Cafe Stella   

A friend had been going to Stella for several months and really liked it. We went with him on an early Friday night and the place was still 1/2 empty. We requested a certain table and sat down. Shortly thereafter, the manager came over and told us that the table was reserved for the owner and that we would have to move. She pointed to a lone table in the back and when we protested, she suggested that we should dine elsewhere....which is just what we did...and will do from now on

I just had the worst dinner at Stella on 10/12/06. Stella added a canvas roof that cuts off the stars and keeps in the cigarette smoke. Same for the ugly plastic walls created on both sides. The romantic nature of the place has been replaced by loud music that competes with your conversation. I was barely able to have one since I was busy choking on second-hand smoke by the smokers around me. After we moved inside to obtain a bit more privacy and a lot less smoke, I had a $20 chicken breast that had less flavor than Koo Koo Roo. My dinner mate (who loves the place) even agreed. The only highlight of the disastrous experience was the french fries. Finally, the environment is snooty which obviously starts at the top (just one glance at the Barishnakov-looking host in a black turtleneck with arms crossed was enough to prove that). Never again!

let's keep it a secret. if you dont know what you're missing here, let's keep it that way. already it's hard enough to get a table....cafe stella is full to the max every night, and deservedly so. the food is perfect, great servers, atmosphere is a welcome change (no bling bling sunset strip-pers, leather blazers, junior agents barking into cellphones) with a nice mix of funky sexy cool eastsiders and the people who love them. good wine choices, and they have the best moules frites i have eaten anywhere, ever. 100-ish for 2, high for the area but on par for LA.

My new favorite place. Service is great, food's great and the atmosphere is fab. Perfect for a date or just a few good friends.