Incredibly relaxing outdoor distanced dining. Their patio is gorgeous, with 5-7 tables all with umbrellas and heat lamps. Not overcrowded at all. Walk ins for groups under 8. We came on a Friday evening at 6 with plenty of room. We had mushroom tacos (very small), roasted cauliflower (very big) and falafel (5 small ones but the sauce was incredible). Would definitely come here again! Loved getting away from downtown for a safe outdoor meal. read more

Stella - Outdoor patio during COVID, well spaced and not overcrowded at all. - Specialty Food Near Me - Truckee, California

The food and service was amazing. Definitely first class. Great wine list. They take care of you.

The food here was super tasty, above expectations. We had the Hawaiian Ono and the Halibut, both of which were just so damn flavorful. Before that, a green salad with orange and fennel, which rocked. read more

My husband and I recently had dinner at Stella with another couple and it was great! Our table was ready when we arrived, a beautiful booth which I requested. Jasmine was our waitress. She was knowledgeable about the menu, attentive, and very pleasant. We had the gnocchi for an appetizer, which is outstanding and the polenta with Gorgonzola , which is delicious. Two of us had the veal piccata , which was out of this world, and the other two had pasta dishes , which they enjoyed. We finished off the meal with crème brûlée. Yum! We had a great evening and enjoyed every bite. Thank you, Elisa! We will see you soon! read more

We stayed at the Gravity Haus and thought we would try breakfast at Stella. Wow! It being Thanksgiving morning, it was quiet and not a lot of people. Our waitress/hostess was lovely! She always had a smile on her face and seemed to really love her job...especially on Thanksgiving. We loved the clean eating options, coffee was stellar, and food was awesome. We can't wait to go back! read more

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Ambience is a 5. Very peaceful and pretty patio, with herbs and veggies growing along the wall. We really wanted to love this experience! Food is a 3. Very limited menu (4 options for main course). Halibut was well cooked. It was supposed to be in a black garlic butter sauce but was covered in a brown gravy. Not super appetizing. And contained quite a few bones. Cauliflower appetizer needed salt, which was not on the table. Wine pours were very skimpy for us, but we noticed the next table had generous pours. Service was a 2 at best, although the adjacent table seemed to be getting level 10 service. We were done eating before our waiter checked to see how our meal was, and even after we requested the check it took a long time (again-waiter busy having long chats and doing wine tasting at the next table). It was too expensive to try again for dinner anytime soon. read more

Haven't been here for several years. I understand they had a change of ownership. We found the wait staff to be warm and knowledgeable. Ordered three dishes and found them to be excellent. Would definitely return....... Thanks read more

I really really hate to do this. But it's a must. Gravity Haus... this is directed towards your management and owners. Stella came in hot and was refreshing when it came to truckee. 5 stars all the way! The chefs cuisine is on point! The service was there! The kitchen ran like a well oiled machine. Seriously. This place was the closest thing to City Dining this town had besides trokay. And things were solid! However. After last night. I have a completely different vibe. Here is why. $212 for (3) people with fast food service. Our server was extremely nice. But not Knowledgeable regarding etiquette of fine dining. Rule number one. You don't pull plates from an app until everyone is finished. Rule number two. You absolutely do not drop an entree without settings in place. Otherwise your table just stares at the food for around (5) minutes until one of us gets up to ask for utensils and plates... Rule number three, entire specials shouldn't be read from your serving booklet. Rule number 4 you should be knowledgeable about the win you're pouring. She was very nice but I do contribute the issues to the manager? Dude in colorful button up who looked young and also not well versed. Then desert is dropped and a glass of wine was wanted to accompany. Yet not a single acknowledgment from staff for another (5) minutes as dessert sat and we waiting. Multiple typos on the menu. Oil Pop?? I think you meant Oli Pop lol.... I think you mean meringue lol I come from a decade worth of industry background from kitchen to managing. My wife from lead bartending to serving at Michelin restaurants. A dinner date with her mother for her last night in town. Here's where I think the issue lies. No financial backing from the owners/management of the overseeing establishment. Your staff has changed all three times I've come in. I know the kitchen is thin. There is only one individual who has made it through the entire thing in front of house. Financially I feel the menu continues to be cut down to size due to the lack of kitchen help. Ie pay them more and they'll stay. Give them hours and they'll stay. Also... lack of advertising and marketing regarding the restaurant. I've lived in tahoe full time since 2012. 98% of people I speak with doesn't know this restaurant exists. That's a hotel marketing issue. I see tons regarding the over price rooms. But rarely anything regarding this delicious restaurant. I feel bad for the head chef. His menu is on point! The way he balances food and flavors is such an art. But with the lack of kitchen staff I'm sure the work load is insane, I know it contributes to the long plate times in between... and im sure it's been a constant uphill battle against an overseeing management that isn't really that interested in the potential that this restaurant could have been!!! So is this meal worth $212. Absolutely not. The food is. The service is not. read more

