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What a spot. This spot can be compared to nicer farm to table vibe. We've been dying to come to this spot and it was well worth the hype. All of the waitstaff were beyond kind. For a nicer spot it still was so warm and welcoming. The food was layered with fresh, well-thought out flavors that combined to make light and balanced bites. We could have ate their whipped ricotta with a spoon lol. All of their pasta is made in house and you can tell. Fresh with a perfect dough that still gives a little bite. We ended with a fresh citrus tart that managed to balance a delicate whipped cream with a finishing citrus punch. We were lucky enough to meet the owner/chef at the end and you instantly can tell why the whole place works so well. Dress code is business casual-we saw many people in jeans and a polo/nicer shirt to easy dresses and ties. All the range is fine. We look very forward to many visits here in the future. Lean into the seasonal menus. They won't disappoint!
For most people, if they love an Italian restaurant, they love it like a Taylor Swift album. Or Bruce Springsteen. Or Jay Z. Grano Arso is more like Radiohead. Steely Dan. Or Kendrick. The food is very good, but the reasons aren't quite as transparent. It's more about quality of ingredients. Doing things differently. Textures. And nuances. Although I had been to the related and dearly missed Gargano Market in Old Saybrook for pasta and pizza, this was my first visit to Grano Arso. I went with my wife and 12 year old son for my birthday dinner. The atmosphere is top tier. The restaurant is on the main drag in Chester Center, which is a top 10 CT cute town. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and out. The lighting and music set a cool tone. Service is friendly, enthusiastic and coordinated. There was one miss. My wife told them it was my birthday when she called to make the reservation. Ordinarily, I would expect a restaurant like Grano Arso to acknowledge that in some way, and I heard a server asking a different table if they were celebrating anything that night. Not a big deal, but a bit of a miss. Generally, our table thought the entrees were very good, and the salad and antipasti course was mixed. My wife and son each ordered the Misticanza Salad, which had mixed greens, shaved fennel, aged cheddar and a caramelized lemon vinaigrette. They each commented that it was good when each bite had some of each component, but it was too bitter when there was less cheese and vinaigrette. I tried it. The greens were high quality and obviously very fresh, but I get their point. They had a lot of greens left, and the vinaigrette wasn't very noticeable. My antipasti order was the Smoked Prosciutto, which came rolled into cylinders, planted vertically with crostini into a pool of Gorgonzola dressing and surrounded by a shaved fennel and apple salad. This plating was unexpected and original. I enjoyed each of the components. Although I like Gorgonzola dressing, I didn't really understand why there was so much of it and how it was chosen to complement the other ingredients. There was a lot of dressing left over when I finished the other ingredients. And I'm a bit of a condiment abuser. My son and I both loved our entrees, and my wife liked hers. I tried each. My primary order was the Cavatelli with braised pork, Ricotta Salata and Rosemary. The Cavatelli was noticeably fresh made and cooked perfectly. The pork reminded me of phenomenal carnitas. Shredded. Tender. It was really rich, and like an umami bomb. Everybody at the table loved it. My son ordered the Toasted Rye Tagliatelle, with Seacoast Mushroom ragu, and greens. I'm a big fan of Seacoast Mushrooms and I was glad that my son took a chance with a dish like this. We thought it was outsatnding. I admire the use of rye. Very original. My wife ordered the de-boned pan roasted half chicken, which came with fettuccine in a Parmesan cream sauce and broccoli rabe. The chicken seemed like it was very high quality, and it had a crispy and well salted exterior. The fettuccini had good texture. The sauce was mild. I could have used a bit more flavor there. I liked the greens. Overall, this was a 4.5 Star experience, which takes into account the strong atmosphere and service, and mostly very good food. I would definitely return to Grano Arso, although sometimes, I'm more of a Springsteen guy.
