Food 4.5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 The food is full of surprises and originality. We can't have enough of the smoked cherries appetizer. It is light and is extremely delicious. Their carbonara pasta dish is so well done. The pasta is chewy while so creamy. I also love their signature fish dish. It has the wonderful wood fired flavor, while goes well with the olive, fig sauce. Bravo. I took 0.5 off from the desserts. We had the chocolate cherry cake. It's not as impressive as the savory dishes. The service and ambiance are both great. read more

Stella - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Incredible. The hospitality was amazing. Beautiful restaurant and great food. The chicken was delicious, the burrata and prosciutto were also amazing. I had a great experience and would love to come back. read more

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Really wish I could leave 10 stars. We are big fans of Glen Ellen Star, sister restaurant to Stella, so we're very excited when we visited Stella on our last trip to Sonoma. From the minute we walked it we felt like family. Beautiful space with lots of great energy. Our server John was friendly, helpful and professional. But the food. The food! The food hit every single note. From the delicious amuse bouche refreshing verdant ice with crispy prosciutto crumbles to the chicken liver pasta we were in culinary heaven. The baked Alaska for desert was such an epic way to wrap up an epic meal. Highly recommend! Next time you're in wine country check this gem out. read more

Stella - Menu, amuse bouche - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

The best. I'm here at least once every couple months. Service is warm and friendly. It's cozy inside and new patio is great. The food is consistently delicious and satisfying. It's definitely gotten a bit more busy now that tourists know more about it but still pretty easy to grab a reservation. Never misses for me. We had the mozzarella & bacon, olives, lemon butter pork chop, rigatoni, pasta special (charcoal tagliatelle w/ sundried peppers, mushrooms, panchetta(?), and garlic) and black sesame panna cotta. Another epic meal at Stella's. read more

Stella - Black Sesame Panna Cotta - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Sunday supper at Stella is something everyone should go to at least once during the warm months. We sat outside on the patio, with fans blowing, there was enough airflow to keep us cool on an unusually warm March evening. Our waiter was amazing, keeping an eye on water and wine levels to keep us hydrated and happy. He was on top of keeping our next course coming when we were finished with the previous one, while allowing our conversation to go uninterrupted. The mortadella skewers were delectable, with a few of the edges charred from the wood fire. The greens with it, was divine with anchovy, shaved asparagus, red mustard and fennel to give a fresh and tangy flavor to the cured meat. The second course was a generous portion of risotto with lumps of Dungeness crab and pancetta. The cherry tomatoes were roasted and popped with flavor along with the fried green onion. For dessert, the mini baked gelaska is a signature Stella dish, with the blood orange curd accompanying the moist angel food cake. We left feeling completely satisfied our experience and can't wait to visit again. read more

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Food was excellent! We went for dinner. Service was wonderful and ambiance was nice. We sat on the covered porch...perfect temp so don't worry about being cold. We had the chicken Parmesan à la carte and the Cacio e Pepe. We like pasta with chicken Parmesan so we shared both so we could eat the pasta with the chicken Parmesan. Perfect combo! We brought our own bottle of wine to pair with the meal. They charge a $35 corking fee. Our only critique's are they need to add more flavor to the marinara sauce served on the chicken Parmesan and add more pepper for flavor to the pasta. We would definitely recommend Stella and would go back. read more

Stella - Chicken Parmesan (doesn't come with the pasta - see my review) - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Best pasta we've ever had. Anthony was wonderful! And dog friendly, highly recommend. read more

Stella - Baked Gelaska - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Great service immediately walking through the door we were welcome and sat at our table. It was an intimate setting with candles on the table. The food was spectacular anything tasted perfect and hit the spot. Would come back. read more

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Amazing food and our favorite dish was the lamb chops and we were so glad that we added them onto the set menu! All the other dishes were also very good and the interior of the restaurant was so pretty! Service was impeccable as well since the chefs made a separate set of food for us because one person couldn't eat cheese. There is also an outside patio which I wish we sat at, but that calls for another visit to the restaurant! Highly recommend. read more

