If I was rating our experience based on our first time going here, it would be 5 stars. Our second visit was not as great as the first. Unfortunately the service lacked, incredibly, our second time here. We watched our waitress go above and beyond for all tables seated around us (similar to the waitress our first time here). When our waitress got to our table, she didn’t ask if it was our first time dining with them (as we’d heard her ask 2 other tables), she didn’t offer to explain any of the specials (as we’d heard her tell the other tables), her demeanor and tone visibly shifted from cheery to monotone each time she got to our table, and she didn’t check in with us throughout our meal. It was incredibly odd. Maybe she wrongly assumed since we are on the younger end of their typical clientele, my husband is covered in tattoos, and we had our young child with us, that she wouldn’t be tipped well?! Not sure. But her service definitely left us with a sour taste towards Grano Arso, which is so unfortunate since we enjoyed our first visit there. My husband left her a 40% tip as he usually does when we dine out; perhaps she won’t be so judgy towards others in the future.
Angelique Craney
Grano is the most creative of Chester's many superior restaurants. Chef Joel is a master of combining the freshest local ingredients with perfectly prepared succulent meats and fish. Always an event, even as we choose to sit at the bar, where we watch Wesley work his magic at the bar. Simply the best!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jalena bingham
One of my favorites on the shoreline- food and service impeccable! Bread is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Drin Mehmedi
Dined in for my first time on 10/12/24. It was a fantastic experience all around. The atmosphere was vibrant and full of happy and chattery customers. The food came out at a consistent and punctual pace. Staff was attentive and professional. The rigatoni bolognese was the best I’ve ever had! My fiancée had the ravioletti and was blown away. This was a great birthday dinner and experience. Thank you to the staff of Grano Arso!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rigatoni Bolognese
Mitchel Manning
I came here with my wife for our 10th anniversary. The food and service were outstanding. Honestly, though, I could have just eaten the bread for a meal. It was perfection. The mocktails were appreciated as a DD and for my pregnant wife. We will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gary Roos
As part of a big wedding weekend my wife and I went to a welcome reception party here. So we didn't actually eat dinner here but the hors deuvres and drinks were excellent. Good place for a party. The whole street vibe here was almost Disney-esque in a good way. Before the party we had great ice cream while listening to a blue grass band playing on a porch, then had pizza dinner in Otto's wine garden an easy walk from the party at Gran Arso. Old Time charm in abundance
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Peacock
My wife and I enjoyed a delicious dinner for her birthday. The overall experience was great. We were particularly impressed with the wait staff - friendly and knowledgeable, with good attention to detail. And of course the fresh pasta was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Joy
The trattoria menu was the perfect opportunity to try the perfectly prepared offerings. The soup pasta e fagioli was the best I've ever had, including my own. The entire experience was superb. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a meal out that was as well prepared as Grano Arso.
Patsy
It was a bit of a disappointment. The service was the first strike against this evening. We ordered drinks, but our server brought our first course before the drinks ever arrived. When we told them that we preferred to have our drinks and then eat, they did not apologize, but walked away. We've eaten here before, and the food has always been very good. We tried the trattoria menu and it was less than we expected. At the end of the evening, the server had the opportunity to apologize for the misstep, but never did. We thought that was a real strike against the service. Not sure if we'll go back for the Trattoria menu they offer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
marcia
Went for the special meal - which was excellent. I found the pepper soup too peppery but added the goat cheese served on toast - and then it was perfect. Butternut squash risotto excellent. Maybe a little too rich. My husband had the rye pasta with mushrooms. He really enjoyed. Service was wonderful. Welcoming and efficient.
Grano Arso is our new favorite restaurant! We go every week!! The Trattoria menu changes every week and is outstanding!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaley DeGoursey
We enjoyed a truly wonderful anniversary dinner at Grano Arso! Service was warm and attentive, atmosphere was refined casual, drinks were fantastic, wine list was good, and the food stole the show. The Braised Beef was to die for, the Chicken was phenomenal, and the Toasted Rye Tagliatelle was excellent (and the gluten free pasta was a pleasant surprise). Salads and side were also amazing. And save room for dessert; the Affogato was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. We also loved strolling around downtown Chester after our meal, for a drink at another restaurant, some live music, and some delicious ice cream; who knew it was such a hot spot, and on a Tuesday evening! We can't wait to come back!
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free pasta (fettuccini), but no gluten free bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anton Reed
Attended the special Vietnamese Pop-up Night. Was probably one of the best decisions I have made in a while!! No lie this place was buzzing the minute you walked in the door.
Between the owners wife (co-owner) thanking you for coming in to support on a night where they were doing something different from there regular menu I immediately knew we where in for a treat. Well maybe it was that combined with dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen as I waited to be seated.
Sat at the bar which led to great conversations with others guests about the current menu that evening as well as the regular Italian menu and how excited they were to be attending the nights festivities!! Bar tenders were informative, friendly and accommodating. As for the drinks the craft cocktails where made with love. You could tell they took there time curating the menu and ingredients.
As for the food, from the apps to the main course to dessert nothing disappointed, literally nothing!!
This is a spot I had been trying to hit for over 2 years and finally ventured out and now list this as top 5 in CT!! Will come back soon for the Italian menu !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
marisa pellerin
We had our very first date night out as new parents and we were treated so wonderfully by the staff. Food was amazing! The service was incredible, we felt like family. Love the atmosphere! We will for sure be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Stephen Erickson
A must if you're in the area...even if you're not it's worth the trip. Great food, atmosphere and service!
