La Stella Cucina Verace opened in the Dallas Arts District in spring of 2022. A little less than four years later, the team has doubled its footprint with La Stella Italian Steakhouse and Music Lounge, an ambitious concept that will serve as the growing group’s new flagship. It’s open now in Addison, the restaurant-heavy North Dallas suburb.
The new restaurant is 11,000 square feet and occupies the former home of Lawry’s The Prime Rib, a Dallas icon for more than four decades. It has been redesigned by Italian architect Daniele Venenzoni and combines Old World Italian style with Art Deco Hollywood. There are high-end accents, like gold-painted china and Murano glass chandeliers. And Italian actress Sophia Loren, whose Naples upbringing mirrors the heritage of La Stella’s owners, is a familiar face throughout the restaurant.
At the heart of the concept is La Stella Music Lounge, an elegant room for guests aged 21 and over that hosts live performances and serves Champagne and cocktails. It’s joined by a main dining room, a bar, and three private dining rooms. Altogether, the space can accommodate more than 400 guests.
The design merges Old World Italy with Art Deco Hollywood.
“The success of the original La Stella validated both the cuisine and the guest experience, giving us the confidence to think bigger,” restaurant founder Giuseppe “JP” Piccinini said. “With the steakhouse, we wanted to elevate the experience beyond dining alone by introducing a lively music lounge and supper club atmosphere, something we felt was truly missing in the Dallas market. The goal was to create a destination that blends exceptional food, entertainment, and energy, where guests can enjoy a full evening rather than just a meal.”
This new location serves many of the same signature dishes as the original, including much of the antipasti and pastas. But there are also several new dishes, including a greater emphasis on steaks.
“The steakhouse allowed us to thoughtfully expand beyond traditional Italian cuisine and explore more indulgent, show-stopping offerings,” Piccinini said. A couple standouts he mentioned were the fried wonton cannoli, which are filled with jumbo lump crab and topped with caviar, and the mushroom-and-truffle fettuccine, which is finished tableside in a Parmesan wheel for a touch of flavor and theater.
The supper club-like music lounge hosts live performances.
“The signature favorite, however, is our bone-in veal cotoletta Milanese alla Parmigiana,” Piccinini said. “It’s expertly carved tableside, which perfectly captures the bold, celebratory spirit of the steakhouse experience.”
The restaurant serves a 40-ounce bistecca alla Fiorentina, also carved tableside, and Japanese A5 wagyu steak, plus more traditional cuts like filets and rib eyes.
La Stella’s not done yet, and Piccinini said that expansion is part of the team’s long-term vision.
“Moving forward, we see the steakhouse and music lounge as the primary format for growth, as it best represents the evolved La Stella brand and guest experience,” Piccinini said. “Once the Addison location is fully dialed in, we are particularly excited about Fort Worth and intend to pursue it actively. Each new location will be approached thoughtfully to ensure consistency, quality, and the same sense of energy and hospitality that define La Stella today.”