We really enjoyed eating at Stella's!. The receptionist/waitress welcomed us warmly, was so hospitable, wished us a Happy Anniversary and stated she had a special table reserved for us. The food was delicious, tasty, good portions, aromatic and such a beautiful presentation. Then we had a waiter who took our dessert order. He too was so well mannered and kind. I had the flourless chocolate cake...it was so yummy and moist. Hubs had the raspberry sorbet (they served 2 scoops!), which was so tasty and refreshing. When our waiter gave us the bill, he also wished us a Happy Anniversary and then stated our desserts were on the house! We were not expecting that at all. The staff at Stella's is so generous and giving. I was impressed that they allowed us to choose our own dessert for each of us and then surprising us that it was on the house. Thank you to our receptionist/waitress and waiter at Stella's! Thank you for a wonderful evening, We will eat there again. read more

My wife and I have been to Stella 3 times in the past 2 months. The food is delicious, well prepared, and presented beautifully. The red and white wine selections are wonderful. The property and setting is beautiful and comfortable. Lastly the staff and service are engaging when you have questions and prompt. I highly recommend and will return many times. read more

We had a really great meal at Stella recently. Food is very flavorful with some really inventive sauces and preparations. Paco (the manager) is wonderful and took good care of us. Wait staff was eager but a little unpracticed (it was fine). We really enjoyed the patio, and can't wait to go back! As a group of 4, we shared everything. Started with the Zalouk (eggplant spread) and their special appetizer, which were surprisingly delicious turnips with a sweet and spicy ancho sauce. We then shared the turmeric chicken (super tender and very flavorful), and crispy skin branzino, with papas bravas and blistered shishito peppers on the side. For dessert, the mango sorbet was heavenly, and we also tried the coconut rice pudding, which was good but not great. All in all a very tasty, solid meal that we all enjoyed. We'll be back! read more

We enjoyed Stella's so much that we ate there two of our three nights in Truckee. The food is beyond creative, fresh, gourmet and delicious! We are foodies and have dined at other high caliber restaurants with famous chefs and none of them have anything on Stella's chef and food. The service was friendly, very efficient and they were well versed in the menu and wine selections. Although the decor is minimalistic, it is modern and warm. We loved being able to watch the chefs since it's an entirely open kitchen. Highly recommend the scallops perfectly seared and succulent, this is a complex dish with a sabayon sauce, the lamb with squash gnocchi and the luscious chocolate croissant bread pudding. We could go on and on, but just go there and be adventurous and you'll be happy. read more

We're very disappointed with this place with terribly small main portions and horribly inflated price. Bad bad wine pour. At best, it was 3 ounces. Waitress was not so competent. The food did taste good, but for the prices, I shouldn't leave hungry . It really seems they're are trying way too hard to be nouveau and fancy. We won't ever be back. read more

Hidden gem next to Gravity Haus hotel. Amazing food. Would come back again for the miatake mushrooms

Came here after skiing at North Star! Top notch food!! - butternut squash soup (amazing) - chicken wings dry dry. (Really flavorful) Possibly the best baba ganoush and pita I've had Ended with cauliflower steak and a salad! Amazing service, good, ambience! read more

