Stella

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

We had a great dinner at Stella, our server Jacob was excellent. The Mortadella meatballs and Yellow Fin tuna crudo were really good. The Lumache pasta was very creative and delicious as were the cacio e pepe and bolognese. Ricotta Zeppole hit the spot for dessert. Still 2 more wonderful looking desserts we will be back to try! What a great edition to Kenwood and Sonoma County!

We were so excited for the opening of Stella and it did NOT disappoint. From walking up (without a reservation) the staff welcoming and warm-- you could see their excitement to welcome everyone into their new home. The food menu is well curated, great variety, flavors, flare, yet homey and well executed. We had the tagliatelle and it was one of the most delicious pasta dishes I've ever had. Service, food, ambiance, all a perfect combination if you're looking for an authentic, local dinner spot in Sonoma Valley.

We work at a winery down the road and are so happy and excited for Stella to be our neighbor!! This restaurant is an absolute gem! Our dinner was over the top and our waiter Christian provided exceptional top-notch service. Christian was attentive, warm, and genuinely welcoming. Ari has done it again and the food was outstanding. Every dish featured authentic Italian flavors. Get the chicken liver ragu pasta - the best thing we had! The ambiance was cozy yet elegant, making for the perfect dining experience. If you’re looking for incredible Italian cuisine with impeccable service, this is the place to go.

Outdoor sitting was great. We loved lamb rib but I wasn't sure about the wagyu beef, or they just served regular beef? Onsite parking is limited so we had to park on the side street (free parking). One detail thing worth mentioning is that they wiped the table clean after removing the finished plates, a couple of times during the meal. They added a birthday dessert at the end for the birthday day boy. Very nice.

We came to Stella because we’re longtime fans of Glen Ellen Star, and when we heard they had just opened this new spot—with a mozzarella bar, no less—we were sold. A mozzarella bar?! Yes, please! From the moment we walked in, the vibe was warm and welcoming. Our server, Nick, was a total gem—so positive, always smiling, and clearly passionate about the food. He made our night even more enjoyable. We kicked things off with the basil, tomato, and mozzarella, which was as fresh and flavorful as you'd hope—simple ingredients, perfectly done. The halibut ceviche was light and zesty, and the strawberry tuna absolutely blew us away with its bold, creative flavors. Each dish brought something special to the table. For dessert, we had the Baked Gelaska, and wow—the marshmallow sorbet was out of this world! Such a fun and unexpected treat to end the meal. We had an amazing experience from start to finish and can't wait to come back. Stella is a delicious new gem in town, and we’re here for it!

We really enjoyed our experience at Stella. Service was personable. Food was plentiful and flavorful. Ambiance was comfortable. We will definitely redo especially to try the pasta!

It was one of the better Italian places especially in Kenwood on a Sunday nite was crowded..raining..people still coming it is newly opened so they are booked for the most part..we sat at the bar where kitchen is facing us..you can see how the sous chef and chef working in sync with each other and kitchen crew. The food was done right, tasty, different unique, one page menu where it can concentrate on the dishes iffered..service was good, good came out quickly..the only dish was this pasta pepper dish which needed some seasoning just but chewy hard like..just need some flavor to it would really make the whole meal to a good ending..overall I would go back to try other dishes..we had a total, did and one dessert and glass of wine about 175.00 for 3 ppl. Owner and chef were very nice ..it is a simple place with hoid food that is why they have great reviews and booked up. Usually I am critical of most places I try I never go back just me..since the place is small and compact if some patrons talk loud it is hardly to hear within your table..since tables inside is close to each othet..o wish some people do not act like they are the only people there talking loud... parking can be a bit hard but it is fine ..nice touch if it is your birthday..thru give you a scoop of ice cream , candle and cookie wafer

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!

Four of us went here last night; expensive but worth it. Nice ambiance on the patio on a cooling evening, very busy so clearly popular despite being open just a few months. Parking is a bit tight but we found a spot nearby. We over ordered as portions are substantial even for appetizers. Meatballs were excellent; nice an fluffy, not dense. The Romaine Salad was more than enough to share for two. as was the Burrata & prosciutto di parma which came with very nice seasoned bread. Our friends had the equally delicious Burrata & bacon. We should have just ordered one for the four of us. I had the Tagliatelle with cultured butter, prosciutto, 36 month aged parmesan, which was delicious but a mistake on my part as I had prosciutto in the appetizer and there was far far more of it with the Tagliatelle. The pasta was fantastic though. Two enjoyed the Rigatoncini pork & beef ragu while the fourth had the Pork Secreto special. Service was very good and Nick our waiter did a great job. Thankfully, while the appetizers came out rapidly, there was a welcome pause between them and the mains for us to prepare ourselves for yet more food. Finished it off with a decaf Affogato. Definitely worth a visit.

