This review was first posted to Google, but either management or the Google algorithm flagged it to be taken down. Once this happens, it bans your IP address, so I couldn't repost it ghere. That's fine. I can post it other places :)
When it comes to online reviews, this business tends to hide behind the flagging/reporting feature and will delete anything that may hold them accountable. They're very openly incapable of accepting criticism, valid or not.
They have evaded public scrutiny almost entirely by weaponizing these back-end functions.
This was originally posted on 3/15/26. It was deleted very soon after, as was a long list of negative reviews from Google that reflect the genuine quality of service at this restaurant.
If you're confused about the inconsistent quality of service when visiting, one word comes to mind: mismanagement.
My original Google review was prompted by someone on the management team antagonistically coming after a former employee for speaking out. This employee tried to make patrons aware of some unseen misconduct.
I made this copy shorter for readability, and so it wouldn't trigger terms of conditions for reporting. It's on a few other platforms as well.
Here are is the original (now removed) Google review, with the flaggable words censored:
"There was recently a review written by a former employee that was responded to by management. Zack Warme. Please note the ownership response.
Zack is a former employee of about 7 months. He's not confused or unaware of anything that was going on. Take heed of how management handled him.
That is how this business is run.
Food, service, atmosphere...all hit or miss because of leadership. The way management publicly responded to Zack, disgruntled or not, is a perfect crystallization of why Stella's is inconsistently mediocre at best and awful at worst.
The problem with Stella's is that Billy (owner) is operating on very, very, very old school ideas about workplace politics. Every part of how he handles operations is archaic, most glaringly his unchecked contempt for his employees.
Broader management shares his same social sensibilities, which is to say, none. Graceless and needing to feel like the most important person in the room at every possible moment. They're all like this, which is why they can't get along. They spend most of the shift acting like monkeys fighting over a banana crown instead of cooperating, which puts employees on edge. The employees are then stressed and mistakes begin to pile up. By the end of the shift, everyone is exhausted and angry.
If we're all being honest with ourselves, Stella's is on life support and has been for the last 2 years.
The food itself is not always 'bad': on the days it's good, it's decent. One could liken it to Stouffer's with a nice plating. It's 'acceptable for Lubbock', which is a polite way of saying 'this place would go belly up in Dallas'. It's fine.
On bad days they're serving raw chicken, ice cold lasagna, hockey puck steaks, or giving people anaphylactic reactions and blaming it on the servers (to the point of tears). They have a very bad track record with messing up food during busy shifts. Things often come out either ice cold or burnt to a crisp. That's a wiiiiiide margin of error, ya'll.
The overall problem with this business is that ownership and management are incompetent egomaniacs.
You never know what type of service you will get, because you have no idea what mood leadership was in while they were barking orders in the back of the house.
Just read how they replied to the employee review! Pathetically unprofessional and childish. Such a bad look for a business.
Zero forethought, hurled insults, and a whole lot of misplaced attitude is generally how managers treat employees.
Aside from generally poor social conditions, the s*3*xual misconduct going on is worse than an Olympic village. Zack was correct in addressing it. Management has a long history of carpet sweeping all manner of harassment, especially any allegations aimed at favored male employees. If a guy harassing a woman is a favorite in any way, be prepared for them to treat her like the problem. This includes with guests.
Not only this, but the female employees are treated like second class citizens while doing 95% of the work on any given shift. If they speak out, or resist this set up, they're then micromanaged like a disobedient pet.
Whether this or Zack's review is sour grapes is irrelevant; their response to him is corroborating evidence in its own right. Steer clear if you prefer patronizing businesses that treat their employees with respect...or serve fully cooked chicken..
Stella's does neither. The pizza is good though."
---
Attached picture is the deleted Google review. read more