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I took my parents here for my mom's birthday dinner & the reviews did not disappoint. It looks very unassuming from the outside but the interior and the ambiance is so nice. The service was excellent as well & they even had a signed HBD card ready at the table for my mom to see. We got the prosciutto & burrata with their bread (must order!) , lamb ribs & the Caesar salad to start & it was a hit. We then got the pork dish, beef & pork rigatoni & carbonara & no complaints other than how full we were lol. Lastly, we ordered the baked gelaska for dessert & my mom got a free gelato for her bday as well. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone & would def come back again! My parents and I enjoyed our experience here :) read more

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I really love their sister restaurant (Glen Ellen Star) so we were very excited to try Stella. We walked in without a reservation and was seated in their outdoor covered area. We ordered the clams, the lumache, rack of lamb ribs and the pork Milanese. Everything was delicious! The lumache had delicious shiso marinated tomatoes topped with robiola espuma, the foamy cheese paired so well! Their pasta dishes are always changing with the seasons and I cannot wait to come back to try more. The baked gelaska dessert was a very popular choice. It is a fun dessert to share, but it was a little too sweet with too much marshmallow fluff for me. read more

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This is the perfect place for a special occasion dinner. Upon entering it feels elegant with great decor and ambiance. The service is impeccable along with a great wine list. We started with focaccia and the burrata with bacon - both excellent. The Bavette "fra diavolo" was excellent, Mafaldine carbonara to die for (that good), rigatoni was good but a bit too salty ‍. The crispy potatoes were nice but the broccoli Rabe tasted too much like campfire smoke which was a bit overwhelming (they roast most of the vegetables over an open wood fire). The portions are generous so I would recommend sharing desserts. The blood orange sorbet was excellent, the ricotta cake is denser than you would expect, the baked gelaska is topped with a marshmallow topping.. which can be a bit much unless you love that sort of thing. read more

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Everything was incredible. The service, the staff, the food. We ordered the chicken, the ragu, and the red sauce lumache. Everything was so flavorful and portions were large and great value for the quality of food. GET THE RAGU! I've had quite a few in my life, and this one takes the cake. All our pasta noodles were also cooked to texture perfection. The chicken initially came out raw/undercooked, but after alerting the staff it was quickly remidied and the manager came out to apologize and check on us. The remade chicken was SO delicious - juicy, perfectly seasoned, and so tender. I'd reccomend this to anyone who wants to get some protein in for the table. The baked gelaska is a great concept, but once the "graham cracker cake" pieces get cold, they are rock hard and impossible to chew. They may be better off using actual graham cracker pieces or using actual cake pieces made from graham crackers, then topping with a graham cracker crumble. I will definitely be back next time I'm in the area. I've also made recommendations to several friends who frequent the Napa area for wine trips. Worth the detour! My only wish was that the cocktail selection was a little stronger. Currently there are only a few low ABV options available and that was a bit disappointing. read more

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Another fabulous start to our night at Stella! Every visit we are greeted with warm charm and genuine Sonoma County hospitality. It's the kind of place that makes you feel right at home, with a welcoming atmosphere and beautiful surroundings. We enjoyed restful dining moments with friends, savoring every sip and bite. The service was excellent--attentive yet unobtrusive, making the evening even more special. The food was nothing short of exquisite. The pasta was absolutely fabulous--fresh, al dente, and bursting with flavor. The pork chop was perfectly cooked, tender, and full of savory goodness, showcasing the quality of fresh ingredients used. Stella truly captures the essence of Sonoma County's love for good food and good company. Can't wait to return for another memorable night of delicious bites and warm ambiance! Until next time. read more

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To say this restaurant was outstanding is an understatement. It was superb. One of the best restaurants I've had the privilege of eating at. JD, our waiter was simply the best. Informative, knowledgeable and so kind. We definitely ate too much and couldn't resist the gelaska for dessert. Main courses were the amazing bread with melted cheese with a special honey concoction on top. Tagliatelle pasta, incredible. Bavatte steak, delicious. Yellow beets, out of this world. Cannot wait to return. Compliments to the chefs!! read more

