My wife and I enjoyed date night at Cello tonight. The appetizer, meal and dessert were amazing. The server, Beth was attentive and friendly. She was easy to talk to, and we never had to ask her for drink refills or the next course. She was prompt and paying attention to our every need. The restaurant is intimate so I recommend making reservations. read more

Everything was delicious. It's a small space and great for a leisurely paced meal. The chickpea panisse, rigatoni and flank steak were all filled with complex flavors and incredibly well balanced. Service was friendly and relaxed. read more

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Came here for our first meal in the Berkshires. This place seemed very highly rated and we were able to snag a reservation at the last minute on a Tuesday evening. We did have to sit outside which was totally fine as the weather was nice with just a slight chill. We shared the "patio" with one other couple. Our server was incredibly nice and friendly, apologizing for the wait in setting up our table outside and very appreciative of our patience. The service was excellent, we didn't have to wait for anything we could want. Our server also is a splitting image to young Shauna from Yellowjackets. It's wild. The kitchen is open concept which is very cool and puts me a little at ease, I imagine it's probably harder to do sketchy shit with everyone looking at you. I was grateful to see some vegetarian options on the menu. We started off with their toasted sourdough which had a very ASMR-esque crunch. I ordered the simple green salad and you have to admire the transparency because it was very simple. Just lettuce and a light dressing. Nothing else. It as pretty refreshing and made me feel better about myself. The size of the thing was decent as well. For my main, I odered the spaccatelli which was a creamy tomato sauce, dollops of ricotta, over an unusual pasta shape. This was INCREDIBLE. I wish I had some bread to soak up that incredible sauce. This was absolutely wonderful I just wish there was more of it. GF ordered the steak which I am not seeing on the menu, it might ahve been a special. "Very good, it was delicious, the steak was amazing" is her review. The drinks were pretty good as well. I ordered a spritz with prosecco and limoncello if memory serves. GF ordered a glass of wine. We both ahd rose for the second round (our server said it was "effervescent" and even though I wasn't planning on it, I had to try it) and the pour was incredibly generous. I was regretting that second drink later. I am old now. We ordered the chocolate cake to go. The accompaniments (mascarpone mousse, raspberry puree, chantilly) were INCREDIBLE. The cake was pretty good but a little more dense and dry than would have been the preference. read more

My husband and I visited Cello for our second wedding anniversary. The owners knew that we were celebrating and helped to make us feel extra special. We started dinner with a bottle of bubbly and the cheese board that had a delicious jam. Highly recommend the Spatzle, this was one of my favorite meals I had in Lennox over 5 days of vacationing. We brought a bottle of wine from our collection and paid a corkage fee of $25, worth it. read more

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Cello is probably the best restaurant in the Berkshires. On a recent visit, the staff were incredibly warm, welcoming, and genuine. Kim Boya was warm-hearted , welcoming, and genuine. She made us feel as though we were long time friends and not first timers at the restaurant. Both other wait staff that evening were equally friendly. The meal was one we will remember for a very long time (until our next visit, which will come very soon!). The cornbread is a must. You've never had cornbread this savory yet light, richly flavorful, especially with the honey maple butter. The onion rings are another must-have and set the standard. Not at all greasy, light, complex flavors, with a batter that crunches and then just melts in your mouth. Next time we plan to order two. Roasted peach salad came with local burrata and tomatoes The surprise was a garnish of crunchy granola, which just works. It gave a surprising and delightful texture to a dish that otherwise would have had mostly 'soft' ingredients. The ribs could be an entrée in themselves. I'm not a big rib person and thought my partner would eat most of them but I ended up literally licking the plate. Again not at all greasy, complex flavors, the meat just fell off the bone. The halibut was the best we've ever had. Crunchy on the outside yet soft, moist, and impossibly rich and flavorful, served simply on a bed of sauteed red onions and pea shoots. If you're drinking with your meal consider the Oyster River Morphos Pet Nat Rose from Warren Maine. We're going to sour the Earth looking for this one! Full bodied yet not too sweet, it's the perfect bubbly for a summer meal. It was a leisurely, unrushed and completely delightful two hours. We could have spent more time and enjoyed dessert if we didn't have a show that evening. Kim and Ryan obviously put their hearts and souls into what they do. Their creativity, passion, and execution is second to none, and would be at the top among restaurants in New York. Yet this little gem of a place is hidden away in beautiful, idyllic Lenox MA. It's a destination, worth driving to just for an unforgettable meal. It's not just amazing food, it's an experience. We are going to be regulars here! read more

