Stella! Restaurant, New Orleans

This restaurant has a really creative menu. As a starter, I ordered the crabmeat, shrimp and avocado salad and it was divine! The presentation does not appear to look like a typical salad and you may find yourself wondering if you ordered the correct item on the menu. For the entree, I ordered the duck five ways and it was delicious (although a piece of it was slightly overcooked - too dark/burnt - and I ended up scraping most of it off . For dessert, I order their house made ice cream and when they brought it out, I was surprised! I don't want to spoil it for anyone, so just order it next time you go there. The atmosphere is ambient and not too stuffy, but you should dress-up a little bit. Definitely leave the sandles and tank tops at home. Finally, the price for the meal was close to $200 (for a table of 3 and including tips), but it was a great experience and not to mention of course, great food so I would definitely recommend.

10/29/08 We were in town for Voodoo Festival and came across Brett Anderson's Top 10 Restaurants list in the Times Picayune. Though there were several listed closer to the Wyndham, it was Chef Boswell's menu that drew us into Stella!. There were multiple entrees that interested us but only one was on the tasting menu that evening. Exotic orchids and roses decorated the tables and bathroom. The roses were very fragrant - the best I have ever seen used to set the ambiance in a restaurant. A complimentary appetizer sample was served before the Crisp Veal & Shrimp Gyoza Dumplings with Tempura Tan-O and Spicy Yellow and Red Peanut Sauces. Followed by the Procini Crusted Rack of Australian Lamb and the Duck Five-Ways. The lamb was very fresh and tender. The mild flavor of the porcini mushrooms surprised us as we were expecting the lamb to overwhelm the porcini. Overall it was subtle compared to the robust flavors of the duck entree. The Currant Cassis Reduction was intriguing and perfect with the Szechwan Seared Breast and the Foie Gras Won Tons. Our waiter was happy to tell us how the sauce was created when we voiced how much we loved it. The service was impeccable. The Creme Brulee Trio - Grand Marnier, Green Tea and Cinnamon Anise - were served in eggshells. They arrived foaming and spitting steam like tiny geysers. Each was smooth, creamy, flavorful... Then came complimentary white chocolate marshmallows and dark chocolate truffles. It was an excellent meal that cost $120+. If the Tandoori Salmon and Kabayaki Glazed Tenderloin were on the tasting menu, we would not have gotten out of there for less than $250. This was one of our favorite dining experiences in New Orleans.