Stellina Pizzeria

Antonio Matarazzo, Owner

The first thing you see as you walk into Stellina Pizzeria is the larger-than-life size wall mural of Sophia Loren paying homage to the owner’s Italian roots. Born near the Amalfi coast, Antonio Matarazzo began his love for the kitchen as a bartender and managing restaurants. In the US, he worked for Hyatt Hotels and then for Peroni once he moved to Arlington in 2008. In 2019, Antonio opened his own place in Union Market. Then in March 2020, he added Stellina in Arlington’s urban village of Shirlington.

The space is clean and open with seating for 80 people including an upstairs, main level and outdoor patio. In the kitchen, the main feature is the pizza oven originally from Napoli. Its rotating-slab accommodates seven pizzas, which take 120 seconds to cook. Fun fact: a Neapolitan pizza only takes 90 seconds to cook, but Antonio offers neo-Neapolitan style with a special dough recipe. You’ll be glad you waited the extra 30 seconds. A favorite dish is the amatriciana, a typical Roman pasta dish, Antonio makes it into a pizza finishing it with tomatoes and mozzarella. Everything is homemade from the house pasta and pizza dough to the bread, meatballs and arancini. The dough takes 72 hours to ferment and makes a not-too-thick perfect crust. Other items to consider: try their new octopus and burratta sandwich or the “peppertoni” — with pepperoni, onions and black pepper honey.

Due to its central location in Shirlington, the street is always moving with pedestrians and public transit. Stellina gets a variety of customers from families, young professionals and even some tourists. And of Antonio’s 20 employees, most of them take the Metro and/or bus, with others riding their bike to work. Stellina is well connected to public transit, and with daily happy hour specials, you have a new reason each day to visit.

Stellina Pizzeria
2800 S. Randolph St.
Arlington, VA 22206

Go car free to Stellina Pizzeria