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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I have now had 4 great meals at Stella! One lunch and 3 dinners. We are SO happy that they opened in our hood, and can't tell you how great the food, atmosphere and staff are! So lovely. Amazing food. I'm just a huge fan. And I love the music! Yacht rock forever!!! read more

Stella - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

I've been hearing many great things about Stella so had to come check them out! Arrived for lunch on a Friday afternoon. We were given a nice indoor booth, apparently the "best seat in the house". The service was excellent, the server shared the specials of the day and talked a a bit about the farm nearby which grows their produce. He also checked in after every dish arrival to make sure the food is to our liking. We ordered the special salad of day, the cucumber, watermelon and tomato salad. Blown away by the sweetness and juiciness of the mixture. My hubby ordered the Stella Burger and I ordered the Tonnarelli & shrimp FraDiavolo. The shrimp is a must order item here! Home made pasta in house so soft and slurp-able! A tangy, mild spicy sauce topped with gulf shrimp. Oh my, I can eat that dish everyday! Stella is fabulous for good food and service! I'm already planning to visit their sister restaurant, Glen Ellen Star. read more

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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

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

New restaurant with the trappings of a great restaurant. Service was very good, the interior is fantastic, and the food is just a couple tweaks from being excellent. We tried the baked alaska dessert variation and it wasn't nearly as good as the tiramisu which was probably the best tiramisu I can remember. I like what they are trying to do. Will go again and looking forward to it. *** I saw another Yelp review and they mentioned something I saw on my bill but didn't pause on it to consider. Stella charges a credit card fee on the bill as a "non-cash fee" of 3%. I don't approve of these sorts of additional "resort fee" gotcha nonsense. If you aren't putting the cost into the price of the dish then it's a dishonesty. I can afford 3% but I cannot afford the lack of respect. Rating downgraded. read more

We've been to Stella twice now, once during opening week and again last week for my birthday. When it's just my husband and I we like to sit at the chef's counter (same at sister restaurant Glen Ellen Star) but we're also excited to bring friends and family and try the patio and dining room as well. We love chef Bryant and Chef Ari, and the team they've brought together here are great- warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable- from the host stand until the final goodbyes. The food certainly lives up to the chef's reputations. First visit we opted for a few starters, a dish from the fresh mozzarella menu, and a couple pasta selections. All stellar. Shout out to the cacio e pepe- something hubs always wants - sometimes when you do something seemingly simple but exceedingly well it really shines! This last visit we ordered bread and a newer salad on the menu with peaches and cucumber. So light and perfect for the transition from spring into summer. We didn't do a pasta last trip because I was excited to try the pork chop Milanese off the main plate selections. It's definitely a shareable size. I loved it, it's absolutely crave-able. Desserts were perfect and the team had a birthday card signed for me, a very sweet touch. The design is fun, the art in the entry and the pasta wallpaper in the hallway is an IG dream. So happy for Kenwood to have such a gem. Can't wait to try that lunch burger, we will be back! read more

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We tried Stella last night for the first time and had a perfect experience. No notes! Every dish was excellent--great, balanced, deep flavors that let the unfussy ingredients shine. The wood-roasted carrots dish and the wood-roasted Brussels sprouts were memorably delicious. My husband had the perfectly grilled salmon over polenta and I had ricotta agnolotti with chanterelles in a buttery, silky sauce spiked with balsamic. Another standout: the service! Our server was so professional, and very knowledgeable. We asked for wine recommendations for our main dishes and he took the time to understand our preferences before making just the right suggestions. We ate in the dining room, which is a lovely space. It's airy and fairly minimal but warm. Coming in, it looked like the heated covered patio was pretty full. The dining room was less packed (this was on a Wednesday), but that was nice for us, as it wasn't overly noisy inside. read more

We had an excellent waiter, all the staff were friendly. Our anniversary dinner was phenomenal. We had the scamorza, melted cheese on grilled sourdough over honey, the chickory salad, vodka tomato pasta, and a dreamy delicious tiramisu. We'll be back! read more

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Oooo. Hard to be one of the dissenting voices. And it's Valentines Day so maybe give some leeway. And we came for lunch at Stella and left thinking "Mhew...okay but for close to $200, many other places are so much better overall" First, service: We waited for anyone to come to our table. Eventually Our wait person came 10 minutes after we were seated to offer water. No smile. Nothing else. Water took another bit of time. Little engagement throughout lunch and then rushed and perfunctory. We waited another 10-15 for her to return to take our drinks order. We were clued in enough to the timing to slip in our food order as well. It took another 20 minutes to get wine poured and served. We ordered a bottle for appetizers and salads. One person ordered a separate glass for entree. Which came before the bottle and was literally served over my shoulder! Long before the entree. The bottle came after that. Wrong order and poor service. Then we waited another 35 minutes for a shared salad and two pasta entrees. Pasta was undercooked. Salad and sauces were good. We were not offered a dessert menu and had to ask. The tiramisu was small and served parfait style. Not like a cut cake as usual. It was okay but not great. The decaf cappuccino was tiny. Maybe one shot and some foam?? Three sips. Ugh! So disappointing! Slow and not engaging service. Good but not great food. For the money we spent I expect better service and better food. I understand if the kitchen is slow or wine service takes time but tell us. Smile or say happy Valentine's Day! For the cost there are many other local places to enjoy! read more

