Food great so surprised the onwner so friendly It's small but good quality be back again read more

My husband and I decided to go on a little getaway after his back surgery, so we went to Cary, just about an hour away. We didn't know where to eat so I checked on Yelp and happened upon this little gem. The restaurant is very small, maybe 10-15 tables, but it is clean and decorated nicely. We were warmly greeted by the hostess/waitress and seated immediately. It was a Wednesday night, so if you plan to go on a weekend, making a reservation is advised. The menu was simple but had a good selection to choose from. Everything on the menu is made fresh from scratch and let me tell you, everything was delicious!!! We got the focaccia bread that was served warm with an olive tapenade, and it was so good! We also ordered the calamari and we enjoyed that as well. It was served differently than most Italian restaurants, as it was not fried, but the flavor was amazing! For the entree, we shared rigatoni Pomodoro prepared with Italian sausage and fresh mozzarella. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of our meal and will definitely make a point to go there again! read more

This was our first visit to La Grassa (our first real meal in NC). It was delicious and very fresh. Service was excellent. Nice decor and ambiance. We will definitely be back! read more

WOW what a great restaurant! Had lunch there today just to try it out and we were blown away. My husband is an excellent cook. His mother was Italian so his specialty is Italian, normally we stay away from Italian restaurants because we are usually disappointed but not today. Can't wait to go back for dinner! read more

This new Italian spot in Cary is a hidden gem. I started off with a glass of Prosecco and the focaccia. Next it was the tagliatelle bolognese and a glass of red wine for me and the pappardelle for my husband. If you want dessert, the tiramisu is a must order. All of the food plus the service was fantastic. If you want to check this spot out a reservation is recommended since it is smaller and more intimate. read more

See all

As I've said in reviews before, don't let the strip mall throw you off! We found this place by complete accident as it is near the place we are staying in town. Although we could walk in and get seated, I suggest you make reservations to ensure you get a spot. Their menu is eclectic and small, which I'd rather have than a menu the size of a phone book. They offer unusual meats, such as wild boar, veal cheek (uncommon to me), and a combo of beef, pork, and veal. These were a little too much for me, so I went with the safe bet of chicken thighs and potatoes, and it was AMAZING! My husband ordered the wild boar ragu and enjoyed it! The focaccia bread was a great side dish with dinner and it was a huge serving. They offer a dessert menu, and I am sure they are all delicious, but I was too full to partake. It's not an inexpensive dinner, so be prepared to spend a lot when you dine here. It is worth it, though, because the chef is clearly talented and puts love and care into each dish. read more

First of all, the service was attentive and friendly, but we were very disappointed in the food. Their seating is quite cramped and on wooden benches, which was very uncomfortable. Calamari, buratta and focaccia bread were ordered as appetizers. The bread was the only thing that was delicious. The calamari was cooked (almost like boiled) tough, chewy and rubbery. Salad was supposed to have pickled radish and Sherry dressing. It was nothing like that. Romaine lettuce with what tasted like bottled Caesar dressing sprinkled with canned Parmesan cheese. The Bolognese sauce had no flavor at all. It was like they dumped a can of tomato sauce over the noodles. No garlic, oregano, or any other Italian seasonings - just blah. Risotto was just "ok" - nothing better than you could make at home. Asparagus and broccolini was good but very small portions. As a sidenote, our group was celebrating a birthday, and it was noted on our reservation, which was required. It was also mentioned when we entered the restaurant. The birthday was never acknowledged by the staff at all. This was supposed to be a celebratory night and turned out to be an expensive disappointment. Not really sure what the attraction is to this place. read more

I can't say enough about this place. It's that perfect balance of a nice atmosphere (but still semi casual) and food that will make you remember why you love Italian food. I will 100% be back again and again. read more

Delicious pasta, friendly staff, and cozy atmosphere. Reservations are basically required (although I'm not positive they actually are) because this place is tiny. It's a worthwhile place to check out. read more

