Had an incredible birthday dinner here. Ingredients were so fresh and the service was flawless. So impressed and can't wait to come back. Looking forward to seeing what the menu will be next time because they do say they change it up at times. Someone in my party is gluten free and they were very thorough in checking in with us and the chef about this. read more

Grano Arso - Peaches with Whipped Ricotta - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

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Very delicious food. However, it is very small for the price you pay. It would also be nice if protein options could be added, especially given the higher price. Would rather the spaghetti be $30 instead of $24 if it was larger with some protein. Service is okay. Ambiance is nice. read more

A self-described "modern Italian farm-to-table" with the bulk of the menu changing on a frequent basis, Grano Arso (burnt grain) was a delight as a culinary experience. Cocktail list has lots of interesting takes on classics - my martini was with a really unique, light and delicate gin (highclere) with vergano vermouth and a vin de liqueur from Cedrat in France. Served in a coupe with a saffron hue and an orange twist. Shared a "misticanza" salad with a carmelized lemon vinaigrette and tapping reeve cheese - this combination of flavor was really nice. Continuing to share we did a plate of mafaldine with a pork shank ragu, followed by a final share of a lobster risotto. By that time I'd thought to get a snap because of the excellent technique, flavor and presentation. Highly recommend - service was team-based and very good. read more

Grano Arso - Lobster Risotto at Grano Arso - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

My husband and I have been coming here for years now on special occasions, and in that time Grano Arso has had some spectacular reviews and articles written in highly acclaimed food publications. Prople will travel far to come to this spot, and it is worth every second of travel time. The menu changes often depending on the season and what fresh produce and ingredients are available. Every item is diligently prepared and exquisitely crafted with amazing cocktails and wine pairings to boot. Every time we go it's a whole new experience, and we are NEVER disappointed. On this night, I had the most DELICIOUS beet salad I have ever tasted. I think about it all the time! And our meals were mouthwatering as well (look at photos for descriptions). Every bite down to the bread and butter was a pleasure. But the food is only one part. The comfortable ambiance and wonderful service is really what pulls everything together with this restaurant. To top it off, its nestled in the most beautiful and quant town that's lovely just to drive through let alone walk around! If you ever get the chance, GO! read more

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The food is quite good, but the loud Muzak piped in makes it feel like the inside of an airport lounge. Also, the attitude of the host and servers is uptight and a bit pretentious . This is Chester, not New York City -- they need to dial these things back so the experience compliments the excellent food, rather than detracting from it read more

Fantastic from start to finish. We had two apps, shared a salad and had four different main entrees. All were exceptional. Great service.

I finally got to go to one of my bucket list spots last weekend and try the chef's tasting menu @granoct This was one of the top 5 meals I've ever had! The service, atmosphere, cocktails, and culinary mastery makes this restaurant one of the best in CT. Highlights for me included: sweet corn ravioli: sun gold tomatoes/basil/lime/smoked ricotta salata Duck: wellstone tropia onion/Scott's nectarines/ chanterelles/scarlet turnip purée halibut: smoked farrotto/ wellstone shishito peppers/salmon roe/ anise hyssop I would highly recommend getting down for a meal you won't forget! read more

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Highly recommend the Chef's tasting menu. We had such a great service tonight. The pics I'm attaching to this review says it all. I think it's the best bang for your buck if you want to go out to a fancy dinner and try a little bit of everything. My absolute favorite was the Blackfish, wellstone potatoes, rosemary mostarda, fennel and puntarelle alla romana. Just the perfect amount of crunch on the fish that was perfectly seared. Close second was the duck, which happens to be their popular dish. The sunchokes was incredibly delicious that it inspired me to grow them in the garden next year. read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Grano Arso The food was so delicious The service was very attentive to everything and very friendly and helpful wonderful ambiance we went early so it was quiet and very enjoyable Would definitely refer it to others read more

We've always loved Grano Arso and have dined here many times but at our most recent visit, we had a truly over the top, amazing experience - not only was the meal absolutley delicious, but the two owners Lani and Joel went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of when the table ahead of us was taking longer than anticipated, which was totally out of their control. We were blown away by the compensation provided and felt incredibly appreciated and special. Our waitress was lovely and attentive and everything came out at the perfect time. This is an incredible restaurant with amazing staff and I don't have anything but good things to say about them. Also, the location couldn't be any cuter - we love all the little shops around the restaurant which makes the visit that much more enjoyable. We can't wait to come back and I would highly recommend it to everyone. Thank you Lani and Joel! read more