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Stella accommodated my party of 12 for my best friend's bachelorette. Food, service, and ambiance were perfect. Each dish was excellent, particularly the execution of the pasta. Food: Lunch was chosen from a preset menu and consisted of an appetizer, various entrees (due to some guests' allergies), and dessert. Appetizer: Caesar salad with anchovy dressing, garlic croutons, and 24 month aged Parmesan Entrees: Bavette (steak), whole grilled dourade (fish) with chili and caper butter sauce, wood, grilled golden beets, pasta, and garlic rosemary fries Dessert: Tiramisu They even made menu cards for each guest to commemorate this event. I can't wait to come back again. read more

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We went to Stella for lunch this past weekend. As members of several wineries in the Kenwood/Glen Ellen area, we've wanted to visit for over a year, but it was never open for lunch on weekdays when we're usually in Sonoma. My wife's birthday, along with two wine pickups, finally gave us the perfect opportunity to visit on a lovely Saturday afternoon. We sat inside and were immediately struck by how much the space has changed from its original iteration as Citti. I'll admit we approached the menu with a bit of hesitation, as the prices seemed on the higher side, and the $35 corkage felt steep. It might be a nice touch if they offered a reduced corkage fee for wines purchased locally (we brought a wonderful bottle from Lasseter). I was also a bit surprised not to see more wines featured from nearby wineries, especially VJB next door. We started with the focaccia, which was excellent, and shared a generous and very good Caesar salad. Our dining companions split the chicken parm, and the portion was quite substantial and well-prepared. I was especially looking forward to the calamari and squid ink pasta. While the chicken parm was delicious, the calamari dish leaned more acidic than expected and didn't quite have the briny, ocean-forward flavor I had hoped for. That said, do not miss the Baked Gelaska dessert. With vanilla and chocolate gelato, graham cracker cake, and a torched marshmallow topping, it's absolutely delicious and easily large enough for four people to share. Overall, it was a lovely experience, and we look forward to returning. read more

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My husband surprised me by bringing me here for my birthday dinner. We kicked things off with the Caesar salad, which was incredible with its freshly made croutons that had a delightful crunch. For our main course, we chose the 24oz Ribeye, and it was fantastic, cooked just the way we like it--medium rare. The steak was served with potatoes, and we also ordered a side of creamy spinach. For drinks, I went with the blueberry mule, while my husband initially requested an old fashioned, but it turns out they don't have a full bar, which was quite odd and disappointing. Overall, we had a wonderful experience; the service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere was elegant. read more

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Stopped in for lunch as we were looking for somewhere with a pup-friendly patio and we were so glad we did because this was some of the freshest handmade pastas we've ever had. All of the ones we tried had the perfect complementary sauce and the texture was spot on. We also really enjoyed the soup that was a good balance between the sweetness of the apple and the nutty flavor of the parsnips. The burrata was high quality and both the prosciutto and the walnut variations were great pairings, especially with their crunchy, crusty bread. read more

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Always a pleasure to grab a meal at Stella. Staff is always attentive and the food never disappoints. Always leaving here in a food coma! One of our top favorite restaurants! read more

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We've been numerous times and Stella never disappoints! Highly recommend. The Baked Gelaska is the perfect ending to our meal. read more

Geat casual spot. Food is high quality, with some unique offerings. Friendly staff. Sit at the chefs counter!

We so enjoyed our experience at Stella! We chose indoor seating and loved the modern decor and view of the open kitchen. The service was incredible and we enjoyed everything our server recommended! Cucumber and peach salad: the savory and salty combination worked. The produce was so so fresh! Yellowfin Crudo: the fish was well prepared and topped with a smoky strawberry and crispy rice cracker Lamb Ribs: tender and savory! Really liked the rub. Cacio e pepe: classic and delicious Baked Gelaska: a highlight of the meal. Gelato + sorbet + shortbread + torched marshmallow = heaven. read more

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Everything we ordered was phenomenal: Caesar salad, burrata with walnuts, the rib eye & the pork chop Milanese. The rib eye was one of the best we have ever had at a restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