If I was rating our experience based on our first time going here, it would be 5 stars. Our second visit was not as great as the first. Unfortunately the service lacked, incredibly, our second time here. We watched our waitress go above and beyond for all tables seated around us (similar to the waitress our first time here). When our waitress got to our table, she didn’t ask if it was our first time dining with them (as we’d heard her ask 2 other tables), she didn’t offer to explain any of the specials (as we’d heard her tell the other tables), her demeanor and tone visibly shifted from cheery to monotone each time she got to our table, and she didn’t check in with us throughout our meal. It was incredibly odd. Maybe she wrongly assumed since we are on the younger end of their typical clientele, my husband is covered in tattoos, and we had our young child with us, that she wouldn’t be tipped well?! Not sure. But her service definitely left us with a sour taste towards Grano Arso, which is so unfortunate since we enjoyed our first visit there. My husband left her a 40% tip as he usually does when we dine out; perhaps she won’t be so judgy towards others in the future.
Grano is the most creative of Chester's many superior restaurants. Chef Joel is a master of combining the freshest local ingredients with perfectly prepared succulent meats and fish. Always an event, even as we choose to sit at the bar, where we watch Wesley work his magic at the bar. Simply the best!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of my favorites on the shoreline- food and service impeccable! Bread is amazing
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dined in for my first time on 10/12/24. It was a fantastic experience all around. The atmosphere was vibrant and full of happy and chattery customers. The food came out at a consistent and punctual pace. Staff was attentive and professional. The rigatoni bolognese was the best I’ve ever had! My fiancée had the ravioletti and was blown away. This was a great birthday dinner and experience. Thank you to the staff of Grano Arso!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rigatoni Bolognese
I came here with my wife for our 10th anniversary. The food and service were outstanding. Honestly, though, I could have just eaten the bread for a meal. It was perfection. The mocktails were appreciated as a DD and for my pregnant wife. We will definitely come back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As part of a big wedding weekend my wife and I went to a welcome reception party here. So we didn't actually eat dinner here but the hors deuvres and drinks were excellent. Good place for a party.
The whole street vibe here was almost Disney-esque in a good way. Before the party we had great ice cream while listening to a blue grass band playing on a porch, then had pizza dinner in Otto's wine garden an easy walk from the party at Gran Arso. Old Time charm in abundance
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My wife and I enjoyed a delicious dinner for her birthday. The overall experience was great. We were particularly impressed with the wait staff - friendly and knowledgeable, with good attention to detail. And of course the fresh pasta was amazing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The trattoria menu was the perfect opportunity to try the perfectly prepared offerings. The soup pasta e fagioli was the best I've ever had, including my own. The entire experience was superb. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a meal out that was as well prepared as Grano Arso.
It was a bit of a disappointment. The service was the first strike against this evening. We ordered drinks, but our server brought our first course before the drinks ever arrived. When we told them that we preferred to have our drinks and then eat, they did not apologize, but walked away. We've eaten here before, and the food has always been very good. We tried the trattoria menu and it was less than we expected. At the end of the evening, the server had the opportunity to apologize for the misstep, but never did. We thought that was a real strike against the service. Not sure if we'll go back for the Trattoria menu they offer on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Went for the special meal - which was excellent. I found the pepper soup too peppery but added the goat cheese served on toast - and then it was perfect. Butternut squash risotto excellent. Maybe a little too rich. My husband had the rye pasta with mushrooms. He really enjoyed. Service was wonderful. Welcoming and efficient.
Restaurantji Recommends
Grano Arso is our new favorite restaurant! We go every week!! The Trattoria menu changes every week and is outstanding!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We enjoyed a truly wonderful anniversary dinner at Grano Arso! Service was warm and attentive, atmosphere was refined casual, drinks were fantastic, wine list was good, and the food stole the show. The Braised Beef was to die for, the Chicken was phenomenal, and the Toasted Rye Tagliatelle was excellent (and the gluten free pasta was a pleasant surprise). Salads and side were also amazing. And save room for dessert; the Affogato was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. We also loved strolling around downtown Chester after our meal, for a drink at another restaurant, some live music, and some delicious ice cream; who knew it was such a hot spot, and on a Tuesday evening! We can't wait to come back!
Dietary restrictions: Gluten free pasta (fettuccini), but no gluten free bread.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Attended the special Vietnamese Pop-up Night. Was probably one of the best decisions I have made in a while!! No lie this place was buzzing the minute you walked in the door.
Between the owners wife (co-owner) thanking you for coming in to support on a night where they were doing something different from there regular menu I immediately knew we where in for a treat. Well maybe it was that combined with dishes I saw coming out of the kitchen as I waited to be seated.
Sat at the bar which led to great conversations with others guests about the current menu that evening as well as the regular Italian menu and how excited they were to be attending the nights festivities!! Bar tenders were informative, friendly and accommodating. As for the drinks the craft cocktails where made with love. You could tell they took there time curating the menu and ingredients.
As for the food, from the apps to the main course to dessert nothing disappointed, literally nothing!!
This is a spot I had been trying to hit for over 2 years and finally ventured out and now list this as top 5 in CT!! Will come back soon for the Italian menu !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had our very first date night out as new parents and we were treated so wonderfully by the staff. Food was amazing! The service was incredible, we felt like family. Love the atmosphere! We will for sure be back
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A must if you're in the area...even if you're not it's worth the trip. Great food, atmosphere and service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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