My fiancé and I had an incredible dining experience here, celebrating her birthday! The service here is always top notch - the servers are very well versed with the menu, particularly the new/rotating items, fully understanding the chef's specialties. We opted for the Trattoria menu (3 course meal) offered during the week. Taking the recommendation from our server, we both started with the mushroom bisque. It was a little outside of each of our comfort zones, as neither one of us are huge mushrooms fans, but it was exceptional - perfect thing to warm us up on a cold night. I opted for the Coq Au Vin (Red wine braised chicken) and it was delicious. I may have even enjoyed this more than Grano's typical chicken dish, which is one of my favorite chicken dishes I've ever gotten out. For dessert, we got the lemon ricotta filled crepes that were a delicious treat. When dessert was served, my fiancé got a candle on hers to celebrate her birthday with, as well as a little champagne toast. It's these little gestures (in addition to the incredible food) that keeps us constantly coming back to Grano Arso.
Overall, good experience. There were definitely pluses and minuses, so take a look at this review to see more. The food was very good. It had an extremely good taste and unique flavor. The pasta is all homemade, so it was outstanding. The bread is also outstanding. All of the meals going by looked really good and we didn't hear anyone say anything otherwise. Do; however, be prepared for small portion sizes. The ambience is unique. It's definitely minimalist upscale fancy. Very pretty. The prices are pretty high, but that is to be expected for an upscale restaurant like this. Be prepared to spend over $100 for two people if you each plan on getting your own meal and an appetizer for the table. The service was not good. We waited for our meal for almost an hour, and the wait staff is not always very friendly. Let me define this further... They were friendly until you asked them for anything, then they came across as if you were a nuisance and a burden to them. The more you order; however, the nicer they are because they know they are getting a bigger tip. They have a very specific way of doing things and a very specific way of ordering things, so be prepared to not ask for anything and just go with the flow of how they do things. Other people around us who came in after us were getting served before us and were leaving before we even got our meal. Overall, I would probably come back because the food was so good, but beware of prices and service.
Grano Arso is located in a little cute and quaint village in Chester. Alongside other restaurants and shops, it was hard to find street parking. There was a parking lot up the road and we ended up walking over to the restaurant. The inside of this Italian Eatery was very intimate with close seating. I originally came for the featured trattoria menu offered from Tuesday-Thursday but fell in love with the flavors of the seasonal menu. For an appetizer I tried the Peaches and it was phenomenal. Local farm sliced peaches with basil leaves, grape tomatoes, and candied walnuts on top of whipped ricotta. For dinner I had the cappellacci di mare. A lobster and shrimp stuffed pasta. I was expecting something different but it was still good. For dessert I tried the blueberry shortcake with an espresso martini. The service was excellent and our waitress was very attentive. Great first time experience.
What a treat to dine at Grano Arso. The detailed rotating menu, locally sourced ingredients, and thoughtfully curated cocktails. Enjoyed our dinner and can't wait to return. I did the prix fix menu and did not regret that. The pasta is all house made, bread house made, butter, you guessed it, in house. Beets appetizer is the best beets I have ever had, the acidity, hazelnuts, crunch from the cabbage, exquisite. The chef clearly is passionate about their craft. Can't wait for my next visit!
My husband and I celebrated our belated Valentine's Day dinner this past Friday and we really enjoyed our experience. The space itself is very beautiful and quite romantic but also makes for a wonderful spot with family or friends. For our meal we ordered a mix of different plates and everything was so delicious. We are obsessed with the prosciutto appetizer. All flavors of the dish work so beautifully together. Both pasta dishes were phenomenal but my personal favorite was the alla vodka. My chicken entree was amazing and my husband devoured his duck. For dessert we had the tiramisu which did not disappoint. The service was excellent and they even sat us early for our reservation which we did not expect. We cannot wait to come back!
Absolutely 10 stars plus! We opted for the chef's tasting menu. Wow. Thanks to our server (Cassie) the service was perfect. The Vault Room was gorgeous. Much better than the main dining room/bar area. The timing between plates was excellent - not rushed but not too long. Fabulous, creative team in the kitchen. Each plate was beautifully composed and presented. Standout dishes included Scallops with Polenta Fresca, Wagyu Bolegnese Tagliatelle and Lamb Loin and Confit Flank with Hazelnut Romesco. This was our second visit. We're definitely headed back!
