Stella Nonna

This place is the best ever! Bottomless mimosas and the Tim’s potato pancakes are magnificent! Definitely coming back and recommending to everyone. Service was great, everyone so nice and fun!

Really like this place due to service and food. I’ve come to brunch twice and tried the pork harsh/​waffles with chicken. Love the décor and they have an outside patio, too!

Great food on top of friendly customer service. I love that this place has the BEST Korean fried chicken and it’s not even a Korean joint. The servers and host remember me and my girlfriend even though we don’t come here very frequently and it makes us feel extra special. Highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone. Parking can be a bitch because there’s only like 4 small ass spaces in the lot but San Pablo Ave should have enough parking available. If you’ve been thinking about trying this place out, do it! DO IT NOWWW!!! — Arnold Schwarzenegger

A favorite dinner venue for my family, the menu is a constant work-​in-​progress though never disappointing. While some standouts have unfortunately been retired, new ones have thankfully emerged in their place. The housemade desserts are worth saving room for, or even taking on the road for later. Weekend brunch has been retooled a few times, and hopefully the successful new «brunchie/​lunchie» format will stick. Stella Nonna has a cozy environment (with outdoor seating for warmer months), and the waitstaff is always very welcoming and accommodating.

This attractive, bistro-​like restaurant is small but warm and friendly. Entering, the first smell I encountered was the bread baking in the kitchen. What a great way to draw me in.
Our dining companions are devoted regulars here. The fact that they bragged about the special Sidecar they make was good enough for us to give it a try. Stella Nonna’s version is a sugar rimmed brandy drink they make with muddled cherries, lemon juice, and sweet and sour. Extraordinarily well made. My choice was an Irish coffee made with a generous Irish brogue, if you know what I mean. We were quite happy with our drinks.
This is the kind of place where, if you wish to have a well balanced meal, you must order everything separately, from soups to salads to sides. There are no veggie garnishes and fillers, just a starch and protein dish. Admittedly, that can make your final bill go off the charts.
The four of us shared an order of the Calamari Fritti for starters. Excellent. And we ordered two servings of the Roasted Brussel Sprouts. No regrets, this one was outstanding with its crisp outer leaves, tossed with chopped garlic, lemon rind, and olive oil.
If it weren’t for Mr. B’s dish, I could comfortably give a 5 star review. But it was not meant to be. At least not this time around.
The misstep was the Lamb Bolognese — Ground lamb with San Marzano tomatoes, pecorino, house-​made ricotta and fresh mint served over penne pasta. It tasted gamey to me and the portion size was definitely not man-​sized. Mr. B just picked at it and eventually started working on what was supposed to be my leftovers. Too bad. He loves lamb under the right circumstances.
Turkey Meatloaf — This was from their seasonal specials. It came with zesty cheddar mashed potatoes (plate licking good with just enough lumps to advertise it’s real potato origin). The meatloaf was meaty, not mushy from fillers, and seasoned with herbs and a nice bbq sauce that was not overpowering. After my first bite (which I felt had too much thyme), it mellowed out and was tender, moist and delicious.
Yum for the house made foccacia bread and butter. And the service was quite good. The bill without tax for the four of us totaled $ 133, but regrettably there really was very little to bring home.
Stella Nonna, you are still on my radar. Hope to return next time we are in town

Good food, weird service. Every single time.
Weird service just means that the servers have done some odd things. Each of these has happened at least once across multiple visits: not taking a drink order first, not bringing a pen with the bill, checking on the table during the meal either too often (every couple minutes) or not enough (never), pronouncing the wine as «Mer-​lawt» instead of «Mer-​loh». Sometimes it’s comical.
But the food is great. The quality of the service just doesn’t match.

The food is very good. Thought out and prepared to taste.
It’s a 5-​star place if not for one BIG problem:
The problem is the bar — specifically the juices.
Some times they squeeze their own juices…
Then sometimes they get cheap and lazy.
What «decent» establishment — in competitive Berkeley — uses «Ocean Spray» orange juice in their mimosas? The rest of the ingredients throughout the restaurant are top notch. They are way above the «bottled» or «canned» strata.
It’s like Che Panisse using Hormel Ham at dinner.
Ocean Spray may be high-​end in Bakersfield; but Berkeley — seriously?
Wake up, Steeeellllllllaaaaah! You’re being penny wise and Ocean Spray foolish.

