My husband & I recently came here to celebrate our anniversary. We were fortunate enough to be served by Ivan who took great care to ensure a great experience. We were able to catch a great sunset while dining on appetizers, drinks & savory dishes that exceeded our expectations! The staff was kind & welcoming! Stella's Italian Restaurant did not disappoint & we will be adding this to our restaurant rotations! Thank you for the great experience! read more

Recently came here for a business lunch presentation. The restaurant is a bit dated but the food was great. I had the pollo piccata and that was very good. It came with a small bed of cubed, fried potatoes and lemon cream sauce. The person next to me had the spaghetti bolognese and that looked delicious. It was full of meat. The teramisu was also very good but I forgot to take a picture. The meeting/dining opened to an ocean view in the back so it was nice and breezy. read more

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I visited Stella's Italian about a month ago and wanted to share my experience. When we arrived, we were seated in the corner by the door, and the hostess simply pointed to the table. The service was fine overall, but we didn't feel particularly welcomed. The complimentary bread was good, although I wish it came with salted butter instead of unsalted. We also ordered the garlic bread, which was more like a garlic pizza crust and was a bit dry and lacking in flavor. I ordered the Margherita pizza, which was probably my favorite part of the meal. The sauce and cheese were delicious, and the crust had a great texture. My only complaint was that the dough could have used a little more salt. My friends ordered two different pasta dishes, and our waiter strongly advised against one of them, saying it wasn't what people usually expect. We found that a little odd because, after trying it, it tasted like a fairly standard pasta dish to us. Overall, Stella's Italian was just okay. We enjoyed some parts of the meal, but nothing really stood out. read more

Stella's Italian - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

We had a wonderful time. Service was great, music was lovely. My big complaint is that it says "Vegan options" on the advertising here, but there are none available as a heads up! I would LOVE if they could add gluten free liquor or a vegan wine--just something for more inclusivity! Even a seltzer or something. My friends loved their meal though, and, again, we loved our server SO much! Also... there is no "ocean view". Just a parking lot! read more

Stella's Italian - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Their hours are posted as open until 9:00 pm. We made an open table reservation for 8:15. When we arrived an older gentlemen working behind the bar very rudely said "we're closed". We explained we had a reservation for 4 and had the email confirmation to prove it. He simply did not care. Horrendous customer service. We'll never return. Luckily there was a steak and sushi place next door and they could not have been kinder. The. Stella employee we encountered should stop in to Ichibiri next door for some customer service training! read more

I've been coming into this place occasionally for several years now, maybe a total of 8 visits. Generally sit at the bar as I come by myself or with one other person. Bartenders are competent but not overly friendly. Have tried a number of different food items..most everything has been fine, not outstanding. Being a fan of Happy Hour selections and pricing, I checked their website last week in particular to see HH pricing. It shows House wines priced at $6, and had various prices for a variety of appetizers. Lo and behold, the REAL price of the House wine was really $8 not $6, and some of the current HH appetizer pricing doesn't agree with what they post on their website. This is not uncommon..in fact it happens quite often in my experience. Note to ownership: NOT a good look. Pretty easy to edit and show current pricing. Business 101. Also easy to alienate customers when they rely upon such information when choosing where to go. It's not a deal-breaker for me, just makes me wary. read more

Staff were all nice from reservation to leaving our dessert. Waiter was Ivan and a few others that helped us, very attentive and really nice. There was a man playing a guitar just loud enough it was awesome background music. Playing hits with no words so fun. Garlic, olive oil, marinara, added salmon. So good I can eat every day . We ordered garlic bread, shaped like pizza very good. Chicken fettuccine , Chicken Cesar salad , pizza pepperoni and a mushroom , drinks were tasty too. Thank you guys for a great meal and night! We will definitely be back. read more

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Honestly, this is a pretty chill spot. I was next-door on a job, figured I'd stop in. The bartenders were very attentive and drinks were great. I didn't have any food, but I actually plan to come back to try the crabcakes. I was there for almost an hour until I realized that there's an ocean view on the other side of the restaurant. Definitely worth coming back to check out. The regulars definitely spoke well of this place, that's what makes me want to come back read more

