La Stella Trattoria - Italian Wood-fired Pizza and Handmade Pasta

From the moment I stepped into the restaurant, my anticipation for a delightful meal quickly turned to frustration. I found myself standing awkwardly near the entrance for an excruciating 10 minutes, feeling increasingly invisible and unwelcome as staff bustled past without acknowledging my presence. When I was finally seated, I hoped the food would make up for the initial disappointment.nnSadly, my hopes were dashed with the arrival of our dishes. The pizza, which I had been looking forward to, was a letdown. Each bite was salty that overwhelmed my palate, masking any hint of the quality ingredients I had expected. I found myself reaching for my water glass repeatedly, desperately trying to quench my thirst and rinse away the briny aftertaste.nnThe pasta dish offered a glimmer of adequacy in an otherwise dismal meal. However, even this small comfort was marred by the uninspired sauce that tasted suspiciously like it had come straight off a supermarket shelf.nnAs I reluctantly picked at my food, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of disappointment.

DEFINITELY on my re-visit list whenever I go back to Nanaimo!nnWe ordered 4 pastas on a tight schedule of catching a ferry, so they kindly served our pastas quickly so we wouldn't rush. One of the pastas was their signature beef gnocchi, which tasted phenomenal even though we did not usually like gnocchis. Given that i lived in Italy for 2 years, their pastas really exceeded my expectations and more. The duck ragu and the prawn pastas were good too but can't beat the gnocchi.nnAfter the meal, we sped to the ferry, and upon boarding, I realized I left my fanny pack there, which contained my wallet, IDs, and home keys, so naturally, I panicked throughout the entire ferry ride, only to find out that the restaurant was already closed and that they would be open for business 2 days later.nnSo I messaged them on FB. They replied quickly and told me they found it. The next day, they mailed it back to my home address and said that it was all paid for and I would just have to wait for the package.nnNot only was their food good, which is expected of a highly rated restaurant, but their actions spoke of their integrity and kindness. I'm soo grateful for their generosity and truly recommends that any of you reading this, go enjoy their food as well as their hospitality and good heart.nnThanks again, La Stella, I'll be back.

A cozy place with good food. We ordered the beef brisket gnocchi not really my taste but my husband loved it and the campanelle which I really liked. Their tiramisu was one of the best ones I've ever had and I loved that our server was really paying attention to our needs and was super nice. I would probably come back to eat here again when we visit Nanaimo. Will probably try the creamy pastas next time nnBetter book a reservation if you're coming on a weekend I guess. I booked a last minute reservation and good thing I did because the place was really full for dinner.

A cozy place with amazing Italian food. Every bite was delicious and a treat. It's good to book a reservation as this place is always busy. The staff are cheerful and friendly.

My husband and I shared two pizzas, the Funghi and Potatoe pizza. Both were incredible. Every dish coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.nnThe service was friendly, attentive and the atmosphere was perfect.nnWe live in Courtenay and will be looking for excuses to head back very soon.