Love the design of the restaurant and the creative ingredients that go into every meal! The bartender, Wesley, makes the best cocktails in the state! Try the grapefruit negroni or the peach mojito if you get the chance! Cheers. read more

Everything was amazing from start to finish. Our waiter, Lamont, was extraordinary. Drinks, small plates, main dishes and dessert were beyond our expectations. We can't wait to go back! read more

This restaurant is so good! from the service to the food - spectacular. You seriously feel like you're in a 5 star restaurant. Hugh, our server, was great! Our order was placed and the food came out not long after! I definitely will be returning here! read more

Grano Arso is simply awesome . So delicious . Great service , great atmosphere ( before Covid 19 ) AlwYs great meals. Very unique .

Love this place. It is an indulgence for the wallet but it is worth it. I have eaten here 3 times now and every time has been very good. the service is exemplary. Very friendly, knowledgable wait staff. The drink selections are definitely more exotic than many restaurants (and I dare say the drinks are a bit pricey) . The menu is not huge but what I have had was always delicious. The mushroom risotto is so yummy! They grind their own flour to make the bread (which is super delicious). If you ask for more there is a charge so keep that in mind. Hey, they make it themselves from raw ingredients so it is a lot of work. There is a reason it's called Grano Arso. The atmosphere is very nice and almost always packed. I would definitely say it's a good date night place but also a nice place to meet up with some friends. I have had the chef come to our table on a couple of occasions. Very friendly and cordial. BTW: This is not a restaurant where you bring the kids. It is not a menu that would appeal to those fussy eaters. If in doubt, check it out online before you go. read more

This pasta is insanely good. It changed my whole perspective on pasta. Frankly one of the best things I've ever tasted. I give it an 11 out of 10. read more

Highly recommend! One can just feel the enjoyment and care each employee has for their guests. From the interesting knowledge shared by server La Mott about a particular type of wine he thought I would enjoy. The hostess hearing my thoughts of wanting to learn to make bread and asked Sous Chef Richie to come share a few tips. Additionally, Chef Joel went above and beyond to gather up a couple of books on bread making to view. I enjoy the changing menu and have wiped many plates clean. A couple of my favorites are the Pan Seared Chicken (oh the skin...it's fabulous) and the Buratta w/the best pesto. Just last night I very much was delighted in their butterscotch dessert! A complete dining experience! read more

BLUF-The food was a great experience but the service,though eager, was a little unpolished. We enjoyed the fixed price Valentines Day special and were happily surprised. The courses were tasty and satisfying. We enjoyed a cheese plate and order of marinated olives in anticipation of dinner. Both were very good. The biggest hit of the night however, was the home baked bread and sea salted butter. This alone paired with the cheese plate and a nice Pinot Noir, would be rewarding enough. The pricing is reasonable and the atmosphere a rustic chic. The menu is farm to table and the freshness and quality of ingredients stand out. Conveniently there is a new Nano brewery next door, for after dinner imbibing. We will definitely return and bring friends. read more

If your looking for a romantic dining experience, this is definitely not the establishment. Tables are so close together, i felt like i was dining with strangers 1 foot away. The waiter was nice and attentive, however as the waiters we're helping the surrounding tables, my arms/elbows kept brushing up against their bodies as they squeezed in between tables. Our waiter told us we would have to wait to put our cheese plate order until we decided to order our entrees, to make it easier on the kitchen, ok. The cheese plate we were served was small for $18 and was presented differently than our neighboring tables. The bolognese was not $23 worthy. It was liquidy, not too saucy, and the pasta did not taste fresh/homemade. The eggplant al forno was disappointing as well - with the sauce tasting the pure tomato paste from a can. Lastly, we ordered a glass of prosecco right before we were served dinner. Within minutes of receiving our drink - both tables next to us were given complimentary prosecco because of a long wait from the bar. From dining so close, we noticed and our first drinks took about the same amount of time. Could have been age discrimination or just bad luck, but overall we just did not enjoy the vibe of Grano Arso. read more

Grano Arso - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

See all

Great drinks, insufferable acoustics, and lousy service. Management needs to both train and supervise its waitstaff, and could use some training itself. While the drinks are great, the food is one level short of mediocre, and the waitstaff is both rude and inattentive. At the beginning of your meal, the tall, slender, African-American waiter will condescendingly demand that you tip him in addition to the mandatory 20% service fee appended to all meals regardless of party size. Management is clearly not only aware of this practice, but approves of it. You will then be treated to rude and inattentive service, and pay high prices for sub-mediocre food that could easily have been prepared in any college frat house with a box of Zita and a jar of Ragu. This is the kind of "Italian" restaurant that would see its owners jailed in Tuscany before facing loss of citizenship and deportation. Fortunately for them, Grano Arso's owners don't appear to be Italian, and are hiding safely from the carabinieri in Chester, CT USA. If you love Olive Garden food but want even worse service, then this place might be for you. But if you have any self-respect, do your palate a favor and go elsewhere. read more

