We had a great meal at Stella. The food is elevated and yet the ambience is casual enough for kids. It's also very close to downtown Truckee so very convenient. We ordered the hamachi crudo (staff favorite) which was an excellent starter (with mushrooms, avocado and some additional elements i can't remember - the fish was a tiny bit fishy but the flavor and preparation made up for it), the little gems salad with sundried tomatoes and croutons, the eggplant dip with focaccia, and the sea bass entree. It was all really delicious, and just the right amount for two of us. The kids ate off the kids menu - the fish of the day (grouper) with fingerling potatoes and broccolini, and the pasta with pecorino and added chicken (an entire sous vide chicken breast!). Both were successful options. The ambience is open and bright with the big windows, but not as cozy and romantic if that's what you're looking for. Also it did take nearly two hours for our meal as the restaurant seemed a bit short staffed. We can't complain though since they were willing to move us up to a 6 pm.
Erin B.
Great service, wonderful food. We had the sea bass and risotto -- both were fantastic. Also tried the eggplant dip appetizer and that too was delightful. Enjoyed the upscale ski lodge vibe and gluten free options, of which there were plenty! Will definitely be back.
M J.
Fantastic experience from the moment we walked through the door. Very warm and pleasant atmosphere with an open kitchen and wood fired oven. My short rib was excellent. The fish was prepared with finesse, seasoned superbly and executed in a French style.
Joseph C.
Food was good. Service was weird. It was snowing pretty heavily, and they called like 15 minutes before the reservation to tell me the table would be released if we didn't show up during the grace period. Based on the punctuality of the phone call, it set a high bar in my mind for service, which never really materialized. We were like the invisible table. The chef would visit other tables. Skip us. Folks that came in after us had full meals and desert and got out. Food wise I'd go back, but service will have me look elsewhere.
Romain B.
Super cozy restaurant that was convenient to eat at while stay at Gravity Haus hotel. The service was great - servers were nice and the food came out fairly quick. The dishes were a hit or miss. We got the hamachi crudo which was unique and delicious. The mushroom risotto was okay, a little too salty - probably would not get again.The short rib was the star of the night, super tender and melted in our mouths.
Stephanie Y.
A solid spot for dinner that I'd like to return to. I have 2 kids, so sitting down for dinner is a bit of a tough spot, but this spot actually has a nice little courtyard area the kids could run around in, so bonus! It's a hidden gem as its this beautiful separate building from this bougie small hotel/resort. We sat outside in the covered outdoor area with heaters and it was lovely. This space is truly a very chill, rustic and lovely spot to eat. Menu is small and you will see ingredients are being used in many dishes, I'd imagine to keep cost and waste down. As one can expect, prices are expensive, but not more so than any other spot in the area, and as mentioned, the spot was lovely and not crowded. The food was solid. Staff mentioned the chef was out of town, so not sure if that affected anything. Prices were adequate for portion sizes, but as mentioned the menu was limited: cioppino, short rib, burger, chicken and a risotto. The server recommended the burger, but we went with the short rib, chicken and risotto with the risotto being the favorite. Kids pasta at $10 was reasonably priced, but I feel like the kids cheeseburger was $18 which is pricey. It came with a ton of big ole fingerling potatoes, which indeed is not the most kid friendly, but they were delicious for the adults. While service was kind, it was lacking. We went family style and they didn't bring serving utensils of any sort, even for appetizers, even after requesting. We asked for a few other things that took a wee bit long to come thru with, if it came, which not the biggest deal, but for a more upscale spot, one expects a bit more. Overall, a solid first try. I stay not too far from here, so I'm sure I'll be back for another go.
Ayshia L.
Horrible service. We just left this place. Had reservations for 8pm. Took a little bit to get seated. After we were at the table a young lady came to bring water, no acknowledgment from her. I have kids so i asked if they had cups with lids and she looked like she knew nothing. Waited some more before a waiter-Porter came to take our orders. We order appetizers and a salad. He brought us cold focaccia with dips. We had asked to taste two wine. He dropped it off and didn't come back to see if we wanted to order a bottle. We told him he brought us cold focaccia which was hard too. We watched him go to the kitchen and say something to several ppl. We didn't get good vibes. Idk if this was a result of my party size(6) or the color is my skin but we left. Edit: someone called after we left and they offered us complimentary breakfast for the next morning.
Xing Q.
Really good food! The eggplant and tahini dip was especially good. We also really enjoyed the double double burger, particularly the jalapeño relish on it. The only slight disappointment was the short rib, it was very flavorful and the texture was very chewy.
Jillian Rose Quay
I'm sorry, but this is not the 4-5 star Stella that it used to be. There are new owners and a new chef. The ingredients, the menu, the prices, the people are all different. They kept the name so that they could keep the high online ratings, but it is not the same in any way. They no longer grow food in the garden. The dinner is overpriced, traditional meat-focused, and nothing special. At breakfast, the Cedar House used to offer a healthy, simple, gourmet buffet. Now, they offer cold coffee and nothing resembles the old Stella except maybe they shape of the building. We miss Chef Lupe.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Phill H.