We tried this place for our (dating) anniversary based on reviews. I hate to say we were underwhelmed but we were. The setting is beautiful and classy and the service was exceptional! The let down was the food. We were started with bread and butter made in house-- warm, nice texture. For my entree, I went with the lobster capelletti-- sigh. For $45 and getting only 8 capelletti, it was very overpriced. I estimated approx 1-2 oz at best of lobster meat-- for this price, there should have been lobster pieces scattered in the dish or a lobster tail on the side.... there wasn't even a veg or salad to accompany the dish. The sauce was nice and coated the pasta well. Hubs got the rigatoni bolognese-- he described as average with not much meat added in. Pasta texture was on point. Flavor was ok but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately we most likely wouldn't return.
This place had been on my radar for some time but couldn't make it work. I'm sad I waited so long. We came here before a show at the Goodspeed. It's a good place to go and they work with you on those who are going to the show to make sure you get out on time. Parking on the street was easy on the neighborhood. It's a fresh modern inside an older building. Service was professional and what you'd expect from a restaurant that wants to be among the best around. The drinks were unique and I really loved the modern flavors we got. The hibiscus margarita was excellent. As for dishes, they change their menu a bunch but each dish was terrific. The pasta was the way to go and they make it fresh. The agnolotti was terrific but I got a mushroom pasta that was vegetarian but was so filling that "meat lovers" would love this dish. Overall, we loved this place. Highly recommend!!
Grano Arso is one of the best restaurants in CT. They care so much about quality of ingredients and cooking from scratch. Everything from bread to pastas is house made. The rye tagliatelle is truly special. The mushrooms combined with a hint of rye is so unexpected. The duck was seared perfectly and I loved the risotto. They also have fantastic cocktails and an espresso martini with fresh brewed to order espresso. Every time we are in Chester we have to stop at this spectacular restaurant.
WOW!!!! Holy moly this place was amazing from start to finish. We made a last minute decision to try out Grano Arso Saturday and ordered the tasting menu (kind of a crazy decision financially when not celebrating anything but you only live once right?). Well, everything was fantastic especially the pastas. They really know what they're doing with their daily fresh (insanely light) pasta and sauce. We were literally scraping the bowl with our spoons to get the lasts bites of both the ravioli and tagliatelle - absolutely DELICIOUS. Outside of pastas everything else was flavorful and tasty; especially that braised short rib! Truly an unforgettable and incredibly crave-able meal + the service and drinks on top of it all made it even better. I've wanted to go for years since it's constantly all over popular foodie accounts and even then nothing prepared me for how delicious this meal was. I can honestly say in the 6 years that I've lived in CT some of these dishes were the best I've EVER had in the state and 1000% the best texture pasta I've experienced overall. Whether this be a random dinner decision or a place to celebrate something special book a reservation ASAP! You will not regret it!! read more
We had such a nice evening at Grano Arso. The space is absolutely stunning, both rooms, the main room and the side dining room. The bar room is so magical. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and the specials. They start off with the bread service, a nice brown bread with homemade butter. Nothing is better than real butter. We had a stuffed agnolotti pasta. It was so good. The bolognese was solid as well. The roasted carrots were awesome with the green crema. Definitely skip the scallops it was like swallowing a spoonful of salt. Lastly the grilled chicken with pasta underneath was moist but not memorable. the dessert was the star!!!! the chocolate Nutella cake with ice cream YUM. Since the menu is rotating, i would definitely return to try some new things. read more
So glad I got to visit this Crazies award winner! Service was impeccable and the food was certainly elevated. Interior somewhat dark and the tables are pretty close together, but it allows you to see what everyone else is eating. The pasta is fresh, the whipped yogurt with carrots were amazing, and I loved the crunch of the walnuts with the beet salad. I would definitely return to check out what else is on the menu. read more
