It was a moment of serendipity that reunited a family and forged a new life in an Ozarks community that welcomed them with open arms.
Michelle Hostert was running errands with her husband, Chris, at their home in Orange County, California, when a social media post stopped her: Vino Cellars at the Lake in Branson West was closing its location with breathtaking views on Table Rock Lake. Hostert was disappointed. After visiting friends who were moving to the area, the couple had fallen in love with the lake community and purchased land a few years earlier with the dream of building their next home. Vino Cellars was on their must-visit list.
Then she saw the next post: the property was for sale.
“I said to myself, ‘I wonder what a wine bar sells for?’” says Hostert. “I showed it to Chris—he ran his own construction business for three decades and specialized in hospitality, hotels and restaurants—and he agreed it looked intriguing. The seed was planted.”
The idea evolved as the couple traveled to Table Rock Lake to meet up with their son, Travis Larsh, a chef, and his girlfriend, Delaney Van Dinter, who had opened a restaurant in Madison, Wisconsin. “We thought if Travis and Delaney were interested, we could seriously look into it. This opportunity just ‘checked all the boxes,’ as Chris likes to say. All four of us needed to be involved, putting our different areas of expertise and passions to work together. It was a quick and unanimous ‘yes,’ and then the real work began. But everything aligned one piece at a time, like it was meant to be,” says Hostert.
Larsh, who trained at the Oregon Culinary Institute and worked at Portland’s James Beard–award-winning Ox, dreamed of opening his own establishment—one with a community-focused approach to hosting and entertaining.
“We saw the community that Vino Cellars built,” Hostert says. “When we bought the property, we envisioned continuing that sense of community everyone loved.”
Celebrating its one-year anniversary in September, Hostert says Cellar 417 has accomplished its goal of being Branson West’s go-to craft kitchen and wine bar. Chris Hostert’s talents are evident in the warm, inviting interior. He recently transformed the lower level into an elegant wine cave with a 24-station wine dispenser for “pour-it-yourself” tastings. “You can sit in this cozy rock space, sample wines, take note of what you enjoy, and then buy bottles you love in our retail area,” she says.
Larsh’s creative menu focuses on fresh, local ingredients and made-from-scratch dishes, including house-made pastas, baked focaccia, and seasonal entrées. “We serve our dishes tapas-style so people can share and experience a variety of tastes and combinations. That’s how I discovered my love for the flavors, textures, and complexity of food. And of course, a variety of wines are paired perfectly. Our wine-pairing events are always sold out. Our retail also features a thoughtful collection of wines from around the world and the West Coast,” he says.
Van Dinter has a gift for hospitality, Hostert notes. “She learns from our wine purveyors, is very intuitive, and takes the time to talk with guests—understanding what they’re looking for and suggesting pairings that align with their tastes,” she says.
Over the year they have hosted paint-and-sips, craft classes, and local musicians, but the main draw is the food, wine, and community. “You can take a beautiful drive to the lake, have an amazing meal and a glass of wine with a great view, and meet friendly people,” Hostert says.
Next on the horizon is a private dining room. “I’m looking forward to hosting more wine dinners, cocktail dinners, and meaningful events such as weddings, rehearsals, and birthday parties,” says Van Dinter.
When they are not at Cellar 417, the Hosterts enjoy lake living, while Larsh and Van Dinter relax at Moonshine Beach or by the river with their dog, Auggie. “We also enjoy spending time at home, relaxing and looking at cookbooks,” Larsh says. “What I’ve loved most about this year is working together with Delaney and watching her dive into wine and cocktails.”
“And I loved learning from Travis and seeing him evolve as a chef,” Van Dinter adds.
“The biggest surprise has really been all the encouragement and support from people in the community. Even before we opened, people stopped by to see what we were doing and to tell us how special the place already felt to them. They shared in our excitement for this new chapter. We’ve never lived in a small town, and it’s just amazing,” she says. “We love the community. We’ve made so many connections in such a short time—it feels like we’re living in a Hallmark movie.”
Learn more at cellar417.com.
We've never lived in a small town and it's just amazing. We love the community. We've
made so many connections in such a short time—it feels like we’re living in a Hallmark movie.
Delaney Van Dinter