Stellar Restaurant & Wine Bar – Greenville's Bright New Star

It's a bar! It's a tapas café! It's a lounge! It's Stellar. And it lives up to its name. 

Literally, there are twinkling stars: embedded into the surface of a long bar that meets your eye immediately upon entering, and in the ceiling. The effect is achieved through fiber optic lights and is especially stunning overhead, as the pinpoints wink at you from a surface of lavishly rendered cloud formations. 

Figuratively, Stellar delivers: on food, ambiance, and of course, wine. 

While many such establishments work hard to provide an air of hipster chic, their efforts often amount to the creation of a space that's lovely to look at but impossible to relax in (that is, if you can actually get in). 

Stellar, on the other hand, has a much more welcoming mood. The staff is immediately friendly and very knowledgeable, which certainly helps, especially if you're one of the multitudes who is curious about wine but doesn't know very much about it.

Snuggling into a seat or one of the banquettes, you could get lost in contemplative stargazing, but pull focus to the menu. One of the great features of Stellar is that they offer many of their wines by the glass in 2½-ounce and 6-ounce pours. The owners have thoughtfully grouped their selections in user-friendly fashion under such categories as Big and Bold or Sleek and Sexy, all the better for wine novices to choose what they like, versus what they think they're supposed to order. It's also great for couples or groups who have different tastes – he likes a fat cabernet, she prefers the pinot grigio – no argument necessary. "Garçon, we'll have one of each please!"

The other thoughtful thing about the menu is that 2½-ounce glass. It allows you to try a variety of wines without the commitment of a big pour. (Please don't try to drive yourself home afterwards, though). Pick some out on your own, or ask the staff to recommend the best pairing for your food.

A word about the food. Yum. With selections such as panko-crusted calamari served with soy-ginger sauce, panzanella caprese salad, and beef scallopini with chimichurri sauce, it's difficult to choose just one. Luckily, between the appetizers and the small plates, you can have a feast at a reasonable price. Order as you please, but do get matching wines for the full flavor experience. Decadent desserts and rich coffee cocktails like the French Kiss (with Chambord and Godiva Dark) are nearly impossible to resist, so save room.

Curious? I hope so. You'll find Stellar at 20 North Main Street just past Trio. It's on the second floor and opens each night at 4:30pm (closed Sunday). Cheers.