La Stella Trattoria

This place is simply one of the best places to eat in Nanaimo. Food - Amazing, The wood-fired beats are a staple, but you would really have a hard time finding a miss on the menu. It can be a little noisy of a space because it is so small with such high ceilings, but the ambience is great, dimly lit for a romantic evening or get dinner and show by sitting at the bar and watching the masters at work.

DEFINITELY on my re-visit list whenever I go back to Nanaimo! We 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. After 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. So 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. Not 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. Thanks again, La Stella, I'll be back.

What a gem this restaurant is, and hidden in plain sight in the mews behind the Old City Quarter. I’m not that into pasta so I had the gnocchi and braised beef and itwas to die for. So tender and delicious and not too complicated. The portions seemed to grow while we were eating?! I ate until I was full and still took home a full portion to eat at home (just as good as when it was served). We had bread for the table which was really tasty but not necessary along with a full entree... save your space for dinner! It was busy but we had excellent, attentive service. The place has a comfortable vibe, but the tables did feel a little squished near the host station. Despite being seated right behind it, it wasn’t as disruptive as I feared and staff made an effort to find us a table where we could hear each other well.

Stopped by without a reservation and was able to get squeezed in. Food was amazing, good portions, and reasonably priced. We shared the calabrese pizza and the pasta dish with chicken and capers (I forget the name) and would recommend both.

We ate at La Stella Trattoria on Wesley St. for the first time tonight and they were incredible dealing with my son’s multiple anaphylactic allergies and my husband’s allergies. We contacted them ahead of time and the chef marked a menu for our table with items we could safely order. The food was incredible and the service even better. Such a nice ambiance too. Will definitely be going 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 Better 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.

So good! So tasty! Large size portions , delicious food , attentive gals around - will certainly be back ! P.s. There were three caniollis on the plate , but we have got so excited to try them on so that I completely forgot to take a picture of them! And they were simply divine!

I've been several times with friends and family. This is such as nice place to eat out. In the warmer months, there's often outdoor seating. In the colder months I like to be near the pizza oven. Food is great. Can get a little rich for me, which is a sign the food is great (I'm just have a bland taste). The service is usually pretty good. I love the options, and the pricing is reasonable for such a popular spot.