So excited Stella is finally open! Had the best birthday celebration here and was very pleased with how warm and welcoming it was. A+ for ambiance, and our server was the sweetest. Steak could have been a little more salted but the Au Jus was incredible with the stewed onions, just melted in our mouths. Pasta tasted so fresh and had a very nice spice level to it with the Calabrian chilis. The grilled sourdough with Smokey cheese and truffle honey on it absolutely took the cake though, so incredible. Gelato was fresh and fantastic. Will absolutely be back for more. read more

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We had a fantastic dining experience here! Apparently we ordered the first tomahawk steak. What a treat! the meat was delicious and well prepared. the wood-fired grill worked magic! the potatoes served with it were also very tasty and perfectly crispy. We ordered the grilled mushrooms to accompany - and they were also excellent! Service was also exceptional. Nick was great, and made excellent recommendations for wines to go with our meal. Highly recommended! Stella is a great new addition to Sonoma Valley dining! read more

Stella is a beautiful space with an inviting atmosphere. The best seats in the house? Definitely the chef's counter-an incredible spot to watch the magic happen. The food was spot on, perfectly executed, and full of flavor. And whatever you do, don't forget to check out the dessert menu-totally worth it! A fantastic addition to Kenwood. read more

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Delicious food with spectacular service. We absolutely loved our server John who gave phenomenal recommendations. You will be missing out if you don't have John guiding you through the menu! read more

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The service and the ambience were great We dined at the chef's counter which is very entertaining, but the salad guy needs to not drop his metal bowls .The tuna and pastas were all great. The artichoke and mozzarella cheese was also very good, but the rosemary bread overpowered it. I love grilled bread but this was overdone and almost croutons The pork cutlet was perfectly cooked but slightly under seasoned and really didn't get very many capers as I've seen in many photos overall great experience and will be back. Went back for a second time and it was 5 stars on all levels. We are all excited to have such a great place in the neighborhood! read more

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Second time my wife and I have come here and we love it more every time! We came here tonight to celebrate our first wedding anniversary and the service was as outstanding! Such a cute little patio that we sat in and the food was spectacular! This place has the freshest pasta. Our server was so friendly and even gave us a free glass of champagne each and a dessert to celebrate our anniversary! Can't wait to go back! read more

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I recently had an early dinner here (pre-event at Sonoma Botanical Gardens) with friends, and cannot believe I hadn't been here before. We shared several appetizers (including mortadella meatballs - friends, hold onto your hats, we have discovered the meatballs I will actually eat - and like! My inner picky toddler is appeased! Haha), pasta, salad, and a delicious and addictive corn dish, two lovely bottles of wine chosen by the most knowledgeable person in our party, and finished it all off with affogatos for the table. Service was attentive and lovely. I can't wait to go back and try more things on the menu. read more

My husband and I had a fantastic experience here on a Monday night. Brought a nice local bottle on free corkage night. The food and service was incredible. A dish came out early and our server was ready to take it back and give us another one. I didn't mind keeping it and grazing. Can't wait to go back and bring our boys too. read more

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So so glad Stella is finally open and a great Italian food option has been added to Sonoma! First let's start off with how gorgeous the interior is and the open kitchen is awesome! The food was outstanding!!!! Imported burrata like no other, I am still salivating at the burrata and bacon appetizer and the pastas were all cooked perfectly! Can't wait to go back!! read more

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I went in the afternoon on a Friday to have their lunch special, which was absolutely delicious. The place is totally first class and so was the service. I would highly recommend read more

