A stellar lunch at Stella! My husband and I split the Mortadella Meatball Sandwich and Chopped Salad which was plenty of food to share between two people for lunch (plus we didn't want to take leftovers). But both were so fresh and comforting! Perfect to fill our bellies in between wine tastings. The staff were incredibly friendly and the space was beautiful, I would definitely return for dinner. read more

Stella - Mortadella Meatball Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

See all

The very best gluten free pasta I have ever had, no contest. Simply Amazing. The Lumache is fabulous; no notes. We also ordered the pasta special gluten free and that was amazing too! Tasty, comforting and delicious. read more

Stella - Lumache gluten free - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Our group of three arrived for dinner to celebrate a birthday. We sat indoors. The indoor area is decorated very nicely with a modern look. There is a bar area with seating and a kitchen counter with seating overlooking the kitchen, which is where I will sit next time I come. They do not have a full bar, but called it actually a low bar. They have lots of bottles of wine and wine by the glass; however, I was surprised that since this is an Italian restaurant, they had no wine from Italy that I saw. There were some Italian varietals, but none produced in Italy. We brought our own bottle of Italian wine because they have no corkage fee on Mondays. All three of us ordered a glass of white wine beforehand and an appetizer. We ordered the rock shrimp, Frito miso, which, in my opinion, was one of the best appetizers I've ever had. It was perfectly crispy, there were plenty of shrimp, and some other miscellaneous fried items which rounded out the dish. A sauce was served alongside. For dinner, we ordered the pork chop, the whole fish, and the bavette steak, along with the cream, spinach and crispy potatoes. It was the perfect amount of food. The three of us absolutely loved our dishes. I had the whole fish darode and it was fantastic. It had a wonderful herb sauce over the top. I had a taste of the pork chop, and it was excellent. It had a wonderful caper sauce over the top and was perfectly breaded and fried. Next time I will definitely come back to have that. Our server was top-notch and she was very friendly and answered our many questions with patience. She brought us a very nice beautifully plated ice cream scoop with a wafer and a candle for the birthday girl. We really enjoyed our time at Stella and will most definitely return. I might even say it's my new favorite restaurant. read more

See all

Really had a wonderful time at this transformed restaurant! It looks fabulous inside! The wait staff is helpful, knowledgeable & good looking :) The food was good! Corkage fee a bit ridiculous for this scale, $35. Only thing not worthy of 5 stars. We all look forward to coming back real soon. read more

See all

Overall Stella was a great dining experience. 1) Food was awesome. Florentine Steak was the star. Awesome Burrata, and the Baked Alaska was well worth the splurge to the wallet and waistline. 2) Service above average. Our server coughed a lot which was off-putting. Otherwise it was solid. 3) Ambiance so great! Decor and environment were well above what I expected. I'd go back next time on the Sonoma side! read more

See all

We haven't visited since the patio was completed and it's great! Don't let that seating option dissuade you from making a reservation! Everyone who works there seems relaxed knowledgeable and happy to be there. There was no rush just excellent timing for everything. The Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe was PERFECT. We shouldn't have split it- it was delicious and hard to share. The meatballs were spot on and a nice way to start things off. A pork chop was also served and while the taste was great, it was a bit tough. Oh- the corn side is a MUST. Trust me We then had the baked "Gelaska" and Tiramisu- both were outstanding. The Gelaska will now and forever be ordered. Combined with some expresso.....mmmm. read more

See all

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

See all

A delightful mortadella meatball sandwich salad lunch combo at a great price! $16 they have a lovely outdoor patio with fans and also heat lamps. read more

See all

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

See all

Have eaten here many times. Always solid. Tonight I need to send a shout out to John (server) and Ava. They were spectacular! read more