Stella - Rib Eye - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

My husband took me to Stella for my birthday and it didn't disappoint! We sat outside, which was perfect because the weather was warm. Their outdoor area is super cute, bright with greenery. The star was their focaccia topped with aged Parmesan and the mortadella meatballs. The bread was so airy inside, and it was perfect to dip in the meatball sauce. The asparagus salad was super refreshing and mixed well with the burrata and yolk jam. We ordered cacio e Pepe and it has the perfect bite to it, loved that it was al dente! We also ordered the pork chop Milanese, which was super crispy and the lemon caper sauce was to die for. I was excited to try their baked gelaska. I'm usually not into marshmallows, but the torched marshmallow too was super fluffy and light, and tasted amazing with the raspberry sorbet and sponge cake. Another highlight! Service was great, everyone was super friendly and attentive. Only thing that needed improvement was my mocktail. It was supposed to be sparkling water with strawberry puree, but it was flat and tasted more like flavored water instead. read more

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Our friends' anniversary dinner started with the a nice surprise: we walked in thinking we'd be freezing on some sidewalk patio in November, but no, they'd enclosed the whole area. It was cozy with jackets off. There was a welcome table tent congratulating our friends. The server showed up two minutes after we sat down with complimentary sparkling wine. Food-wise, we did family-style. The rib-lets (little baby back ribs with a coat of herbs.) disappeared too fast.. The meatballs were ridiculous -- huge, marinara.. And the risotto... mushroom and truffle oil, creamy but not gooey. We also got the burrata. (Unfortunately truffles are like cilantro to me, tastes like soap but the others praised it.) Portions are small, prices felt fair for the quality, and nobody rushed us.. By the time we left the next experience was imagining our return for the Rib Eye... Four stars - post note: that return will be to sit at the counter to watch the chef's directly do their thing. read more

Stella - The beginning of a delightful experience - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Good food. Too noisy. Kenwood needed another good Italian restaurant Service was very good read more

Oh Stella, where ya been all my life ? Seriously, we recently moved to the Sonoma coast (Sea Ranch) and have been working our way through local Sonoma and Mendocino county restaurants and wineries and once we came to understand that the fine folks at Glen Ellen Star were responsible for Stella we knew we needed to try and get a table when friends came to visit us this past weekend. We could only get a 4:30 PM Saturday night seating out on the deck but we made it work and by the time we were into our starters the entire restaurant was full and hopping ! Great service crew, and a special card was even waiting for us upon our arrival (it was my birthday and all the staff signed a card !) . Our dinner group of two couples had a number of starters including the meatballs (excellent with a really fresh tasting sauce), the local fresh fish crudo (yummy and very very fresh tasting), and two orders of mozzarella- one with artichokes and the other with pesto. They came with delicious grilled bread that had fresh herbs and olive oil and garlic etc and this was a winner ! I brought a nice Napa Fisher 2015 Cab that they kindly decanted and we ordered a local Chardonnay (which helped us get the $35 corkage waved), and the bottles were both yummy. Our Bottle of Chardonnay toppled over while sitting on ice nearby but our kind waitress just brought us a few small glasses worth to the table to compensate for the tumbled half bottle...and so it goes when the place is busy... Mains were all excellent - the Grilled fish was easily enough for two to share and the steak was excellent and my Milanese pork chop was massive and yummy. Wish the menu pointed out it was fried and not sautéed. Also Next time I'd get the sauce w capers on the side. We also had two sides, the creamed spinach and the mushrooms and I'd also have whatever sauce was on those shrooms on the side as well. Also the shrooms were weirdly those teenie tiny mushrooms typically used in Asian soups etc...perhaps a heartier grilled mushroom type next time might be a better choice ? We were stuffed and passed on dessert, but I had hoped to have something brought over to the table for my birthday (besides the kind card) with a candle etc - but hey, all and all it was a great meal and we will be back. Despite only being open for about 5 weeks the Stella team are crushing it and we wish them continued success and luck ! Great job Stella crew ! Looking forward to many more celebratory meals with all of you - next time perhaps a little later in the evening and inside ! Welcome to the neighborhood!! Next time I'll try some of the pasta dishes...and maybe a dessert ? - yummy !! read more