4 stars but with potential to be 5! Service was excellent- our server was very accommodating and attentive. We ordered - eggplant dip with focaccia Eggplant dip was flavorful and well seasoned. Focaccia was fine, but it came out cold. It would be much better if served warm - hamachi crudo appetizer My favorite dish. Delicious curing of the fish, the crispy rice and kombu pairing was lovely. The mashed avocado was good, but seemed unnecessary. - black cod entree Incredible- many of our party's favorite dish. - cauliflower entree We were a bit disappointed in this. It was roasted cauliflower, supposed to be with a gochujang sauce, but the gochujang didn't come through -both in flavor and texturally this wasn't a great dish and tasted kind of one note. Soft ish cauliflower atop a sauce, with no crunch or other textural elements, which I think would have improved it greatly- perhaps some roasted chopped nuts, or herbs or chimichurri type accompaniment. Crisping the cauliflower more would also improve the dish. - side of maitake mushrooms It seems that these were both under seasoned, and removed from the oven too early. Lacking in salt, so the flavors didn't come through. The maitake themselves were rather soft and chewy--we were expecting a nice char or crisp from the oven. Perhaps there was a timing issue with this dish, as there seemed to be only one (wood fired) oven used for cooking. The ambiance was nice, and service was excellent, food overall quite good, and I would come back. I think there may be a couple kinks that could be worked out with the dishes themselves, but we were so impressed with the cod and hamachi that we know this place has lots of potential to be incredible! read more

Great place, good atmosphere. Food is delicious , only small portions. Had a gnocchi, very delicious, but only 6 or 7 pieces, but I enjoy it all. Will be back! read more

Stella - Inside view - Specialty Food Near Me - Truckee, California

Oh boy. I've had bad meals/food/experiences before... but have never been so inspired as to go so far as to write a yelp review. This is literally the first time I am reviewing something. It was that bad. I feel the need to warn the people. Server: seemed like he'd never waited tables in his life. Couldn't answer any questions about the food. Food: They served a rabbit tartine that I wouldn't serve to a dog. This was an entree mind you and the pastry was literally cloyingly sweet. It seemed like there was leftover pastry from a dessert item and they decided to throw some rabbit (or maybe some other protein, it was difficult to tell), beets, peas, and whatever else they could find. It was AWFUL. Seriously, this was the worst thing presented to me in a restaurant in as long as I can remember. FELLOW DINERS, please heed this warning. This place is BAD. read more

We dined here recently and had a pretty bad experience to the point that we would never come back. We put in our order for apps and drinks, and about 15 mins later the server tells us they are out of one of the appetizers we ordered. No problem. When we are ready to order our meal, we find out that most of the things we wanted to order from the menu they were out of: the chicken, the butterfish, the lamb shank, and plus the asparagus app we had ordered. I have never had this experience at a restaurant and it tells me that there must be very poor management to run out of 4+ things on the menu when they have a small menu to begin with. Anyways so my husband was stuck ordering the steak since he does not eat fish despite the fact he knew he would not like that style of steak. Well he didn't like it - too rich. My friend did not like her meal either - the carrots. I was the only one who enjoyed my food but it was only 2 scallops and usually you'd expect 3 at that price. It was the most disappointing fine dining meal of my life. Giving 2 stars because I think the big problem is management here and the server was nice enough. read more

Exceptional appetizers (halibut, carrots, potatoes), and terrific wine service-small but good list and decent prices. Server was pleasantly familiar with list. Meat dishes were just good (filet and lamb), really the only negative.... Overall highly recommended at a real 4.5, and ignore the nutty 1-2 star reviews. Would have gone 4 but reading those made me bump it... read more

If you are looking for the most amazing food you have to try Stella! We tried it tonight and every single thing we got was amazing. I watched everyone go up and pay and they all said the same thing. This is a definite must. read more

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We have a condo in the Northstar Village we use for our quick and easy Bay Area get aways. We've eaten pretty much at most notable restaurants in the area, and Stella is by and far the best! Attention to detail, amazing flavors! I think they need to get better at allowing early orders, as it's at times hard to get a takeout order in the day of (we only started coming during COVID, so haven't eaten in yet). Clearly on their path to a Michelin Star IMO! Keep up the flavors! read more

Food is good but portions are ridiculously small. But the service was just terrible. Took forever to have someone come over to take drink order. Weren't welcomed by our waiter but were passed off to the runner. Drinks came out unevenly. Kitchen simply forgot to cook one if the dishes we ordered so 3 of us sat there, our food getting cold, while the 4th waited for his food. Eventually it came and they comped it, saying the kitchen forgot to make it. They took away our knives after apps but never brought us new ones, had to ask for them. Had to flag down wait staff repeatedly. Brought us dessert we didn't order. Unacceptable service at this price point. We wont be back. read more