Why do I have the urge to be Stanley Kowalski from "A Streetcar Named Desire" and scream at the top of my lungs "Stella!" but when the food is this good as it is when it is served at Stella, then you too will be screaming at the top of your lungs! Located in the previous space that housed Cafe Citti along the Sonoma Highway, in the Sonoma wine country hamlet of Kenwood, California, Stella comes from the same team that previously brought the local dining community Glen Ellen Star. Opened for only the past year, Stella focuses on pasta and grilled meat dishes. Passing along Stella's restaurant front after many visits to the many wineries that dot the Sonoma Highway, a friend and I were intrigued to finally make a visit in between visits to two neighboring wineries. With a lot of activity going on outside in their outdoor dining patio, not having reservations wasn't an issue at all, as their host sat us inside of their dining room at a corner booth. The lunchtime menu at Stella is separated into categories including Antipasti, which are their Appetizers; Insalate or Salads; Mozzarella Bar e fett'unta, or mozzarella served with grilled bread; The Lunch Break, which are lunch combination meals; Pasta Fresca, which are pasta made fresh daily; Secondi, which are their meat entrées, including sandwiches and burgers; and Contorni, which are side dishes. With my dining mate and I not being super hungry, we opted to share two of their entrées, and after asking our server Gillian what the best-sellers were for lunch and they suggested their Burrata & Mortadella from the Mozzarella Bar section of their menu, which was smooth burrata cheese topped with castelvetrano olives, pistachio and basil oil served with multiple slices of mortadella meat which too was topped with olives and pistachios. For our main entrée, we decided to share their Rigatoni which was topped with generous amounts of milk braised pork and beef and aged parmesan. With two dishes for lunch that is all we needed and our first dish of Burrata & Mortadella was placed at our table first and it was a real winner, as it came with plenty of slices of grilled sourdough bread topped with aged parmesan. Being able to place the spreadable cheese and sliced meat on every slice of grilled bread was a real treat. A true meal in itself. Then our pasta dish would be presented to our table and it was a true authentic Italian pasta entrée that had the perfect combination of flavors. This beautifully composed dish was the perfect accent to our lunch and filled with so much food that there was a little extra food to take home for the afternoon. Our total bill was $61.18 of which it should be noted that they charge an extra fee should you choose to pay with a credit card, so it is always best to bring cash with you when dining at Stella. It also should be noted that in their short time of being around, Stella has been known for their Baked "Gelaska" which is their spin on a Baked "Alaska" with gelato instead of ice cream. Better believe that I will be ordering that dessert item along with many more of their mozzarella appetizers and freshly made pasta dishes, as after visiting Stella you too will be screaming at the top of your lungs for food as nicely crafted as it is in this picturesque setting in Sonoma wine country. read more

See all

Stella is a great restaurant to have in the neighborhood - and beyond. Excellent all around! We are regulars and have never been disappointed. PS: thanks for the b'day card and complimentary desert! It is much appreciated! Little things - big impact! read more

Everything was incredible from appetizers to drinks to main courses. Patio was pretty noisy though. Hard to hear the person across the table from me so don't go expecting a quiet ambiance. read more

Stella - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

See all

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

See all

Had an amazing meal with friends. Started with a salmon credo with fried capers and caviar...so so buttery, fresh and delicious and the perfect appetizer. Since we were 4, we had a chance to share multiple dishes-2 dorado fishes, lumache, special tagliatelle bolognese with clams, creamed spinach and grilled snow peas. What an amazing feast. read more

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Another great celebration at Stella! My husband's birthday took us there this time and it was a wonderful night! Attentive staff and delicious food and drinks. Obviously we will be back! read more

Amazing dinner with the best waiter ever- John Staley! They are lucky to have him- attentive and his description of the food and desserts was the top! read more

Stella - Dinner! - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

See all

Great food always. I could eat the bacon burrata every day! Fun "lighter cocktail" and a great wine list. Anthony is an absolute gem of a waiter. He remembers you and gives a super friendly but not overstepping level of service. read more

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

See all

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

See all

Great restaurant. Great service. Great food. But wouldn't come back. Nothing impressed me that much honestly. read more

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Just a bit taken aback by the exhorbitant prices on everything. Sure, nice ambiance and nice staff, but will not be visiting again unless I win the lotto. Guess this place is geared toward rich wine country tourists. read more

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Wife wanted to try Stella's since she's heard great reviews about the restaurant and it was definitely worth it! We had Gillian as a server and she was very bubbly, friendly and knowledgeable. Not pictured was the prosciutto and burrata which was amazing, along with the garlic pull apart bread. The entrees, drinks and desserts were also big hits as well. Ambiance was very laid back. Decent size indoor and a big outdoor seating area read more

See all

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

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

See all

Great food great service. Staff, efficient, clean and well dressed. Took my sister and brother-in-law there when they were visiting. They enjoy it also. I will be back. read more

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

See all

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

See all

Another excellent meal at Stella! The melon salad with the salmon special topped off with the chocolate cake with strawberries and Chantilly cream; yum! Do yourself a favor and dine here! read more