Specular. Can't say enough about the interesting and diverse menu. Food was well prepared with great wine pairing. Staff was efficient and attentive. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly as well. Chef stopped by the table and chatted. Overall a top notch meal experience. read more

Wow, just wow. Pretty rare (unfortunately) to get such great, seamless customer service in conjunction with off the charts food. It was our first time there and it will not be the last. The staff was on point, they did not miss a beat. We did the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings and each course came out quickly and perfectly. Beet salad, homemade fettucine with truffle and pecorino, clams & mussels in broth, duck and ricotta cheesecake. Excellent, excellent!! Kudos to the owners. read more

One of the best meals I've had in CT. We started with the eggplant appetizer and it was light and delicious. Then we shared the carbonara special and had the chicken dish. All of the food tasted amazing and the service was top notch. read more

My spouse and I ate for the second time at Grano Arso in Sep 2024, and we introduced another foodie couple to this amazing restaurant. It's honestly in the top 10 best restaurants I've ever eaten at anywhere. Starting with their simple bread and butter...the bread has a nice crunchy outside and cottony-soft inside, with a fairly complex flavor profile for it being "just bread". Two of us had the Grano Old Fashioned for a cocktail, and I don't know how they do it, but it's the smoothest old fashioned I've ever enjoyed. It's very citrusy/orange-forward, and barely smells or tastes like alcohol. My spouse enjoyed her Green Garden cocktail, and my friend ordered a fresh-made lemonade which he said was outstanding. We ordered three apps - the squash tartlete, the eggplant al forno, and the buccatini cacio e pepe - and they were all exquisitely prepared. The sizes look small, but they're so rich that we were happy they weren't bigger because we'd run out of room for the amazing dinner that was next. My entree was the Rigatoni Bolognese, and it was absolutely amazing. Perfectly salted, full of rich flavor, not too tomatoey or acidic. Really, just perfect. The first time I ate here, I remember having the Braised Beef, and it also was just perfect. The chefs are clearly top-notch, and the service was also terrific. We can't wait to return and try more of the menu! read more

All of their food simply melts in your mouth. I could not recommend a better Italian restaurant to be situated in Chester village. The food was divine with a seasonal menu and all from wheat they grow themselves. The vibe is classy and the dishes can be expensive. With an appetizer, entree, drink, and dessert expect to spend between $75-$100/person. It is well worth it and they have such cute Christmas vibes right now with a tree. I'd also check out the old bank vault in the restaurant that now serves as wine storage. It's a relic of history and adds to the charm of the restaurant. The service was quick and they were helpful in proving recommendations. I can't wait to go back here! read more

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Wow ! What a wonderful dinner my husband and I had last evening. An early meal @ 6 and the place was humming . We shared potato fritte Excellent with a delicate mustard aioli . My corn agnolotti was amazing . The duck confit was equally outstanding. They also offer a pre fix dinner with wines included ~ that's for another visit read more

If we could give it more than 5 stars, we would! Grano is a modern Italian cuisine with fresh local products, freshly made bread and butter (that is to die for). You literally feel like you're in Italy with the food you're eating! The menu is constantly changing due to the fresh ingredients, what's in season, and what's not in season. There is indoor and an outdoor patio, we recommend making a reservation. read more