Dear lord. This place is GOOD. Like really good. I am a foodie and I don't really love Italian food as a genre, but this place makes me a believer. The rosemary foccacia is heavenly, I could easily devour the full loaf. My husband got the eggplant parm...and as someone who doesn't like eggplant, I would order it myself as a full entree next time. SO GOOD!!!! I had the seasonal ravioli, which was a butternut squash with crushed almond cookies and it was so brilliant and unique. The service was outstanding, the ambiance was so cozy and romantic. The chef/owner stopped by our table to say hello and ended up chatting for a few minutes on all things we had in common: Boston, music and Italian food. They even brought a complimentary birthday sweet for my husband after I told them we were celebrating his birthday. Will absolutely be back, and this place is top of the list to take guests too. read more

The feels like you are in another country, like your eating at your Italian uncle's &aunt's restaurant. Where they put their love into every dish. The burrata paired with pears was amazing! I didn't know burrata could taste this good. The stuffed pappardelle was topped with amazing pesto (honestly if you see something on their menu with pesto-just order it.) my husband got the short rib with gnocchi the wine reduction packed a punch that is still making my mouth water a day later thinking about it. The server was so sweet and it's so obvious they all love where they're working and serving their patrons. read more

The best Italian cuisine in town. I love the bread and salad. The beef carpaccio is great. Will be there often! read more

See all

We had a 7:30 reservation and we walked into a full restaurant minus one table that needed to be cleaned. The owner asked us to wait at the bar while he cleaned off the table and that it would be where we sat. We waited 15 min, where two couple came in after us, both of which were seated before us and one at the table that was told was ours. He then asked us to eat at the bar, which wasn't an actual bar but a window overlooking the kitchen is sheer chaos. I was really looking forward to this place but how this was handled was poor and there was no attempt to make this right. Súper disappointed. read more

Exceptional service, customizable menu for Vegetarians, top quality food. Overall, fantastic experience!

Really excellent neighborhood Italian restaurant. Food was delicious - eggplant parm, tagliatelle, soft mozzarella starter and broccolini side - all fantastic. It's a small restaurant and the staff was kept pretty busy but everything seemed to run pretty smoothly. I'd say it was a little bit spendy for a casual restaurant but worth it. We'll go back. read more

Absolutely pristine experience; I went with my party of five, we showed up about 40 minutes before close expecting rolled eyes but the head chef came greeted us and made us feel right at home. I mean seriously, I have NEVER been to any restaurant where I've had an actual interaction with the boss himself. This was a great experience all around, no complaints. read more

La Grassa Pastificio - Italian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

I truly don't understand how there are one star reviews for this place. La Grassa has easily become my go-to for proper Italian food. We made a reservation for 5:30 and were taken in promptly. The restaurant is small, but intimate. Bob, the chef, was so hospitable and really made us feel like we were the only ones in the restaurant. He was so personable and his dishes were to DIE for. We ordered the arancini and focaccia for apps. Both were great- but the focaccia? Chef's kiss. It was divine. I ordered the gnocchi with creamy basil pesto and I'm still dreaming of that sauce. Everything tasted so unique, flavorful, and fresh. The dishes were not cheap, but the quality of them certainly made up for it. I've already recommended La Grassa to my family. Great service and even better food! read more

See all

We will not be back! Gave this a try because the rating were good, but truly a disappointing experience. We ordered the Arancini appetizer. The outer shell was so hard, the rice was crunchy, & as a whole it was tasteless. Not a traditional Italian version at all. I don't mind a creative spin if it tastes like good, but this was not the case. The bolognese was also a creative spin & not traditional. The overwhelming nutmeg (usually used in white sauces only) distracted from the dish. On to the tiramisu...dry & tasteless! I didn't even finish it. The prices are high & we would gladly pay if the food was good, but not the case. The only plus is the wait staff. They were pleasant, helpful, & attentive. read more

Decided to dine here with friends from out of town, as it was close to their hotel. The reviews were great on Yelp so we made reservations for 9pm for 5 and were seated promptly upon arrival. Our waitress was very friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. She made our dining experience very enjoyable. We had appetizers and several different dishes and were informed that everything was made to order. Each dish was incredibly delicious. The chef also came out to check on our table to see if we enjoyed our meal. The flavor profile on the dishes were unique and unlike any other dishes we have had in the past. We drove almost 40 minutes to meet our friends, but it was well worth the drive. We now have a new place that I am sure we will frequent. read more

