New restaurant so let's take this review with a grain of salt, pun intended. They did a nice job creating a modern clean space where Cafe Sitti used to be on highway 12. Blocking the highway noise is no easy feat but they have managed. The outside space is enclosed with a clear sheeting all the way around and the temperature was reasonable on the drizzling night. Along one wall there is a continuous bench where your half of your party will sit. Unfortunately when a large person sits down near you the pasta you had on your fork could just as likely go in your lap as your mouth as the bench moves to accommodate the weight. We were not given a choice of seating inside or out. I would definitely recommend reserving an inside table. The table tops are marble or stone creating a hard slippery surface. When the salad plates came out it was hard to stick the fork into the salad without the dish sliding. A place mat or some material added to the dish ware to add friction would have enhanced the service. Our server Shannon was top notch. She was upbeat, knowledgable, attentive and unobtrusive. From serving the food to keeping our water and wine needs always met without our ever having to ask. The one thing I thought was a little strange was we were offered complementary filtered water! Are restaurants charging for water these days? I wouldn't be surprised since we were CHARGED a fee for using a credit card. So much for don't leave home without it! Now for why you really go out to eat. So we split a Caesar and my friend had the Rigatoncini alla Bolonesse and I had the Lamb Shoulder Chop. The Caesar was fine but where were the anchovies? Now this could be a matter of preference but my guest who is very sensitive to salt felt that the Rigatonicini was light on salt and too adenté for her but she loved the flavoring. My lamb chop was seasoned to perfection with a mint sauce that was delightful. A little tough for spring lamb but tasty. We also shared the wood grilled mushrooms. I found them a little rubbery but I've been eating Shitaki mushrooms at home so my judgement may be biased. We finished the meal with vanilla cream in espresso which was fantastic. We killed two birds with one desert. We got our sugar and caffeine all in one cup. I'll give it six months and try it again but in my opinion Stella leaves a lot to be desired! read more

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Delicious food in a pleasant environment. Excellent wait service. We will return.... Delicious food in a pleasant environment. Excellent wait service. We will return. read more

From start to finish, the entire experience was outstanding. The ambience, the staff, the portion sizes, and the absolute deliciousness of everything we ate was absolute perfection. Can't wait to go back! read more

Stella - Chicken liver pasta...chefs kiss! - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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6$ dollars for a can of diet coke ? I paid 22 dollars for a tiny sandwich and the bread was from the day before tasted stale and chewy. My wife had the meatball sandwich which was good but the fries were ok they were too crispy and oily.I was being attacked by flies on the patio since we arrive to the restaurant the patio area was extremely hot.it was just a BAD experience really disappointed. Plus you have to paid 3% of a credit card fee. the fact that they dont tell you about the fee when you're paying its VERY UNPROFESSIONAL. read more

Outstanding food, top notch waiter--Joel, made this a great evening. Shared the cucumber and peach salad, unique combination that really worked, burratta with walnuts in brown butter recommended by Joel that was a great choice. For a main course we has tagliatelle with prosciutto and an incredible aged Parmesan that was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. Other dish was Jumbo prawns with polenta, great flavor. Finished up with Panna Cotta which was a refreshing delicious finish to a great meal. Our waiter was friendly, helpful, and made the dinner outstanding. We will be back. Great place. read more

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This is a great new place in Kenwood for delicious Italian food with fresh homemade pasta, the best Caesar salad in town and wonderful staff and decor . You can sit inside and outside and enjoy their food and beverages . read more

Service is excellent, ambiance very good......but the food. We shared the 2 dinners, one was the salmon. Possibly the worst piece of salmon I've ever had. It was "mushy" and tasted like it had been around far too long on a bed of polenta that didn't have much flavor. It's quite expensive with the dinners just under $50 each. At that price, I expect much better. Had to try Stella, but I'm not returning. read more

Although founded by the same folks who brought us the delightful Glen Ellen Star, Stella is not a comparable restaurant. Lots of lower quality/expensive ingredients, prepared well, but at premium prices. Same with the wines, which are unique and unknowable but not so great. The service is very kind and attentive but probably needs to know more about the plates, ingredients, and the wines to make better recommendations. read more

My friend and I celebrated my birthday sitting at the Chef's Table. What an experience! Watching all the food being prepared was mesmerizing. The precision and care that went into each dinner was impressive. Don't miss this opportunity. The food and wine were excellent! read more