What a spot. This spot can be compared to nicer farm to table vibe. We've been dying to come to this spot and it was well worth the hype. All of the waitstaff were beyond kind. For a nicer spot it still was so warm and welcoming. The food was layered with fresh, well-thought out flavors that combined to make light and balanced bites. We could have ate their whipped ricotta with a spoon lol. All of their pasta is made in house and you can tell. Fresh with a perfect dough that still gives a little bite. We ended with a fresh citrus tart that managed to balance a delicate whipped cream with a finishing citrus punch. We were lucky enough to meet the owner/chef at the end and you instantly can tell why the whole place works so well. Dress code is business casual-we saw many people in jeans and a polo/nicer shirt to easy dresses and ties. All the range is fine. We look very forward to many visits here in the future. Lean into the seasonal menus. They won't disappoint! read more
1 month ago
For most people, if they love an Italian restaurant, they love it like a Taylor Swift album. Or Bruce Springsteen. Or Jay Z. Grano Arso is more like Radiohead. Steely Dan. Or Kendrick. The food is very good, but the reasons aren't quite as transparent. It's more about quality of ingredients. Doing things differently. Textures. And nuances. Although I had been to the related and dearly missed Gargano Market in Old Saybrook for pasta and pizza, this was my first visit to Grano Arso. I went with my wife and 12 year old son for my birthday dinner. The atmosphere is top tier. The restaurant is on the main drag in Chester Center, which is a top 10 CT cute town. The restaurant is gorgeous inside and out. The lighting and music set a cool tone. Service is friendly, enthusiastic and coordinated. There was one miss. My wife told them it was my birthday when she called to make the reservation. Ordinarily, I would expect a restaurant like Grano Arso to acknowledge that in some way, and I heard a server asking a different table if they were celebrating anything that night. Not a big deal, but a bit of a miss. Generally, our table thought the entrees were very good, and the salad and antipasti course was mixed. My wife and son each ordered the Misticanza Salad, which had mixed greens, shaved fennel, aged cheddar and a caramelized lemon vinaigrette. They each commented that it was good when each bite had some of each component, but it was too bitter when there was less cheese and vinaigrette. I tried it. The greens were high quality and obviously very fresh, but I get their point. They had a lot of greens left, and the vinaigrette wasn't very noticeable. My antipasti order was the Smoked Prosciutto, which came rolled into cylinders, planted vertically with crostini into a pool of Gorgonzola dressing and surrounded by a shaved fennel and apple salad. This plating was unexpected and original. I enjoyed each of the components. Although I like Gorgonzola dressing, I didn't really understand why there was so much of it and how it was chosen to complement the other ingredients. There was a lot of dressing left over when I finished the other ingredients. And I'm a bit of a condiment abuser. My son and I both loved our entrees, and my wife liked hers. I tried each. My primary order was the Cavatelli with braised pork, Ricotta Salata and Rosemary. The Cavatelli was noticeably fresh made and cooked perfectly. The pork reminded me of phenomenal carnitas. Shredded. Tender. It was really rich, and like an umami bomb. Everybody at the table loved it. My son ordered the Toasted Rye Tagliatelle, with Seacoast Mushroom ragu, and greens. I'm a big fan of Seacoast Mushrooms and I was glad that my son took a chance with a dish like this. We thought it was outsatnding. I admire the use of rye. Very original. My wife ordered the de-boned pan roasted half chicken, which came with fettuccine in a Parmesan cream sauce and broccoli rabe. The chicken seemed like it was very high quality, and it had a crispy and well salted exterior. The fettuccini had good texture. The sauce was mild. I could have used a bit more flavor there. I liked the greens. Overall, this was a 4.5 Star experience, which takes into account the strong atmosphere and service, and mostly very good food. I would definitely return to Grano Arso, although sometimes, I'm more of a Springsteen guy. read more
9 months ago
Always a pleasure to dine in at Grano Arso. Truly an elevated Italian inspired food experience. The dishes are memorable and full of the essence of a warm heart. The restaurants elegance does not go unnoticed! :) read more
My fiancé and I had an incredible dining experience here, celebrating her birthday! The service here is always top notch - the servers are very well versed with the menu, particularly the new/rotating items, fully understanding the chef's specialties. We opted for the Trattoria menu (3 course meal) offered during the week. Taking the recommendation from our server, we both started with the mushroom bisque. It was a little outside of each of our comfort zones, as neither one of us are huge mushrooms fans, but it was exceptional - perfect thing to warm us up on a cold night. I opted for the Coq Au Vin (Red wine braised chicken) and it was delicious. I may have even enjoyed this more than Grano's typical chicken dish, which is one of my favorite chicken dishes I've ever gotten out. For dessert, we got the lemon ricotta filled crepes that were a delicious treat. When dessert was served, my fiancé got a candle on hers to celebrate her birthday with, as well as a little champagne toast. It's these little gestures (in addition to the incredible food) that keeps us constantly coming back to Grano Arso. read more
