By Katie Dunn

Once you walk through the heavy doors, you are immediately met with an overwhelmingly warm atmosphere, filled with chatter and the smells of delicious food. Stella’s Restaurant, serving Greek cuisine in Richmond since 1983, focuses on “bringing the freshest ingredients & Mediterranean fare tableside,” which is exactly what I experienced when I visited the restaurant for brunch on a Sunday last month.

Stella’s is located on a quaint residential side street, Lafayette, between Monument and Patterson Avenues in the Near West End. The restaurant is found next to Blackbird Salon and across from one of the three Stella’s Grocery locations, a small market based off of the restaurant which sells “fish, meats, dry goods, produce coffee, and sweets.” The grocery is small yet smartly decorated and filled with gourmet snacks, pre-made meals, and homemade baked goods from the restaurant.

The Spartan sandwich with a side of Stella’s potatoes.

Though the restaurant is extremely busy and relatively small, my family was seated right away at a prime table right in front of a big, bright window. As reservations are strongly recommended, and there are usually lines out the door, we were lucky to get a table so easily. Our waitress came right over once we were seated, which was one of many moments that I noticed the impeccable service at Stella’s.

For my entrée, I ordered the Spartan, a “thick grilled cheese on Stella’s homemade bread with kasseri, tomatoes & prosciutto.” My sister Abby (‘23), ordered the strained Greek yogurt topped with honey and fresh fruit, as well as the loukoumades, a classic Greek dessert described as “golden puffs of fried dough, bathed in honey, sugar syrup & topped with fresh cinnamon.” My dad ordered the chicken souvlaki pita. Our food arrived swiftly, which was excellent, because we were getting hungry looking at all of the amazing food at the surrounding tables. There were people in every corner and even people crowding the bar, even though it was early on a Sunday morning.

Strained Greek yogurt with honey and fruit (left) and loukoumades (right).

We practically devoured our food as soon as our it hit the table. I loved my sandwich— I felt like it was a menu item I wouldn’t find at any other restaurant. I especially enjoyed the homemade bread, which is a perfect example of how much care is put into each dish. My sister also loved her meal, diving into her Greece-themed cup of steaming loukoumades the second the waitress set them in front of her. They were hot and slathered in honey—a delicious early morning treat. She said, “I liked my meal because it was super different than things you usually find around town; it tasted like something you could only get at Stella’s.” Across the table, my dad said, “the souklavi was delicious, but ask for extra napkins. The tzatziki sauce goes everywhere!”

A wall in Stella’s featuring their reviews and recognition.

Many people agree with our overwhelmingly positive reviews. Upper School English teacher (and Match adviser) Vlastik Svab claims, “Stella’s is one of my wife’s favorite restaurants in the city, so we go there for special occasions. She thinks it’s ‘amazeballs.’ The cocktails and every dish we’ve tried are all stellar. We especially love some of the meze (appetizers), like the keftedes (Stella’s homemade beef and lamb meatballs) and the kreatopita (spiced ground beef, a blend of grated cheese & bechamel, wrapped in phyllo).”

Publications from around the city also agree, as Stella’s has a wall dedicated to their achievements, including a 4-star rating from the Richmond Times-Dispatch and “Best West End Restaurant of 2015″ as well as “Best Mediterranean Restaurant of 2018” from Richmond Magazine.

Some of the decor in Stella’s.

As we ate, we admired the decor of the restaurant. I have been to Stella’s a few times in the past, but I still notice new little details, such as pictures hung on the wall from the history of the eatery, every time I go. One aspect of Stella’s that keeps me coming back is the way the restaurant seamlessly ties modern decor along with the rich history of founder Stella Dikos herself. One of the first things you notice when you walk in is the stunning shiny metal tile ceiling, which attracts the eye up and makes the compact space seem a little bit more spacious. Though the decor seems antique, it adds a hip touch to the furnishings of the restaurant. The back bar is filled with shelves holding clay pots and historical pieces.

Overall, I had an amazing experience at Stella’s. The atmosphere was warm and cozy, making it a great place to stop for early Sunday brunch. The food was exceptional and unique, as you can’t find many of their items anywhere else in the city. I had an amazing experience at Stella’s, as I always do, and I completely recommend you stop by for an amazing Greek meal.

All photos by Katie Dunn.