Came for my birthday It was great, we ordered almost 1 of everything. The presentation of the dishes were clean and the food was seasoned perfectly. Everyone was so nice. From being greated at the door to being offered a tour of the kitchen after our meal. It was truly a special experience for my special day. Here are a few pictures of some of the dishes read more

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I spend 5 weeks in Sonoma every year and had the opportunity to visit Stella for lunch today as I wrapped up my visit. It was recommended by friends of mine that are local and from start to finish it had the air of fine dining but it felt like you were doing so with family. We had Gina as our server, who was warm and extremely knowledgeable across both cuisine and wine. I appreciated her forthright recommendations and colorful explanations of what you would experience based on what one ordered. Everything was fabulous and I adored the attention to detail from refolding napkins as guests took leave of their seats to clearing the table between courses. A special affirmation of the burrata, watermelon salad and shrimp pasta. I would reorder all 3 at any point. Grateful for an amazing send off back to Scottsdale, and I can't wait to come back! As a side note, Kenwood can be considered a bit off the beaten path but is completely worth it for the warm welcome and delicious food, especially if you can couple it with a wine tasting with one of the local Wineries (I'm a VJB/Wellington girl). The entire lunch felt like a local experience, which I love! Thank you Gina and team, I will be back! read more

I've been here twice and both times the service has been wonderful and food delectable! Portions are large and filling imo so careful not to over order despite wanting to try everything! The mortadella mbs were a bit on the overly salty side for me. Pick a pasta they are a must have. read more

Delicious! I came here to celebrate my new job with my partner, and we were both very impressed with Stella. Both of us consider ourselves to have high standards when it comes to food and service, and Stella exceeded our expectations! First off, the tomato, watermelon, cucumber, and feta salad was phenomenal. A highlight for me personally. We also got the focaccia, which I enjoyed, but I do wish it came with some olive oil or balsamic to dip in. For mains, we had the Pork Chop Milanese and the Cacio e Pepe - both were phenomenal, but the pork chop was the real star of the show. Finished the meal with the baked gelaska - which was a nice balance of sweet and refreshing (my only feedback here would be to have slightly less of the marshmallow fluff as it was a bit overwhelming for me!). Our server was phenomenal, the vibes were immaculate, and it was an overall memorable evening. We'll be back! read more

The restaurant is crushing it. Usually like to wait for the kinks to get worked out with a new establishment but couldn't resist after seeing all the raving reviews. The Glen Ellen Star folks truly know how to elevate a dining experience without feeling pretentious. Great service, food, presentation, atmosphere. The transformation of the structure that was there is remarkable. Looking forward to returning for years to come. read more

Stella - Burrata, Meatballs, Wood-fired Olives - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

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Yet another phenomenal dinner at Stella. The food is delicious and the service and hospitality is warm and welcoming. Huge thanks to Eddy for a lovely evening! read more

Stella delivered such a memorable experience. Jacob took care of us with a level of attentiveness and warmth that truly stood out, and the service from the entire team matched his energy. Every detail felt intentional, and the staff consistently went above and beyond. The food was fantastic, and the whole evening left me looking forward to my next visit. read more

Amazing food and great Hospitality! Beautiful space and great team. Cant wait to go back!

What an amazing experience! I kind of want that grill for my house. Definitely recommended.

