Stella’s Fish Cafe

Of all the things that come with summer, seafood might be one of my favorites. Living in Minnesota, there’s nothing quite like walleye season and being up at the cabin. But while lake fish are definitely a summer treat, fresh seafood is something that you also can’t get all year round (at least not as good of seafood). Grilled salmon is one of my all-time favorite summer dishes; I also tried a salmon burger from Whole Foods recently, and 10/10 would definitely recommend. But when it comes to seafood, there’s nothing quite like a beautiful outdoor patio in a trendy part of town to set the scene for what’s sure to be a delicious summer meal. If this all sounds good to you, then head to Stella’s Fish Cafe.

Stella’s is located in the heart of Uptown, right off of West Lake Street near Calhoun Square. Not only is the location great, but with a 4th floor rooftop patio, the views are pretty stellar as well (although they are accompanied by lengthy wait times on nice evenings). Like a lot of restaurants in the Uptown area, Stella’s has a somewhat multi-use, restaurant and bar type feel to it, and the different seating areas of the restaurant definitely reflect that. I would say that the views and the atmosphere of the rooftop is definitely worth the wait, as it has a vibe similar to seafood restaurants of Seattle and other port cities. Also, it has this really great saying painted on the wall:

While I’ve never been to the area, I’ve always had a feeling that I would love traveling to Cape Cod. The area is preppy, which I love, and they also have really good seafood (at least from what I hear). Because of my love for the cuisine of the East Coast, I’ve been hungering to try a lobster roll; the only issue is that in Minnesota and Iowa, lobster rolls aren’t always the easiest type of sandwich to come by. So of course, as soon as I looked at the menu at Stella’s, I knew I was going to be trying their East Coast Lobster Roll; and let me just say that it was delicious! The lobster itself was amazing, as was the bread that it was served on. It tasted light and refreshing, just as I imagined it would. They also serve really great fries at Stella’s, which is always a plus.

Now, in addition to having a great lobster roll, Stella’s menu provides a wide variety of food dishes, including sandwiches, pastas, fish tacos, salads, and sushi. You can take a peek at the menu below:

As a precursor to my lobster roll, my parents and I ordered the Hot Crab and Spinach Dip, which was incredible. I really think that you can never go wrong with an order of spinach dip (it’s my go-to half-price app at Applebee’s), but the crab added to it took it to a completely new level of delicious. The picture below doesn’t quite do it justice, but I had to capture the moment anyways. My mom was also nice enough to let me try a bite of her Fish Tacos, which were also very very tasty. The blackened tilapia was cooked just right, and the toppings on the tacos added just the right flavors.

Overall, I would say that if you’re looking for a great seafood place in the Twin Cities, Stella’s Fish Cafe should definitely be a place to try out. The menu is a little pricy for a casual night out, but it makes for a really good place to take the parents to (thanks mom and dad). As their sign says, “Good seafood isn’t cheap. Cheap seafood isn’t good”. When it comes to seafood, you get what you pay for, and Stella’s is definitely worth the price. Plus if you go out on a nice summer night and get a rooftop patio spot, the view and atmosphere are priceless. And with warm nights slowly fleeting, it’s time to take advantage of as much patio time as we possible can.

XOXO, Chloe

Stylish and Starving at Twenty Something