Stella Restaurant

I had high hopes when we entered the restaurant. My MIL was given two gift cards and wanted to give Stella a try. My husband made reservations in person and bought two more gift cards immediately before we went in to dine (pay $25.00 for a $50.00 value). The owner greeted my husband when the gift cards were requested and told him "I think we're out of that special." However my husband mentioned that he called Stella earlier that day and was told that they had more available. The owner “magically” found more in the back.



After my husband paid for the additional gift card the owner handed him his change and (knowing he was there to dine that day) said, "Those have a 24 hour activation period before they can be used." My husband didn't say anything but thought it was HIGHLY unethical not to notify him of the restrictions BEFORE his money was taken. But no big deal- my husband and I planned to use them another time.



The atmosphere in the restaurant was quite nice, open with a crisp yet comfortable décor. Shortly after we were seated (a group of seven) I went to the ladies room and overheard the owner berating the hostess for seating us at the wrong table. “What is the problem with you? Why don’t you get that right? I told you to seat them here.” I can only assume he was speaking of us because we were the only seated customers (there were others standing at the bar).



Our waiter was patient in explaining the menu and our food arrived in a timely manner. Unfortunately only one person in our party was actually happy with their entire meal. I ordered the Stella salad and the fish and chips. It was literally the worst salad I’ve ever had. The entire salad was room temperature, the lettuce had started to wilt and turn brown, the tomatoes had begun to wrinkle and it was swimming in the salad dressing. I wonder if the large amount of vinaigrette was put on to conceal the sub par quality of the produce. The fish was light and flaky but the breadcrumb coating was sweet. It was edible but strange. The warm rolls we received after being seated were fantastic. You know there are problems when the bread is the best part of your meal.



When the bill came my mother in law was told that only one gift card could be used per visit. My MIL asked for the owner who reiterated the assertion that only one could be used. He claimed that every customer is told that rule when they purchase a gift card (which was NOT true when my husband purchased two from him a mere three hours earlier) and he also blamed the person who had given my MIL two of the gift cards for not telling her about that restriction.



My MIL asked to see that restriction in writing anywhere (on the receipt, on their website, etc.) but the owner snickered and said that he didn’t have to show it in writing because HE was the owner and HE was telling her the rule. He said that if he accepted gift cards for an entire bill he would go out of business. Perhaps he should have thought that through a little better.



My MIL eventually prevailed but the owner was completely obnoxious. We had to wait outside with the two young children so they wouldn’t have to see and hear it. The owner even claimed to have called the police.



It was without a doubt the WORST restaurant experience I have ever had. He was unethical from the start and the experience went downhill from there.



The irony of it all was that although my husband was told that the gift cards he purchased immediately before our meal would not be activated for 24 hours, they were used to pay for our dinner without a mention or a problem. He tried to scam us in the hopes that we wouldn’t use the gift cards that day and he would have our business twice.



No freaking way buddy- never EVER again.