There are those rare moments when a gathering of friends is forever memorable – a time when conversation flows, laughter ensues and delicious food, savory wine and impeccable service embraces you.
Being from out of town, the Stella experience felt like stepping into a familiar place, a close friend’s home whom you just met. Warm, inviting, the wait staff seemed to anticipate each menu selection, empty glass or thought of a sugary treat. With the precision of a Chronoswiss, the service perfectly supported – and never detracted – from the wondrous evening.
Needless to say, when back in the Bay, we will return. Well done SN.

I ordered a Beet and spinach salad, but my server brought out the wrong salad and was very nice about getting me the salad I actually ordered. The salad was tasty, but over dressed as was the one she previously brought me. The salads were both quite small despite the price. (~$ 10)
Boyfriend got salmon with I forget some sort of grain. His salmon was tasty, but didn’t seem that unique. Also, we were very disappointed that his dish did not come with any vegetables. (~$ 23)
Overall our food was okay, but both lacking in something. The prices just were not worth the food we had at all.

Definitely a fan of this place. Just found it on a whim and saw the good reviews, so I decided to bring a friend out for dinner one night. I was super stoked because everyone was raving about this fried chicken sandwich… well little did I know that it was only a brunch item and not served during dinner. Here was the predicament I was in. My friend doesn’t eat other meats, so if there was no chicken entrée, it was going to mean we wouldn’t be eating there. Our server was super generous and asked the kitchen staff if they would be able to whip us up two fried chicken sandwiches for dinner and they did! We also ordered the Korean Style chicken wings — super delish! It’s a pretty large and filling order of wings, so beware… I’d recommend ordering if you in a party larger than just 2 people. The wings are super crunchy, and they are saturated in a sweet and spicy sauce that is also drizzled all over the bottom of the dish. Loved it! The fried chicken sandwich was also amazing! It’s a pretty large serving, complimented with either kennebec or sweet potato fries (both of which are scrumptious — after all, I love good french fries!). Between the wings and the sandwich. you could easily split the sandwich in half with another person. The chili aioli is so delicious and gives the fried chicken a unique flavor. Also, for a large sandwich, it was surprisingly easy to eat meaning that it didn’t fall apart the second you took a bite into it. The minute you walk in you see a beautiful display case that contains some baked goods including the most delectable looking cookies ever, but I was so stuffed that I passed on dessert. The drink menu looks fantastic and the other items available look great… I’m going to be back for more without a doubt!

Stopped in here for two reasons: 1) it’s close by the soccer fields where my son plays his Saturday games; and 2) it had decent Unilocal reviews and a very hip exterior. Yes, this means I am a cheap sell but drive by and see for yourself! But whatever you do, don’t go in. Or maybe go in and eat a cheddar biscuit. But don’t spend a penny more in this overpriced, culturally appropriating, pit of grossness. I ordered the daily scramble with potatoes. The potatoes were over fried (think rhino skin) and the fryer oil was really old. I could taste the last six days of frying. And the service? It was like being the child of a robber baron. Where the hell are they? Hello? Is anyone there? Daddy? Skip this place all together. Even the $ 14.00 Bloody Mary tasted like grandma’s V-​8.

Awesome brunch place on San Pablo. The interior is open and airy, and there is also an outdoor patio. Definitely get the fried chicken sando, you will not be disappointed. If you get anything that comes with toast, sub it for a biscuit for an extra $ 2. So worth it.

Fantastic food and the wait staff were most attentive and accommodating.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and look forward to return visit!