Great location, business is set up very classy. Small restaurant, that does fusion type food, like from chef school. Our meal was ok I give it about a B. Wine was good. Unfortunately the day we went the business was understaffed, took too long for the basics like water, drinks, or to place an order. The manager was trying to help though. Also too long for the meal to be prepared. YMMV
Royally screwed dinner service on 12/28/23 PM "Kitchen Nightmare" style. Only managed to service 2x appetizers and corkage for a 5:45p cover which is amazing (yet the couple next to us seated after us somehow got their entrees). 2+ hrs later and no entrees, fast forward to all covers seated (incl. a group of 8 next to us) -- there was absolutely no way they were going to remotely service all covers. When front/back of house realized they couldn't serve all the covers, they should have stopped taking walk in guests and limited the menu so everyone could have at least a nibble, or just make something up and say your ranges are down and send folks home? Seems based on the menu the wood fired oven is a chokepoint on the line -- not everything on the menu needs to be wood fired. We left after 8p hungry and dismayed and had to follow that up with a couple slices of cold pizza (yay). Shame as the appetizers were quite good. Not sure I would go back in high season, though. If the business owner responds with anything other than these facts, well, you decide.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Jess Elshere
I’m on my ‘Treat Myself Better’ weekend in Truckee and dined at Stella! Definitely the highlight of my weekend! The Alaskan Black Cod was AMAZING!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patricia Flores
This was my second time here and I was a little disappointed. The service was not as good as the previous time, our waiter was too serious and took out some plates while we were still eating, and my husband asked to get our water refill and she only put water in his glass, not mine. My risotto was mediocre. The starters were great and my husband’s main dish was really good but mine had the burrata too cold and the rice was undercooked. I’ll come back because we like the place but definitely they did not earn my 5 stars today
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Stephanie (Lady Lebala)
Stella has reopened for breakfast. Simple menu but each item was delicious. I had the breakfast burrito. Yum. Just went for dinner. It was excellent. Homemade focaccia with a tro of dips and warm toasted olives. Hamachi, that was perfectly prepared. Short ribs that were of the chart. The menu is not big which works to their advantage as everything is perfectly prepared.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh Lee
I booked a table for my family at 7:15 pm, but unfortunately, we were kept waiting for over 30 minutes despite several available tables. While the food presentation was visually appealing, the taste fell well below expectations. Contrary to the advertised upscale ambiance in the pictures, the atmosphere was far from fancy; it felt more like a vinyl house on a farm than the envisioned experience. The restaurant lacks a dedicated soda or juice menu for children, with the only option being an orange soda that has an artificial taste reminiscent of cosmetic chemicals. I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for families.
We had a great meal at Stella. The food is elevated and yet the ambience is casual enough for kids. It's also very close to downtown Truckee so very convenient. We ordered the hamachi crudo (staff favorite) which was an excellent starter (with mushrooms, avocado and some additional elements i can't remember - the fish was a tiny bit fishy but the flavor and preparation made up for it), the little gems salad with sundried tomatoes and croutons, the eggplant dip with focaccia, and the sea bass entree. It was all really delicious, and just the right amount for two of us. The kids ate off the kids menu - the fish of the day (grouper) with fingerling potatoes and broccolini, and the pasta with pecorino and added chicken (an entire sous vide chicken breast!). Both were successful options. The ambience is open and bright with the big windows, but not as cozy and romantic if that's what you're looking for. Also it did take nearly two hours for our meal as the restaurant seemed a bit short staffed. We can't complain though since they were willing to move us up to a 6 pm.
Great service, wonderful food. We had the sea bass and risotto -- both were fantastic. Also tried the eggplant dip appetizer and that too was delightful. Enjoyed the upscale ski lodge vibe and gluten free options, of which there were plenty! Will definitely be back.
Fantastic experience from the moment we walked through the door. Very warm and pleasant atmosphere with an open kitchen and wood fired oven. My short rib was excellent. The fish was prepared with finesse, seasoned superbly and executed in a French style.
Food was good. Service was weird. It was snowing pretty heavily, and they called like 15 minutes before the reservation to tell me the table would be released if we didn't show up during the grace period. Based on the punctuality of the phone call, it set a high bar in my mind for service, which never really materialized. We were like the invisible table. The chef would visit other tables. Skip us. Folks that came in after us had full meals and desert and got out. Food wise I'd go back, but service will have me look elsewhere.
Super cozy restaurant that was convenient to eat at while stay at Gravity Haus hotel. The service was great - servers were nice and the food came out fairly quick. The dishes were a hit or miss. We got the hamachi crudo which was unique and delicious. The mushroom risotto was okay, a little too salty - probably would not get again.The short rib was the star of the night, super tender and melted in our mouths.