The ambiance is clean and modern with enclosed patio, main dining room or chefs counter seating. We opted for chefs counter with views of the kitchen which was interesting but quiet and uneventful. The service was great. Very attentive and food and drinks came out fast: expresso martini: 10/10 delicious and well balanced Burrata w sun dried toms and basalmic and basil: 10/10 with homemade tomatoes that were so soft you could smash them into the burrata for a bit in every bite. Cacio e Pepe: 8/10 as we loved the fact they promoted sharing it but as when I try to make it at home the cheese settled to the bottom of the bowl so was impossible to get it split and then reincorporated evenly. The flavor was very peppery as it should be. Affogato: 10/10 delicious and a perfect size to share; they also offer a decaf version!

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

My husband took me to Stella for my birthday and it didn't disappoint! We sat outside, which was perfect because the weather was warm. Their outdoor area is super cute, bright with greenery. The star was their focaccia topped with aged Parmesan and the mortadella meatballs. The bread was so airy inside, and it was perfect to dip in the meatball sauce. The asparagus salad was super refreshing and mixed well with the burrata and yolk jam. We ordered cacio e Pepe and it has the perfect bite to it, loved that it was al dente! We also ordered the pork chop Milanese, which was super crispy and the lemon caper sauce was to die for. I was excited to try their baked gelaska. I'm usually not into marshmallows, but the torched marshmallow too was super fluffy and light, and tasted amazing with the raspberry sorbet and sponge cake. Another highlight! Service was great, everyone was super friendly and attentive. Only thing that needed improvement was my mocktail. It was supposed to be sparkling water with strawberry puree, but it was flat and tasted more like flavored water instead.

Another wonderful evening. Rustic elegance snd Stella's outstanding team set the stage for a night celebrating Jennifer's birthday! Surrounded by laughter, exquisite cuisine , and the best company-- is what memories are made of. Cheers to the magic of special moments! Thank you to Emiliano for wonderful table service. - - Drinks *Negroni *Lemoncello Fizz *Stella Spritz *"J" Champagne Starters Mortadella Meatballs Mozzarella Di Bufala Wood Grilled Mushrooms Mains Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe Crispy Potatoes Asparagus & Burrata Salad Baby Romaine Caesar Half Roasted Chicken Salad Dessert Baked Gelaska

Oh Stella, where ya been all my life ? Seriously, we recently moved to the Sonoma coast (Sea Ranch) and have been working our way through local Sonoma and Mendocino county restaurants and wineries and once we came to understand that the fine folks at Glen Ellen Star were responsible for Stella we knew we needed to try and get a table when friends came to visit us this past weekend. We could only get a 4:30 PM Saturday night seating out on the deck but we made it work and by the time we were into our starters the entire restaurant was full and hopping ! Great service crew, and a special card was even waiting for us upon our arrival (it was my birthday and all the staff signed a card !) . Our dinner group of two couples had a number of starters including the meatballs (excellent with a really fresh tasting sauce), the local fresh fish crudo (yummy and very very fresh tasting), and two orders of mozzarella- one with artichokes and the other with pesto. They came with delicious grilled bread that had fresh herbs and olive oil and garlic etc and this was a winner ! I brought a nice Napa Fisher 2015 Cab that they kindly decanted and we ordered a local Chardonnay (which helped us get the $35 corkage waved), and the bottles were both yummy. Our Bottle of Chardonnay toppled over while sitting on ice nearby but our kind waitress just brought us a few small glasses worth to the table to compensate for the tumbled half bottle...and so it goes when the place is busy... Mains were all excellent - the Grilled fish was easily enough for two to share and the steak was excellent and my Milanese pork chop was massive and yummy. Wish the menu pointed out it was fried and not sautéed. Also Next time I'd get the sauce w capers on the side. We also had two sides, the creamed spinach and the mushrooms and I'd also have whatever sauce was on those shrooms on the side as well. Also the shrooms were weirdly those teenie tiny mushrooms typically used in Asian soups etc...perhaps a heartier grilled mushroom type next time might be a better choice ? We were stuffed and passed on dessert, but I had hoped to have something brought over to the table for my birthday (besides the kind card) with a candle etc - but hey, all and all it was a great meal and we will be back. Despite only being open for about 5 weeks the Stella team are crushing it and we wish them continued success and luck ! Great job Stella crew ! Looking forward to many more celebratory meals with all of you - next time perhaps a little later in the evening and inside ! Welcome to the neighborhood!! Next time I'll try some of the pasta dishes...and maybe a dessert ? - yummy !!

