THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Stella's at Russian River Vineyards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Stella's at Russian River Vineyards Restaurant Review:

Stella’s graduation from cramped quarters to bigger digs on the Russian River Vineyards property finally lets chef Greg Hallihan spread his wings. Any restaurateur would have size envy, from the mammoth parking lot designed for harvest operations, to the best feature of all: a brick patio so expansive that redwoods along its perimeter don’t block the sun. The decaying winery’s silhouette enhances the ambience. At dusk, diners and servers pause in awe of bats streaking from its rustic towers. Dawdle alfresco with everyone else; it’s one of the loveliest, most comfortable outdoor venues around. Thankfully, the food encourages lingering and experimentation; Stella’s offers a flavor kaleidoscope of 20-plus bountiful tapas. To get your groove on, consider seared ahi over creamed corn with chanterelle-bacon reduction and a dab of pesto, prawn-studded juicy melon soup, tender duck tostadas, and sliced hangar steak with peppy chimichurri. You might hit a few bumps, like scallops unintentionally slumming it as fish sticks due to a basmati crust. Hope they’ll string a few lights along the trellises; black plates turn into black holes as darkness falls, and you’ll miss the rosy hue of perfumed rhubarb pie and petals on ginger cake. Reasonable corkage with reservation.