It has been over a week and I still can't stop thinking about the meal I had at Cirinos. In fact, this is the first yelp review I have written in years and it is due to this that I am addressing you here, dear friend. As a fourth generation Italian-American who takes this food very seriously, Cirinos At Main Street is THE quintessential California Italian joint. Yes, there are more authentic regional Italian restaurants in California, but that is not what I am saying. If you want to taste the Italian Diaspora; have food like my great grandfather would have had when he got off work at the mines or after running a garbage route, Cirinos and places like it highlight a unique and almost wholly unexplored aspect of Italian, American, and California cuisine. I dont know how, but they somehow check every box for me: The casual low-lit ambiance that harkens back to so many now-lost (or gentrified) 70s legacy red sauce joints, but with a menu that spans folk-favorite influence from up-and-down the boot. Their Polenta and "Damn Hot" peppers brings me back to a summer BBQ with a Napolatano friend who taught me his Grandpa's method of frying polenta cakes, and they somehow managed to do the EXACT pairing that my great grandmother did with Pesto when she made pasta (Angel hair, always). The juniper pork steak reminded me so much of things my german/italian grandmother made, that it almost brought me back to Sunday dinner with the family up north again. I had it with the Orange sauce which was surprisingly savory and complemented everything very well. The bar area, with its fuss-free lodgy vibe and old school curtained booths is also reflective of the tradition of the old rural Italian social clubs that used to dot mountain towns in the northern reaches of California, now sadly also disappearing. I often say that some of the more casual and seemingly "Americanized" Italian spots are, in fact, the most authentic, because they actually reflect the diasporic region's Italian culture rather than trying to perfectly emulate an ideal, even if its not how your Nonna/Nonu did it. Thank you Cirinos for great food and great service; and thank you for keeping it real. I will be back. P.S. "Kiss" the cooks
Chloe S.
Great food and good service, went on Valentines Day and it was a really great, homey experience.
Colette W.
The food was fantastic. The artichokes were perfect as was my mushroom risotto with chicken. My sister had the chicken pasta with the Dijon Alfredo which was also amazing. The prawns were large and cooked to perfection. Service was great.
Jason M.
Excellent food and service. My wife's NY strip steak was plentiful and done perfectly. Everything else was delicious. We'd gladly return.
Anjanette S.
At our recent annual girls trip to Grass Valley's Cornish Christmas we enjoyed some dinner at Cirino's. Recommend reservations if you have 2 or more people, the bar seating is limited and usually full as I've noticed the last couple of trips up to GV. Early or late evening is not as busy. The waitress was very nice & we enjoyed the great booths which were semi-private. It's pretty loud but you don't really notice because everyone is in a good mood at Christmas time. On previous visits it's usually our go-to place for dinner or before/after drinks.
William D.
Always been good. Long time favorite of our family. And I grew up with my Italian grandparents cooking!
A G.
Busy at times but worth it. Large portions at fair prices. Exceptionally good service. Good choice for Italian food in Grass Valley
Kevin M.
Looking for a nice sit down meal, this is your place. Great selection, good prices, good vibe!
Jackie L.
We had the eggplant parm and rigatoni prosciutto balsamella. Amazing. We (over)ate everything. Service was outstanding! Very friendly spot with great Italian food. Bring your appetite!
Frank B.
Excellent food and great service. Highly recommend. All of the food was fantastic and the Bloody Mary was great also!
Cirino's has the best polenta in town by far. The staff is always professional and fun. It's an absolute must to go when in Grass Valley.
Janet-Jim T.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Grass Valley. We went early, about 4 on Saturday due to the weather and had a choice table by the windows, quiet and romantic. My husband said his steak was perfect and so was my grilled salmon with polenta and roasted vegetables. Our server was friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a Grass Valley treasure and for good reason! We will be back!
Cody A.
We were there during Cornish Christmas in December. Very busy night. Added our name to waitlist and it was over 90 minutes. Cell service was an issue as we wandered in and out shops. Service was good, once we were seated. Enjoyed a bottle of Chianti with their lasagna. Yum.
Michelle B.
Love love love this place! It's a place we go for special occasions. Fantastic food & service!
Derek S.
Visiting out of town for a birthday and decided to try this place out. Got the lobster dip as an appetizer and chicken parmigiana which wereamazing. Probably the best service I have received. Highly recommend.