When I checked in the greeter sail said "oh you are the ones here on your 55th anniversary. Congratulations! That's rare, and the first to recall the 55th anniversary note I made in the reservation app. And then at the table there was a "Happy Anniversary" card and key people and the server signing. A first for me! You can see it in the first two pix. It's a concrete example of how they LIVE customer satisfaction. Most restaurants say it. Stella demonstrates in actions, a much higher bar IMHO. We shared the Burrata & Prosciutto di Parma both from Puglia. 10! Next we also shared the "Light Salad" lettuces and flowers with oregano red vinigrette. A 10! My grilled shrimp toast was a 9! Great sauce, great bread, "grilled" shrimp had a texture of boiled shrimp. No pix, I was too busy carving it up and slaterhing with the sauce that the toast was in with the grilled shrimp on top. This was a 9 for me. The shrimp tasted more like shrimp cocktail (boiled) shrimp. it was very very good, but if it was grilled it might have been great. My wife loved her grilled (over open fire) Wagu beef, a true medium RARE. A 10! Why is most of NorCal restaurants I go to think "medium rare to rare" means medium well??? For dessert I had a decaf affogato with housemade gelato. A 10! My wife had a berry sorbet. A 10! My wife had a "low alcohol" Strawberry margarita with wine as an ingredient to lower the % alcohol. I had a glass of white Tansy Falaghina GL from Sonoma County's Russian River. The falangina had 12.5% alcohol but it hit me, so maybe it was something in the process. Service was wonderful. The ambiance was very friendly from servers to the customers, and several customers talked to folks at another table. It reminded me of a really really well done software startup that hired A-players for management, back of the house, and front of the house who were great food, great wine AND incredibly great client-centric. This was my first restaurant visit to Kenwood. I got a sense that the restaurant was building on a warm and welcoming foundation of the Kenwood vibe. The seating i chose was inside, and they're was a long bar connected to the chefs' area so you could be a single, the tables were modular so it could be 2 or for or with one side as a chair and one side as a giant piece of cushion (on bottom and back). This was an incredibly high level. I've never experienced it for a LUNCH meal. Gonna have to come back for dinner. And the next time I'm taking 101 north and turning on route 12. The google suggestion saved two minutes and was a nightmare of twisting and turning. I'll leave it to the locals from now on.

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.

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

Visited Stella on Friday, April 4th, with a 6:30pm reservation for two. It was hoppin', the place was packed and I only saw the patio - which is expansive and comfortably covered. Tables are bit tight together, but it works. It did get loud, not so loud that I couldn't hear my husband, but I would have had a hard time hearing people at a larger table. Great wine list - so many options by the glass and bottle. A little something for everyone. We shared: - Halibut crudo - which was good but we felt like it was missing something to finish the dish. Lovely strawberries, with olive oil, and super fresh halibut but I really wanted a zing at the end. (But everyone has different taste buds) - Burrata with bacon and fennel sofrito - rich and creamy, great texture and more than enough to share, it came with 3 pieces of toast. (Husband loved, I wanted more salt) - Tagliatelle w/ proscuitto - the stand out dish of the night, pasta was perfect, it was loaded with delicious parmesan cheese and had just the right amount of proscuitto. Sooo good. Pork chop Milanese - gigantic, the sauce it came with was rich but not over powering. Definitely a sharing dish. Creamed spinahc - I swear we had two pounds of spinach, creamy, but not taking away from the spinach, and perfectly seasoned. Baked Alaska- we had to order this because I'd heard so many people talk about it. The meringue on top with marshmellowy and had a nice char. Once we got to the sorbet on the inside all the flavors came together. It's worth order once because it's such a great combination and beautifully presented. Service was quick and attentive. Jacob took care of us and was a delight. My overall complaint is that I wanted more salt on almost everything, except the pasta, but again, everyone's tastes are different. Can't wait to go back and try more of the pasta options.

