What's the recommended cholesterol level?

Depends: Total cholesterol is recommended to be less than 200. The more important bad cholesterol, ldl, recommended level is based on your personal risk factors.

LDL, not Cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fat molecule manufactured by every animal cell, a building block of each cell membrane (enables membrane fluidity/movement without tearing), is fundamental to the survival of every animal cell. Lipoproteins (proteins which transport all fats in the water outside cells) is the correct issue for artery disease (e.g. Ldl ≤700 nmol/l, HDL ≥45 µmol/l). Cholesterol ↓$, but misleading.