My son and I had a fantastic meal at Cello. We sat across from the open kitchen. The wait staff and chef/kitchen staff were delightful and the food was amazing! Be sure to call ahead to get a reservation. I hope to be back in the area so I can return for another meal! read more

Fine dining par excellence in the heart of Lenox! Very creative dishes with the menu changing daily. Focus is on flavor, not quantity so sharing a number of plates between people is a great way to taste them all. The hanger stake was cooked to absolute perfection - rare as requested and tasted divine with the bone marrow butter. The Earl Grey Creme Brulee had a delicious tea flavor infused that worked perfectly with the compote and granola. Service is very professional. A reservation is a must as seating is limited and quite tightly packed. read more

Cello - Hanger steak with golden beet puree, king trumpet mushroom and bone marrow butter - New American Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

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The food at Cello was absolutely marvelous. It was well prepared, beautifully seasoned, and exquisitely presented. Simple, earthy and delicious. The service was warm and responsive, Bethany was very friendly, gracious, helpful, knowledgeable. The ambience was uplifting, warm and inviting on a chilly snowy night. Highly recommend. Do not miss this place. It is really something special. read more

Tucked away in an unassuming little building on Church Street is Cello; Ryan and Kim's dream of a restaurant. With only 29 seats and a gem of a Kitchen Counter you'll want to book early. Arriving midweek on a cool, late Summer's evening we stepped in and were immediately welcomed by Kim who walked us back to our seats at the Counter. Unlike many similar restaurants who's "Kitchen Counter" is actually a fair distance from the pass and even further away from the Line Under Glass, you are literally a hand shake away from the small galley kitchen with Ryan and his Sous Chef being the entirety of the line. With expectations set at a low simmer we started ordering from the menu which changes daily. One obvious choice was the Cornbread with local honey which seems to an app d'jour these days. That said, this version stood out from the pack with amazing texture and a deep corn taste seldom found amongst the bland, box like pretenders. It's good, really good. Moving through to entrees we ordered a pan seared trout and a chicken confit. The trout was perfectly cooked, flakey but still moist, and deftly seasoned with a light touch preserving the bright, clean flavor of the fish. The chicken confit, which I've never seen before on a menu, was simply fantastic. Eschewing the traditional duck fat, Ryan divulged he used olive oil with a bit of garlic to confit the chicken, resulting in a "chickeny", perfectly done dish. A bit of a confession here, I saw there was a Ragu Bolognese on the menu but didn't order it as it's virtually always a disappointment. Frankly, other than Jake Steven's version at Leeward I haven't had a great one in years. That is until now. Luckily, the folks sitting next to us ordered it and as soon as it hit the counter I started swooning. An honest to god ragu bolognese was staring me in the face. I think I started babbling when Kim walked by to see how we were doing: rendered pancetta, finely diced mirepoix, fresh ground pork and beef, an incredibly long simmer in whole milk adding more as it reduces... Magically, the kitchen sent out two half portions we hadn't ordered; gratis. It's the real deal folks. It's simply what Ragu Bolognese should be. Rich, creamy, unctuous from the long slow cook with a soft feel and a deeply beefy flavor. No tomatoes, no garlic, just perfect. Honestly, it's worth booking a table just for this simple, traditional dish. But of course, there is always desert. Chocolate cake, Gemma's Chocolate Cake to be specific. It's what your great grandmother, a child of the depression, made for you as a kid! Ryan makes it with mayonnaise just as my Midwestern German grandmother did. It's simply amazing. Finally, a few words about the wine list. It's very small but mighty with an even smaller Reserve List available. I consider myself pretty darned knowledgeable when it comes to a broad range of wine, but Kim's list had things I've never heard of let alone tasted. Best bet, just put your trepidation aside and ask Kim for a suggestion. I doubt you'll be disappointed. In the end, Cello is clearly a labor of love turning out fantastic food, unpretentious service, and serving up the kind of experience that keeps you coming back. If you're ever in the area, give it a try. read more