We like Stella Nonna. A simple and well-​priced menu keeps us coming back for brunch, but we’ve enjoyed the dinner service as well. The fried chicken sandwich is the perfect «big lunch» and the sides, which range from naughty to nice, enhance the plates considerably. I am slowly eating my way through all of their different chicken dishes, one brunch at a time — it’s a highly-​satisfying game!
Only one thing holds this place back from 5 stars, which is that the kitchen can get really backed up during brunch, even if half the tables are empty, and if a big party comes through, all the other tables are looking at and extra 15 – 20 minutes on their orders.
That said we’re here every few weeks, so they do far more well than poorly. If you’re in West Berkeley at lunchtime, skip the 40-​minute 4^th street waits, and check out Stella Nonna.

Slept in on a Sunday, and wanted brunch style food… but it was 2PM.
With a little searching on Unilocal and through my bookmarks, I found Stella Nonna. The restaurant is very modern and beautiful. There is indoor and outdoor seating. I was very impressed by the look and feel of the place!
The brunch menu had your typical fare, with some standouts. I ordered the chicken, sausage, and crab gumbo. It was good, with rich flavor. The chicken and waffles were also good and cooked well. Waffle was crispy which I like.
There was a nice drink menu (and bottomless mimosas!). I definitely want to come back to try their drinks, and also to try dinner. It was a nice alternative for lunch at an odd hour!

This place is so cute from outside it instantly got my attention when we drove by. They have indoor and outdoor seating that allows dogs (for that reason, I give it 3 stars).
However, the food is only OK, it actually left us feeling like we would probably not go back there except to take advantage of being able to bring our dog with us and probably just go for happy hour or something.
I got the fried chicken sandwich, which started off really good but when I was half way through i was getting tired of it. It’s huge! Flavor is good, not amazing in any way, but not poor. There is an aioli sauce that I wasn’t too fond of because it was too mayonnaise-​y for me. And then towards the end of my sandwich I saw a big chunk of fat in my meat and instantly lost my appetite (Im really sensitive to that kind of stuff, actually I’m feeling kind of nauseous just reminiscing about it). They did mention it was thigh meat and I knew to order with caution.
My husband ordered the fried chicken dinner special. He wasn’t amazed by his either. His came with mashed potatoes and collard greens. Unfortunately, he said his potatoes tasted too buttery. Shocking coming from a guy that cooks his steaks in butter. And I’m not too keen on Chicken but his thigh was bleeding when he cut into it. The meat looked cooked just near the bone was blood. We googled it and people said it was OK, and he didn’t get sick. It was just odd to us since we never see blood in chicken.
We both had a bloody mary. This came in a nice tall glass. I think the portion was pretty big because I wasn’t able to finish mine and they were not too heavy handed on the vodka. They put a pickle, celery, lime and lemon in it and it didn’t taste like a pre made mix. It was decent, but nothing to brag about.
Overall, we probably won’t be going back for dinner, but interested to go back for a second chance to check out HH and apps and sit in the patio area with our dog. :)

Naming your institution after your grandmother, much less a «stellar» grandma, is setting the bar high for yourself. Fortunately, the spirit of the culinary matrons is shining upon Stella Nonna and they delivered — even at 10am.
First off, this isn’t a casual place you’d go to every weekend for brunch unless you enjoy shelling out money for a living. It’s a hip, rustic but classy place you can take your parents or professors to for a homey, down-​to-​earth meal. The waiters treated us amicably and for the most part let enjoy our meal peacefully. While we were given the option to sit on the patio, there wasn’t much shade and we didn’t want to bake needlessly after a weekend hiking and camping in the woods. So we sat on a table along the bench seats, right in front of a picture with cows and a wall of cubbies each filled with a uniquely patterned cat plushies. So, grandma’s a cat lady.
For our three-​person party we opted for a French Toast special (challah, poached pears, whipped cream, and pistachios), an Egg Plate w/​Chorizo and Acme Sourdough Toast (you get to choose which meat and which toast you want), and a side of their house-​made chicken apple sausage. It was just enough food for us girls, and the right balance between savory and sweet to satisfy both our stomachs (what you’ve heard about the dessert stomach is true). The Egg Plate is a typical breakfast spread, but you really can’t go wrong with Acme bread, and the chorizo has a nice crumbly texture with flavors that pair well with the potatoes. The house-​made sausage surprised us when it appeared as two burger patties, with a similar consistency, but very interesting seasoning reminiscent of some Asian meats. The French Toast should be eaten quickly, as the whipped cream will meet the same fate as Olaf when summer arrives (happy snowman!), which combined with the pears, makes the bread rather soggy. But all the more creaminess to soak up! The pistachios are a delightful, light-​handed twist.
Some of you might be interested in their bottomless mimosa brunch offerings. The rest of the menu contains both Southern and Mediterranean inspired foods, as well as a solid offering of libations. Our bill came to about $ 30 after tip, which is a bit pricier than what I’d pay for just two people, but worked out fine for three. On the way out, I couldn’t help but stop, stare, and drool a little at the pastry case at the counter. It’s a wonder I was able to resist buying more food while their aroma was tantalizing me, but my self-​control is waning as I write this line…