Unfortunately there are only 5 stars to rate this restaurant because I would give it a 55! I drive more than an hour to dine at this restaurant and I would drive another hour just to eat their food. This has to be one of CT's best. The food, the portions, drinks and ambiance are superior. The owners are the friendliest and most hospitable people around. One feels like you are dining in their home and that's not an easy achievement. I just read a recent review about Grano Argo and the writer said the food was mediocre. This person's taste buds must be in backwards or they have not a clue about good food. If you visit Grano Ora's you will return again and again. Frank Franco read more

Front desk staff are horrendously inefficient. I tried making a reservation using their reservation system unsuccessfully. Still I went to the restaurant hoping I had a table. Sure enough - they didn't even had my name. They insisted I should had called the restaurant. I had done that. The response was I needed to use their online reservation system. I couldn't get my point that calling the restaurant gave me no option but using their reservation system. Staff should be aware of the bad reservation system. I should not be subjected to such inefficiency. read more

My boyfriend who is a foodie like me introduced me to Grano can't say enough great things about this restaurant. We are regulars now. I'll start with the service which has always been excellent the staff is friendly and helpful and knowledgeable about the food and the cocktails they serve. They have a very unique selections of specialty cocktails they even infuse their ice cubes! The menus is constantly changing but I've never had a bad meal always pleasantly surprised by the unique pairing the chef comes up with. Last weekend we had a party of nine to celebrate my mother's birthday. Everyone was extremely impressed. Last but not least. The bread is amazing. Homemade in house they even mill their own flour. So if your into unique and better dining Grano is the place to go. read more

Amazing from start to finish! Local ingredients highlighted and allowed to shine! As a service industry insider, please trust me that this place is the real deal! Try the chef's 6 course tasting menu with wine pairings! A truly memorable culinary experience! read more

The food was excellent, and the service was great. However, when the check came, the restaurant communicated that it had added a 20% "COVID surcharge" "instead of doubling their prices" that was not previewed ahead of time or flagged on the menu. The waiter made clear that this is separate and apart from gratuity, and that gratuity is still expected. While my guests and I recognize the challenges presented by the ongoing pandemic, especially in the hospitality industry, it is not appropriate to upcharge an already expensive meal with no notice. read more

Every dish had a rich, complex, and perfectly balanced pallet of flavors. We got lucky with the weather and had our dinner outdoors. The atmosphere and service were impeccable. Not easy to please NYC foodies - we loved this place - don't miss out. read more

First time we've dined out since March. This team has done an excellent job of preparing to serve people safely. That being said, the food blew us away. The cocktails were innovative and worth every dollar. We usually think New York prices for cocktails is crazy, but not when you learn something new about a particular ingredient (our waiter educated me about the smoke in the scotch in my Smoking Gun cocktail, and also about the amari liquor in it - I loved the drink) -- worth the money, and these were generous drinks portions!). My orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe (pork sausage, basil & walnut pesto) was so delicious and plentiful. My husband's pan roasted chicken (with gnocchi, tomato sugo, herb butter, shiitake mushrooms and chili) was one of the best chicken dishes I've had in recent memory. Everything was memorable and flavorful, and it wasn't just because it's the first "pandemic" dining we've had in over two months. We live in Avon, so it's not close to us, but we will happily make the drive back down to Chester again. We are big fans of Gran Arso. read more

Had a wonderful birthday dinner with wine paring. Meal was fabulous. Service just as perfect. Beautiful renovation of old bank building. Will definitely return read more

I am so happy this place came into Chester - it's just what we needed! The food is fresh, the menu changes daily, and the drinks are amazing. Not to mention the service is also fantastic!! I have gotten the prix fixe menu multiple times and have yet to be disappointed. Just make sure to make reservations well in advance! read more

Fab meal!! Don't sleep on the daily ravioli- we added it to our dinner and it was amazing. Sweet pea and pea tendril. They have a great bar menu and have done an amazing job keeping up with all the covid protocols. Not only will you have the best dinner but feel safe while doing it. read more

This is the best pasta I've ever eaten. The wine list I perfect and the service is spectacular. The chef Joel makes everything so delicious and interesting. Do yourself a favor and go have a meal at Grano. read more