This is one of the best Mediterranean restaurants we have ever eaten at. The hummus was extra creamy with added chickpeas and olive oil. We liked it so much we requested an order to go. We split the butternut squash soup at the recommendation of our server, and it did not disappoint. It had a bit of a kick to it and the addition of pistachios and greens on top made for a wonderful mix of flavors. Our mains included the barramundi and the cauliflower shawarma which included roasted carrots and a quinoa salad and we wished we could get the recipes for both. Definitely visit this quaint place for a quiet, intimate dinner. read more

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I was headed to South Lake Tahoe from Clio and Truckee was in route. I stumbled upon Stella on Yelp but didn't have reservations and it was a Friday evening. The restaurant is owned by the Cedar House Sports hotel which is located right next door. I was informed by our waiter Roger that the head chef is Jacob Burton and was employed at Fleur De Lys in San Francisco. Parking here is a breeze due to the large private lot located in front and in the rear. All the bread is made from scratch and cooked in the wood burning stove and served with whipped butter topped with sea salt - yummy and so addicting! Oh did I mention, they have their own veggie and herb garden located in the back? OK enough with small talk, we started out with the appetizer of Hamachi yellowtail sashimi served cold on a bed of seasoned seaweed, thinly sliced pickled cucumbers and topped with cantaloupe caviar. This was delish and flavors combined were outstanding. My main entree - choice fillet Mignon with a roasted broccoli & mushroom salad with wilted frisée, thyme demi glazed with a dressing made from white anchovy & honey. The Fillet was tender and flavorful and the mixed veggies were over the top yummy. This paired well with my glass of Mount Eden Cabernet. I also sampled the fresh halibut served with a lemon caper sauce and it was so delish! For dessert we tried the coconut cream pie which had a chocolate cookie tart shell and was served with ginger-lemongrass ice cream. This was so refreshing and hit the spot. A nice dessert to share. I was impressed with the spot on service from our waiter Roger and all his team. This was a special dinning experience and was reasonably priced for the superb quality of food and service received. I highly recommend Stella and is a must try for dinner if you're visiting or just passing through Truckee. read more

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Everything here was soooo good! We got takeout when visiting. We were ordering for 4 adults and 2 kids so tried a lot - pork tacos, carne asada, salsa verde chicken, beet salad, roasted cauliflower, baba ghanoush, and the wings. All the dishes were incredibly flavorful and tasted very fresh/homemade. The vegetables were especially impressive - very flavorful and well done. My toddlers DEVOURED the cauliflower - we are going to have to try to replicate it at home! We ordered online and it was ready for pickup after about 30 minutes on a Friday early evening. The restaurant was a bit hard to find in a hotel. Not the cheapest, but everything was so good - it was well worth it! read more

We visited on a Wednesday night and were able to make a reservation the day prior. The ambiance is warm and inviting with lots of light wood and an open kitchen. We had oysters on the half shell, a charred gem salad, roasted fingerling potatoes, seared scallops and a delicious chocolate croissant bread pudding for desert. All of the dishes were delicious with ingredients that complimented each other nicely. I would describe the dishes as all being 'simply elegant' in their flavors. The service was excellent! There is also a compact, but very nice wine list. We look forward to returning. read more

I came here with my fiancé to celebrate our anniversary. I'd like to start off by saying the food was amazing, it was 5/5. The Hamachi Crudo was one of the best things I've eaten. However the service made us feel left out. These were the issues that we ran into. 1. When we were asking questions about the menu, our waiter was giving us quick answers. However, when tables neighboring us asked questions they were given very detailed responses. 2. We were very rarely checked up on. This could be because we were given a table in the corner. But I had to wave down the waiter after waiting 10min for a refill. 3. Similar to the main menu, when we asked for the desert menu we were only given the menu. However other tables were given the menu, specials not on the menu, and had other questions answered. 4. Other tables around us were given plates compliments of the chef. I don't expect free items when going out, but when other tables are receiving them it can make you feel left out. All in all, it just felt as if we were forgotten. We would have given this 4 maybe 5 stars if we were given the same service as the tables surrounding us. read more

Wow, thoroughly impressed! Limited menu but came with an open mind and appreciate the fact that the Menü is reflective of fresh foods that are in season. Wait staff was a bit overwhelmed but very friendly. The chef and his staff stole the show!! Everything was prepared perfectly and the flavors were exceptional! We wish the wine selection was a bit more in depth but honestly, we were so impressed with the food it was a minor downside. Try this restaurant, and be patient when dining, it will be worth it!!! read more