We had a great dinner here last night with my folks and look forward to coming back again and again.
My husband has been helping my Dad with some computer issues they have been experiencing in the house so we have been in their «hood» the past couple of weekends. Last night, we had an early dinner at one of their regular haunts and I am so very glad we did.
Sunday night is burger night folks. Last night, my husband finally got to try this midwest burger called the Juicy Lucy. It looked better than the ones we have seen on TV (how we heard about it) and he loved every little bit. I had a lamb burger (super yummy) and we started with a beet salad and all shared (well Toni and I mostly) their version of a Mediterranean platter (hummus, babganouj (sp?), cucumber/​tomato salad and cubes of feta. Absolutely divine.
We wish there was a place like this is our neighborhood but for now, have no issues to head out to spend time with the folks and then to dine here. Can’t wait to try to more items on the menu and of course to spend more time with the folks.

Had a fantastic brunch on Easter! This was the first time in awhile that my bestie and I both had a weekend off, so we poked around for brunch spots near her place. I’ve always driven by Stella Nonna and wondered how it is, and was glad to see they were open for Easter. Not sure if Sunday brunch is still picking up here, or it was empty because of the holiday, but there were empty seats in the place throughout our meal.
Mimosas: bottomless. Good.
Chicken & Waffles: Very good. Some of the best fried chicken I’ve had, super crispy and flavorful breading on the chicken, and it wasn’t dried out in the least bit. The waffle stayed crisp and had a nice cornmeal flavor to it.
Sausage, Chicken, and Crab Gumbo: Sausage? yes. Chicken? yes. Crab? … ?? I could hardly taste any crab and didn’t see any (no legs or anything came in the dish) so I’m not sure if they just use crab in the stock or what, but I was a little bummed about the lack of. Still, the gumbo was very tasty, although the broth was a little thin for my liking.
Baci Dela Nonna: LAAAAWD. You might be wondering: did these two heffers both order a breakfast and still order dessert after? To which I answer, goddamn right. These «puffy donuts» are like if a beignet and a churro had a baby. They are light, airy, covered in cinnamon sugar, and served with housemade whipped cream and strawberry sauce. Out of this world.
Service was on point, and prices are reasonable. Will be back for dinner!

This is a quaint little spot in West Berkeley that is easy on the eyes from the exterior as well as the taste buds on the interior. We ordered the house made chips, Stella Beets salad and the vegetarian dish — which consists of a Mac and cheese stuffed chile relleno, sauce, and black beans.
The chips came with a ranch sauce and French onion dip — neither of which were all that impressive. The ranch sauce tasted like it could have easily been from the grocery store — not that grocery store ranch is bad but when I pay $ 8 for chips I would hope the dip would have a special nuance. The French onion dip was a bit of a disaster. The consistency is comparable to tuna salad and is underwhelming.
The best part of our meal was the beet salad — fresh avocado, chèvre, pistachios, and vinegarette. I’d highly recommend this dish as your meal.
We were warned that the chile relleno would be «very spicy» which I love so I was ready for them to bring it on. We got the plate and it was anything but spicy or flavorful. Honestly there was no spice at all. It was disappointing and not worth the $ 15 price tag in my opinion.
The redeeming quality of Stella is the exterior décor, quaint patio, and beet salad which is why it gets ³⁄₅ from me. Time to step your game up Stella!