2003
– "Delightful"
cooking comes to the "heart of the Village" at this "comfortable"
Italian with "reasonable prices" (dare we say the food's "so
good they could charge more"); despite "generic" looks,
"great wild game" and other menu "twists" supply interest.
2009 – "Devoted neighborhoods regulars" plug this well-kept Village "secret" for its "authentic" Italian menu led by "perfect brick-oven pizzas"; "quaint" digs, "friendly" staffers and midrange tabs round out the overall "delightful" experience.
2004
– Raw-silk
curtains the color of a Tuscan sunset and tiny candles make this
narrow
trattoria a sexy spot. But you may lack the energy to act on amorous
impulses once you’ve stuffed yourself with Grano’s filling,
irresistible pasta (made by chef-owner Maurizio Crescenzo).
Beet gnocchi with a thick, cheesy sauce of Gorgonzola, walnuts
and pancetta,
is a blend of complementary flavors. Crescenzo’s talent for mixing
textures and tastes is again put to good use in salads such as insalata
fantasia, an eye-catching mix of radicchio, red onion, toasted almonds
and chunks of smoked trout.
The healthy portion of balsamic-braised lamb shank is fall-off-the-bone good. Single-size pizzas straight from Grano’s brick oven are also stellar (five varieties on the menu, plus a special or two each night). Finish with intensely fruity pear sorbet, or the warm, semisweet chocolate polenta—slightly crisp on the outside and soft as a cotton ball inside.
2005 Eating & Drinking Guide – The staffers at this sexy, sunset-hued little trattoria welcome you as if they've been expecting you all night, ushering you into a comfortable space divided by a small bar. The more intimate front section looks out onto cobblestoned streets and a church garden, while the brighter, livlier back half lets you view the open kitchen. An Autunalle salad is topped with goat cheese and apricots; spiral pasta, house-made by chef Maurizio Crescenzo, is paired with wild-boar sausage and mushrooms. Wood-oven-roasted lamb with Parmesan potatoes and garlic sauce typifies Grano's rustic cuisine. Request two spooons for the chocolate polenta with vanilla sauce.
The food at Grano Trattoria is comforting in all the right ways. Rich, sauce-laden fresh pastas and an entrée menu with a focus on game make for more interesting comfort food than you'd whip up at home. Add sweet service and reasonable prices, and you've got a decent neighborhood Italian joint for those evenings when you're willing to put on shoes but not lipstick.
Wonderful
and underpriced Village gem. Inventive pastas (their bolognese is a knockout
and their pumpkin ravioli is equally great), and their daily lunch special
is a bargain. As good as Bar Pitti, Da Silvano or Il Cantinori at half the
price.
Great
place for a date, or just get together with friends or family, chef
ownner
Maurizio & his wife Andrea take care of this place like a son. Call
today for a reservation!
A lovely place for a moderately priced meal. The specials menu often offers lovely flights-of-fancy dishes from the chef's childhood.