A solid spot for dinner that I'd like to return to. I have 2 kids, so sitting down for dinner is a bit of a tough spot, but this spot actually has a nice little courtyard area the kids could run around in, so bonus! It's a hidden gem as its this beautiful separate building from this bougie small hotel/resort. We sat outside in the covered outdoor area with heaters and it was lovely. This space is truly a very chill, rustic and lovely spot to eat. Menu is small and you will see ingredients are being used in many dishes, I'd imagine to keep cost and waste down. As one can expect, prices are expensive, but not more so than any other spot in the area, and as mentioned, the spot was lovely and not crowded. The food was solid. Staff mentioned the chef was out of town, so not sure if that affected anything. Prices were adequate for portion sizes, but as mentioned the menu was limited: cioppino, short rib, burger, chicken and a risotto. The server recommended the burger, but we went with the short rib, chicken and risotto with the risotto being the favorite. Kids pasta at $10 was reasonably priced, but I feel like the kids cheeseburger was $18 which is pricey. It came with a ton of big ole fingerling potatoes, which indeed is not the most kid friendly, but they were delicious for the adults. While service was kind, it was lacking. We went family style and they didn't bring serving utensils of any sort, even for appetizers, even after requesting. We asked for a few other things that took a wee bit long to come thru with, if it came, which not the biggest deal, but for a more upscale spot, one expects a bit more. Overall, a solid first try. I stay not too far from here, so I'm sure I'll be back for another go.
Horrible service. We just left this place. Had reservations for 8pm. Took a little bit to get seated. After we were at the table a young lady came to bring water, no acknowledgment from her. I have kids so i asked if they had cups with lids and she looked like she knew nothing. Waited some more before a waiter-Porter came to take our orders. We order appetizers and a salad. He brought us cold focaccia with dips. We had asked to taste two wine. He dropped it off and didn't come back to see if we wanted to order a bottle. We told him he brought us cold focaccia which was hard too. We watched him go to the kitchen and say something to several ppl. We didn't get good vibes. Idk if this was a result of my party size(6) or the color is my skin but we left. Edit: someone called after we left and they offered us complimentary breakfast for the next morning.
Really good food! The eggplant and tahini dip was especially good. We also really enjoyed the double double burger, particularly the jalapeño relish on it. The only slight disappointment was the short rib, it was very flavorful and the texture was very chewy.
I'm sorry, but this is not the 4-5 star Stella that it used to be. There are new owners and a new chef. The ingredients, the menu, the prices, the people are all different. They kept the name so that they could keep the high online ratings, but it is not the same in any way. They no longer grow food in the garden. The dinner is overpriced, traditional meat-focused, and nothing special. At breakfast, the Cedar House used to offer a healthy, simple, gourmet buffet. Now, they offer cold coffee and nothing resembles the old Stella except maybe they shape of the building. We miss Chef Lupe.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great location, business is set up very classy. Small restaurant, that does fusion type food, like from chef school. Our meal was ok I give it about a B. Wine was good. Unfortunately the day we went the business was understaffed, took too long for the basics like water, drinks, or to place an order. The manager was trying to help though. Also too long for the meal to be prepared. YMMV
Restaurantji Recommends
Royally screwed dinner service on 12/28/23 PM "Kitchen Nightmare" style. Only managed to service 2x appetizers and corkage for a 5:45p cover which is amazing (yet the couple next to us seated after us somehow got their entrees). 2+ hrs later and no entrees, fast forward to all covers seated (incl. a group of 8 next to us) -- there was absolutely no way they were going to remotely service all covers. When front/back of house realized they couldn't serve all the covers, they should have stopped taking walk in guests and limited the menu so everyone could have at least a nibble, or just make something up and say your ranges are down and send folks home? Seems based on the menu the wood fired oven is a chokepoint on the line -- not everything on the menu needs to be wood fired. We left after 8p hungry and dismayed and had to follow that up with a couple slices of cold pizza (yay). Shame as the appetizers were quite good. Not sure I would go back in high season, though. If the business owner responds with anything other than these facts, well, you decide.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
I’m on my ‘Treat Myself Better’ weekend in Truckee and dined at Stella! Definitely the highlight of my weekend! The Alaskan Black Cod was AMAZING!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was my second time here and I was a little disappointed. The service was not as good as the previous time, our waiter was too serious and took out some plates while we were still eating, and my husband asked to get our water refill and she only put water in his glass, not mine. My risotto was mediocre. The starters were great and my husband’s main dish was really good but mine had the burrata too cold and the rice was undercooked. I’ll come back because we like the place but definitely they did not earn my 5 stars today
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 3
Stella has reopened for breakfast. Simple menu but each item was delicious. I had the breakfast burrito. Yum. Just went for dinner. It was excellent. Homemade focaccia with a tro of dips and warm toasted olives. Hamachi, that was perfectly prepared. Short ribs that were of the chart. The menu is not big which works to their advantage as everything is perfectly prepared.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I booked a table for my family at 7:15 pm, but unfortunately, we were kept waiting for over 30 minutes despite several available tables. While the food presentation was visually appealing, the taste fell well below expectations. Contrary to the advertised upscale ambiance in the pictures, the atmosphere was far from fancy; it felt more like a vinyl house on a farm than the envisioned experience. The restaurant lacks a dedicated soda or juice menu for children, with the only option being an orange soda that has an artificial taste reminiscent of cosmetic chemicals. I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for families.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1