Stella

Loved the food here. Short drive from old town Truckee, right next to Gravity Haus hotel. Looking forward to their different seasonal menus on our next visit!

This place was bad from the beginning. We were approaching the door and the hostess walked in before us and closed the door - literally in our faces. Next we were seated in front of the open back doors, and it's 45°F outside. The people next to us were wearing puffy jackets and hoodies because it so cold inside the restaurant. The manager insisted they couldn't possibly close those doors because someone might sit outside. So we were seated at a table 3 feet from the previous table - not much help. Then, hungry and waiting for our server, the lethargic waitress showed up and finally took our order THEN told us what wasn't on the menu, which happened to be what we ordered. The worst restaurant I've ever been to in Truckee. Poor service, unresponsive and inexperienced staff, and a chilly atmosphere.

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!