Absolutely love this place! My wife and I and some friends stopped by here a couple nights ago and the staff was so incredibly friendly! Service was great and food came out quickly. Some of the best pasta I've ever had. I had the rage with pork and wagyu beef sauce & my wife had the tagliatelle with prosciutto special. So fresh and so good! Super warm and welcoming environment. Can not wait to come back!

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

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.

From the team that brought you Glen Ellen Star, Stella is equally amazing and in some ways even surpasses GES. The former Cafe Citti was completely gutted and totally renovated to be formed into a warm, comfortable space with a cool vibe. Also a spacious patio that is covered for those nights when rain or cold is in the forecast. Just the added Real Estate makes this more appealing than GES. All this doesn't mean anything if the food and service are subpar. Absolutely no problem our dinner from start to finish was top notch! Sat down to our reservation and were offered water while we looked the extensive menu over. We wanted to sample a few different things and share everything and our thoughtful server agreed it was a great idea and she assured us each course would be spaced out. Started with an item from the Mozzarella Bar, Burrata and Walnuts. Burrata on a bed of brown butter walnuts drizzled with 12 year aged Balsamic served with grilled slices of fabulous sourdough bread. Large delicious dish, plenty for two (or three). Next we wanted to try a pasta. We chose the Lumache, Aji Amarillo pesto, hedgehog mushrooms, puffed sorghum. Another wow dish, layer flavors and again a large serving. Plenty for two. For the entree we shared the Duroc Pork Chop Milanese. A very large pounded thin chop served with lemon caper butter sauce. A yum dish that had tons of flavor. We also ordered a side of Rapini to go with the pork chop and it had a fantastic grilled smoky flavor along with the garlic and onion. Finished this feast with a dessert, Baked Gelaska with vanilla gelato, raspberry sorbet, sponge cake and torched marshmallow fluff. What can I say, another creative scrumptious dessert. Stella has a complete wine and beer list, we opted to bring our own wine. If you BYO know that corkage is $35.00. Service throughout dinner was perfect, water refilled, table cleaned between each course. Or server was very helpful and spaced out the courses as we requested. As we suspected, Stella has become an instant hit and has already become a premier dining experience!

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

This place was so surprisingly great!!! The service! The food! The tagliatelle is some of the best pasta I have ever had. And the Ceasar salad was so good. We cannot wait to go back.

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

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

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

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

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.

We are huge fans of Glen Ellen Star now having dined at Stella several times it is equally as spectacular as it's sister restaurant. The service the food that atmosphere is all out of this world and the wine list is crafted well. The food is so incredible. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. If you do their cheeses tasting, which is fantastic and fabulous to the pastas that are homemade to the proteins on the menu everything shines everything is fantastic. I will say there is a very big must do. Try the baked Alaska Sunday for dessert. It is probably one of the best things I have ever eaten at somehow they manage to craft the best Marshmallow topping. It is by far the most amazing texture and flavor.

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

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

We just returned from our anniversary dinner at Stella. It was incredible!! Every thing was perfect!! Great service, exceptional food. We did bring a bottle of Kosta Brown and they treated us with a nice glass of champagne with our dessert. We had the Burratta with fennel and Bacon, Rigitoncinni, and Shrimp and polenta. Not one bad bit. Topped it off with Baked Glaska. We will be going back. Kudos for a wonderful time.

Exceptional! We came for a birthday dinner from Napa and were warmly taken care of from the moment we walked in. We sat at the chef's counter, which was a lovely experience. Beautiful, well-run kitchen where you can really watch the food being prepared with such care. We ordered the Tagliatelle and the Daurade cooked over the open flame... WOW. I don't say that lightly! For dessert, we had the vanilla gelato and tiramisu, which was perfectly boozy and even better paired with the gelato. And I have to mention the low-alcohol strawberry margarita that perfect for me. It's rare to find a place that makes a beautiful, thoughtful cocktail for those of us who don't drink much. They also offered other non-alcoholic options, which was nice. My lover, who's French and knows a lot about wine, was impressed with their wine knowledge and service. All around an great experience !

Everything about this place is amazing - from the moment we were seated until our last bite of probably the best dessert we've ever had at a restaurant! Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and very attentive. We were seated inside the restaurant with a full view of the kitchen and you could feel the good vibe from the staff. The best part though: the food. My tagliatelle was fresh; buttery and the prosciutto- salty and delicious. My husband's steak was perfectly cooked medium rare and the sauce was rich and slightly smoky. We didn't save room for dessert, but that didn't stop us from getting the baked Gelaska and eating nearly all of it. Creamy marshmallow surrounding vanilla gelato, tart raspberry sorbet and sponge cake - whoever came up with this dessert deserves a James Beard award! When in wine country, make sure you make a stop here, you won't regret it.

