Stella | California Cuisine

I dine out frequently and am usually quite understanding when things don’t go perfectly, but this was honestly one of the most frustrating dining experiences I’ve had. From the start, there were multiple issues. The plates we were initially served were dirty. Although our server helped replace them, it already set a negative tone. After taking a sip of water, I noticed debris in the glass as well. We were told the oven was broken, and it appeared that there was dust and residue throughout the service area as a result. The only solution offered at the time was to replace the water. The food itself was disappointing. The carrots were completely burnt and blackened, and the steak we ordered medium came out much closer to medium-rare, with a very raw center. Service was also very disorganized. While the server assisting us went to ask the kitchen to rework the food, another server came by and cleared our salad even though we were still actively eating. To be fair, the restaurant ultimately comped the salad and the steak, and I do appreciate the effort made by the staff to address the situation. That said, for a restaurant where the average spend is $50–$100 per person, the overall experience — from food quality to cleanliness and service coordination — fell well below expectations. I appreciate the effort, but this experience left a lasting negative impression.

I dine out frequently and am usually quite understanding when things don’t go perfectly, but this was honestly one of the most frustrating dining experiences I’ve had. From the start, there were multiple issues. The plates we were initially served were dirty. Although our server helped replace them, it already set a negative tone. After taking a sip of water, I noticed debris in the glass as well. We were told the oven was broken, and it appeared that there was dust and residue throughout the service area as a result. The only solution offered at the time was to replace the water. The food itself was disappointing. The carrots were completely burnt and blackened, and the steak we ordered medium came out much closer to medium-rare, with a very raw center. Service was also very disorganized. While the server assisting us went to ask the kitchen to rework the food, another server came by and cleared our salad even though we were still actively eating. To be fair, the restaurant ultimately comped the salad and the steak, and I do appreciate the effort made by the staff to address the situation. That said, for a restaurant where the average spend is $50–$100 per person, the overall experience — from food quality to cleanliness and service coordination — fell well below expectations. I appreciate the effort, but this experience left a lasting negative impression.

A small, intimate wood‑fired spot with standout hospitality and incredible food. Tyler’s welcoming smile made the night, and Chef Marshall’s arancini and hamachi crudo were perfect. Easily the best restaurant in Truckee.

A small, intimate wood‑fired spot with standout hospitality and incredible food. Tyler’s welcoming smile made the night, and Chef Marshall’s arancini and hamachi crudo were perfect. Easily the best restaurant in Truckee.

I honestly don’t even know where to start. We arrived roughly 10 minutes early for our 7:45 PM reservation. We asked the host stand if we could grab a drink at the lobby bar but were told it was for hotel guests only. This turned out to be untrue, as we walked over anyway and they happily served us. When we returned to the stand at 7:55 PM, our table was still not ready, despite the fact that we could see several used tables sitting uncleaned. Once we were finally seated, our server, Jay, told us that everything was "going to be a while," which was confusing considering there were only about six other tables seated at the time. We ordered our first round of drinks and the $14 cornbread. When we asked for water for the table, Jay said, "Okay, yeah, I guess, but it might be a while." Then, when he returned with our drinks and we said we were ready to order our food, he again said, "Okay, yeah, I guess, but it’s going to be a while." This didn't make sense to me—I would assume the sooner you put the order in, the sooner the food would come. Fast forward 45 minutes: We had finished a bottle of wine and all our cocktails, and our food had still not arrived. When we asked for an update, the waiter said he would check, but instead returned with a plate of "unused" calamari. He told us it had just been sitting there, so we could have it as a consolation prize for the wait. When we asked for small side plates to share it, he actually rolled his eyes as if he expected us to just use our hands. It was pretty unreal at that point. When the main courses finally arrived, the quality was poor. My wife was served a mushroom risotto that was gooey and creamy but very clearly had zero mushrooms in it. The salmon and short rib were just okay. To top it all off, our friends were splitting the steak frites. It was conveniently split for them in the kitchen, but served very cold. The fries had clearly been double-cooked, as they were dark brown and rock hard. When we complained about the meat being cold, Jay told us, "Well, you’re just going to have to be patient because they’re going to have to make a new one for you." They did eventually comp the steak and offered free dessert, but when they served the replacement steak, it was—unbelievably—still cold.