Usually when I look through Yelp reviews of a restaurant, some "Debbie Downer" has had a bad experience that they feel compelled to share. Looking through the reviews of Chef Joel's Grano Arso in Chester, I almost feel like the chef's enthusiasm for simple, delicious Artisanal pastas and Italian cuisine has rubbed off on his welcoming and gracious staff enough to make the most gluten-sensitive Grinch still smile in appreciation. I had the chance to sample his tasting menu last night and get a quick tour of his humble kitchen, and I can tell you his love of great ingredients and preparation methods makes for one of the most delicious and satisfying meals I've found in Connecticut. His pastas are crafted from selected local grains that he mills in his kitchen, and are prepared perfectly with seasonal produce. He clearly goes out of his way to source his meats and vegetables to provide the freshest and best tasting dishes I've found in this area. If you're a lover of Italian cuisine with a creative touch, served by a staff that is welcoming and knowledgeable, you should call and get a reservation before the word of this wonderful restaurant reaches far beyond central Connecticut. read more

Extra-ordinary food and service. Chef puts effort into the ingredients as well as the preparation, and it shows in depth and layers of flavors. Dishes are grounded in the classics, but elevated far beyond. Best meal we have had in a very long time. Pasta dishes exceed those we had at Babbo a few years ago. Service was friendly and helpful. Cocktails were creative but kept a their blend and balance. read more

We are here with another couple and had a lovely evening. The homemade pasta is heavenly. The appetizers with fresh local ingredients can't be beat. We enjoyed cocktails as well and they were fantastic. Service was a bit slow towards the end of the evening but it didn't detract from our overall experience. read more

A perfect meal. Let's begin with the bread. A deep brown multi grain bread with the softest center and the crispiest crust I have ever eaten. This can only have been made with loving care The Salumi appetizer featured 3 thinly sliced deli meats, thinly sliced crackly toast, fennel, onions, tomatoes. Rich spicy flavor. The skate wing was thinly breaded, crisp and creamy. No bones. The lobster pasta had extremely soft succulent chunks of fresh lobster meat bathed in a delicious slightly spicy sauce with silky fusilli pasta. Service was well informed, pleasant and efficient. This is attributed to the proprietress who runs the front of the house as rigorously as the proprietor does the kitchen. The price was extremely reasonable. read more

A can't miss experience, well worth the trip to charming Chester village from anywhere in the state. Chef Gargano's innate sense of flavor blending and passion for fresh, local ingredients combine to deliver a menu that will challenge you to choose just one entree. Go with friends, share your plates, and enjoy uncommonly good service AND food. read more

The place was nice the wait staff was excellent but the prices for drink wow so expensive the food was tasty it way to oily small portions. We will not be returning it a shame I heard great reviews. read more

I recently dined at Grano Arso, in their lovely outdoor patio. I must say my table of four were disappointed in the food. Perhaps we had heard too much hype about their, homemade pasta, So three of us ordered rigatoni bolognese, which quickly became bathed in grease that pooled in our plates. I mentioned it to the waiter,who said he would tell the chef. None of us finished our dinner. Considering the price ,I now realize how overrated and dissatisfying the meal was. read more

This place is amazing! Definitely one of the best restaurants in CT. I would highly recommend making a reservation in advance because it is a popular place in Chester/the CT River Valley area. We went on a Friday night at 7 pm and the place was jam packed. We luckily got a seat at the bar and immediately felt at home and part of the vibrant crowd. The bar tenders were the friendliest and most personable of their profession that I have ever encountered. Conversation was easy and drinks were on point. My wife loved how the hibiscus ice melted and infused her drink with color and a delicate flavor. I enjoyed the mint Julep with snow cone style ice in a copper mug. Great presentation and these were just the drinks. When the bread came out we were even more in awe. Chef Joel mills his own grains! Absolutely unique and this created a soft, airy texture. With the butter close by on the small bamboo cutting board, we could not get enough. Then the eggplant small plate came out as an appetizer. It had a great texture, sauce, and delicious flavor. As if that was not enough, our main course of garganelli pasta for me and bolonese for my wife was the home run. Light, home made pasta paired with delicious sauces. We were so full and passed on dessert, but we will be back for more! read more

See all

Awesome new restaurant in Chester center adding to a wonderful restaurant scene. Food is amazing! Our waiter was very informative on not only the local farms that supply the food but also how each dish was cooked. We will definitely be back! Book early as there aren't a lot of tables and this place is in high demand! read more