Always amazing food that is spot on! The service is perfectly paced and all of the staff always go above and beyond! Every guest is treated like family and for the first time here, staff took the time to explain how Stella stands out, different food preparations and more. To start, we had the Sourdough Focaccia and Crispy Potatoes. They came out amazing, potatoes perfectly crispy and both with the most delicious cheese on top! For our main course we had the Rigatoni, Duroc Pork Chop Milanese, and the Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe. Dessert was the Vanilla Gelato! To not be repetitive, every bit of this meal was prepared perfectly, tasted amazing and left us all with new favorites! I, being someone picky with food, absolutely enjoyed everything we got and wouldn't change any bit! I think the sauce with the Rigatoni was perfect and I stay weary of Red sauces due to acidity but this one was outstanding! I couldn't be able to make it at home if I tried, the acid levels were great to have a good flavor but not to leave my stomach upset. I have never enjoyed Italian food as much as I did with this meal! The gelato topped this whole meal off! Next time will be the Affogato with an espresso shot poured over the gelato! What a perfect combo! From top tier service, amazing culinary skills, to picture perfect meals, Stella is unbeatable! No seat is a bad seat, inside the dining room, at the chef's counter and outside on the heated enclosed patio! I will definitely bring more people here to try this gem of a restaurant! read more

I hardly know where to begin. The design aesthetic makes for one of the most casual yet sleek dining room environments I've seen anywhere in the county. The seating strikes the perfect balance of a communal feel yet not intrusive if you're there for a date. Service is on point, informed yet casual and friendly, and everything flowed seamlessly. We went for lunch; the casual menu offers a limited if not good variety of options - several appetizers could be shared as a nice alternative to entrees. We opted for the ridiculously affordable lunch combo of a sandwich and side for just $15 - the bread for the sandwich has a fantastic texture with generous and fresh fillings. We chose the fries and tomato soup for the sides, with the soup being the winner. Lastly, the wine list features small producers and some less familiar varietals for some fun and satisfying experimentation. We will definitely be back to experience a dinner service. read more

Delicious food. Great ambience (beautiful kitchen). Awesome and nice service Portions were good too. read more

Stella was an incredible birthday meal to put it lightly. The starter squash soup and fresh sourdough with burrata and prosciutto set us up for a fabulous time. Fast follow with the lamb, meatballs, and burrata with squash, we were already blown away. The pasta with chicken liver was a dish to remember. Thank you to Steve, the Manager and his team - service and subtle touches like the happy birthday card made this experience an ideal one for any one celebrating a birthday. Cheers!! read more

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We had an amazing lunch at Stella -enjoyed a great deal featuring a half Italian sandwich and fries (or soup) for only $15. Fantastic and a great value! More than that, our server Mike was incredible! Steve, the manager, even came by and when we complained about a lack of chocolate on the lunch dessert menu, he brought us a chocolate wafer to go with our leftover red wine from lunch. Outstanding service and food! read more

We've been to Stella twice now (we love Glen Ellen Star). First visit was food was amazing top to the bottom despite the only two top being held up by another couple sitting there. At the end of my meal my wife asked if they would comp the corkage which our waiter happily did. Our first visit we shared some pastas the Creste di gallon and Rigatoni pork & beef ragu. We did the burrata & bacon appetizer, also very good. Meatballs as well! Sicilian focaccia was equally delicious. The dessert we shared was very good but I'm blanking on it and it's not on the menu. Second meal was equally very good overall. We brought some family for the first time. They loved everything. The mozzarella with pesto was delicious so we decided to get lumache al pesto. It was okay , we weren't in love with it. We also shared a pork special kind of done if not mistaken kind of in the Iberico style they said. It was good , flavor and fine just not as interesting as we hoped. Service was great both times, they are dialing in and the indoor and outdoor seating both very comfortable. They did a great job renovating the old Cafe Citti. We look forward to trying a few more menu items and going for lunch soon! read more

My husband and I love to eat and drink in Sonoma County, and after trying Stella for the first time last night it has moved into our top two best meals. Service by Anthony was outstanding, but everyone we encountered was professional and kind. The food was incredible. We tried about 6 different dishes and they were all amazing...highlights for me were the Rib Eye, the burrata and the meatballs. My husband said it was the best steak he's had in Sonoma County, and he's tried them all. Of course the pasta is delicious too, and rivals some of the best pasta I've ever had in Italy. Don't skip the Tiramisu for dessert. Chef Tony has done a phenomenal job creating each dish. Ambiance was wonderful. A great selection of wines by the glass and an extensive wine list. Definitely our new favorite spot! We drive from Healdsburg and it's worth the drive. read more

The food has not changed significantly since my last review but the service has improved. Very attentive. Just a couple of things that might prove helpful in your next visit. Unless you want to watch the wood burning in the stack supplying the grill with hot ambers or the sous chef garnish salads make sure not to check "chefs counter" when making your reservation. It is difficult to communicate with your guest or see your server unless your head swivels as in the exorcist! Finally when deciding to bring your own wine consider the corkage fee is $35. The wine list is ample but if you have particular favorites bring them. Otherwise a great addition to our Kenwood culinary scene. read more

