicken sandwich which was also good especially because of the grilled onions. I really liked their seasonal basil gin cocktail I tried, too. A solid IC staple close to Kinnick for all your needs⁣. They also have drink specials M-F from 2-5pm and all day Sunday so you can't go wrong there. My personal favorite is their deal on burgers on Monday read more

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Reasonable burger and fries. Prices are very reasonable, especially if you catch them on a daily special. Nice environment.

I have been here many times and have never posted a review.. my hubby has ICU hospital appointments and this lovely restaurant is nearby.. a haven from the hospital.. summertime garden area is beautiful not quiet due to street, but welcoming. We love the menu.. our favorites to split is fish and chips, pizza and always the wedge salad.. burgers are delicious.. the service is the best.. the assortments of beers and mixed drinks is phenomenal... just a cool place... good parking once you find it.. belly up to a table take in the ambiance and Enjoy!!! read more

Stella - Garden area.. - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

We have gone to Stella a handful of times, and every time there were little issues. I have never given reviews of those experiences because it was usually a minor issue involving just one person in our group and it was nothing extreme. The bathroom aren't accessible for those with a disability (I have MS & do not walk well), the booths are quite uncomfortable, mixed drinks aren't made well...little annoyances such as that, but not horrific. Tonight we went for drinks & a burger. We quickly realized that the temperature inside was the same as outside which was 90 degrees with 88% humidity. The only air conditioning was a stand alone room unit in the corner. & ceiling fans on high. Again, my simple mixed drink was made wrong. We debated whether or not to stay, but ultimately took our food to go. Part of my MS is heat sensitivity so it was not healthy for me in that environment. We were both so hot that eating anything hot had lost its appeal. And frankly, I was concerned about food safety in that environment. read more

Just amazing all around! Atmosphere, food, drinks, and service! My mother and I had lunch on a Friday afternoon. It was busy, but we were able to get a booth. Since we weren't in any hurry to eat, the server - who was probably one of the most pleasant I've ever met - checked on us once in a while so Mom and I could chat. They have a great selection of black bean burgers! Scrumptious! My etoufeé was amazeballs. I want to come back and try the gumbo (perhaps when it's warmer bc they have the cutest outdoor setup)! Definitely recommend!! read more

What an excellent local pub! Great range of beers- dark beer Nessie is wonderfully smooth- in range of sizes. Large menu of $15 burgers do Justice to Iowa beef. Friendly service and nice dark pub vibes. Try it!!! read more

Came across this place while traveling. Had to do take out bc the Rona is killing business. The service was friendly at the door. They looked like they were remodeling since they had no dine in. Good time to do so too. Anywho, it's a small little place but I'm sure it's hoppin under normal circumstances. We ordered the jambalaya and gumbo to go. Both were pretty good. We were thankful to finally run across something that wasn't fast food on our travel. If ever I'm back in the area I think I'd stop in again. read more

Fantastic friendly service and great food. Hand cut fries cooked perfectly. Iowa favorite and Lytton burger is a hit.

Great food and friendly/quick service! We had burgers and fries and a couple beers and it really hit the spot after visiting the hospital nearby. Huge variety of burger and chicken sandwich options. The menu was also filled with Cajun cuisine too! Little something for everyone! read more

Stella - Lytton and Black Bean burger - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

Arrived early with the Iowa Game still underway and got to watch some of the last quarter. Great server... she checked in several times throughout the meal and was friendly and good at her job. Had drinks and food. The old fashion ordered was a good size, but simply put, just not very good. Added simple syrup to the drink to try to help the overly bitter drink... not seen dark brown simple syrup before (and there really are some things that should not be messed with), and it didn't help. On to the food... crab cakes... back to the simple things comment about the drink... too much filler really makes a crab cake turn into not really being a crab cake... sorry, just not very good and then undercooked. We like the environment. We like the location. We like the staff... but food and drinks need some work... don't recall it being like this a few years ago. read more

Pretty good food. Clean. Our waitress, Amber, worked circles around everyone else. She deserves a raise.

I'll start off and say amazing service, our server was very polite and prompt. Started off with the appetizer of cheese fries, I'd give the whole appetizer a 4/5 the fries were great but the cheese was very thick and did not stick very well to the fries. If you get the cheese fries go with the ranch for dipping instead of the sour cream (personal preference). Aside from the app I had the 1006 Melrose burger pretty much plain aside from ketchup. It was cooked perfect for my liking, from that it was just mediocre meat with a great bun. Was not a fan of the texture of the meat itself, I also had higher expectations for the flavor. Overall I went with 3 stars, amazing service for a busy Saturday afternoon, the fries were great and I would not change a thing about them, but my main entree the burger, I had a lot higher hopes for. Looking forward to trying more of the menu and possibly bringing this review up one more star. read more

Stella - Cheese Fries - New American Near Me - Iowa City, Iowa

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My favorite place to hang out with friends. The food is fantastic, the hole in the wall feel right next to the university hospital campus is great. read more

Both the staff and food were really good! Thornton burger and fries were delicious just messy! I would highly recommend it! Was in the area working at Kinnick Stadium and it was really easy to get off work and then zip right over to Stella's. Like the vibes of the outside seating area as well! read more