A wonderful place with great food and amazing service. We really enjoyed it. Especially the appetizers were really great. The chef came to our table to comment on a couple of dishes. read more

This is very clearly a contender for best Truckee restaurant. Loved it - both the experience and the food. My wife and I ordered very different things, but both thought it was a top-notch meal. I also love restaurants of this size and scale - relatively small number of tables, but plenty of space but still a cozy atmosphere. Not pretentious, but super thoughtful and interesting dishes. Very impressed with Stella. read more

The hamachi with cantaloupe "caviar" is great: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ZFMdKgmysrLgPR0r7kxCEQ&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA The quality of the hamachi is amazing. However, I was hoping that the "caviar" would pop with a burst of flavor when biting into it, like real caviar; but instead, it's like the tapioca pearls that you get in milk tea drinks. The strawberry shortcake is excellent: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=k3-3cBUEcZtFyzdFNnLNSQ&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA They soak the strawberries in syrup to candy-ify them. But I wish the "cake" part were thicker: it sort of dissolves into a mush before you can eat it. I don't recommend the flourless chocolate cake: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=ay7yzTpRYRi3kpSbEEDZAg&userid=wG9d5TxOKKgbd8O08-kntA It has the exact same flavor/consistency as a gritty chocolate frosting, and really seems like it's supposed to be a condiment, not a cake. I did not have it with the recommended port wine pairing, but I don't think that would have changed things. It might be great when spread on bread, though I didn't think to try it at the time. read more

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Excellent service and food. Love the location and ambiance of the rustic lodge and buildings. Quality vacation.

Pleasantly surprised with my experience here. The service is excellent, restaurant is super cute and the food is amazing.

My wife and I had the most enjoyable dinner at Stella last night, despite the fact that they were short-handed and their serving style was little different due to Covid. They had you look at the menu online, then go to the podium place the order and then someone would deliver the food only. This was understandable under the current circumstances. Although, it would have been nice if they had come to check to see if we were doing OK. My one and only complaint if the night was that my steak was very tough. I ate the whole thing because, overall, it was so tasty, but I was very disappointed with the quality of the steak. I was told that this was a Butcher's Cut Steak (also known as Hanger Steak) and that it was cooked Sous Vide style and that perhaps because the steak had been cooked medium rare that it would be chewier. The truth is, I'm not totally convinced that was actually Hanger Steak because of how tough it was and how they're was gristle running through the middle of it. I've had Hanger Steak before and it was very tasty. This was not just eating, this was a true "dining experience". Probably one of our MOST memorable meals!!! This young Chef created dishes that uniquely combined the flavors of Latin America, the Mediterranean and the Middle East into a perfectly seamless culinary symphony. read more

Stella - This was the Local Farm Feature. - Specialty Food Near Me - Truckee, California

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EVERYTHING gets a star. Food. Service. Price. "Sooo good" was the phrase at our table!!

We went on the recommendation of my daughter who has a house in Northstar. She knows my likes and was spot on with Stella. Everything we had was just wonderful. We started with a Mediterranean Eggplant spread served with fabulous crusty bread. For the main I had the Branzino and my wife had the filet. We both raved about our dishes. Even though the prices were on the high end they proved that you get what you pay for. We will be back. read more

Great food,wine,and service, large portions, and unique flavors. Chef came to ask us how our meal was. Great place.

This was so good and they had a convenient pickup for Covid safety. My husband and I shared the tacos, hummus, soup, and S'mores dessert. We couldn't pick a favorite everything was so delicious. The tacos were tender and smokey. My husband is from Mexico and loved them. We practically licked the bowl for the S'mores dessert which was a perfect mix of flavors and textures. We'd love to go back when sit down dining is available post-Covid. read more

We found Stella on Yelp and once again, Yelpers nailed it!! This place is quaint and welcoming. The staff are supper nice. You have to order your food at the register which was a little odd, but the open kitchen, polite and attentive staff, and amazing food make it so so worth it! We didn't have to wait long for the food to start rolling into our table. As we finished one course, another was ready. The food was so fresh...like cooking out of grandmas own kitchen. It's a small menu but there's something for everyone and it's apparent it's kept small in order to maintain the high quality and care put into the food. We had the hummus and they were happy to swap out the corn chips for carrots and cucumbers. We also ordered the beef and it was perfectly cooked and delicious!! We loved it so much, we're not even wasting time looking for anywhere else. We're coming back tomorrow! read more