My husband and I had a very nice experience at this unique restaurant. The food was outstanding - smaller portions for the cost, but the dishes were carefully prepared with exquisite flavor combinations. The wait staff were highly attentive, and the owner came and talked to us personally. Decor is lovely. I would go again! read more

Grano Arso: Extraordinary - In the quiet, bucolic village of Chester, Joel and Lani have created the perfect combination of refined dining and a comfortable, yet classy atmosphere without a hint of ostentatiousness. Grano Arso translates to burnt wheat; while Joel does not burn the handmade bread or pasta, he does do an amazing job of milling the grain and forming the end result. My fiancé and I started with a beet bagna cauda: cubes of beets paired with crisp potatoes and a delicious sauce. I enjoyed a refreshing hibiscus margarita that was well prepared with a good amount of tart, sweet, and salt. The house made bread is to die for (we even requested more bread with our pasta because we wanted to scoop up every bit of sauce). My Rigatoni Bolognese hit all of the right notes! I would not be surprised if the sauce takes all-day to make. My fiancé's Spaghetti Fra Diavolo with Mussels and Scallops was fresh, light, and flavorful. We really decided to indulge and loved the Butterscotch Budino with Amaro Soaked Cherries and Whipped Cream as well as the Chocolate Almond Torta. To top it off, Lani brought us a delicious Avocado Sorbet with Sesame Cookie crumble to test. Laura, a very professional and knowledgeable waitress, did an excellent job serving each course. The kitchen fired dishes with great timing. The hostess was incredibly friendly and welcoming. I highly recommend enjoying dinner at Grano Arso in the near future - I know we will be back before the daffodils bloom. read more

Grano Arso - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

Grano is a delight! We were able to get reservations for 6:15 and arrived a few minutes early (parking in downtown Chester can be difficult so we arrived early). Our coats were taken and we were seated immediately. Service here is wonderful. Haley explained the menu and answered all of our questions. There is a lot of wait staff and they worked together like a well-oiled machine although they've been open only a few months. We started with the burrata and the polenta. Each bite was delish. We both wanted pasta so we had the large plates and weren't disappointed. By wrapping some of mine to take home, we were able to enjoy the chocolate lava cake for dessert. We were pleased when Lani came by to chat with us. We are so happy that Chester has another wonderful restaurant. read more

After seeing the restaurant on Instagram and hearing about it from word of mouth, we decided to check this place out. This place is one of the best Italian restaurants in Connecticut and is definitely worth the trip if you're not from around the area. The food is amazing high-end dining in a fairly relaxed and in-pretentious environment. You can tell that everything is homemade and pt together with a lot of care and attention. The staff is incredible and made us feel right at home. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

Looks like they are aiming primarily for the profits from alcohol. The food itself was adequate though certainly nothing to be excited about. Presently the restaurant is very popular and I hope them success but unfortunately the acoustics are very lively and it is so loud that it takes away a lot from the experience. We may go back again as winter approaches however overall there are a lot better choices locally.we get deeper into the winter season but at the moment we have a lot of more interesting place locally We visited this restaurant under previous iterations One improvement it is that they placed a barrier so it is more likely you will be able to park alongside Update. Food ok but noise and service detract. Not conducive to conversation. Just eat and nod sagely. They need softer sound deadening furnishings or plants read more

The menu is small and pricey $27 for bolenase . You get 2 half slices of bread no salad .sides average 10-14 dollars . Extra bread is 2.50! Who does that? The specialty drinks are good 13-15$ Not wowed enough to try a second time. read more

Our favorite restaurant. We tried to get there a number of times this summer because we heard they did such a good job with safety protocol for Covid, but you had to book way ahead because they ar so popular and the weather didn't cooperate when we did get reservations. We ordered take out last night for my birthday and they did not disappoint! It was every bit as good as a dine-in experience. The food was warm-- prepared to perfection. You can order online days ahead or 45 minutes ahead and they text you when the food is ready. It looks like they are going to be helping us get through this long Covid winter. read more

House made pasta, from grain! House made bread, house made creamy ricotta...enough? Great bar, service is outstanding, great atmosphere.

Food not great. Very underwhelming. Wouldn't go unless within 10 minutes drive. Chef was cute tho.

Truly an awesome experience! Our first time at Grano Arso and it will not be the last! From the streamlined screening process upon entry to the personal attention given by each and every one of the staff, we felt safe and comfortable dining here. Our waiter, Lamont explained the farm-to-table philosophy and put great emphasis on the care put into each and every dish. To say the food was incredible would be an understatement. 10+/10 for taste, presentation and service! We cannot wait to dine again with Grano Arso in the future. Until next time! read more