In town visiting and this place had great reviews so got a reservation and tried it first dinner. It was disappointing on all fronts. Server did not speak any English so when I asked about the fish special, he couldn't describe it. The chef came out of the kitchen to tell us what it was (halibut). We got the bread to start, rigatoni, another pasta, broccolini and the halibut. The broccolini turned out to be broccoli. The rigatoni was bland and unevenly cooked as though it had been microwaved. The halibut was actually very well prepared but overall, al the food was below average. The ambience was also a let down. Bright lighting, faux marble and battery candles. Just looked much nicer in the online pics. read more

Decided to eat here based on Google reviews. Don't worry about the location in a strip mall, the food and service were excellent. We started with the calamari, not your local fried fern bar variety but grilled in a tomato herb broth. It was delectable. The focaccia with olive tapenade was superb. My entree was the orecchiette with sausage, which was delicious. My wife had the pappardelle and loved it. For dessert, the caramel peanut butter gelato and flourless chocolate torte with fresh berries was a great finish to a wonderful meal. I always appreciate when the chef comes out and greets patrons, and Chef Reynaud told us some interesting tales of his culinary travels. I look forward to returning soon! read more

Focaccia bread was delicious. Unfortunately that is all we should have ordered. Rigatoni bolognese was a joke-Michaelangelos frozen is significantly better. It had clearly been microwaved-had cold spots. There was no one to complain to-no one speaks English except the supposed boss who was in the back, visibly on her phone the entire 1 hour and 45 minutes we sat there. No water was offered until begged for when my wine glass was completely empty. A second member of our party ordered chicken which was dry and was supposed to come with couscous for $28. Instead just had veggies on the plate. When it was time to pay, we 3 couples were asked by the waiter what we had each eaten so he could split the bill. 15 minutes later he returned with a single check for 6 and demanded cash. I have never written a yelp review before. Hope this helps someone! read more

I have been to this restaurant multiple times. The food is simply one of the most delicious around the triangle area. Fresh ingredients and balanced and vibrant flavors. The owner/ chef is super friendly and the atmosphere is relaxed. Make sure to try the desserts ( all made by them) ; they are simply superb. read more

Went here on a Saturday night with friends. The appetizer Portuguese squid was chewy. I ordered the gnocchi and they were served in a deep bowl. The gnocchi just about covered the bottom of the dish. It was a handful of gnocchi. And they were overcooked. Our friend ordered the gnocchi as well and her dish was the same. $28 for a handful of pasta. The short rib had a lot of fat and the sauce was thick and salty. The greens were soaked in the thick sauce. The short rib came with about ten gnocchi on the side of the dish. It had a watery cream sauce. For $38 this was not good. For $119 for two people this was outrageous with no wine and one iced tea. We left so hungry and went downtown Cary. I don't mind paying if the food was good and a decent portion. read more

Absolutely loved this place! Small but not cramped, this place is intimate. We were greeted at the door as soon as we entered. Was a good thing we had reservations because the place was almost fully booked for Friday night and while we ate several couples were turned away or opted to wait outside in the freezing temps for a table. The waitress explained the wines were ordered by what I would call light to most robust from top to bottom. They had about 20 wines and a few beers. Almost all if not all wines were available by the glass which is a great way to see which you like if you're not familiar with Italian wine. We started with the arancini, served with two on a tomato sauce, which I thought was perfect but the one my husband had he felt could have been cooked longer. We also got the focaccia and it is worth paying for. So crisp but soft and the right amount of seasoning. I opted for the tagliatelle bolognese which is my test of an Italian place since I make a darn good version at home and it was incredible. My husband got the four cheese gnocchi and loved it. He also ordered the broccolini to get something to help break up the richness of the gnocchi and it was very good. And he finished with tiramisu. I'm not a fan of tiramisu because I feel it is usually very mushy but this was a good version and I enjoyed stealing a few bites. Can't wait to go back! We've now eaten here numerous times and it never dissapoints. I love the bolognese! We enjoy the cannoli as much as the tiramisu. And since the first visit the arancini has always been piping hot. One of the recent new seasonal dishes is the Sepia which is cuttlefish ink pasta with calibrian tomato sauce and shrimp. It has a lovely kick. read more

