My wife Donna and I just enjoyed a fabulous Valentines Day dinner at Downtown Cafe. We have enjoyed Graziano's culinary artistry for 30 years now, (since the days of Mary Ps), and he just keeps getting better. My wife had the shortribs, and I had the sushi grade tuna with mushrooms and we enjoyed every bite. The service and atmosphere are the best. I would highly recommend the Downtown Cafe for a delicious, relaxing meal and great hometown atmosphere.
MDoyle98
If you’re even considering this place, don’t waste time. Get there, and relish in joy as you try his bruschetta. You might cry tears of joy when your entree comes. Graziano is a master of his art, and his food makes you feel right at home. Best Italian food I’ve ever had outside of Italy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cam Miller
An absolute gem. The chef is the real deal. Plus our server tonight was a sweetheart. We will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Santoni
This place is a real find. My new favorite pasta is Pappardelle. Their Chicken Parm was like none I’ve ever had. Made with dark meat chicken it was incredible. Start with the bruschetta. Again, like none I’ve ever had before. Served over greens and olives in a balsamic dressing. It’s a lot of food. Come hungry!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sonya Savchenko
came here with 5 people a little later in the night on a saturday. they were very busy. the server sat us very fast and told us it may be a wait. its ok cause unlike people in one of the low reviews we can read the room- we went ahead and walked down the street for two bottles of wine (they have a small corkage fee) and enjoyed our wine while waiting. the sever came to take our orders maybe 20 minutes later and the food started coming out much faster than expected! everything was delicious, we split a salad and 3 entrees. the lamb ragu with parpadelle - 1000% the server was slammed but still very efficient and super friendly. Very impressed with everything considering it seems only 3 people were working - the owner/cook, our sever and another woman in the kitchen. do not come here if youre on a schedule or if youre a stick in the mud. come here if you like to chat, sit a while and eat good food. highly recommend bringing your own bottle- that way you can start drinking even if there is a rush with a wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gary Zeigler
In the owner's description, he describes himself as a "food artist." I couldn't agree more! Everything we had was amazing and obviously prepared and presented by a master of their craft.
I saw several other reviews before we chose to visit here that noted the decor was more like you are eating in a family member's kitchen or a friend's backyard. These descriptions were spot on. This place is not "fancy" - but who goes to a restraunt for the furniture or the decor, anyway? The focus here is on the food as it should be!
I was reminded by this place of little cafes I had visited years ago in Europe. Cozy, warm, and laid back. The chef and the staff are interested in making their customers feel at home and maximizing their enjoyment, not in maximizing customer throughput. My advice to the person who is in a hurry or looking for a quick bite: go somewhere else and leave a table open for someone who's looking for a truly wonderful culinary experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
Ashley Earnest
Fabulous Find! Fresh Ingredients and Delicious Flavors!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Linguine
Cesar Miranda
I'm going to tell the story of how this restaurant ruined my birthday dinner.
My partner and I made reservations around a week ago - we'd never been to this restaurant and it looked very good! We arrived at around 7:37 pm and were seated in the patio. The waitress was friendly at first (I told her I was very excited to try this place for my birthday dinner, and we had some small talk) and let us know that they just had a big group come in and asked for patience. We understood and were fine eating some of the bread that was brought to our table.
By 8pm, we thought it was a bit strange that we still hadn't been able to order wine, and hadn't seen the waitress so assumed she was just dealing with that large group. By 8:05 she came back out and instead of coming to our table, she tended to a table next to us that had already finished dinner and took their dessert orders. Another table on our other side had sat down at the same time as us, and she also took their dessert orders (seemed like they weren't getting mains).
After taking both their orders, I assumed she'd come over to take our orders, but I was mistaken. I thought maybe she didn't see us or that maybe they were that swamped that they really couldn't serve us. I went inside and found her, and asked her if I could just place my order there or if perhaps it wasn't a good time and we should just go. She said she'd be right there, and at that time the owner (?) decided to chime in from behind the counter. He rudely told me that this place always takes a while, and I can either deal with it or go somewhere else. He repeated this unprompted. I returned to my table furious, but my partner told me he thought she'd come back and that it would be ok.
He wasn't wrong: she did come back, except that she was bringing everyone's dessert for the other two tables in the patio she had just engaged. She made 3 trips and was chatting with those tables, and completely ignored us. By that point it was closer to 8:20: we had been there for around 45 minutes, were starving, and had to scramble to find another place.
We got up and left, feeling dejected and saddened by the fact that we were singled out while every other table seemed to be having a good time. We ended up going to Savona's down the road where we were treated with respect and ate a delicious meal there instead 1.5 hours after we planned to eat.
This restaurant should consider not taking reservations if they're unable to fulfill them and should be upfront about their inability to serve some customers that traveled from afar to walk through the door and be mistreated.
Service: 1
Bill Brennan
The best Italian food I've had in the U.S.! My wife and I bring visiting friends here and they all agree that it's amazing! We even had them cater our wedding recently, and the whole party was raving about the food. We can't say enough positive things about the place. It's a MUST GO!