Stella is absolutely amazing! Had an absolute spectacular time celebrating our anniversary and were totally spoiled by the impeccable staff. A sweet card with the whole staffs signature and a special welcome bubbly drink was beyond our expectations. We had such a lovely evening and we cannot wait to celebrate more milestones here! You must, at some point, try everything on the menu but what we were so obsessed with and completely devoured were the following: -grilled lamb ribs -wood grilled golden beets -whole grilled dourade -rigatoncini alla bolognese -crispy potatoes -baked gelaska (their signature dessert, absolutely out of this world) -tiramisu (you can never go wrong with that) paired with a cappuccino

Made reservations last night for our anniversary! Sat inside, very cute ambiance. Seating is limited & little crowded. Tables feel small but they make it work. Our server Olivia was on point and provided good service. We had the burrata & bacon 8/10 (could do more bacon ). Cesar salad, came chopped & dressed 8/10 ( dressing was a little on the heavy side but good ). Meatballs 10/10 delicious. Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe was the dish my husband ordered 7/10 creaminess was there, pasta was perfect but lacked flavor majorly. Plain & honestly needed salt ( they do not have S & P on the table ). I ordered Lumache Amatriciana 10/10 sauce was amazing, noodles cooked to perfection. Ricotta Zeppole 5/10 fried donuts on bed of ricotta I kept getting a dirty fryer taste & it just wasn't a mind blowing desert for the price. Baked Gelaska 10/10 the hype is the hype. Stella spritz 6/10 you either make a good one or you don't, didn't taste as if it had an even balance of ingredients. I almost knocked one more star off for the additional charge added to our bill for not paying with cash. Almost a $7 fee for using a card to pay is just silly. It's the principle for me. No one is carrying wads of cash anymore this is 2025 if you are smart and spending a large amount you are going to use your card to earn points/ miles whatever it is. To punish a customer for supporting your establishment by adding in a fee for this is silly to me. Sure it's Just $7 but I already spent nearly $300 with a tip I think the business can eat the CC fee. All in all wasn't worth knocking a star but something to mention as I know these fees are starting to be added more and more in the industry for whatever reasons there may be by the owner.

We had a wonderful dinner at Stella. I had the homemade gluten-free pasta. It was amazing and cooked to perfection! Our server was great. She took time going over the menu with us and checked on items with the kitchen to be sure they were safe for me to eat. I only wish they had gluten free bread to go along with their impressive menu of mozzarella options. (Next time I'll bring some with me.). We will be sure to be back.

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.

I had a wonderful time at Stella. I really enjoyed sitting at the chef's counter and watching the magic happen. The server was able to help us choose a nice wine for our meal. The food was bomb, and I really love the Cacio e pepe.

My wife and I took a day trip up to Sonoma County and ended our day at Stella for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the restaurant is 22 days old upon our visit. Very comfortable, modern restaurant. The kitchen and hot line is open to the dining room. Anytime I find a restaurant with this feature, I am pleased to know nothing is hidden or a secret. The entire staff was very well versed in the menu and recommendations. Wine pairing was very good, the menu is simple but well executed. I ordered the snake river farms steak bevete, medium rare. Absolutely perfect and full flavored. My wife ordered the tagliatelle with prosciutto. We shared both dishes and we were not disappointed. The entire staff was very professional but accommodating. We will definitely be back! Do not waste any time thinking about this restaurant.

We work at a winery down the road and are so happy and excited for Stella to be our neighbor!! This restaurant is an absolute gem! Our dinner was over the top and our waiter Christian provided exceptional top-notch service. Christian was attentive, warm, and genuinely welcoming. Ari has done it again and the food was outstanding. Every dish featured authentic Italian flavors. Get the chicken liver ragu pasta - the best thing we had! The ambiance was cozy yet elegant, making for the perfect dining experience. If you're looking for incredible Italian cuisine with impeccable service, this is the place to go

Yeehaw! Kenwood gets another amazing restaurant. For a tiny little town Kenwood is punching way over its weight class on the dining front. Stella just opened and we were treated to a fabulous dinner on day 2 of their service, the staff was super friendly and on top of everything. Food was all fantastic. We had some pasta, the whole fish (awesome!), mushrooms, salad, and more. Everything was top notch. We skipped the mozzarella bar (lactose free) but it really looks incredible. I'm so impressed w how they built out the space since we used to dine at the prior restaurant and they made massive improvements and investments in the space. Try it!

