Grico's — Restaurant in Exeter

Grico’s is a restaurant located in Exeter, and part of the Friedman Hospitality Group of fine dining restaurants. The decor has an Italian vibe, with rich paintings reminiscent of the country.

We arrived on time for our 5 p.m. reservation, and were warmly greeted by the hostess, who seated us at a table in the bar area. We made reservations very late, so we most likely missed out having our meal in the dining room or one of their booths, each privatized by a sheer curtain. Our server, Megan, was utterly adorable, with an infectious smile and a sparkling personality. Later, she even arranged our table and took a romantic picture, as we were celebrating an anniversary occasion.

We were offered a complimentary slice of Italian bread cut in half, along with butter; however, more is available upon request.

The cappelletti soup was delicious, with two meatballs individually wrapped in pasta with a savory broth. The salads, however, were unappealing, with a very small amount of greens, two sliced cucumbers, a few pieces of shredded carrots, and a tiny amount of tomatoes. Although a creamy peppercorn dressing was listed on the menu, it was in fact clear with a taste of black pepper.

I ordered the prime rib special (medium well), but was a bit overdone, and not nearly as thick as one would expect from such a cut. The twice-baked potato was small and underwhelming, and looked as though it came from a frozen package. The horseradish dipping sauce, however, was excellent.

The Chicken Melanzone was splendid, with sliced eggplant and melted mozzarella sitting atop two slices of chicken breast and smothered in a tangy vodka sauce. The side dish of thin spaghetti was very generous, but the large amount absorbed the sauce, leaving it dried out before it was finished.

The dessert was also a mixed bag. The apple crisp with vanilla ice cream was delightful, but the tiramisu, although light and topped with a brandy whipped cream, was not flavorful.

Finally, parking behind the restaurant is very tight. The establishment should make a parking arrangement with the Family Dollar store next door during its business hours.

Overall, Grico’s doesn’t live up to the expectations one would have of the Friedman brand, with reputable restaurants that include Bank and Vine, Fire and Ice, and Cork. Nor do Grico’s fine dining prices live up to the overall quality...

What an outstanding evening we spent at Grico’s last week. A good friend of mine treated my partner and I to a fabulous dining experience here, which was second to none. We were intrigued by the history of the restraint and we were seated in one of their private, intimate back rooms, which couldn’t have been more cozy. That night’s special, a halibut dish, was what we ordered, and the fish was cooked to absolute perfection. It was served on top of a bed of spinach and risotto, which was the best I have ever tasted. We also tried their special drink of the evening, the pomegranate lemon drop which was also top of the line. The service was impeccable and all of our orders arrived at the same time, despite two members of our party arriving over 30 minutes late due to inclement weather. We had a 7PM reservation and we ended up staying until well beyond closing time (9PM), but they never rushed us or made us feel as though we overstayed our welcome.

In total, we spent 4 weeks in the NEPA area, and hands down, Grico’s was the most delicious meal and amazing dining experience we had during that time. It is absolutely perfect for an anniversary dinner, or to celebrate a special evening with some friends. Be sure to request one of their booths in the back!! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who needs a change from all of the Italian cuisine which seems to be the staple food in NEPA. I can’t...

Absolute perfection for the second time in a week! We highly recommend a reservation for a private booth away from the bar area to really enjoy a romantic dinner. We both have previously dined here but, could not recall when or why we didn't return but, last Friday we enjoyed the red sangria, apple walnut salads, I had the pan seared scallops, which were fabulously prepared with amazing polenta croutons. My husband had chicken marsala which he said was delicious. We also tried the cheesecake and white on white cake, while both were fairly good, the cheesecake stole the show. This week we decided to return and enjoyed the white sangria and shrimp coctail, I opted for the halibut special with lemon couscous, and let me tell you, it was the best halibut I have ever eaten! My husband had the Prince cut delmonico with pepe sauce and side of pasta, that he said he would order again. He is sold on Ruths Chris and Halls Chop house (Charleston, SC.) steaks so, for him to say it was a good steak that he would order again is saying a lot. The wait staff are all curteous, happy, and provide the best service. We also love the freshly baked dinner rolls with room temperature whipped butter that were promptly served before our drink orders were delivered. We recommend with zero hesitation, and I assure you we will...