Food: 5
Jason Mac
Food was very tastefully plated and absolutely delicious. Generous portions for what you are paying for and very visually appealing. The shining light of the Downtown cafe has to be the server/hostess/receptionist… Cassandra. She is amazing. Runs around at a fierce pace and is extremely knowledgeable. She doesn’t stop moving.
Excellent home made pasta. I had the lamb ragu over parpadelle and my friend had chicken Parmesan over angel hair pasta. We had the asparagus side. One glass of wine and a beer. $120 with tip. Excellent food and service , eventhough it was just one waitress!! We will be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Janet Dantoni
The food was excellent. Pasta was fresh and delicious. Appetizers and dinners were excellent. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. We’ll definitely be going back!
Been there numerous times. Introduced many to his great food. Given his gift certificates as gifts.
His chicken Alfredo is so delicious its the only meal I've been able to order.....
Downtown Cafe, for the win.
Amber Nicole Alston
Graziano's is undoubtedly the quirkiest restaurant you'll ever step into. The focus isn't on aesthetics; it feels like you've walked into your uncle's kitchen or a cousin's backyard barbecue. The chef, dressed casually in a t-shirt, mans a residential stove, and the outdoor seating—part of which is an open garage—features a mix of old wooden tables and plastic patio sets.
We came for a birthday celebration after hearing great things about the food, so the setting caught us off guard at first. But we quickly got over it because the food is mind-blowingly good. In a time when many restaurants prioritize being Instagram-worthy over serving satisfying meals, Graziano's is a refreshing change.
We had to wait a bit to get our waitress's attention, but once we did, she was friendly and helpful. We ordered the gorgonzola salad, which was fresh and delicious, with a mix of fruits and veggies that I wouldn’t have thought would go together but made for an incredible dish. We also had the gnocchi and the angel hair pasta with saffron and cream—both were outstanding. We couldn't stop raving about how good everything was. You can tell that a lot of love and care goes into each dish and that every ingredient is fresh.
I highly recommend Graziano's to anyone visiting. Just know you're in for a bit of quirk, and if you're looking for fancy, this isn't the place. But for authentic, absolutely delicious Italian food with generous portions, this is the best place to go!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
Joanne Vena
What a terrific place in Kingston! Chef Graziano creates every dish with love and care. We explored many dishes tonight - none of them were less than amazing - the polenta and scallops melted in my mouth, the seafood ( prawns and scallops) Fra Diablo had the perfect spicy flavor and the baked cod was nested in a sauce with artichokes and capers. The dessert choices were wonderful - We went with a classic tiramisu - oh boy - light and delicious! Great place and a very attentive staff and welcoming Chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
My wife Donna and I just enjoyed a fabulous Valentines Day dinner at Downtown Cafe. We have enjoyed Graziano's culinary artistry for 30 years now, (since the days of Mary Ps), and he just keeps getting better. My wife had the shortribs, and I had the sushi grade tuna with mushrooms and we enjoyed every bite. The service and atmosphere are the best. I would highly recommend the Downtown Cafe for a delicious, relaxing meal and great hometown atmosphere.
If you’re even considering this place, don’t waste time. Get there, and relish in joy as you try his bruschetta. You might cry tears of joy when your entree comes. Graziano is a master of his art, and his food makes you feel right at home. Best Italian food I’ve ever had outside of Italy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An absolute gem. The chef is the real deal. Plus our server tonight was a sweetheart. We will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is a real find. My new favorite pasta is Pappardelle. Their Chicken Parm was like none I’ve ever had. Made with dark meat chicken it was incredible. Start with the bruschetta. Again, like none I’ve ever had before. Served over greens and olives in a balsamic dressing. It’s a lot of food. Come hungry!!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
came here with 5 people a little later in the night on a saturday. they were very busy. the server sat us very fast and told us it may be a wait. its ok cause unlike people in one of the low reviews we can read the room- we went ahead and walked down the street for two bottles of wine (they have a small corkage fee) and enjoyed our wine while waiting. the sever came to take our orders maybe 20 minutes later and the food started coming out much faster than expected! everything was delicious, we split a salad and 3 entrees. the lamb ragu with parpadelle - 1000% the server was slammed but still very efficient and super friendly. Very impressed with everything considering it seems only 3 people were working - the owner/cook, our sever and another woman in the kitchen. do not come here if youre on a schedule or if youre a stick in the mud. come here if you like to chat, sit a while and eat good food. highly recommend bringing your own bottle- that way you can start drinking even if there is a rush with a wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In the owner's description, he describes himself as a "food artist." I couldn't agree more! Everything we had was amazing and obviously prepared and presented by a master of their craft.
I saw several other reviews before we chose to visit here that noted the decor was more like you are eating in a family member's kitchen or a friend's backyard. These descriptions were spot on. This place is not "fancy" - but who goes to a restraunt for the furniture or the decor, anyway? The focus here is on the food as it should be!
