For Excellent Dinning UpValley, chef Ari Weiswasser's inspired Stella Restaurant in Kenwood reaches for those Michelin stars!
On a beautiful day, few places are as stunning as being upValley in Sonoma wine country. If you’re looking for a place to truly dine, Stella’s along Sonoma Highway going north towards Santa Rosa is the place.
Relaxed, but stylish, the ambiance is contemporary and high quality. Service is excellent!
The menu is mostly Italian-American inspired, yet original and innovative.
For example, the mortadella infused meatball sandwich was delicious. Who would think of mixing classic mortadella into a meatball?
The pasta was delicious and made fresh. At this particular moment, this reporter’s dietary needs have changed to a more vegetarian and occasionally vegan parameter.
The staff was accommodating and prepared the zucchini-based ragu-sauce without Parmesan or pistachios. Even without the beloved Parmesan and pistachios, the dish was outstanding!
The cocktails at Stella are original and yummy! Even those who cannot binge on alcoholic beverages can enjoy a nonalcoholic creation of hibiscus, raspberry and sparkling water.
Another reason why Stella provides the best in a dining experience is because of the quality and the local availability of fresh produce and ingredients.
Stella works with local farmers and growers. As mentioned on the menu and Stella website…. ‘nestled on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain, sits the five-acre Glentucky Family Farm. It is attended by Mike Benziger, a pioneer in biodynamic agriculture.’
‘His farm has been Demeter Certified Biodynamic® since 2001 and is cultivated with a deep respect for the land and its natural rhythms.’
In addition to providing both a lunch and dinner menu, Stella also has a three-course Sunday Supper at $49 person; as well as Sunday Brunch.
Menu reflects the season and the staff is always eager to design new culinary recipes with the traditional Italian-mediterranean dishes.
Important to note: all checks not paid with cash will have a 3% non-cash adjustment applied to checks, so if using a credit card, be aware.
For a truly delightful dining experience in wine country of Sonoma, check out Stella, the reviews from the San Francisco Chronicle and Sonoma Magazine among others have been praising. And, this foodie adds his applauds and appreciation as well.
To learn more visit the Stella website.