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If cozy coastal dining was the goal, Stella's Italian definitely hit the mark. The interior was small and intimate, but it became clear that the larger enclosed patio with its heaters, fireplace, and live music was the true focal point of the restaurant. And once you catch the partial ocean view from their patio, the whole experience suddenly feels a bit more elevated and fancy. THE FOOD. - Calamari. Lightly crisp on the outside and tender inside, offering a clean, mild flavor that complimented nicely with its dipping sauces. - Filet Mignon. The steak was succulent and cooked perfectly medium, though the seasoning leaned a bit on the gentle side. However, the spinach swung the other direction with noticeable saltiness. The potatoes were good though. Overall, this dish didn't quite come together for me. - Short Ribs (Menu Special). The short ribs were rich, tender, and full of deep, comforting flavors. The creamy polenta and buttery roasted vegetables made perfect companions, adding both warmth and balance to each bite. Recommend trying this out. THE DRINK. - Catena Malbec. Mildly sweet with notes of red berries, offering a smooth, relaxed finish that paired well with the heartier dishes. THE PARKING. Free surface lot parking. Easy, convenient, and refreshingly drama-free. No circling, no stress. THE VERDICT. A charming spot with great ambiance and dishes - especially those short ribs. Yes, we'd come back to dive deeper into their Italian menu next time. read more

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This place is phenomenal. Everyone should try it. The food is fabulous. The SERVICE especially Larry is great and then they have harp music playing just beautiful music the wonderful classics. And it is overlooking the ocean with the sunset. It doesn't get any better in this. This is five star. Everyone would love it, but I hope you don't because I like being able to get. The place is a winner to share with our friends read more

We came sooo hungry, I only took one picture! The service is very warm and inviting. We sat on the patio and actually had an ocean view. The sax player adds a wonderful atmosphere to the experience We shared a pizza which was delicious and a couple salads as well as the grilled fish special which was delicious and plenty for two!! Our waiter Gage was very attentive and fun!! read more

Stella's Italian - Seafood special - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

Stella's never misses. Incredible service and even better food. A great atmosphere to match. Sit on the patio and get an ocean view read more

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It is rare to find a great restaurant that has a great view. That is Stella's. Also the experience is elevated when there is great service. the servers are consistent and attentive. Happy hour is excellent but can be crowded. I think they are busier at dinner than lunch. I believe they have entertainment but tbh I have no idea what the schedule is. I primarily stick to a seafood salad special. It is great and just the right size for me. read more

Stella's Italian - Seafood salad - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Loved it for years...a totally different experience these days. Seafood small and way too saucy (the sauce was used to disguise both the quality and size of the portions...) Not fresh... Service: Not good and very spotty Once a favorite, sadly not in that category any longer. read more

A lovely Italian neighborhood restaurant. Located in Dana Point across from Salt Creek in the Gelson's shopping center. Live music, beautiful Italian restaurant with Italian dishes. We just paid for a light bite this evening of wine, pizza and a beautiful Caesar salad. Everything was fresh and lovely as always read more

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5/31/2026 @ around 8:15pm. I was in the mood for Italian food, and by that I wanted spaghetti with meatballs. This is the place closest to me when I was going through my navigation GPS. I figured I try this place out. I was greeted upon entering and was offered a table promptly and I already knew what I was craving for, I was recommended Spaghetti Bolognese. The table was set with fine silverware, hand towel, and fine china. I was served water and bread without my request, NOW THAT IS DEFINITELY TOP TEIR SERVICE ! I was going to ask for water to drink anyway! Service was excellent, Parmesan cheese was added and the food was freshly prepared and served quickly. Thank you Stella's staff for providing great service! I will return to try other dishes in the future! read more

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Food here is so good, I forget to check in on Yelp sometimes. Still one of my favorite Italian restaurants to this day making it worth the drive to Dana Point. Service is always great as usual and the views from the patio are always perfect on a sunny day. If you're stuck on choosing an appetizer, I recommend ordering the calamari. The batter is light and crispy without being drenched in oil and the squid is perfectly cooked without being too chewy. All the entrees here are delicious, my go to is usually a pizza or the vongole with the white wine sauce. Make sure to ask for some bread to scoop up all the delicious sauce that is underneath the pasta. read more

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I wish I had a chance to order, but the room was SO hot I had to get out. We sat at the bar hoping to get some ice water to cool off, but the three people behind the bar felt discussing someone's desire for separate check more important. For point of reference, it was 5 o'clock and the business faces east. There are a few outdoor seats and those sitting there seem like they were having a great time, so not a one star. The food we saw looked good. If you can stand the heat, it might be nice, just not in the summer. read more

Our Valentine's Day experience at Stella's was extremely disappointing. Before our visit, the host called twice to confirm our reservation and specifically stated that it would be an ocean front view, which was the main reason we chose this restaurant for such a special occasion. When we arrived, that arrangement was suddenly changed at the last minute with no clear explanation or real effort to honor what had already been confirmed. Although our assigned server was sweet and attentive and did their best, the rest of the service was very unprofessional. One of the other servers who is bald behaved in a way that was completely inappropriate and made the environment uncomfortable, especially for Valentine's Day and in a restaurant setting. Between the reservation issue and the overall lack of professionalism, the experience was frustrating and far from what we expected. Aside from our server's kindness, nothing stood out positively, and this is not a place I would recommend, especially for a special occasion. read more

