Grano — Restaurant in Sydney

My husband and I dined here for lunch for the first time on Sunday 25 September as we were searching for a venue for our daughter's 1st birthday. We had high expectations due to Google and family reviews however, we had an average experience overall.

There is abundant parking out the front of the venue which is easily accessible. We got there at 12pm at the start of service and needed to change our baby. There is a change table in the one toilet however it was dirty.

We sat inside in the booth area but outside is where you want to be amongst the greenery. We loved the rustic, family-oriented vibe of the venue - the cheese grater chandelier, greenery and tomato tins used as stands for dishes were all highlights. Some music would have added to the ambience though we do appreciate it got very loud as the venue filled with diners.

The waitstaff were all well-presented and friendly but the service was slow at times. When we were seated the waitress informed us that they had several groups arriving at 12:30pm so we should order soon. While we appreciated the warning, as time passed we got the impression that functions and groups are prioritised over a la carte diners. We received apologies for the slow service at least another two times by separate waitresses citing the reason as they're "busy with the functions"...

Unfortunately, no one asked us how our food was until we were finished (and we struggled to get anyone's attention) so we couldn't give the kitchen the opportunity to rectify the issues with our food.

We had the white bait and garlic crust as entrees. We found the white bait to be tasty but a small portion for $14. The garlic crust had a nice texture but you couldn't taste the garlic unfortunately.

We had the rolled veal and barramundi as mains and both were decent-sized dishes. The rolled veal was tasty and hearty. The barramundi was cooked well but flavourless and unseasoned. The broccoli and potato that were dressed with olive oil and salt were more flavoursome than the fish! It was surprising that they served the white bait with lemon wedges but not the barramundi. There were no salt and pepper shakers on the table so I ended up using the leftover dipping sauce from the white bait to give it some flavour. Very disappointing for a $38 dish.

We shared a macchiato creme brulee and both thought it was the standout dish. Beautifully presented, generous and delicious vanilla gelato with the brulee. We had cappucinos with the dessert which were good (they use Will & Co coffee).

Suffice to say that based on our experience we booked our function elsewhere.

EDITED IN RESPONSE TO THE OWNER'S REPLY: Your response to honest customer feedback is disappointing.

I was very reasonable, balanced and fair in my review by pointing out both the highlights and the constructive feedback (the purpose of Google reviews by the way, not to get attention as you put it). I initially gave an extremely generous 3-star rating when upon reflection I should have given a 2 (now amended).

I didn't mention or factor in the communications I had with one of your staff regarding our function in the lead up to our booking (I won't even go there as you're not receptive to feedback)!

We're locals and would have given your venue another chance but sadly will be avoiding. I won't be responding to future comments....

Had a work Xmas lunch at Grano's today and was looking forward to it after enjoying great food last year. What a difference 12 months makes...Ordered the spaghetti with crab and friends ordered a pasta and a pizza. One was served, waited 5 minutes for the next person's dish to come out, then another 5 minutes for the last one. We waited until everyone was served before eating, so naturally food was cold by then, but that was our choice.

My meal arrived and came out with half a small crab in the shell with a pile of spaghetti in sauce. I asked for a crab cracker to which the waitress said she would look for, 10 minutes later I tried to snap it with my fingers as the pasta was so bland on its own and getting gluggy it was so cold by then. I sliced my finger on the shell and was bleeding quite a bit. Had to get the waitress's attention for a band aid and a polite request for a crab cracker again. She said she would look for one, waited quite a while again and she finally came back to say they didn't have any or anything to help break the shell. I had eaten some of the pasta, but not any crab, so sent the dish back. No one apologised or tried to help the situation in any way.

To add insult to injury, not only did they charge full price for my meal, but tried to charge us for an extra drink and a bowl of chips we didn't order. Never going here again, we'll definitely be choosing a different...

5 stars – A local gem full of authentic charm!

We arrived at Grano about an hour before the kitchen closed for lunch and were met with warm, attentive service that gave us ample time to order beyond just appetisers — no rush, no pressure.

The ambiance is rustic and homey with vintage Italian touches — classic tiled tables, old-school wall art, and that unmistakable charm of a family-run trattoria. It’s no surprise this spot is a regular for local Italians, whether it’s a work lunch, family gathering, or casual dinner.

As for the food — hearty, authentic, and generous.

The calamari and grilled octopus were perfectly cooked, crispy yet tender.

The meatballs in sugo came rich and comforting, though the tomato sauce leaned a bit acidic. A good sprinkle of parmesan worked wonders to round it out.

The veal schnitzel with capsicum were rustic perfection — crunchy, savory, and satisfying.

The vegetables were fresh and vibrant, a welcome side to balance the richness.

Crusty Italian bread made it easy to soak up every bit of sauce.

Grano captures that rare balance — casual yet quality-focused, warm yet efficient. A place where food is made to be shared, stories are told across the table, and regulars always return. Definitely worth visiting (and revisiting). Not sure about all the negative reviews as we didn't experience any of those negative comments on our visit. Our family comes here...