I just returned from my maiden dinner at Stella in Kenwood. First, in order to make a reservation you're forced to reveal your credit card number in order to be charged if you're a no show. I never like that practice. And, on that note, I was charged nearly $5.00 when I paid for our dinner WITH my credit card! It's called a "no cash fee" WHAT? Well if I had known that was their practice, I would've brought cash! There was no indication that our only choice of seating was out on the patio. There is limited inside seating, but I was never given the option to sit inside. I was sitting on a padded bench that ran the length of the patio. Every time the gentleman sitting by me at the neighboring table leaned forward, I leaned forward too. Not intentionally! Our server Shannon was lovely and very accommodating, however her first words after greeting us were "would you like complementary filtered tap water or Calistoga sparkling water?" Complimentary tap water?? Seriously?? Everyone in the Valley filters the unpleasant water around her. "Gee thanks, free tap water" We began with a little gems Caesar salad that was easily big enough to share, which we did and which was very good, however my companion said "it's a Caesar salad and there weren't any anchovies" I like anchovies but it was still good without them. I ordered the focaccia bread for $14. I can't say there was anything special about it, although it was very salty. My companion ordered the lamb shoulder which he enjoyed, however he proclaimed it "fairly tough". I ordered the Rigatoncini Alla Bolognese. According to our server, the house made pastas are the "star of the menu" The sauce was good, however the pasta was so al dente to the point of being nearly impossible to chew. Toothsome taken to a whole new level. My companion also ordered the wood grilled mushroom that were very, very chewy in a weird way, so those weren't eaten. This restaurant isn't owned by newbies to the business. These are seasoned professionals. I think that fact made the experience doubly disappointing. I'm sure the restaurant will thrive in Kenwood, which has very little in the way of restaurants, however I would suggest driving just a little further into Kenwood and eating at Salt and Stone, which is always good. read more

I just went to the wonderful restaurant Kenwood Stella. John our waiter was so good to us. The drinks and food were incredible. Definitely ask for John when you come. read more

We dined at Stella when it first opened and were a little disappointed BUT we just didn't wait long enough....just went last Monday night, sat at the chef's counter and WOW they have it together now. Yellowfin Tartare appetizer was tasty, beautiful presentation and inventive. My husband had the chicken liver pasta (he loved it) and I had the tagliatelle pasta with prosciutto and parmesan. Yikes! so good. We were greeted at the door by a very gracious young woman. Nice start...The dining room was humming at 8:30p on a Monday! And a mix of young, old, families etc. Loved the vibe. And to top it off we had great service...We are both very good home cooks so often we go out just for the good service but this place has it all. Our server and was Eddy. We asked for his name because we wanted to make sure he got some recognition. He knew every dish on the menu and it seems like he was genuinely happy to be working at Stella. We have been regulars at Stella's sister restaurant, Glen Ellen Star but Stella is 10 minutes closer to us so it's going to be a hard choice form now on as to where we go.... read more

Stella - tagliatelle pasta with prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Everything was tremendous! The staff at Stella were very welcoming and accommodating. We started at the bar with a glass of bubbles while we waited for our seat. Bartender was great! We sat at the chefs counter. We were addressed by 2 different servers but something must've mixed up. But service by both of them was perfect! The corkage fee with bottle service was an amazing add. Every dish, was *chefs kiss*! The chives on the Caesar salad, truffle honey on the Scarmazza, and I need more Taggliatelle, the best dish by far! Cant wait to come back soon!! read more

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We had a wonderful evening at Stella. Highly recommended it if you are in the area. We enjoyed appetizers, main courses, and desserts. We shared everything and every serving was fabulous. Eddy was our expert server and guided us throughout the evening. His recommendations we spot on. Some of the best food we've had in a long time. We encourage a reservation when it is busy. read more

Good food, great service, nice atmosphere. Noisy inside but more quiet on the outside. read more

Good size food portions and would give the quality a five star. Eddy was our waiter and he did an excellent job, was very informative about the individual dishes and how they are prepared. He checked in on us to make sure we had everything we needed. First class waiter!!! Excellent food!! read more

Second time we have dined at Stella. Food is fantastic and John our server was attentive and his suggestions were wonderful also. Highly recommend this restaurant read more

Birthday dinner for 3 last Saturday. I can't say enough about the exceptional food and overall experience. If you're fortunate enough to get Gina as your wait staff, you will experience one of the best server experience I have ever had. On a side note, if you are looking for a quiet evening, this may not be your place. Lots of people having a great time together. Loud, but thoroughly enjoyed it! read more

Very noisy, mediocre quality, mediocre service, outrageous prices. Riviera is so much better for Italian.