It has been over a week and I still can't stop thinking about the meal I had at Cirinos. In fact, this is the first yelp review I have written in years and it is due to this that I am addressing you here, dear friend. As a fourth generation Italian-American who takes this food very seriously, Cirinos At Main Street is THE quintessential California Italian joint. Yes, there are more authentic regional Italian restaurants in California, but that is not what I am saying. If you want to taste the Italian Diaspora; have food like my great grandfather would have had when he got off work at the mines or after running a garbage route, Cirinos and places like it highlight a unique and almost wholly unexplored aspect of Italian, American, and California cuisine. I dont know how, but they somehow check every box for me: The casual low-lit ambiance that harkens back to so many now-lost (or gentrified) 70s legacy red sauce joints, but with a menu that spans folk-favorite influence from up-and-down the boot. Their Polenta and "Damn Hot" peppers brings me back to a summer BBQ with a Napolatano friend who taught me his Grandpa's method of frying polenta cakes, and they somehow managed to do the EXACT pairing that my great grandmother did with Pesto when she made pasta (Angel hair, always). The juniper pork steak reminded me so much of things my german/italian grandmother made, that it almost brought me back to Sunday dinner with the family up north again. I had it with the Orange sauce which was surprisingly savory and complemented everything very well. The bar area, with its fuss-free lodgy vibe and old school curtained booths is also reflective of the tradition of the old rural Italian social clubs that used to dot mountain towns in the northern reaches of California, now sadly also disappearing. I often say that some of the more casual and seemingly "Americanized" Italian spots are, in fact, the most authentic, because they actually reflect the diasporic region's Italian culture rather than trying to perfectly emulate an ideal, even if its not how your Nonna/Nonu did it. Thank you Cirinos for great food and great service; and thank you for keeping it real. I will be back. P.S. "Kiss" the cooks
Great food and good service, went on Valentines Day and it was a really great, homey experience.
The food was fantastic. The artichokes were perfect as was my mushroom risotto with chicken. My sister had the chicken pasta with the Dijon Alfredo which was also amazing. The prawns were large and cooked to perfection. Service was great.
Excellent food and service. My wife's NY strip steak was plentiful and done perfectly. Everything else was delicious. We'd gladly return.
At our recent annual girls trip to Grass Valley's Cornish Christmas we enjoyed some dinner at Cirino's. Recommend reservations if you have 2 or more people, the bar seating is limited and usually full as I've noticed the last couple of trips up to GV. Early or late evening is not as busy. The waitress was very nice & we enjoyed the great booths which were semi-private. It's pretty loud but you don't really notice because everyone is in a good mood at Christmas time. On previous visits it's usually our go-to place for dinner or before/after drinks.
Always been good. Long time favorite of our family. And I grew up with my Italian grandparents cooking!
Busy at times but worth it. Large portions at fair prices. Exceptionally good service. Good choice for Italian food in Grass Valley
Looking for a nice sit down meal, this is your place. Great selection, good prices, good vibe!
We had the eggplant parm and rigatoni prosciutto balsamella. Amazing. We (over)ate everything. Service was outstanding! Very friendly spot with great Italian food. Bring your appetite!
Excellent food and great service. Highly recommend. All of the food was fantastic and the Bloody Mary was great also!
Restaurantji Recommends
Cirino's has the best polenta in town by far. The staff is always professional and fun. It's an absolute must to go when in Grass Valley.
This is my new favorite restaurant in Grass Valley. We went early, about 4 on Saturday due to the weather and had a choice table by the windows, quiet and romantic. My husband said his steak was perfect and so was my grilled salmon with polenta and roasted vegetables. Our server was friendly and attentive. This restaurant is a Grass Valley treasure and for good reason! We will be back!
We were there during Cornish Christmas in December. Very busy night. Added our name to waitlist and it was over 90 minutes. Cell service was an issue as we wandered in and out shops. Service was good, once we were seated. Enjoyed a bottle of Chianti with their lasagna. Yum.
Love love love this place! It's a place we go for special occasions. Fantastic food & service!
Visiting out of town for a birthday and decided to try this place out. Got the lobster dip as an appetizer and chicken parmigiana which wereamazing. Probably the best service I have received. Highly recommend.