Grano — Restaurant in Dublin

"Overhyped" is the word that comes to mind if I try to summarize the experience.

I personally found this place an "ok" restaurant with a great cover that makes you dream for much more but then doesn't deliver on the promise.

Grano is wildly popular in Dublin. It's basically impossible to get a table unless one books a spot at least 3 months in advance.

With that in mind and reading overly enthusiastic reviews I was expecting to be mindblown.

The place is very nice. It's always fascinating to see someone creating handmade ravioli & tortelli. Usually a sign of great quality.

The staff has been super nice throughout, also another great sign.

The main courses part of the menu is relatively small, which is also a good sign.

Food is presented beautifully. Truly a joy for the eyes that is asking to be photographed quickly and be eaten even quicker.

Then one starts eating and the magics goes away.

Starters were ok.

The olive oil they gave us as amouse bouche was good, fairly strong.

The polpo in the panzanella was good but the bread not particularly interesting. The celery too predominant (in addition, it's not a taste I particularly like).

The sgombro was possibly the most interesting thing I tried. Not my favorite combo with the Pappa pomodoro but the fish was very good.

The supplí was tasty. Surely a good execution of cacio and pepe.

Pasta instead, which should have been the main course, felt quite forgettable.

We ordered 5 dishes, choosing from 4 varieties of pasta. 3 of those varieties required salt, as stated from 4 different people.

In mine I asked to put parmesan but it was not enough to fix the taste as in its original form it barely tasted of anything. I ended up adding salt & pepper and I basically re-created a mini cacio & pepe. A true shame as I had ordered a pasta with truffle, which should be an explosion of taste and smell. They even beautifully & generously sliced a truffle on my plate but the truffle had barely any taste and no smell. If anything it added a texture that was not particularly pleasant.

I had a chance to try the only pasta that no one complained about because of the salt. That had some taste but one should also consider that it was filled with ricotta, butter & mortadella. So very hard not to make it tasty.

The slices of tiramisu were generous but personally I don't like when there's a ratio cookies/cream where lady fingers are so predominant. So I ordered something else.

I ordered a Parmesan, which was really high quality. Unfortunately I don't believe that adding balsamic vinegar added to the experience as I prefer the taste of raw Parmesan.

I must say that differently from other reviewers I found the prices to be very reasonable considered how sought after is this place and that it's Dublin in 2024, where 2 eggs for brunch now can cost easily 13 if not 25 euros. In particular the Parmesan I had for dessert was of every high quality and the portion generous. Not sure one would pay much less buying that specific type in a shop.

I really like to think we were there on a particularly unlucky night, otherwise I can't explain the enthusiasm so many other people have had for this place.

EDIT: I have been told by friends who were with me the night that led to this review that they have gone back and had a completely different experience. I am looking forward to give it a second shot and call it just an episode...

I am delighted to share my experience on Grano, one of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin that has won my heart with its authentic Italian cuisine and impeccable service. From the moment I stepped into Grano, I was impressed with its cozy ambiance and friendly staff who welcomed me with a warm smile.

The best part of my experience at Grano was undoubtedly the food. Every dish that we ordered was a delightful explosion of flavors. The ingredients were fresh, seasonal, some locally sourced and other coming from Calabria region which was evident in the taste of the food. Each dish was cooked to perfection and had a perfect balance of flavors that left me craving for more. I particularly loved the homemade pasta and the mouth-watering desserts that were the perfect end to our meal.

And the wine... I am still dreaming about the red Senza Dubbio we had that day. I have no doubt (pun intended) that if you like red wine from the south of Italy, it won't disappoint you at all!

But the food and the wine were just one aspect of our experience at Grano. The service was impeccable. The manager, Miguel, was particularly helpful and made sure that we had a table for eight people despite the place was not big and the short notice we gave him. He was accommodating and attentive, ensuring that our needs were met throughout the night.

I want to remark once again the exceptional service provided by Miguel because he went above and beyond to ensure that we had a fantastic meal and a great time. Not only was he attentive and personable, but he also had an incredible knowledge of the menu. He took the time to explain each dish in detail, sharing interesting anecdotes and stories about the origins and traditions of each recipe. His passion for Italian cuisine was contagious and made us appreciate the food even more. Miguel's enthusiasm and attention to detail truly elevated our dining experience and left a lasting impression.

Finally, there is something else paramount to Grano and it is how authentic the experience feels, and do not even take it from me, my best Italian friend Gianmarco felt like he was eating at home, which is a testament to the restaurant's commitment to traditional Italian cuisine. BTW: the menu was not extensive but there was something for everyone, including vegetarian and I was told that if you let them know in advance they can adjust some dishes with gluten-free options.

Overall, I cannot recommend Grano enough. It is hands down one of the best Italian restaurants in Dublin at a very affordable price and if you are looking for an authentic unpretentious Italian dining experience, then Grano is the place to be. The food, service, and ambiance are all top-notch, and I will definitely be returning to this gem of a...

Started strong and then disappointed.

Starters were very tasty (cacio e pepe rice balls and oven baked potato) but then the mains were shocking.

Pumpkin agnolotti were served in a bowl of butter, so much so that the butter was running down and dripping off the knife and fork.. The balanzoni stuffed with ricotta and mortadella also were a disappointment. At first they were nice but the more I ate the worse I felt. They were drowning in cheesy sauce unlike the pictures in other reviews, they were covered in an excessive amount of grated cheese and the filling was also full of cheese. I did not taste the pasta at all and you could see the mortadella but you could only taste the cheese. We could not finish either of our mains because they were so heavy and the flavour was so unbalanced. I was taking breaks and trying to get through the balanzoni but the more I ate the more I wanted to send it back the other way. The ratio of filling to pasta was way off. My balanzoni looked much bigger than on other reviews. My girlfriend also could not bring herself to eat more of the pumpkin agnolotti because of the sheer amount of butter.

The tiramisu did not bring redemption. It was a soggy slop. The dark chocolate on top was nice at least.

Suffice to say, for the price we paid, for all the other glowing reviews and considering that we could only book 3 months in advance, this experience was very disappointing. It started off strong and then kept disappointing as it continued.

We should have played it safe with tomato pasta..

Technically the pasta was shaped and made well and also cooked very well but the dishes were extremely unbalanced. There was so much potential that was...