We had a great evening dining at Stella. Everything we ordered was absolutely excellent. The Lumache al Pesto was bright, fresh, and perfectly salted. We also shared the tagliatelle and pork Milanese for entrees (both fantastic), and ended with the baked Galeska, which was really unique and delicious, not to mention beautiful! The space is gorgeous, the food is thoughtful and flavorful, and the staff were attentive and welcoming. Can't wait to come back! read more

Stella - Pork Chop Milanese, Tagliatelle, Lumache Al Pesto - Italian Near Me - Kenwood, California

Incredible. We came for an anniversary dinner. As an ex fine dining chef, I find most Sonoma County restaurants overrated. Stella did not disappoint! Excellent service. Wine list all local and well chosen. Same owners as Glen Ellen Star, but a much better dining experience. Italian/Wine country cuisine. We had an amazingly refreshing and vibrant salad of English cucumber, peaches and cherries in a golden raisin dressing. Unexpectedly perfect combination. The pasta is homemade daily, as is the mozzarella burrata. Deserts were ok, but food and service outstanding. We'll be back. read more

Late post, this restaurant made my birthday oh so special, from the birthday card, to the fabulous wine and amazing food!!! There is nothing I can say, other than the next night, I went to another restaurant for my actual birthday and they didn't tend to us with the same service. It felt like we were an after thought. read more

Short menu food was ok. Nothing exciting. Not sure I will go back. Food was pricey. Pricey wine menu.

Terrific restaurant. Wowed by interior decor and welcoming staff. Delicious lunch and outstanding wait staff. Can't wait to return soon for dinner. read more

Gillian was a wonderful server she was attentive & very pleasant & all of the wait staff were great. The ambiance was really nice. I started out with the Lemocello Spritz which was delicious, the focaccia loaf which was very good but was cut into quarters when there were five of us sharing. I had the Tonnarelli & Shrimp Fra'Diavolo $25 gulf shrimp, toasted garlic, calabrian chili, pomodoro. It was so hot I really could not enjoy it & after reading about the house made pasta it was nothing special. My husband ordered the Mortadella Meatball Sandwich $22 pomodoro, scamorza, pistachio pesto & garlic rosemary fries. The sandwich had the cheese & meatballs falling out & the bread was soggy & sloppy when it was delivered to the table. To reserve a table for five we were required to give a credit card & agree to a $25 per person charge if we were unable to cancel by 11am the day of. We also got a $10.73 (non-cash fee) tacked onto the bill for using a credit card, with no notification of such a fee. We had read such wonderful reviews & we were excited to go & sadly disappointed read more

This was my second time at Stella, and the food and service once again was top notch! From the incredibly attentive service, to the ambiance and atmosphere of the covered patio, to the carefully curated food and desserts, everything was a 10/10. Everything is incredibly fresh and their chef brings his own spin on classic dishes that tie into his family history as well as the incredible locally grown foods that the valley has to offer. The highlights of the night have to be the Mortadella meatballs and the Duroc Pork Chop. For dessert, the baked Gelaska was once again a favorite at our table. Honorable mention was tonight's special -- the Halibut ceviche. So fresh and acidic, it deserves a permanent spot on the menu. If you're in town and looking for an unforgettable culinary and dining experience, I could not recommend Stella enough. read more

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Had an amazing birthday dinner here last night. Food, service, ambiance all wonderful. Ordered numerous dishes and everything was delicious and done perfectly. read more

SO good , had gluten free options!! I will definitely be going back! Customer service was great as well

From start to finish the service was superb! The food was absolutely delicious. You had me at Mozzarella bar.. The browned butter with walnut Burrata was so good. The pork Milanese is a MUST order! The homemade pasta and the Baked Gelaska was an experience all on its own! I can't wait to go back and try more things! Great ambiance as well! read more

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It truly has been transformed into a warm and comfy place...the food was very good... If I had to critique anything, the entrees like the pastas needed more sauce and the Pork Chop was a bit dry too ... other than that the appetizers, (loved the Burrata Bar) sides and desserts were delicious... not sure I would pay $14.00 for a little round of french bread again...it was topped with Parmesan cheese...it's not what I call Focaccia Bread but I'm Italian not Sicilian. Will definitely try Stella's again. It's only been a couple of weeks and it takes time to adjust read more

The Mortadella meatballs and Burrata & prosciutto di parma were amazing. My wife got the Rigatoncini alla Bolognese which was really good. I ordered the SRF Wagyu bavette and asked for Medium. It came out well done, kind of burnt on top. In my experience, really quality steak tastes good even if cooked a little too much. I could not even get down one bite. It was so chewy and fatty. I did not complain or say anything. The manager or waiter noticed and took it off the bill. I would have happily paid for steak and I would not have left a review. Since they comped the steak I thought it deserved a 5 star review. read more