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Wow....what a wonderful surprise. Stumbled across this adorable town and saw stellar reviews for this place while visiting friends in New Heaven. We were coming back from a day at the beach and ready for dinner. Luck had us in a canceled reservation (definitely make reservations for this place well in advance) and seated on their gorgeous patio under ancient trees and next to a small river (the white noise was magical). While it was warm outside (we had a late evening shower (but the umbrella over the table did it's job) it was VERY warm indoors (maybe the AC was broken). We started with some cocktails from their seasonally rotating menu and some in house made butter and bread. Their take on standard negronis (with white rum), Manhattans (with dark rum), and caiparinhas, were bright and delightful. The home whipped butter was perfect and the bread was fresh, soft and delicious. The seasonal menu also played with the summer months with blackened cod, spicy seafood pastas and a roasted corn and parmesan pasta! Our server was amazing and because we were torn between getting the classic bolognas and the spicy seafood, he brought us out a complementary tasting of the bolognaise..it......was....spectacular (I kinda wished we would have bought an order to go and had it the next day for lunch...wow). Every pasta dish was perfectly al dente, bountifully dressed with cheese and balanced with fillings and sauces (not over or under sauced). The kitchen knows what they are doing and we came to find out this has been a neighborhood staple for years. The blackend cod was succulent and sat atop a Shishito pepper sauce that was so unique and tasty, I must deconstruct and copy that recipe myself! The kitchen was slammed (this place is popular for a reason) but the pacing was punctuated by our wonderful waiter telling us more about the history of the restaurant and general banter that filled the gaps and added to the pleasantness of the night. Don't come if you are in a hurry, but DO come if you want a delicious and beautiful meal under the stars!! read more

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I'll be brief, the quaint little town, Restaurant ambiance and food is excellent but, the portions are skimpy for what they charge. Take my advise and try it once but, If you're hungry eat something before you go. read more

Always amazing! The service, food and cocktails are excellent. One of the best restaurants in CT. read more

Grano Arso - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

We have been here before but last night's dinner knocked it out of the park! It was our anniversary and we decided to splurge. We ordered the chef's tasting menu. Every dish was perfect. One of the best ever. Excellent food. read more

Always guaranteed good meal and great service!!! Delicious food and drinks and quiet intimate setting.

Best restaurant in CT. Their homemade pasta is off the charts. However, the service and friendly staff was on par with the food. A must visit! read more

From start to finish the whole evening was special. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I recommend doing the chef's tasting. read more

Original Review - January 2020 - Amazing food, amazing and VERY clean place. I travelled all the way from NYC with friends to stop by here and it was well worth the trip. The staff and owners are extremely passionate about their restaurant and it shows in the quality and cleanliness of the place. I highly recommend the pan roasted chicken. Update 6/28/2022 - Food still as legendary as I remember it. Quality has improved over the past two years even though it feels impossible to improve perfection. This is literally my favorite restaurant I've ever been to and the 2 hour trip is worth every second. Please do yourself a favor and come here. Get the chicken and pasta. read more

Grano Arso - Chicken, Pasta, Pork - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

Great food and service. It's definitely pricier but worth it. The eggplant al forno was fantastic & their homemade bread was to die for!!!! read more

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Really amazing stuff, years later Grano continues to outdo themselves in so many ways with innovative and creative dishes that will knock your socks off with flavor. Tasting menus, or standalone dishes, great to share. read more

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Dinner was good last night the service extremely slow and the ambiance too loud. Best Italian on ct shoreline!

I don't think there has been a restaurant with more hype here in Ct than when this opened a few years ago. Reservations ere almost impossible to get... it was the place to go and if you got in you were thrilled. Living up to that is very hard... We were greeted, seated and waited on by great servers... and we like to talk to them... we wanted fir nothing... great atmosphere too.. Drinks were great ... timing of the courses was perfect... here's what we had...tomato salad with strachiatelli... tomatillo dressing... red pepper crisps ...one of the best things I've ever eaten...my wife was ecstatic ... also roasted eggplant in a tomato sauce ... and I could have eaten two... fabulous Then roasted rye flour pasta with a Bolognese sauce... I told the server that no one puts chicken livers in their sauce but they did... she said... " how did you know!?"... the pasta was a bit soft but the sauce was fabulous... great portion size too Entrees ...lobster risotto... lobster cooked perfectly... risotto... overcooked, too thick... tasted like it was reduced too much... then Skate Wing... dry and cold... probably cooked too far in advance... the tomato side was basically chopped up tomato with a couple of marinated white anchovies on top... poorly done Desserts were a scoop of chocolate terrine that was too hard to cut with two pieces of cantaloupe and a scoop of cantaloupe ice cream Honestly... the desserts seemed like an afterthought and did not meet our expectations We will go back...but with New York prices... the experience should be a little more precise read more

Outstanding food and service. The homemade bread is the best I have ever had. The rigatoni bolognese is outstanding! The eggplant Al Forno appetizer was delicious. Topped off by the chocolate affogato desert that was also excellent. This is a five star restaurant in my opinion! read more