Stella's Italian - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

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What I love about this place is it is old style classy traditional Italian restaurant. The white linens and arched seating with ocean views. Came in for lunch with my friend and had a great conversation in a calm and relaxing atmosphere. There was no rush to get us out and the food was great. They offer pizza to pasta and a nice selection of wine and cocktails. Hidden gem and great service. read more

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Came here last week for a light weekday lunch. Sean is super amazing!! The food, view, music, service....its what fine dining is supposed to be. I will definitely return!! read more

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The food is really yummy, waiters and attendants fun and helpful. Music is beautiful harp melodies. Just lately we noticed the drinks, especially happy hour are a bit watered down. Sad as it completes the meal or a celebratory end to a day. Bring back the basics ~ the way it used to be please. read more

Worst Italian ever, chicken parm, chopped salad, capellini everything so terrible literally best part was the complementary stale bread and balsamic vinegar read more

What a delightful experience. A very dear friend and I went for their exceptional Happy Hour. Service was impeccable and the food was delicious. Chris ( bartender) was gracious and continued to check on us to be sure we were being well taken care of us. The view is lovely and the ambiance was just perfect . Summer dining at its best. read more

We were there with a party of 35 (an advance reservation was made so they knew we were coming) and they didn't take our order for OVER AN HOUR. No apology or even bread was offered. Unbelievable. Food was ok - heavy on the sauces though. But seriously - practically the worst service I've ever experienced. read more

Very good Italian food and generous portions. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. Chicken Parmigiana is the best!

The ambiance was cute, quaint, cozy and pleasant. The service was impeccable. Our server on 12/13/25 was so nice, informative, gave you great attendance, made sure everything was well done and even notified us about an allergy I have with a soup ingredient before putting it in. My mom and I split the Cesar chicken salad which was some of the best chicken we've ever had. Plus a side of asparagus which were nice and crisp. All around a great place to go with amazing service. We will be back only next time my mom want to try their pizza which looks authentic and delicious as it was passing by. read more

Horrible food. Tiny portions! Seafood pasta was mush. Other than chicken piccata, the brown sauce was on all of the others and was dry. The manager was sooo rude too. Bye bye read more

Great food. Wonderful ambiance. And such nice servers. Especially Mario the Bartender. So experienced. Makes so many drinks from scratch. The best happy hour in Dana Point in my opinion! read more

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Best service, staff was great - food was a tad pricey but tasty. We got two pizzas a. Pollo picatta, lobster ravioli and glass of rose. The lobster ravioli had a great sauce but w chopped up shrimp, that was giving shrimpflatiion! I don't understand why they wouldn't just add a few shrimp to the entree- rather than add cut up shrimp to the sauce feels kinda cheap- but it was still pretty good! read more

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$25 for 3 scallops. Did I mention... $25.00 for THREE SCALLOPS. WTF!?! Inflation is insane or maybe this restaurant is. How embarrassing! I could have bought a bag of scallops at the grocery store for $10-12 and fed my whole family. What a joke dude. NEVER EVER AGAIN! Ever!!!!! read more

So local and a nice spot but the food average but it does the job. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here but it's good for convent nice meal read more

Loved this place. Everything was wonderful. From the food, to the service and the ambiance. Made my birthday so memorable. Big thank you to Mr Larry who was our waiter. Made our experience 10 times more enjoyable. read more

Stella's Italian - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

Bomb little spot right up from the beach and ocean view Food was good and people were friendly would definitely come again read more

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Their Happy Hour is so welcoming. Their cocktails are a must try. We will be back.

Great Italian restaurant with amazing food and ocean view!!! Highly recommend if you are looking for an authentic restaurant in Dana point read more

Sorry to hear you weren't happy with your meal. I want to share that last week having dinner at Stella 's was amazing. The service was incredible and the Sole was absolutely delicious. Quite possibly the best I've ever eaten. The serving size was so large that I took half home. I would highly recommend the Sole. read more

I order a chopped salad which is soo good. I had it deliverd. There's no way this is a full salad order. It used to fit in a large bowl. Now it doesn't even fill up a small nowl. It's pretty disappointing read more

Stella's Italian - You can see the bottom of the container. I haven't eaten anything. It's 4oz of lettuce with 3/8oz in salami. What am i paying for? - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

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The service is great, the ambiance with live music is fantastic, the food is good and the dessert is delicious! We'll be back

Everything they say about this place is true. Classy, great food, polished service. A must order is the brick oven lasagna made with three meats (pork, veal and beef) and covered with red sauce on one half and white on the other. Pizzas and garlic bread are another plus. read more

Stella's Italian - Brick-Oven Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Dana Point, California

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