What an experience. Unbelievably good food. Mrs Baggadonuts had the chicken liver ragu. It was unbelievable. The umami. It was the epitome of umami. I had the roast chicken. Its red sauce was incredible, made from shrimp and beef and other great tastes. The caesar salad was really good, also enough for two to share. Mmmmm.... anchovies.... The Baggadonuts clan loves them. We didn't have desserts but every dessert being eaten around us looked magnificent... and every eater seemed to be enjoying their bites. The service was perfect. Jacob was so friendly, and he knew his stuff well. Such a pleasant guy. But everyone we ran into at Stella was friendly and very helpful. The outdoor tent was fun. We were told it's about the same level of volume as indoor. But it was fine, we didn't strain to be heard to each other. What impresses us the most was how 'on' the staff and service was. I had totally forgotten Mrs Baggadonuts mentioning to me that Stella Kenwood had only been open TWO WEEKS before we hit it. Not one hiccup, not involving us or that we saw looking around. We were very impressed. Details didn't go unnoticed. Everyone from busboys on up seemed to be busing items back. Staff was busy but not overwhelmed, it seemed. They were on Their A Game. (They had an all guy birthday party of 10, and the tent was full. I faced their table, so I got to see their service start to finish. I didn't see one long face. I didn't see any issues. I was super impressed. For a place only open for half-a-month... impressive.) Go. It's got a fun vibe to it, lots of laughing. Good wine, really good food. (And as it goes for any business that fronts Sonoma Highway, be really careful pulling on or off the roadway. Turn onto Shaw Ave, then park behind the winery there on the corner per Stella staff to us it was allowed.)

Excellent experience! My husband and I had our anniversary dinner at Stella. We have been wanting to try the new restaurant since it opened. We are fans of The Star and loved Cafe Citti so we were looking forward to trying out Stella, it did not disappoint! The waitress was very attentive without being intrusive. We started with the Mozzarella di Bufala, it was wonderful. I would come back just for this. For dinner I had the Lumache al pesto, the presentation was so beautiful and it was excellent! I took half home and am looking forward to having it for lunch. My husband had the Tagliatelle and was very happy with it. We ordered the focaccia - incredible! I was full but the desserts sounded so good that I ordered the Pistachio cake, it was very good! I'm looking forward to coming back and trying some of the other dishes.

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!

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!

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

Amazing lunch at Stella! Service, ambiance and food is faultless. We always like places where the staff pitch in to serve, clear, clean and check in. Makes for a seamless experience. We shared the burrata with pesto and mortadella meatballs as starters. Both exceptional. For mains, we had the vongole and bolognese. Also, both delicious! I will say the vongole is a creamy texture sauce - not from cream but likely butter. I thought it was wonderful but should mention as it's different than some other places. We already booked another lunch date!

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.

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!!

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

Normally, I would never start a review with a dessert, but the Gelaska was a fantastic creation worth going back for all by itself. Meringue, raspberry sorbet and ice cream--enough for three people. A+++. Stella has some amazing dishes, but it also has some qualities which makes me think it will only be a special occasion type of place--at least for locals. Dishes we tried were wonderful--the burrata with bacon and fennel, The chicken livers, green pea pesto and beef/pork ragu pastas were out of this world--beautiful and perfect. The chef is a talented five star gem. The service was truly friendly and attentive. I got the impression they really cared about everything. Now for my "things i wish they would change" list. (I preface by saying we are not in the cheap people category, honest) 1) Securing a reservation with a credit card and then saying we would be charged for a no show is really out there. Maybe at the French Laundry where dinners cost hundreds of dollars 2) Having multiple Burrata dishes (which all cost close to $30) and then serving three half pieces of delicious bread, which wasn't even enough to finish the burrata 3) the wines by the glass list--probably a great list, but the 5 oz prices are up in the sky---most of them $18-$26. Regardless of this list we will gladly be back!

Loved our family dinner here! The vibe was great, and our server Eddy was fun, attentive, and encouraged us to share dishes, which was the right move. Everything was delicious, with some highlights being the peach and cucumber salad, the burrata and walnut dish, and the pistachio cake. Wine list was great, too. Can't wait to come back!!

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.

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!