OMG. Finally had a chance to check out Grano after hearing about its many accolades and experiences from my BFF who has dined there a few times. I couldn't contain my excitement as we walked through the doors. My friend chose the 86 pennies and I had my usual glass of rose. We were promptly served bread and my friend said it was likely we would need to buy another round of bread. She was right. It was warm and delicious and the complimentary one piece each wasn't going to cut it! We started with the burrata with roasted carrots, which was delicious! Well balanced and the chili crisp really made this dish. Sooo good. Next we had misticanza salad, which had cold crisp lettuces, tapping reeve cheese and a lemon vinaigrette. Soooo simple but absolutely perfect! For mains we had the conchiglie, which almost reminded me of Mac and cheese and was my favorite main. We also had the bavette steak which was good, although we asked for medium it came out medium rare. The beet agrodulce that came along with the steak was divine! Service was great. The frequently changed out our plates and checked in often. Incredible food and great experience. If you are a foodie, you must put this place on your list! read more

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Grano Arso is located in adorable downtown Chester and the restaurant is modern, yet comfortable. I recommend making a reservation before going, as it was totally booked the night we showed up. They were graciously able to squeeze us in after some rearranging, but I wouldn't count on that every time! We very quickly discovered why they were booked. The food was absolutely incredible. We had the eggplant al forno and burrata to start and, while both were delicious, the eggplant was extraordinary and a must-order every time we go in the future. For entrees, our table had the rigatoni bolognese (my favorite bolognese I've ever had to-date) and the toasted rye tagliatelle. The pasta of both dishes was notably and expertly handmade and the flavors of each dish were impeccable. Service was a little on the slow side, but because they squeezed us in without a reservation, we were nothing but grateful as they made accommodations for us. Can't wait to sample more of the menu! The best little hidden Italian gem in the area! read more

Grano consistently has some of the best food around! We go here often for date night and are always super happy with everything. The drinks are always delicious! And the service is always above and beyond. The bolognese was so fresh and to die for! I always recommend this place to everyone. read more

Magical place to visit at Christmas time Restaurant has excellent service and food. Bread and pasta is made fresh at restaurant! read more

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

This is one of my favorite restaurants! For the food, the service and the "experience" especially when the table does the "tasting menu "!! Keep up the good work! read more

Super food and service. Not yoir average Italian restaurant! Comfortable dining area.

We planned a date night here and had to make reservations weeks ahead of time. Main Street in Chester is a quaint area with a lot of neat shops and restaurants. The interior of the restaurant was warm and inviting and the staff was amazing. The drinks were expertly prepared and tasty. We started with the eggplant al forno...wow is all I can say it was outstanding. Entrees were the scallops and I ordered the ravioli special. I'm not sure how many times I said wow during this meal it was that good. read more

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

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We were given a gift certificate to this restaurant. I probably should rate it higher than four stars. My rigatoni Bolognese was very tasty. It is a very elegant menu. The service was very professional. It is a classy restaurant. But I was staggered when we got the bill. Everything is so expensive! read more

Rarely do restaurants with this much hype and flair live up to one's expectations. With a billion food critics, there's always some thread someone finds to pull and only at the end out our meal did I discover GA's ONE shortcoming: Espresso! All I could think of was the NFL highlight of the kick returner running 108 yards only to spike the ball a fractional second before crossing the goal line. After our pregame at Pattaconk we crossed the street under black skies and a torrential downpour that reminded me of Tony Soprano pulling up to Vesuvio when the lights went out looking for a meal for his family. Soaking wet, hungry and thirsty, we were fortunate to see the power come back on but I'm pretty confident the chefs at GA could've cooked over a flame in the dark and delivered. I don't want to give it all away in one review bc there are over a dozen times our table went, "Wow...amazing". If you are a serious connoisseur of Italian cuisine and can appreciate what a 24 month old Parmigiano Reggiano brings to the game, you'll be right at home. I've been eating eggplant for decades and not once have I ever thought, 'hmmm...let me try the skin'. Crispy. Full of flavor and zero bitterness. My only issue will be how to mask my disappointment when my wife makes it next. read more

Such a great dinner! We created our own tasting experience. I didn't take photos of all the meals but I highly recommend this place. The pasta was amazing and the main course was well worth it! read more

Grano Arso - Drinks! - Italian Near Me - Chester, Connecticut

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