Had the pleasure of dining at Cello 8/9. Started with the cornbread with maple butter, which was delightful and had the perfect texture. Next, I had the peach salad, which was a perfect marriage of flavors and texture. I am already wondering when I can eat this salad again as it was that good. I rounded out with the pork chop; the brine led to the most immaculate pork chop I've eaten. I also really enjoyed that it was paired with a curry sauce and fresh beets. Overall, Cello provided warm ambiance, incredible food that shined from the freshness and craft of the chefs, and an unbeatable experience. Can't wait dine here again! read more

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We were in for dinner at Cello last Saturday, 11/1, and I was initially hesitant to write an account of a very unsatisfactory experience we had there: Among the reasons is that as a family whose house is "just down the road" from the center of Lenox, our strongest inclination is to like our local providers and restaurants and to support them. As context, this was our second visit to Cello in its present incarnation; we had a memorable visit to its predecessor and a disappointing previous one, about a year ago, at Cello. Urged by some very positive recent reviews, I prevailed upon my wife to give them another shot. Our first reaction to entering Cello recalls an observation on Yelp by another recent visitor who found the ambiance "claustrophobic." I would add that it was both visually chaotic and noisy, though it appeared to suit a bevy of "regulars" who seemed at home and familiar to the proprietors. All this underscored the basic identity issue with this place, which is that it purports to be something rarified, offering innovative, seasonal cuisine (reflected in very high prices and small portions). At the same time, the feel of it and the service itself bespeak a rather cramped local eatery. The waitress' removing our utensils and placing them, replete with food vestiges directly on our table surface, rather than removing them after we finished our appetizers, was puzzling and distasteful. It further underscored the haphazardness of the entire enterprise, as did the long wait for entrées to appear. Our party of three ordered a couple of appetizers: The first, fondly recalled from our previous visit, was a small slab of very rich cornbread accompanied by a dollop of maple butter. It was gone in seconds, leaving us with plenty of orphaned butter. At our waitress' suggestion, and since there is no bread provided for the table, we ordered a plate of toast sourced from Berkshire Bakery, a beloved place we frequent). A few thin slices of toasted bread (at $6) helped dispatch the maple butter. Our second appetizer, the Chickpea Panisse, chimichurri, garlic chili crunch, sunnyside egg (at $16) was the single on-target plate of our meal: A piece of beautifully seasoned grain, sauced and topped by a poached egg. A bullseye. Two of us craving meat decided on the flank steak for an entrée, billed as Flank Steak, oyster mushrooms, onion soubise, pickled red onions. Just to be certain that Cello was true to discerning sourcing, I inquired whether the beef was grass fed (there are, of course, innumerable purveyors of it in Berkshire County). The waitress mentioning that she was new and therefore had no idea, went to the Chef to inquire, and returned with a firm "no." I was rather stunned, but the meat eaters were undeterred, and the flank steaks were ordered. What they got each was a tapas-sized plate of about 4-5 small slices of bland, yet tender, medium rare steak surrounded by what we recall as a purée and sauteed onions and mushrooms, at $36. Really?? I ordered the tagliatelle in a sauce that, according to the menu's description, included novel ingredients, and promised some complexity and originality. What I sampled instead (at $26) was a small portion of pasta in an under seasoned, heavy Alfredo-like cream sauce, with not an interesting taste tonality to be found. Nope. We skipped dessert. Our bill with a 20% tip for indifferent service and a barely adequate meal for three, with no alcohol consumption, and one bottle of sparkling water and a boutique ginger ale was $179.00. To that, I just say, "no." read more