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Had a wonderful meal this Easter afternoon at Stella in Kenwood. We enjoyed a couple of their specials which I would encourage them to add both to their Spring menu. First was the asparagus gazpacho that was such a rich, velvety refreshing soup. Our entree was rabbit ragu; such a elegant dish. The rabbit melted in your mouth coupled with their house made noodles and finely chopped vegetables in a broth sauce. Yum! We ended the meal with a scoop of their rich chocolate gelato. Such a great meal!! Gillian was our server and she took wonderful care of us; service was perfect! read more

Booked a visit based on the great reviews on yelp. To be fair it was a hot day and they say us in their tent area. The fan was running but it was very hot. We started with the Mozzarella with walnuts which was fine. The flavors did not come through, felt very flat. Did the Australian Steak, and it was gamey. Perhaps that is how it was excepted but I don't like chewy and gamey meat. Might be I was not set for this. The tomato and cucumber salad was the star, fresh tastes, variety, distinctiveness. Perhaps I ordered wrong or the heat was too much. Service is attentive. The tent is tight so be prepared. read more

Wonderful experience! Nelly was our server and she was fabulous. We had the ricotta agnolotti and the whole grilled dourade. Both were very good. Their homemade sourdough bread is amazing!! read more

Stella - ricotta agnolotti - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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We had a lovely evening at Stella. The modern decor inside was beautiful and inviting and my favorite dish was the shrimp with polenta. Heads up- the sauce has a bit of pork, which gives the dish a lot of depth in flavor, and has the slightest hint of spice that I loved. The pork and beef ragu was a solid dish and the prosciutto was chef's kiss. We are glad they are so close to home and hope to sneak over again soon. read more

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Don't be deterred by the few parking spots by the road, there's adequate parking as t the back. We came here as walk-ins for a party of 5 for lunch on a holiday weekend and loved our experience. The host and hostess were warm and welcoming and able to get us seated right away. They have indoor and outdoor seating, we opted to sit indoors. They have a good collection of wines, low alcoholic cocktails and zero proof drinks. We had some beers which felt crisp and refreshing on a warm day in Santa Rosa. The menu has a mix of modern appetizers, pastas, salads and burrata combinations. We got the walnut burrata (4/5) this could have done with a punch of flavor in my opinion, but was perfectly creamy and paired well with the rosemary buttered sourdough bread that came with it. Next we had the chopped salad (5/5) perfectly dressed and a good balance of flavors. For entrees we had the burger (5/5), the lamache pesto with green peas and roasted mushrooms in a green pesto sauce (5/5), chicken parmesan (5/5) - a huge portion, good for sharing and a side of truffle and garlic fries (5/5). Everyone loved the food which we shared family style. For dessert, we shared the tiramisu which was the perfect ending to our meal. Our server, Mike was prompt and attentive, gave us good recommendations with our food and ensured we had a top notch experience. This is a great place for an elegant and upscale vibe away from the chaos of Yountville. Will definitely be back to try more of their dishes! read more

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This place is awesome! From the second we walked in, the remodel was done so well. The staff is always friendly, well versed with the menu, making us feel right at home. The food is delicious! Everything tasted fresh and full of flavor. The wood grll gives you all the best flavors in the steaks! Homemade pasta's are next level, every appetizers and sides were on point. We also tried dessert, the panna cotta or Pistachio cake are delicious!! (FYI I dislike panna cotta, but this is amazing) Overall, it's just one of those spots where everything clicks: great food, great service, and a good atmosphere. I have been here three times so far. read more

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Had a phenomenal Thanksgiving meal here while on holiday in Napa/Sonoma -- delicious classics, an inventive dessert (pumpkin gingerbread icebox cake), excellent wine, and warm service. We hope to come back for their regular service. read more