2 months ago
1 month ago
1 year ago
Overall, good experience. There were definitely pluses and minuses, so take a look at this review to see more. The food was very good. It had an extremely good taste and unique flavor. The pasta is all homemade, so it was outstanding. The bread is also outstanding. All of the meals going by looked really good and we didn't hear anyone say anything otherwise. Do; however, be prepared for small portion sizes. The ambience is unique. It's definitely minimalist upscale fancy. Very pretty. The prices are pretty high, but that is to be expected for an upscale restaurant like this. Be prepared to spend over $100 for two people if you each plan on getting your own meal and an appetizer for the table. The service was not good. We waited for our meal for almost an hour, and the wait staff is not always very friendly. Let me define this further... They were friendly until you asked them for anything, then they came across as if you were a nuisance and a burden to them. The more you order; however, the nicer they are because they know they are getting a bigger tip. They have a very specific way of doing things and a very specific way of ordering things, so be prepared to not ask for anything and just go with the flow of how they do things. Other people around us who came in after us were getting served before us and were leaving before we even got our meal. Overall, I would probably come back because the food was so good, but beware of prices and service. read more
Grano Arso is located in a little cute and quaint village in Chester. Alongside other restaurants and shops, it was hard to find street parking. There was a parking lot up the road and we ended up walking over to the restaurant. The inside of this Italian Eatery was very intimate with close seating. I originally came for the featured trattoria menu offered from Tuesday-Thursday but fell in love with the flavors of the seasonal menu. For an appetizer I tried the Peaches and it was phenomenal. Local farm sliced peaches with basil leaves, grape tomatoes, and candied walnuts on top of whipped ricotta. For dinner I had the cappellacci di mare. A lobster and shrimp stuffed pasta. I was expecting something different but it was still good. For dessert I tried the blueberry shortcake with an espresso martini. The service was excellent and our waitress was very attentive. Great first time experience. read more
8 months ago
What a treat to dine at Grano Arso. The detailed rotating menu, locally sourced ingredients, and thoughtfully curated cocktails. Enjoyed our dinner and can't wait to return. I did the prix fix menu and did not regret that. The pasta is all house made, bread house made, butter, you guessed it, in house. Beets appetizer is the best beets I have ever had, the acidity, hazelnuts, crunch from the cabbage, exquisite. The chef clearly is passionate about their craft. Can't wait for my next visit! read more
My husband and I celebrated our belated Valentine's Day dinner this past Friday and we really enjoyed our experience. The space itself is very beautiful and quite romantic but also makes for a wonderful spot with family or friends. For our meal we ordered a mix of different plates and everything was so delicious. We are obsessed with the prosciutto appetizer. All flavors of the dish work so beautifully together. Both pasta dishes were phenomenal but my personal favorite was the alla vodka. My chicken entree was amazing and my husband devoured his duck. For dessert we had the tiramisu which did not disappoint. The service was excellent and they even sat us early for our reservation which we did not expect. We cannot wait to come back! read more
10 months ago
Absolutely 10 stars plus! We opted for the chef's tasting menu. Wow. Thanks to our server (Cassie) the service was perfect. The Vault Room was gorgeous. Much better than the main dining room/bar area. The timing between plates was excellent - not rushed but not too long. Fabulous, creative team in the kitchen. Each plate was beautifully composed and presented. Standout dishes included Scallops with Polenta Fresca, Wagyu Bolegnese Tagliatelle and Lamb Loin and Confit Flank with Hazelnut Romesco. This was our second visit. We're definitely headed back! read more
1 year ago
We tried this place for our (dating) anniversary based on reviews. I hate to say we were underwhelmed but we were. The setting is beautiful and classy and the service was exceptional! The let down was the food. We were started with bread and butter made in house-- warm, nice texture. For my entree, I went with the lobster capelletti-- sigh. For $45 and getting only 8 capelletti, it was very overpriced. I estimated approx 1-2 oz at best of lobster meat-- for this price, there should have been lobster pieces scattered in the dish or a lobster tail on the side.... there wasn't even a veg or salad to accompany the dish. The sauce was nice and coated the pasta well. Hubs got the rigatoni bolognese-- he described as average with not much meat added in. Pasta texture was on point. Flavor was ok but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately we most likely wouldn't return. read more