John was the most exceptional server I have ever experienced. I felt like I was transported to another country tonight. The food and drink we experienced was phenomenal. From trying unique italian wines to the epic "Gelaska" fire-blown dessert, my friend and I felt like we were abroad. John's hospitality, professionalism and family-like manner was amazing and kept us laughing. Thank you for treating us like queens! All around wonderful experience I would recommend to anyone! Also, sitting with a view of the kitchen & open fire was awesome! read more

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Every time I visit Stella I'm already planning my return! Amazing food? Check. Service that makes you feel like you are at a friends home? Check. From the time you're greeted at the door the magic begins...and don't skip the burrata! read more

Stella - Bolognese done to perfection! - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Great outdoor patio, great service and delicious food. Great addition to the neighborhood read more

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Stella is so cute! They wrote me a little birthday card which was signed by all the staff. Cute little touch. The aesthetic was nice and I loved the outdoor area. I got the Ragu which was soo good. We also got the meatballs, Lumache, and cacio e pepe. No complaints! The Caesar salad was nice and crispy and cold too read more

Stella - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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We had a party of 6 an everyone enjoyed the dinner! Food was great & Eddy, our server was an additional treat to the experience!! Good food & great service !! read more

The wife booked our reservation for my birthday as both boys were home from school. Friendly staff from the beginning. We started with the buratta and bacon. Everyone devoured it I ordered the daily fish special SF halibut. Coming in at $42 I love fresh halibut, but this one unfortunately was overdone! It still had a nice flavor, and a nice presentation, but tough and overcooked by about two to three minutes! The wife is the light eater. She ordered the meatballs. (Saving room for dessert) she was happy. Youngest son ordered the Ragu it was the best dish of the evening. Oldest son got the special pasta W/Prosciutto he ate it but said lacking some flavor, ( chef in training) I agree it was more salty than anything he thought it was kind of weird having raw cold sliced mushrooms on top of a hot pasta, he just moved them to the side. We finished with the pistachio cake and the baked Gelaska dessert was amazing!! Dessert won the show for me! They do put a candle on your dessert but still at full price. Which is totally expected for such a great dessert.!!!! $300 out the door for 4 of us. Can't wait to go back for lunch ! read more

We had such a delicious lunch today at Stella! It's our anniversary and we just popped in spontaneously. Our server, Anthony, was delightful and the food and drinks were amazing, as usual. Highly recommend this cute and cozy restaurant. read more

My girlfriend and I had dinner at Stella's again on Saturday. The cuisine is Michelin worthy, elevated by a team with experience at iconic restaurants on the east coast. We especially like the chefs specialties, such as the halibut crudo, with heirloom tomatoes (farm-to-table fresh) and the pork belly. The wine list is thoughtful, complementing the dishes, with some hidden gems from both Sonoma and Napa county. Bringing it all into focus, the service is gracious and attentive. Special thanks to Greg Kasparian, assistant general manager, who always makes us feel welcome. We look forward to our next meal at Stella's! read more

Stella - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Amazing spot! So special, everything on the menu looked amazing. Ambiance and service was great as well. Try the Baked Gelaska!!!!

Excellent experience! Anthony, our server, was all about us having a great experience. Do not be skeptical about sitting in the covered, outdoor heated patio. Charming and very comfortable. Calamato, Scamorza, Cacio e Pepe all very, very good. Will be back to try the rest of the menu!!! read more

This restaurant is absolutely amazing. The service, the staff, the food, the ambience, all of it fantastic. our server Joel was wonderful He made recommendations and was very pleasant. We had the mozzarella and grilled bread with honey. I had the pork chop, which was absolutely amazing and the Agnolotti Pasta was delicious. For dessert we had the baked Gelaska torched at the table. It was great. We were celebrating our anniversary. It came with a hand signed card from the staff and some bubbles to start. We will definitely be back.. read more

Stella - Bread with cheese and honey, and mozzarella with prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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As a local Kenwood resident I've been long awaiting Stella to open. I'm a huge fan of Glen Ellen Star. The pros: The service and ambiance was wonderful! We sat outside in their enclosed patio on a lovely spring evening. All the food seemed high-quality and extremely fresh. (We didn't have dessert but they looked amazing.) The cons: Unfortunately the meal itself was underwhelming. Caesar salad was fresh with delicious homemade croutons but the dressing a bit bland and more lemony than anchovy-garlic. The crudo was unique, well portioned as an appetizer and excellent quality fish. We also had the vegetarian red pasta and the sauce had a nice flavor and very light touch of spice which was nice. However the pasta itself was a bit undercooked. My dining companion felt it could have used a bit more salt too. Lastly, we had the grilled mushrooms. The oil was a bit heavy handed but great flavors. And again the mushrooms were extremely fresh and of high quality. Overall: I expected a lot so I can only give three stars. But I will give Stella another try. They may need a bit more time to get things humming like at Glen Ellen Star where I've never had anything but an exceptional dining experience. read more