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    Stella

    3.7 (207 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Stella Photos

    Business Info

    STELLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Stella

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    This menu is not on website.

    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.

    Delaney M.

    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.

    Constance M.

    Stopped in before the Iowa/Penn State game for some pre game fun! We split wings, cheese fries, and cheese curds. We all had some drinks and had a great seat on the patio. Perfect day and great service. Go Hawks!

    seafood pasta
    Will R.

    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!

    Sriracha Pulled Pork with Bacon, Onions and Brie
    Debra K.

    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.

    Table by the window.
    Michael R.

    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.

    Bobby C.

    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.

    BBQ shrimp appetizer
    Angie L.

    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!

    Front of restaurant
    Susan K.

    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!

    Jenni H.

    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.

    Red beans and rice (small)
    Audrey C.

    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.

    The Maynard Burger comes with bacon, guacamole and garlic aioli
    Pat M.

    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.

    Banana pudding on fire
    Sylvia J.

    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!

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    11 months ago

    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!

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    1 year ago

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

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

    The inside is dark and a little grungy like an old bar. Definitely nice to sit outside. Great burgers and beer on tap.

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    Joseph's Steakhouse

    Joseph's Steakhouse

    4.1(147 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$

    All I can say is WOW!! I stopped in with my son for a nightcap and ended up enjoying one of my best…read moremeals in Iowa city. We sat at the bar and ordered two Long Island iced teas. Not an easy drink to pour for many bartenders, but these were PERFECT! We were glancing at the menu and I decided to order their PIZZAIOLA - ribeye cap, roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, olive tapenade, fresh mozzarella, oregano, house made focaccia. After ordering, my son and I chuckled that I ordered a steak pizza. And I started to stress - a $50 pizza??? When the dish arrived, I almost fell out of my chair. The aroma of the tomatoes, the bread the steak - wow!!! A picture paints a thousand words but one bite generated millions! I will be back for graduation soon and will be sure to make my reservations well in advance!!! Been to most places in this town the past couple years - stumbling into here was the best decision ever!!!

    My wife and I were in town for the holidays and went to Joseph's for a rare date night without the…read morekiddo. Had a reservation but opted for bar seating, the drinks were perfect and service was exactly what you'd want from a nice steakhouse: attentive but not overbearing. Started with the tuna tartare, which was somewhat deconstructed tower concept. I didn't care that the salt was in a pile to be added, would have preferred the tuna to be seasoned by the chef but my wife loved building each bite. I had the wagyu sirloin a la oscar, with whipped potatoes and asparagus. My better half had the petit filet with broccoli. Both were cooked exactly the way we requested, tender and full of flavor. Finished with the oatmeal pie for her desert while I closed out with a pour of grappa. Best way to end a lovely evening. Cheers team and happy holidays!

    Photos
    Joseph's Steakhouse - Beautiful ambiance

    Beautiful ambiance

    Joseph's Steakhouse - Ribeye cap and fettuccine

    Ribeye cap and fettuccine

    Joseph's Steakhouse - Old Fashioned and Peartini

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    Old Fashioned and Peartini

    Stella - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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