This place had been on my radar for some time but couldn't make it work. I'm sad I waited so long. We came here before a show at the Goodspeed. It's a good place to go and they work with you on those who are going to the show to make sure you get out on time. Parking on the street was easy on the neighborhood. It's a fresh modern inside an older building. Service was professional and what you'd expect from a restaurant that wants to be among the best around. The drinks were unique and I really loved the modern flavors we got. The hibiscus margarita was excellent. As for dishes, they change their menu a bunch but each dish was terrific. The pasta was the way to go and they make it fresh. The agnolotti was terrific but I got a mushroom pasta that was vegetarian but was so filling that "meat lovers" would love this dish. Overall, we loved this place. Highly recommend!! read more
2 years ago
Grano Arso is one of the best restaurants in CT. They care so much about quality of ingredients and cooking from scratch. Everything from bread to pastas is house made. The rye tagliatelle is truly special. The mushrooms combined with a hint of rye is so unexpected. The duck was seared perfectly and I loved the risotto. They also have fantastic cocktails and an espresso martini with fresh brewed to order espresso. Every time we are in Chester we have to stop at this spectacular restaurant. read more
1 year ago
8 months ago
2 years ago
What a wonderful place for scrumptious dinner. I love the layout and decor. The staff were extremely pleasant and attentive. The food was divine. I let my friend order and that was a wonderful move on my part. We started off with a hibiscus margarita which was perfectly balance. High recommend you try one. The homemade bread was nothing short of addictive. We decided to split a salad and two small plates of pasta so we had more variety We started with the Peaches salad which was early peaches and sun gold tomatoes, mixed with basil oil and herb vinegar severed upon the perfect amount whipped ricotta, with croutons and pistachios . To die for! We then shared the bucatini cacio e Pepe and the Coachella pomodoro. I believe I am now addicted. They make their own pasta which admittedly was my first time having homemade pasta but now I understand the difference. It was delicious and was soft but not at all mushy. The bucatini (thick spaghetti) was served with pecorino Romano and toasted black pepper both of which were balanced perfectly. Every bite was delicious. The spacatelli pomodoro was equally delicious. The tomato sauce was light and flavorful without being too strong and perfectly coupled with whatever herbs were used in there. We had dessert and there is a picture below, though the name escapes me. I have never like espresso of any kind but there was some in the dessert and I am going to repeat myself again and say whatever was paired in the dessert the espresso was actually pleasing to me. And as we walked through the restaurant to leave, literally every single person working there that we passed said thank you for coming and have a good night. 100% certainty I will be back to try more culinary treasures! read more
1 year ago
Came here for dinner to celebrate my husband's birthday, drove about an hour to try it out. The downtown area of the town in which this restaurant is located is very cute. Had we planned better we would've left time to walk around for a little bit before dinner. Parking is mostly street parking but there is a small lot behind the restaurant maybe with 8-10 spots, tight but manageable. We were seated promptly on arrival at our reservation time. Service was very friendly and attentive and the restaurant itself was nice, clean, not too formal. The food was good, we enjoyed the drinks and starters- the Misticanza salad and the whipped ricotta. The fresh bread and butter were great and they happily refilled these when asked. Our pasta entrees were pretty good but I wouldn't say spectacular. Overall a nice experience and solid meal. If we lived closer I would definitely return but likely wouldn't travel that distance on the regular. read more
2 years ago
6 months ago
10 months ago
Peach appetizer was amazing! Portions for the mains were a bit small but delicious. Drinks are strong, got the hibiscus margarita. Once the hibiscus ice melted it became a beautiful purple. My partner got the strawberry Negroni, also strong, hibiscus was the better of the two. read more
1 year ago