See all

We ate here on Saturday April 30th it was one of the worst food experiences we've had in this area. We started with the Focaccia bread which was good and the Arancini which was mediocre. But the entrees were where it went downhill immensely. I ordered the Cannelloni and my husband ordered the Carbonara. They were both absolutely terrible. They don't have a kids menu so they made buttered noodles for my kids, which were awful also. We had to order another loaf of Focaccia for the kids so they had something to eat but oddly the second loaf was not nearly as good as the first one. As the restaurant got busier, we were ignored by our waitress and it took forever to get our check to leave. It cost us $100 for our family of four to eat here. Portions are small and prices are high here. We were excited to eat here and left terribly disappointed. :( read more

It's hard to know where to begin because every thing we had was so delicious. We had the focaccia, straciatella, and the arancini to start. All were equally amazing. The foaccacia was soft yet crispy on the outside. The arancini had so much flavor to it. For a main course we had the tagliatelle, ragu, malanzane (eggplant parm), and gnocchi. All again we're outstanding. The gnocchi was so soft and pillowy it was amazing. I cannot put into words how great everything was. The chef/owner is extremely personable checking on tables and on the food. He was such a joy to talk to. I would recommend this establishment to everyone I know. read more

I'm so annoyed by the one star reviews. Every experience I have had at this restaurant has gone above and beyond anything I could have hoped for. I first came when I was pregnant and my socks were blown off. The one time I wasn't 100% satisfied with my meal, the chef redid it. For our anniversary they even played our song in the restaurant and celebrated with us. The atmosphere is amazing, the food - legendary, and the sweetest staff. I have been here 5 times in the last 4 months. I had the Focaccia, Gnocchi, Bottone, a RANGE of items on the menu and it never disappoints. The one star reviews are completely undeserved. Please Ignore those reviews, otherwise you're missing out - they are disappointed about portion sizes and prices, but quality ingredients cost more and you can taste the difference in this food. The portion sizes are smaller than you find at Joe Shmoe's rinky dink Italian restaurant, selling boxed spaghetti and shriveled up eggplant. If you're looking to just avoid cooking dinner for your kids then go visit Joe. If you want an experience go to La Grassa! read more

La Grassa Pastificio - Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

Amazing!!! I had the tagliatelle bolognese and my husband had the gnocchi along with the focaccia and then budino for desert. The space is cozy, clean and beautiful. Our waitress was awesome, sweet and attentive. The food was just divine, one of the best meals we have ever had. read more

La Grassa Pastificio - Italian Near Me - Cary, North Carolina

See all

Amazing food and wonderful service!! Sveta was a great server, and we really enjoyed meeting the chef, Bob. This is some of the best Italian we've ever had, and that says a lot because it's our favorite kind of food. We will definitely be going back very soon. read more

See all

Overall 3.5 stars for a first try and opening week. 5 stars - customer service Seated promptly without a reservation. 4 stars - decor and ambiance The front door sticks and either another diner or person exiting had to open the door. Skip the real pumpkins or gourds on the table. Preference for dark linen napkins, just helpful suggestions. 3.5 stars - menu A good variety, but disappointed that fish is not fresh or wild caught as farmed/sustainably sourced are not an options for me. Staff did ask the chef to confirm ingredients and available options to try. While opting for safe choices, decided on salad, soup and dessert. The salad was requested to have dressing on the side. The salad was glistening as it appeared to have been dressed plus with pecorino making it appear somewhat soggy. The waitress stated it was freshly washed but a concern of temperature for listeria. The dressing verdict, I was glad to order on the side as it was not to my liking. The soup mentioned hearty soup with beans but it had an abundance of carrots and I only had 5 beans. I did pack up for leftovers but tremendous serving of carrots and parsley. Leftover soup much thicker and better with some beans would have preferred less carrots way too many for me it was a side serving of carrots. Save room to try gelato, prepare for cold and sweet. Overall, not a terrible experience but definitely need to work on a few things for a great experience starting at the front door. The website stated upscale and I was concerned wearing jeans or dark denim but I was more dressed up than the wait staff. There is no uniform, so difficult to know who works there as 3 people came to the table. Long hair should be tied back so that it does not end up in an entree. Also, one table received the wrong appetizer and it should have been resolved not going back to the kitchen and resending to the correct table. Big no no! Plus, staff needs to wash hands when opening the front door and proceeding to freshly grate pecorino and handling food. The tables seem to pack in a great amount of guests, A debate if diners are socially distant. The location is walking distance of nearby homes and apartments but outdoor seating would not be an option with a vaping place a few doors down. All staff wore facial masks. read more

