This was the second time my wife and I stayed at Stella's place in one of our weekend visits from Upstate NY, and in all likelihood it won't be the last. The apartment itself is basic and functional, and as other reviewers have noted, it doesn't exude a lot of charm or luxury. But it definitely DOES have a lot of other virtues. For those of us who are driving, for a starter, we have never had a problem finding a place to park on the street on that block. On our latest trip, in fact, we found a parking place directly in front of the building.
Check-in was hassle-free. I had checked with Stella prior to arrival to see if we could leave our bags in the apartment prior to check-in time, and there was no problem with leaving bags in the public area ... the hall or small living room ... whenever we got there. The apartment is on the third floor, but the four short half-flights to get there are easy for a senior citizen like me to negotiate carrying both my own and my wife's suitcase.
Once inside, the room is large, comfortable, safe, quiet, and private. Windows provide great daytime light. The bathroom is very clean, water pressure is good, and the shower works well. The memory foam mattress is very comfortable, and there is a comfortable desk and chair for anybody who needs to do any work. The internet connection is fast and seamless.
It was quite cold when we were there, so we didn't take advantage of the fire-escape balcony. I could definitely envision us having an evening nightcap or glass of wine at the little table and two chairs, though. As it was, the heating at the apartment works well, and we were very comfortable sheltering in.
All of that makes this a very adequate and comfortable place to stay. But perhaps the best part about Stella's is the location. The N line station is only 2 blocks away, there are multiple restaurants and bars and bakeries within two or three blocks, and a great little coffee shop maybe 150 feet up the street for excellent morning brew (or you can use the espresso maker in the apartment) and great morning sweet and savory breads, pastries, and empanadas. If you're running late or can't handle the elevated train, Ubers run about $30 from midtown. If you find yourself with an afternoon to do something relaxing and interesting in Astoria, the Museum of the Moving Image is about 3 short blocks away, and definitely worth the time to see.
As I said, in all probablility we'll be back to Stella's ... and in the meantime I give it a good ratings in all categories ... particularly in value. Definitely a winner for the price.