Graziano's Downtown Cafe — Restaurant in City of Kingston

I'm going to tell the story of how this restaurant ruined my birthday dinner.

My partner and I made reservations around a week ago - we'd never been to this restaurant and it looked very good! We arrived at around 7:37 pm and were seated in the patio. The waitress was friendly at first (I told her I was very excited to try this place for my birthday dinner, and we had some small talk) and let us know that they just had a big group come in and asked for patience. We understood and were fine eating some of the bread that was brought to our table.

By 8pm, we thought it was a bit strange that we still hadn't been able to order wine, and hadn't seen the waitress so assumed she was just dealing with that large group. By 8:05 she came back out and instead of coming to our table, she tended to a table next to us that had already finished dinner and took their dessert orders. Another table on our other side had sat down at the same time as us, and she also took their dessert orders (seemed like they weren't getting mains).

After taking both their orders, I assumed she'd come over to take our orders, but I was mistaken. I thought maybe she didn't see us or that maybe they were that swamped that they really couldn't serve us. I went inside and found her, and asked her if I could just place my order there or if perhaps it wasn't a good time and we should just go. She said she'd be right there, and at that time the owner (?) decided to chime in from behind the counter. He rudely told me that this place always takes a while, and I can either deal with it or go somewhere else. He repeated this unprompted. I returned to my table furious, but my partner told me he thought she'd come back and that it would be ok.

He wasn't wrong: she did come back, except that she was bringing everyone's dessert for the other two tables in the patio she had just engaged. She made 3 trips and was chatting with those tables, and completely ignored us. By that point it was closer to 8:20: we had been there for around 45 minutes, were starving, and had to scramble to find another place.

We got up and left, feeling dejected and saddened by the fact that we were singled out while every other table seemed to be having a good time. We ended up going to Savona's down the road where we were treated with respect and ate a delicious meal there instead 1.5 hours after we planned to eat.

This restaurant should consider not taking reservations if they're unable to fulfill them and should be upfront about their inability to serve some customers that traveled from afar to walk through the door and...

We were a party of five ladies, all coming together from around the country for a reunion. Our first impression was to turn around and leave but we stayed based upon the reviews. The building, floors and decor could be elevated. Some floorboards in main walkways were rotted and unstable. Many tables were portable white plastic folding tables without a table cloth. We were seated at two tables pressed together, one had a tablecloth one did not. Our server did not notice.

There was one server for three dining rooms plus the outside seating area. She was delightful and worked very quickly to provide quick service nearly running at times, but it still took an hour for our orders to be placed.

The menu has many wonderful appetizer and entree options, and we were all very pleased with our choices and with the quality of the food. The food was exceptional! So fresh, such wonderful flavors and beautifully presented! The portions were huge and we all took half our meals home with us. It is the best pasta and seafood I’ve enjoyed in Ulster County in a very long time. We shared green salad and a Caesar salad, we all had a pasta, two of us with shrimp, calamari and scallops, another ravioli, another puttanesca, and another with scallops and saffron cream sauce. All delicious.

The wine and beer only menu is not nearly as impressive, however. The quality of the wines offered was surprisingly disappointing. And without an option of a bar menu for a cocktail, it did detract from the culinary experience it could have been. If I return I will inquire if they have a corking policy so I can bring better wine to pair with his exceptional food.

My takeaway is that the food is exceptional, the server was fabulous (but understaffed), and the atmosphere and wine list could...

Absolutely the best restaurant in Kingston. And, maybe the best in the Hudson River Valley. And, the best Italian meal I've ever had in the USA. But, don't expect glamour. One must remember that one is dining in the chef's own kitchen and it looks like it. And, I appreciate that. This is not a place for flash. But the food is over the moon and I rather think it's an honor to be able to view the chef making every dish that comes out of his kitchen. Every dish is worthwhile and surpasses my expectations every time I go. Also, DO NOT compare this to any Italian restaurant you have ever frequented in the US. It's too authentic for comparison. Here one dines as one would in a rustic Northern Italian kitchen. If you like liver, don't miss the chicken liver starter. It's good enough to convert those who think they don't like liver. Or, try the sardine starter - I don't usually eat sardines ever, but I never fail to order them here. You will be surprised. But, if you come here with an open mind and heart you will be dazzled by anything Graziano prepares! I dream about dining here at least once a week! I think the few detractors here are folks who would rather be eating Italian food on an interstate highway. This is definitely not Olive Garden nor should it be! And, objecting to the bread being whole wheat...? Maybe that's the real way to enjoy garlic bread. We just ask for bread and out comes a basket of fresh breads that are lightly coated with herbs and flavored oils - no butter, it isn't necessary and it would mask the flavors of the breads. Just heaven. All around magnificent food! There's nothing disappointing about Graziano's...