Food was just ok. Really salty. Soup was thin, portions small. Service was really slow. We were never even asked about desert. Restaurant was cold. Really disappointing. Would not recommend. They have a policy of charging the credit card of the person who makes the reservation $25 per person and that amount is subtracted from the check. This makes splitting a check awkward at best. read more

The people here are lovely, the food is very good, and the vibe of the place is lively and friendly. We had lunch one day and came back today for dinner. Both meals were really great. I enjoyed a negroni with my salad - botth were very good. My flank steak was well prepared and delicious (some green beans and potato would have been nice on the dish). Dessert was perfect. On the downside: The wine options are limited, and if the cab franc and cab sauvignon are indicative, I would skip the wine here. read more

Food was great, service was top notch. Beer selection was perfect for the meal we had. Thank everyone! read more

Entree plates were appetizer size and not very good. Some of these restaurants now think they can charge any high price they want. Lenox has several quality other restaurants. read more

We will not be returning. Ate last evening (actually did not eat much because our main course took forever, and we refused it when it finally did reach our table). After the starters which were not anything special, we decided we had enough and decided to leave. The staff was not particularly understanding. We saw that other patrons arriving after us had finished their main courses. After the starters, our dinner for the evening was finished off with Ruffles from a nearby convenience store. read more

Best food in the Berkshires. Boom. Done. Now, to be a bit more specific: we had an array of dishes, all of which were completely delicious. Geniuses in that kitchen, folks: they are taking honest, quality ingredients and doing mind-blowing things with them. The grilled apple toast (already: genius) on maple ricotta had the punchy counterpoint of pickled grilled onions. I immediately swore I would go home and grill and pickle a bunch of onions so I could have a big jar in the fridge to eat with everything. Ditto the pickled apples that jazzed up the chicken liver toast. With everything we ate, highlights of saltiness, sweetness, acid, and/or char elevated each dish to unique heights. Which is why I trusted the chefs to blow my mind when I opted for an entree of roasted beets and blackened parsnips over cheesy grits with maple red-eye gravy. Part of me thought to myself "You're passing up beef, chicken, and fish for some charred veg on mush?" Man, oh man: it was GOOD. I literally wiped the bowl with my finger to get every last drop. I'd eat food this good standing up in a parking lot, but luckily Cello is a cozy space with great service, headed by Kim, who made us feel like we were having a family dinner in her home. From beginning to end, we loved everything and everyone, and can't wait to go back. And that means a 90" drive from the Catskills, but no biggie: restaurants like Cello are always worth the trip. read more

We are brunch here Food was...meh. One notch above a glorified diner and still trying way too hard. The Atlas Farm Lettuces ($15) was...a salad. Apple & Pumpkin Soup ($13) was tasty, but unfortunately, no crackers or bread were available to accompany the soup. Yes, I asked, and was told I could order a side of toast. No thanks. My husband had the Tonkatsu Sandwich ($20), which was a piece of fried ham on toasted bread. With a side of mustard. That's it. No dogs on the outdoor patio, by the way, in case you are traveling with a furry friend. The place across the street, called Patisserie Lenox, is much less pretentious and dogs are welcome on their patio. I know where we will be having lunch next time. read more

Cello - Menu - New American Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

A disappointing lunch. We were curious about Cello because we'd loved Spoon, which pre-pandemic occupied the same space. But my cavatelli was bland and tasteless. My wife's grilled peach salad--listed among the menu's large plates--was absurdly small and featured underripe tomatoes. We passed up dessert. read more

Loud. Claustrophobic. Salad was lettuce with plain dressing. Spaghetti sauce tasted like it just came out of a can of Hunts spaghetti sauce. Total waste of time and money. Really disappointed. read more

I was excited to go to Cello but overall experience was disappointing. Tiny but expensive portions. Nice service but no one was wowed by the food, which was overly priced for what you got. There are much better places to eat in Lenox. read more

We were very disappointed with the portion sizes. Felt more like tapas. I had the trout which needed more flavor and was such a small piece. The desserts were tasteless despite the reviews. I was really looking forward to the raspberry dessert that people raved about but I couldn't find the flavor and the texture was strange. Sorry for this review. We really were looking forward to eating here. read more