We came here on a whim. An hour from home. I am not disappoint or regretful. We had a 5:15 reservation and were greeted immediately upon entering. As we sat at our table, Nicole came over and attended to us, asking if it was our first time, explaining the menu, etc. She was fantastic. So courteous and helpful! The dining room was quiet, well lit, and welcoming. I had the Grano Old Fashioned and wife had the 86 Pennies. Both drinks were perfectly prepared and tasty. The bourbon in mine was Four Rose and came in a bottle which I poured into my glass. Appetizers were the beet salad and the mussels. Scrumptious! Our entrees were the crab tortelli and the chicken a la Norma. Both were out of this world in different ways. We want to come back in the summer - I imagine a different vibe - to taste their summer menu. This place is fantastic. Great for a romantic dinner or a small group of friends. Don't pass this up. Make the trip and indulge in the experience! Four Roses bourbon Nicole Bread and butter read more
1 year ago
We stopped here on a trip to Chester, and wow, I am so glad we did. This was quite possibly the best meal of my life. We got the chefs tasting, which was a little pricy, but we'll worth it. With roasted carrots, a kind of deconstructed bruschetta, butternut squash agnolotti, spicy spaghetti, duck and risotto, and a deconstructed cannoli for dessert, we left with full bellies and singing taste buds. Although the food was top notch, the place didn't have an overwhelming "high class" vibe- it was very nice, but nothing to make a casual dinner goer uncomfortable. Our server was beyond knowledgeable and friendly, and seemed to have a passion for the food she was serving. Overall, you need to make a trip here! read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
1 year ago
3 years ago
After CTVisit sent out a list of some of the best restaurants in the state, I decided that I was gonna go out this year and try them to see for myself. I hooked in a couple of friends who were into the challenge and so we set out to find out what the Crazies Awards were all about. First off, the Connecticut Restaurant Association does these Crazies Awards annually which they say, are CELEBRATING THE EXCEPTIONAL TALENTS OF CONNECTICUT'S HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY We we wanted to try the best from Mystic but couldn't get a table for six at a reasonable hour and since I wanted to try Grano Also since their opening and finally, after seeing that server Lamott received a Crazie Award for the top server in Connecticut, we had to come. Since we live on the other side of the state our made a date, a reservation and off we went. Our service was impeccable all the way from the owner checking on us to Lamott and the other servers who chipped in clearing the tables, bringing breads and butters (house made), filling our glasses and taking orders and requests. I posted pictures of some of the plates and added a description to each. Our group had a wonderful evening. We collectively give 4 starts as some of the dishes were a bit on the salty side. Otherwise, we enjoyed the ombience of the room, the service and the food. Plus we each were able to find parking in the lot behind the restaurant. Chester is a quaint and bustling hamlet. Check it out sometime. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
INCREDIBLE Italian food. We went for my birthday and the only issue was I wanted to order all of the menu. Very friendly staff. Located in a converted 1900's bank. Their eggplant appetizer was phenomenal as well as their pastas. I can't wait to come back! read more
The food is always so flavorful and special! We decided to try a Tuesday night on a prefix dinner although If was with friends and somebody wanted to eat off the menu and they told us we couldn't because we all have to do the prefix. I would be very disappointed. I asked if the carbonara could be a meal instead of joining the prefixed, and I was told no -Carbonara is not on the menu that night. $39 prefix menu was very good limited but very good. We enjoyed the goat cheese salad and the soup very much. My manicotti was delicious and the carbonara was great but a great deal of black pepper. next time we may try the prefix again since it changes every week, hopefully the two year old that was letting us all know in the small elegant space won't be there this time lol it's rough to sit for two hours in a nice restaurant when you're a child. Our wait staff was very good competent! I feel like I might be a little hard on them, but it is a restaurant that you pay for the atmosphere and some flexibility with the menu. read more
2 years ago
Had an incredible birthday dinner here. Ingredients were so fresh and the service was flawless. So impressed and can't wait to come back. Looking forward to seeing what the menu will be next time because they do say they change it up at times. Someone in my party is gluten free and they were very thorough in checking in with us and the chef about this. read more
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More info about Grano Arso
6 Main St
Chester, CT 06412
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(860) 322-3143
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https://www.granoct.com
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Grano Arso - italian - Updated June 2026
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