Small little restaurant that makes you feel like you're dining with family. The food was amazing. The chef was so kind. He went around to each table of the restaurant to check on guests himself. Can't wait to go back. read more

Such a wonderful addition to our area. Everything was so tasty, fresh and cooked just for us. Often dining in a new place is challenging as they just opened but here we were delighted. My favorite dish is eggplant parmigiana - theirs has a bit of a twist as it's thinly cut length wise- spiced just right! The chef/owner welcomed us as if we were in his home. This spot is sure to be in our regular rotation. read more

See all

The vibe is casual, but the food is not! incredible dishes-so fresh and full of flavor. it's the Italian I have been searching for in this area! the wines are well priced and compliment the dishes perfectly- my favorite was the chianti. it's a perfect spot for a date night/girls' night. read more

See all

We enjoyed a delicious Italian meal here! They just opened this week & for a newly opened restaurant, there were no hiccups. We tried Minestre-a vegetable bean soup & it was a hearty delicious soup. The Arancini was the best we've ever had! Tagliatelle Bolognese has a very creamy tomato sauce- soo good! We had Branzino with the cauliflower fennel purée- very tasty. For dessert, we had the Tiramisu which is homemade too & very scrumptious. Chef Bob is so nice & came over to our table & let us taste the Focaccia-can't stop eating it! We found a new favorite Italian restaurant! We can't wait to be back & try more of his dishes. read more

See all

I'm so happy we found this place! The food is exceptional and the atmosphere is charming and cozy. It's a bonus that the chef often comes around to greet each table. My favorite dish is the pasta with sausage and peppers. We've also tried the focaccia and the calamari appetizers. Both were delicious! read more

What a wonderful addition to the Cary food landscape!! The focaccia is out of this world. In fact, tonight was our second trip to the restaurant (first was this past Saturday) and we ordered our 15yo son his own focaccia (my husband and I split a second one). We ordered the rigatoni, zucca, and bolognese again...I am sure I will try something different next time but the butternut squash in the zucca keeps calling my name!! Each time we have eaten here, I am transported back to our vacation in Italy more than 20 years ago...the food is that good! The waitstaff is attentive and amazing. I love how informal the setting is compared to the subtle complexities of the food. Kudos to the chef!! Because it's fall, the restaurant is tastefully decorated with pumpkins. It's a nice touch! You cannot go wrong with La Grassa!! I hope to enjoy this place with my family and friends for many years to come! Welcome to the neighborhood, La Grassa! (Pics are from our Saturday meal.) read more

See all

Happy Birthday to me... this place was not great. I was super excited to get some Italian food in an open kitchen setting however I really didn't get what I paid for. I ordered the risotto which was $38 and this risotto took about 45 minutes to get to me because it was "backed up" and the risotto had to be fixed. When the risotto came out it had 4 (medium) shrimp and was served soupy with partially uncooked zucchini. This soupy presentation seemed to be because there was too much seafood stock being used in the food causing an overly fishy taste. Not only did it get served soupy but my actual risotto was still more al denté than I think it should have been served. I don't know if this was because the head chef did not seem to be cooking/ delegating tonight but it was unacceptable that it still wasn't correct even when it came to the table after waiting for the time that we did. I will most likely never give this place a second chance given it was $100 for a meal that Olive Garden could have served better blindfolded. I would advise you to find legit any other place to eat. read more

I absolutely love this place - such a wonderful place to eat!! I'm glad I tried the arancini - and the truffle sauce with the gnocchi was incredible! Their cab was really nice - looking forward to trying the Pinot on my next visit. Tiramisu was also really good. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here - loved everything I've tried!! read more

See all

Fantastic experience all around, we sampled the menu however it didn't seem like enough. There was so much ground to cover we will be coming back for more. The gnocchi topped the list followed by seafood linguine, pappardelle, and chicken. Absolutely impressed by Bobby's works. Thank you for the fantastic experience, I would put this as top 5 Italian in the triangle. Highly recommend. read more