I was reminded by this place of little cafes I had visited years ago in Europe. Cozy, warm, and laid back. The chef and the staff are interested in making their customers feel at home and maximizing their enjoyment, not in maximizing customer throughput. My advice to the person who is in a hurry or looking for a quick bite: go somewhere else and leave a table open for someone who's looking for a truly wonderful culinary experience!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
Fabulous Find! Fresh Ingredients and Delicious Flavors!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood Linguine
I'm going to tell the story of how this restaurant ruined my birthday dinner.
My partner and I made reservations around a week ago - we'd never been to this restaurant and it looked very good! We arrived at around 7:37 pm and were seated in the patio. The waitress was friendly at first (I told her I was very excited to try this place for my birthday dinner, and we had some small talk) and let us know that they just had a big group come in and asked for patience. We understood and were fine eating some of the bread that was brought to our table.
By 8pm, we thought it was a bit strange that we still hadn't been able to order wine, and hadn't seen the waitress so assumed she was just dealing with that large group. By 8:05 she came back out and instead of coming to our table, she tended to a table next to us that had already finished dinner and took their dessert orders. Another table on our other side had sat down at the same time as us, and she also took their dessert orders (seemed like they weren't getting mains).
After taking both their orders, I assumed she'd come over to take our orders, but I was mistaken. I thought maybe she didn't see us or that maybe they were that swamped that they really couldn't serve us. I went inside and found her, and asked her if I could just place my order there or if perhaps it wasn't a good time and we should just go. She said she'd be right there, and at that time the owner (?) decided to chime in from behind the counter. He rudely told me that this place always takes a while, and I can either deal with it or go somewhere else. He repeated this unprompted. I returned to my table furious, but my partner told me he thought she'd come back and that it would be ok.
He wasn't wrong: she did come back, except that she was bringing everyone's dessert for the other two tables in the patio she had just engaged. She made 3 trips and was chatting with those tables, and completely ignored us. By that point it was closer to 8:20: we had been there for around 45 minutes, were starving, and had to scramble to find another place.
We got up and left, feeling dejected and saddened by the fact that we were singled out while every other table seemed to be having a good time. We ended up going to Savona's down the road where we were treated with respect and ate a delicious meal there instead 1.5 hours after we planned to eat.
This restaurant should consider not taking reservations if they're unable to fulfill them and should be upfront about their inability to serve some customers that traveled from afar to walk through the door and be mistreated.
Service: 1
The best Italian food I've had in the U.S.! My wife and I bring visiting friends here and they all agree that it's amazing! We even had them cater our wedding recently, and the whole party was raving about the food. We can't say enough positive things about the place. It's a MUST GO!
Food: 5
Food was very tastefully plated and absolutely delicious. Generous portions for what you are paying for and very visually appealing.
The shining light of the Downtown cafe has to be the server/hostess/receptionist… Cassandra. She is amazing. Runs around at a fierce pace and is extremely knowledgeable.
She doesn’t stop moving.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Excellent home made pasta. I had the lamb ragu over parpadelle and my friend had chicken Parmesan over angel hair pasta. We had the asparagus side. One glass of wine and a beer. $120 with tip.
Excellent food and service , eventhough it was just one waitress!! We will be back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
The food was excellent. Pasta was fresh and delicious. Appetizers and dinners were excellent. Our server was very friendly and accommodating. We’ll definitely be going back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Seafood Linguine
Been there numerous times. Introduced many to his great food. Given his gift certificates as gifts. His chicken Alfredo is so delicious its the only meal I've been able to order..... Downtown Cafe, for the win.
Graziano's is undoubtedly the quirkiest restaurant you'll ever step into. The focus isn't on aesthetics; it feels like you've walked into your uncle's kitchen or a cousin's backyard barbecue. The chef, dressed casually in a t-shirt, mans a residential stove, and the outdoor seating—part of which is an open garage—features a mix of old wooden tables and plastic patio sets.
We came for a birthday celebration after hearing great things about the food, so the setting caught us off guard at first. But we quickly got over it because the food is mind-blowingly good. In a time when many restaurants prioritize being Instagram-worthy over serving satisfying meals, Graziano's is a refreshing change.
We had to wait a bit to get our waitress's attention, but once we did, she was friendly and helpful. We ordered the gorgonzola salad, which was fresh and delicious, with a mix of fruits and veggies that I wouldn’t have thought would go together but made for an incredible dish. We also had the gnocchi and the angel hair pasta with saffron and cream—both were outstanding. We couldn't stop raving about how good everything was. You can tell that a lot of love and care goes into each dish and that every ingredient is fresh.
I highly recommend Graziano's to anyone visiting. Just know you're in for a bit of quirk, and if you're looking for fancy, this isn't the place. But for authentic, absolutely delicious Italian food with generous portions, this is the best place to go!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Pear Gorgonzola Salad, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
What a terrific place in Kingston! Chef Graziano creates every dish with love and care. We explored many dishes tonight - none of them were less than amazing - the polenta and scallops melted in my mouth, the seafood ( prawns and scallops) Fra Diablo had the perfect spicy flavor and the baked cod was nested in a sauce with artichokes and capers. The dessert choices were wonderful - We went with a classic tiramisu - oh boy - light and delicious! Great place and a very attentive staff and welcoming Chef!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tiramisu Cake, Scallops and Angel Hair Pasta
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