Gran Sasso Restaurant — Restaurant in Brantford

The title of my review would be STINGY. The food was decent, appetizer sized portions, well presented, fresh tasting, could be warmer. The atmosphere is .... less inviting, less warm, less .... embracing. While making the reservation, I had my first inkling of what we were in for when I was "reminded" that each table is reserved for 90 minutes. I have never, ever experienced this in my life. From the time we sat down, we felt rushed to order. No banter with the wait staff. It must be noted that there is no bread on the tables, however, one can purchase bread on the menu. Generally, in hospitality the social aspect of dining out is acknowledged. However, we were rushed to order without time for initial greetings with our guests. When our food arrived we were struck by the very tiny portion sizes. The arncini comes as 3 very small balls - typically there are groups of two or four so why 3? Very small in size and a smidge of sauce. The $15 caesar salad was equally as tiny, garnished with a crouton size crostini. Our entrees: I ordered ravioli, exactly 4 ravioli were served to me without a side. My spouse ordered the lamb, 4 very tiny tenderloin sized rounds, very thinly sliced, mid in flavour. His lamb was grnished with a tiny piece of potato, 1 piece of carrot, and another piece of veg. Both were appetizer sized. In all, our meal came to $150 with tip. The food was mid, expensive, we were left wanting - just not more of Gran Sasso! When we were finished, the waiter presented the bill and within a few minutes, returned with the machine even though we had not indicated we were ready to pay. Typically, a card laying on top of the bill indicates that..... but our waiter was there uncomfortably promptly. To be clear, there was no lineup waiting for a seat, several empty tables and an empty patio. Nothing to prompt the bum's rush we felt we were getting. I cannot recommend Gran Sasso in good conscience. There are many good restaurants in. Brantford that will work to make you feel welcome and...

As someone who has worked in fine dining for almost my entire working life I have been thoroughly impressed by every visit to the restaurant. Upon entry I am warmly greeted by Patty one of the owners. The service is excellent. Most recently our server did a great job of telling us the various specials of the day, recommending a wine when asked, and checking on us periodically through the meal to provide water and clear dishes as necessary. She was friendly and efficient. The physical dining room is spotless, thematically decorated to reflect Italian culture and of course the mountain range from which it gets its name, and while the room filled up with people, it never felt cramped. Everything is very reasonably priced (comparable to the pricing of a local Kelsey’s but with 10X the quality) and the food is truly excellent. The wine list was smart, a well-matched pairing could be found for all dishes, and liqueurs/spirit options were of course very Italian in nature, as they should be. The plates are presented with a modern style which is mirrored in the food itself, but mixed with roots in old fashioned authentic Italian cooking. It generates an excellent balance between contemporary and old-fashioned class. At no point in the dining experience did we want for anything that was not promptly on its way and at the end of our meal after dessert we were not at any point rushed on our way. We felt through the whole experience that our table was being taken care of and our presence valued. I highly recommend Gran Sasso Ristorante to anyone who values outstanding food and a fine, yet unpretentious...

Wow! The atmosphere, service and incredible food here was far beyond our expectations.

Made a list minute reservation at the dinner hour on a Friday and the person on the phone was pleasant and accommodating. We showed up and were seated immediately. The waitress and staff had great knowledge of the wine selection and were able to find one that paired perfectly with our dinner choices.

Started with the bruschetta. Crispy and soft with a fresh tomato flavor.

The food came out hot and honestly better than described. I could not get over the tenderness and cook on the steak. (It was second to only 1 other we've had, genuine wagyu beef at Bluebloods). The potato wedges were crispy but with fluffy inside and the vegetables were the epitome of al dente , something often missed. Hubby's Gran Sasso Pizza had the perfect thin crust and rustic flavor. Loaded with tons of toppings. The tiramisu and cheesecake were the perfect addition to this wonderful meal served along with a cappuccino.

Portion sizes for the app and steak looked smaller than we were used to, but we couldn't finish our plates.

Throughout the meal the waited and owner both came by to check on the meal and wine.

When the bill came, it was smaller than one would expect at any steakhouse or fine Italian eatery. The price was certainly not indicative of the quality of the food or service here.

We will...