A great addition to the Berkshires. The space is small but not cramped and has a cozy and comfortable feel. The serving staff are professional and very gracious. But most importantly, the food is delicious! It's reminiscent of when the venue was Nudel, which may have been the last time that space served really tasty and inventive meals. The menu has enough options to accommodate everyone from vegans to carnivores and in between. There were four of us at dinner and we ordered several different dishes and shared most of them so everyone got tastes and no one was disappointed! read more

Had an amazing meal at Cello this past Saturday. Chefs Ray and Sarita dazzled in the open kitchen and it was a pleasure to dine with them. Our favorite items were the meatballs with polenta and of course the dessert donuts with ice cream and cheese cake. The service at the counter was top notch, and Cody came up with an amazing mocktail for us. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Hidden gem in the Berkshires - Great food and warm service, from a team that cares deeply about doing things the right way. Highly recommended! read more

Cello - Pate - New American Near Me - Lenox, Massachusetts

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i'm so happy i found this sweet little spot. outstanding food and service, cannot recommend enough! already can't wait to go back!

Superb!!! We have dined at most every restaurant in the Berkshires when we visit and stay at our favorite Inn - the Stonover Farm. Cello is now our favorite restaurant after eating there for the first time last night. The food - including amazing hot chocolate chip cookies for dessert, the ambience, the warm welcome from Ryan, Kim and the staff was all around an excellent experience. We can't wait to go again! Cello is our #1 choice! read more

Cozy spot. We've been six or seven times. The menu is always changing, and the food is fresh and original. Service is excellent. My husband loves the pork chop and the fish dishes are memorable. Small plates are original, delicious and great for sharing. This is one of our most favorite spots in the southern Berkshires. read more

Love love love Cello! Kim, chef Ryan and the staff at Cello are wonderful. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented! Highly suggest going here for dinner or Sunday brunch ! read more

Food was great and the service was superb . We sat near the kitchen and enjoyed seeing the crew prepare meals

What a mix! Tasty fish, tasty corn appetizer! The kale salad was too hard and chewy (I.e., they need to macerate their kale), but, the entrées were a hit all around! read more

So good!!! Please check out & support this business. Delicious food. Great service. Love love love. Ended up eating here on a whim & have no regrets. read more

We visited Cello when it first opened in the summer of 2023 and enjoyed a good meal. The original menu touched all the dinnertime food groups. By February, the menu was more innovative and had changed remarkably, probably a seasonal change. I started with an egg, sunny side up on a kimchi pancake and peanut paste. Delicious. Mushroom ramen with shiitake and trumpet mushrooms, soy-cured egg, nori, and onion was earthy, and might have benefitted from a splash of soy sauce, Asian cooking wine and/or chile sauce in the mushroom broth, but it hit the spot on a cold winter night. My wife enjoyed a tasty salmon tartare starter and veal schnitzel. Worth a visit from time to time. read more

Absolutely excellent! Food was outstanding and not your usual run of the mill. I'm not sure why it took us so long to try out this gem. Service was also excellent. They are on their game! Ambiance is cozy. We chose to sit at the counter and enjoyed watching Chef Ray and his assistant work their magic. BRAVO! Looking forward to going back. read more

Outstanding food. Friendly service. Cello is replicating the tremendously popular Nudel restaurant that it replaced following Covid. Our new favorite. read more

The food was okay. The bolognese was overpowered by the rigatoni (they ran out of linguine), and the fish needed to be a bit more savory to balance out the sweetness of the pickled vegetable. read more

A charming restaurant in the center of Lenox. The food is terrific, and the menu is constantly changing. They also have a very nice wine list. Service is impeccable (we went soon after it opened, and it was a little slow, but they've definitely worked out the kinks). Definitely one of our go to restaurants in Lenox for a nice meal. read more

Delicious and interesting menu, prepared perfectly and delivered by a friendly and professional staff! Bartender is a talented mixologist...lively and relaxed atmosphere. read more