Four of us went here last night; expensive but worth it. Nice ambiance on the patio on a cooling evening, very busy so clearly popular despite being open just a few months. Parking is a bit tight but we found a spot nearby. We over ordered as portions are substantial even for appetizers. Meatballs were excellent; nice an fluffy, not dense. The Romaine Salad was more than enough to share for two. as was the Burrata & prosciutto di parma which came with very nice seasoned bread. Our friends had the equally delicious Burrata & bacon. We should have just ordered one for the four of us. I had the Tagliatelle with cultured butter, prosciutto, 36 month aged parmesan, which was delicious but a mistake on my part as I had prosciutto in the appetizer and there was far far more of it with the Tagliatelle. The pasta was fantastic though. Two enjoyed the Rigatoncini pork & beef ragu while the fourth had the Pork Secreto special. Service was very good and Nick our waiter did a great job. Thankfully, while the appetizers came out rapidly, there was a welcome pause between them and the mains for us to prepare ourselves for yet more food. Finished it off with a decaf Affogato. Definitely worth a visit. read more

When I checked in the greeter sail said "oh you are the ones here on your 55th anniversary. Congratulations! That's rare, and the first to recall the 55th anniversary note I made in the reservation app. And then at the table there was a "Happy Anniversary" card and key people and the server signing. A first for me! You can see it in the first two pix. It's a concrete example of how they LIVE customer satisfaction. Most restaurants say it. Stella demonstrates in actions, a much higher bar IMHO. We shared the Burrata & Prosciutto di Parma both from Puglia. 10! Next we also shared the "Light Salad" lettuces and flowers with oregano red vinigrette. A 10! My grilled shrimp toast was a 9! Great sauce, great bread, "grilled" shrimp had a texture of boiled shrimp. No pix, I was too busy carving it up and slaterhing with the sauce that the toast was in with the grilled shrimp on top. This was a 9 for me. The shrimp tasted more like shrimp cocktail (boiled) shrimp. it was very very good, but if it was grilled it might have been great. My wife loved her grilled (over open fire) Wagu beef, a true medium RARE. A 10! Why is most of NorCal restaurants I go to think "medium rare to rare" means medium well??? For dessert I had a decaf affogato with housemade gelato. A 10! My wife had a berry sorbet. A 10! My wife had a "low alcohol" Strawberry margarita with wine as an ingredient to lower the % alcohol. I had a glass of white Tansy Falaghina GL from Sonoma County's Russian River. The falangina had 12.5% alcohol but it hit me, so maybe it was something in the process. Service was wonderful. The ambiance was very friendly from servers to the customers, and several customers talked to folks at another table. It reminded me of a really really well done software startup that hired A-players for management, back of the house, and front of the house who were great food, great wine AND incredibly great client-centric. This was my first restaurant visit to Kenwood. I got a sense that the restaurant was building on a warm and welcoming foundation of the Kenwood vibe. The seating i chose was inside, and they're was a long bar connected to the chefs' area so you could be a single, the tables were modular so it could be 2 or for or with one side as a chair and one side as a giant piece of cushion (on bottom and back). This was an incredibly high level. I've never experienced it for a LUNCH meal. Gonna have to come back for dinner. And the next time I'm taking 101 north and turning on route 12. The google suggestion saved two minutes and was a nightmare of twisting and turning. I'll leave it to the locals from now on. read more

The Hub and I celebrated our anniversary this evening at Stella in Kenwood and our dinner and overall experience was fabulous. Delicious food, fabulous service and overall ambience was wonderful. We both come from high level restaurant experience and we found absolutely nothing negative. read more

service 10/10 We got the Pork and Beef Ragu and tomato cucumber salad 10/10 Caesar salad was mild expected more Baked Gelaska was not it for me it gave lemon took like 3 bites didn't eat the rest We got a cappuccino 10/10 read more

Stella - It looks good but it wasn't my tasting - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Whole experience was amazing! We chose the covered patio which was a perfect vibe. Every plate we had was delicious and all paired so well together. Each member of the staff that we interacted with were professional, knowledgeable and personable which made the experience comfortable. Our servers JD and Joel went out of their way to make sure our night was great! read more